1915 - TRYING TO COPE WITH THE WAR
These days lacrosse fans often complain about the short schedule O.L.A.
teams play. Eighteen and twenty games hardly seems enough to break a
sweat over. Back in the 1940s they played 30 games plus 3 rounds of
playoffs! Well fans be grateful you were not around in 1915. The
O.L.A. Senior League commenced play the first Saturday in June and
concluded the season a week later. With only two clubs in the circuit
they simply played a home and away series to decide the title. Young
Torontos opened with a 9-3 victory over St.Catharines. The next week
they won 8-3. The offensive stars were Stew Cowan and Bill Scott(4
goals each) Gene Dopp and John Powers(3 each). Gord Pople led the A's
with 3 markers.
In fairness to the Athletics, all their stars were on Rosedales again.
The Toronto club had left the N.L.U. and joined Tecumsehs in the Queen
City League. Another two team circuit. With the war on, times were
tough and travel expenses had to be cut. The two Toronto teams played
a 15 game schedule. Rosedales won nine, though the indians outscored
them by two goals.
With all the irishmen rejoining Shamrocks expectations were high.
Which made their last place finish seem like a double disaster. 1 win
and 11 losses, Shamrocks worse showing in the N.L.U. ever! In July,
matters were at their worst thanks to Henry Scott's driving skill. He
ran his car into a ditch. Scott only missed one game with a chest
injury. His passengers were not so fortunate. Mack Brady suffered a
fractured skull, Alf Kane a broken jaw and Aspell a fractured arm and
thigh. That was one goaltender and two defenders out for the year.
League talent reached a new peak and the scoring had never been higher.
Nationals did not equal the phenominal success they had in the D.L.U.,
still their offence was a major force. Newsy Lalonde led all shooters
with 36 goals. That was more than double anyone else in the league
except teammate Didier Pitre. Pitre scored 25.
The top three clubs, Cornwall, Nationals and M.A.A.A. were all in
contention. The frenchmen jumped out to a 6-1 record. An 8-5 loss to
the Winged Wheels was the only black mark on their record. The Triple
A's stayed close at 4-2. Cornwall had a horrible 3-4 start. All three
wins came against Shamrocks. Yet back to back wins on July 3rd and
10th gave them important momentum which carried over to their next
match against Nationals. Mark Cummins, Dot Phelan and Guy Smith each
scored a pair as Colts upset the frenchmen 7-5. M.A.A.A. followed with
consecutive wins over the irish. George Roberts joined the Winged
Wheels and fired home seven in the two games. Jimmy Walsh counted five
more. Suddenly the championship was tied. Cornwall further
complicated matters by winning two more to move to 6-4. The 5-3
victory over M.A.A.A. was huge. Against Shamrocks they sneaked by
11-10. Henry Donihee made his season debut and saved Colts by scoring
six times. On August 21st came the death blow to the pennant race.
The irish won their first by shocking the Winged Wheels 8-5. In this
game Paddy Brennan scored the final goal of his career. A grand total
of 140 in 116 games. Tied for seventh in N.L.U. history.
Now it was wide open for the violet et blanc and they took full
advantage. As M.A.A.A. were losing, Nationals edged Cornwall 7-6.
Back to back wins over Shamrocks followed. That pushed their record to
9-2. The Triple A's had fallen to four losses, thus the championship
was decided.
Neither Rosedales or Nationals had the funds to go west and challenge
for the Minto Cup. Instead they agreed to play each other for Eastern
Canadian honours. The frenchmen won the initial contest 16-10. Pitre
counted six and Lalonde five for the winners. In Toronto, Rosedales
rebounded with an 11-7 win. Two goals short of what they needed. Eddy
Longfellow and George Kalls each scored three.
