1921 - O.L.A. NUMBER ONE
The East Canada League continued but the balance of power had shifted
westward to southern Ontario and British Columbia. Lacrosse in Ontario
was on the road to recovery as the O.L.A. Senior League boomed to eight
teams and two divisions. Orangeville moved up to senior and tied for
Group Two honours. Maitlands' upset win over St.Simon's created the
deadlock. Lionel Conacher scored a pair, including the winner, in the
3-2 victory. Both Dufferins and Anglicans finished 9-3-1. Maitlands
placed last with only 2 wins. Buck Johnston led them with 11 goals.
It was also an sad season for Brampton. Excelsiors finished a 3-8 in a
rebuilding year. Their only reliable players were George Sproule on
offence and John '100%' Campbell in goal. Sproule scored 9 goals and
15 points to finish sixth in the circuit.
Lacrosse would not be lacrosse without a controversy and Group One had
it. Weston posted an 8-4 record, including 4 wins over St.Catharines.
Both Toronto Riversides and Beaches were 6-5 with games left against
Athletics. Apparently the Group title was Weston's. Not so fast.
St.Catharines declined to play their final two contests. Even though
the leaders could not be caught O.L.A. rules dictated that all A's
results must be thrown out. This was an old C.L.A. law which the
O.L.A. had inherited. Remember 1898 and Seaforth being cheated out of
a pennant? Both Riversides and Beaches had lost once to the Double
Blues. Thus the ruling created a three way tie at 4-4.
The tie breaks opened at Alexandra Park, in Oshawa. Riversides and
Weston met in a wild match. Two third quarter goals gave the Toronto
crew a comfortable 5-2 lead. An ugly mix up marred the last twenty
minutes. Riversides' O'Rourke was knocked out which sparked a brawl,
spectators included! Riversides went on to win 6-4.
On September 17th, the black and white Riversides won again. Their
defence was invincible as Beaches home players were too light to
penetrate. Roy Sutherland held them to two goals. Even flashy Art Pim
made little impression. At the other end Max McGregor starred. The
easterners were unable to contain him as he scored twice while setting
up another. Riversides cruised to a 5-2 victory.
Group Two's sudden death game was held at Island Stadium. Orangeville
entered the contest with the league's best offence. Youngsters Clyde
Gordon and Conny Golden were having a very good year. Gordon, the
Fergus native, was league scoring champ. Everyone's favourite dentist
Doc Zinn led the club in goals with 16. The Browns, Bert and Blythe,
were also a force for Dufferins. The green shirts jumped in front 3-1
as Zinn scored twice and Earl Stevenson counted the other. Herb Scott
replied for St.Simon's. The second quarter was scoreless though
Anglicans did have an slight edge in play. At one point Dufferins had
a three man advantage yet failed to score. Second half goals by Gene
Dopp, from Mouse Lount, and Kirby, from Bill Scott, drew the Saints
level. The contest was decided in the eightieth minute. St.Simon's
netminder Bill MacArthur, a notorious wanderer, ran the ball up to
midfield. From there he made a long pass. Orangeville goaltender Bert
Booth raced from his crease to intercept but the ball deflected past
him and into the open net. Thus MacArthur became the first and only
goalie in O.L.A. Senior A history to score a playoff goal.
The league final commenced on Octorber 1st at Scarborough Beach. It
was a match up of contrasts between a fast, aggressive Riversides squad
and the slow, deliberate, steamroller style employed by St.Simon's.
Goalkeeping mistakes were once again key. Short, stocky Roy Sutherland
was caught out, gifting the Saints their second goal. Herb Scott later
put Anglicans up 3-2. Riversides retaliated immediately but were
robbed by MacArthur. Big Bill was enjoying his best effort of the
season. Eventually he was beaten. A third quarter goal by Mouse
Lount, from Gordon Thom, tied the contest.
The championship was decided the next Saturday. Riversides dominated
with three times as many scoring chances. They counted two early: Max
McGregor against close checking and Roy Chandler who completed a "give
and go" with Cliss Starling. St.Simon's hopes were dashed late in the
third quarter when Starling was left alone in front of the goal.
Riversides added two more in the final twenty minutes.
No Mann Cup challenge for the O.L.A. this season, nor in any of the
ones to come. The season was long enough already without a cross
country trip to conclude it. Thus New Westminster held the title for a
record six years(1920-25).
That left the Levack Trophy to play for. A chance for Senior Lacrosse
to redeem itself. St.Mary's Alerts were Intermediate champs, having
slipped past Oshawa 17-15 in a two game final. Their defence was
roughly treated by Riversides. They outscored the green and white
Alerts in every quarter enroute to an 11-5 win. St.Mary's goaltender
Stephens suffered a foot injury but held fast at his post throughout
the onslaught. In St.Mary's, Alerts put their perfect home record on
the line. The match was fast and clean, with few penalties. The
visitors took a 4-3 lead to the final quarter but surrendered five
goals and lost 8-6. They still took the series, however Intermediate
had given Senior Lacrosse another black eye.
