1927 - O.L.A. ON THE COAST
For the first time since 1914, the Ontario champion would travel to
British Columbia to contest the Mann Cup. Weston put themselves in the
best position to be that team. They went through league play
undefeated, 9-0-1. St.Simon's was the only team to give them trouble.
On May 28th, they tied the league leaders 2-2. Sandy Ryding and Nels
Riley scored for Weston. Bill Davis and Angus McKinnon replied for the
Anglicans. The June 18th meeting was a 6-5 thriller. Toots White
broke the tie with a late goal. On the other hand, Brampton were
humiliated by the Suburbanites. 10-1 to start the year, followed by a
5-3 game in June. Ed Kingdon, Earl Stevenson, Riley, Ken Kingdon and
White all scored in the second game.
It was a difficult year for the other clubs. Maitlands opened with a
6-5 win over Irish-Canadians. They didn't win again. The worst
beatings they suffered were: 16-2 and 15-2 to Weston, 13-3 and 16-5 to
St.Simon's. Irish-Canadians did not fare much better. In June they
won back to back games. Varcoe scored the winner in a 2-1 victory over
Maitlands. Then they doubled Hamilton 6-3 as Hopkins pair led the
offence. All the irish's other matches ended in grief. Up from
Intermediate, the Tigers lost three of their first four and were never
contenders. They finished 3-7, all three wins came against the bottom
teams.
Which left the top three to claim the three playoff positions. With
first place Weston earned a bye to the final. That left
St.Simon's(6-2-1) and Brampton(6-3) to meet in the opening round. Both
were well rested as their last regular season games were washed out by
heavy rain. Led by Max McGregor's goal and assist, the Anglicans won
in Brampton 3-2. A week later, they faltered at home. George
Sproule's two goals were the difference as Excelsiors won 4-2, taking
the series 6-5. Goalie Bert Large's performance was key in the win.
A well rested Weston squad showed no mercy in the final. On August
6th, seven different players scored as the Suburbanites won 10-3. With
two goals and an assist Toots White was high man. Bob Stephenson also
had a pair. The second contest was just as onesided. 7-2 was the
result as Stephenson led with three markers and five points. Nels
Riley added a deuce. Brampton's disappointing season ended with goals
from Sproule and Pete Machell.
Officially Weston were Mann Cup holders. They started their defence in
Montreal by winning Eastern Canadian honours. They routed Montreal
Celtics 18-5. White scored six and Hal Wallace four. In Winnipeg, the
Ontario champs opened with an 11-2 win. They lost the second game 7-6
but took the series by a comfortable margin. In Edmonton, they crushed
the Native Sons 13-3.
Next came the hard part. No eastern team had ever won on the Pacific
Coast, in Mann or Minto play. New Westminster had a powerful squad,
featuring: George Feeney, Red Fraser, Johnny Vernon, the Patchells and
the Stoddarts. As a double incentive the series winner would also
represent Canada at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam. Alas, Weston
would share the same fate as such great teams as Brampton Excelsiors,
Toronto Tecumsehs, Montreal A.A.A. and Montreal Nationals - defeat.
New Westminster ended their undefeated season with a 6-3 win. They
followed it up with a 6-5 victory. The Mann Cup was back in Queen's
Park.
