1930 - JAMES MURPHY
In honour of his recently departed friend, Charles Querrie donated the
James Murphy Memorial Trophy to Ontario Lacrosse. The trophy is still
with us and awarded annually to the Major Series' Most Valuable Player.
That was the intended purpose of the award, yet the meaning of M.V.P.
was different in the 1930s. For the first few years of its existence
the Murphy Trophy would serve as a lifetime achievement award. In 1930
the player most deserving of that honour was George Sproule. An
Excelsior since 1909, Sproule was still going strong. He was twice
defending scoring champ and had led the league a record six times(1912,
1913, 1914, 1920, 1928, 1929)! In 1930 he slipped to eighth spot with
a modest 10 goals.
Ontario lacrosse was in a crisis by 1930. The number of teams in the
OLA had declined from 133 in 1923 to 55 by this season. The largest
drop was in Junior, from 26 down to 9 teams. Lacrosse was beginning to
look like a dying sport. Consequently, something drastic would have to
be done to change things. That something was the introduction of box
lacrosse in 1931. A move which was made just in time to counter the
negetive influences of the Great Depression.
Not much of a league for Senior Lacrosse, only three teams. Brampton
placed first with a 7-3-1 record, followed by Oshawa(7-4-1) then
St.Simon's(2-9). A bit misleading because Excelsiors only scored 42
goals while giving up 40. Generals numbers were much better, 72-45.
Toots White scored 21 of those goals enroute to the scoring
championship. Five of his teammates also made the top ten list: Kelly
Degray, Conny Golden, Chuck Davidson, Charlie Barron and Bob
Stephenson. Excelsiors filled the rest of the spots, though matters
were different for the Brampton crew. Sproule's production had
dropped, as had Norm Zimmer's. Number 13 failed to finish in the top
three for the first time in his career. Instead he slipped in at the
tenth position. Brampton's new snipers were Harold 'Mooney' Gibson
and, former Dufferin, Foster Wilson.
The league final was a best of three affair and started on August 9th.
A crowd of 4,000 watched the hometown Excelsiors grab a 3-1 first half
lead. George Sproule made up for missing the '29 playoffs by
dominating. His first goal was disallowed. His second came on a free
throw. And his third on a rebound. Oshawa was without injured Bill
Coulter but that didn't prevent them from coming back. Degray from
Davidson, Barron from White and Ty Silk on a solo effort put them
ahead. With two minutes remaining their 4-3 lead still held. Then
former Weston junior Pete Ella intercepted a pass and beat Pat Shannon
to tie it. In overtime, junior George 'Mush' Thompson and veteran
Jerry Kendall gave Brampton a 6-4 win. At Alexandra Park, Toots White
scored twice, yet Excelsiors managed three. Teenager Thompson again
counted the winner.
Next stop was Montreal where 5,000 cold and wet spectators watched
George Sproule singlehandedly beat the local club. In the M.A.A.A,
Grounds press box the old reporters marvelled at how the grey-thatched
Excelsior captain reminded them of the great Harry Hoobin. Nothing
could stop Sproule on the day, not even the driving rain. His three
second half goals gave Brampton a comeback 4-1 win over M.A.A.A..
Varsity Stadium hosted the best of three Mann Cup Final. Finally B.C.
had sent a team east! New Westminster Salmonbellies were given a rude
welcome. Norm Zimmer helped beat them 8-1 as he scored or set up half
the red shirts goals.
The Fishmen overcame the heat and their opponents to win the next
contest 5-4. Sunny Douglas put the westerners up 2-0 early. Bert
Burry started Brampton's comeback by intercepting a pass and going end
to end. Sproule and Mooney Gibson soon followed as the home side took
a 3-2 lead to the halftime break. It was 4-2 in the third quarter as
Norm Zimmer set up George Sproule. Unfortunately Sproule injured an
already weak ankle. That ended the veteran's season. He would retire
after the Mann Cup. New Westminster's year was also about to come to
an abrupt end. They responded like champions. Haddie Stoddart scored
twice to tie it 4-4. In the last twenty minutes Stoddart also counted
the winner with an underhand shot.
The series conclusion began ominously for the easterners. Jack Wood
scored 3:30 into the match to put Salmonbellies up. Wood later fired a
backhand shot past Bert Large, however referee Charles Querrie ruled
that he was in the crease. A simliar fate befell Brampton's first
marker. Western Referee Graver disallowed theirs. During halftime the
western official was approached by a dozen angry fans. No harm was
done. Ten minutes into the third quarter, Elgin 'Oddie' Core drew two
defenders to him, then sent Norm Zimmer in alone to tie it. A see-saw
battle commenced and lasted into the final period. Eventually Jerry
Kendall broke the tie. Three minutes later, Hank Gowdy put Excelsiors
up 3-1. With that lead the red shirts began ragging the ball,
frustrating the New West checkers at every turn. Finally Ted Reeve,
Zimmer and Kendall put together a nice combination with the latter
potting goal number four. As the gong sounded, straw hats flew through
the air and the celebration began. Brampton Excelsiors had won their
first Mann Cup!
