1954 - A RECORD FOURTH 


Official records credit New Westminster Salmonbellies with six
consecutive Mann Cup triumphs from 1920-25, however their accomplishment
paled in comparison to Peterborough's four straight wins from 1951-54. 
For one thing the Salmonbellies never had to leave B.C., whereas the
Petes twice had to venture west.  The Fishmen were also spared having to
face any OLA competition.  Weston had its own dynasty going in Ontario
but never travelled west to challenge for the Canadian championship. 
New Westminster can hardly be faulted for that.  Yet there is no denying
that the road to the Dominion championship was much easier for the
Salmonbellies.  The Timbermen/Trailermen had to face all the demands
that modern fans are accustomed to.  They can claim the Box record,
however theirs was the superior achievement.

Still one can make the arguement that New Westminster best represented
the true spirit of lacrosse and the Mann Cup competition.  Their six
winners were claimed by local boys, compared to Peterborough's four
championship all-star teams.  The '54 Trailermen had imports from
St.Catharines(3) Owen Sound(3) Toronto(2) Mimico(1) and Fergus(1).  Of
the 275 regular season goals they scored, only 93 were from the sticks
of local boys!  Of 121 playoff goals, Peterborough natives scored 30. 
Thus the Trailermen's ability to pay players, something the amateur
Fishmen were not allowed to do, was a huge advantage.  In light of that,
the greatest Mann Cup dynasty of them all might be the Athletics of
1938-41, three championships in four years with an all St.Catharines
team.  Or the Brooklin Redmen from 1985-88.  Once again three titles in
four years, two of them won in B.C.!

The O.L.A. Senior League had dwindled to four clubs.  Given that one of
the teams was woeful Mimico, the league really was in a sad state.  The
Mounties won only five times in twenty-seven tries.  Losing Denny
Peterson to Peterborough sealed their fate before the season began.  The
Trailermen also picked up ageing Don Campbell and from the Peterborough
Juniors added Bob Allan and Bob Curtis.  They ran away with first place
thanks to a 23-6-1 record - 13 points ahead of St.Catharines.  Hamilton
placed third with a losing record.

The Tigers one bright spot was scoring champion Jim McNulty.  He would
defect to the west for the '55 campaign.  St.Catharines local Tony
D'Amico also made the top ten wearing Black and Gold, along with Fergus'
Bob Dobbie.  Peterborough dominated with six top scorers: Harry
Wipper(2nd) Denny Peterson(3rd) Russ Slater(4th) Bob Allan(6th) Bob
Curtis(8th) and Jerry Fitzgerald(10th).  Norm Corcoran was the solo
Athletic to make the list.

Last place Mimico was dropped from the playoffs.  The remaining three
squads attempted to play a rain disrupted triple round robin. 
Eventually Peterborough and St.Catharines squared off in the Final.  The
Trailermen won every game.  The scores were: 8-3, 17-7, 14-8 and 11-4.

Victoria Shamrocks came east to try and end the Petes' dominance.  They
led the series opener 4-3 when rain washed out the contest.  They came
back to defeat the Mann Cup holders 8-4 the next evening.  Former West
York, Gordie Johnston outdueled Lloyd Wotton.  Peterborough responded
with consecutive wins of 11-4, 9-4 and 10-8.  The fourth game was evenly
played as Victoria outshot the home side 39-38.  Still they were not a
happy crew.  Game Four had been delayed a day because of rain.  Thus the
Shamrocks were so unhappy about the Miller Bowl that they threatened to
quit the series if it wasn't moved indoors.  This was awkward.  The
Civic Arena was the only local site available.  It could squeeze in
2,500 spectators if no one told the fire marshall.  Miller Bowl
comfortably held 4,000.  Given the financial situation of most of the
Senior organisations at that time, 1,500 less tickets sold would be a
big blow.  For instance, Hamilton would have to seek a major sponsor
during the off season to keep their team going.  Thus the Tigers became
the Lincoln Burners!  Yet Victoria were serious about quitting the
series(perhaps because they knew they were second best) thus their
demands were met and the series finale was played at the Civic Arena. 
Indoor or outdoors it didn't matter, the Trailermen had the best
lacrosse team in Canada.  They won the fifth game 10-3.  Lloyd Wotton
was named MVP for a record third time!

At year end, CLA Treasurer Gene Dopp retired.  Dopp had been involved in
the game forty years.  First he had played Senior and won OLA titles
with Young Torontos.  He had moved on to coach St.Simon's Anglicans from
1922-25.  He was best remembered as the longtime OLA Secretary.