1924 Minesing United Farmers Hockey Championship Team Narrative
........Many exciting hockey games were played by this Championship Team. They would play locally against Elmvale, Midhurst, Barrie, East Oro and Stayner, etc for the right to represent Simcoe County and play hockey against other successful UFO hockey teams in Ontario for the United Farmers of Ontario Hockey title. The 1924 travelled by sleigh or train to play their opponents. Travelling locally by sleigh (16 miles) to Elmvale would take approximately 3 hours.
In 1924 the semi-final home and home series saw Minesing pitted against Warsaw (Lakefield) in Peterborough County. Game one was played at the Lakefield rink. Minesing prevailed in game one defeating Warsaw 3-1.
Game two was held in the Barrie rink where Minesing and Warsaw played to a 3-3 tie. The game was fast and hard fought and after the first period Warsaw led 2-1, Babe Adams scoring the loan Minesing goal. Minesing tied the game early in the second on a goal by Hank Foyston. Warsaw replied with another goal being one goal up heading into the third period. The teams battled it out in the third with alternate rushes by each team. Ten minutes in Babe Adams scored to tie the game. The pace increased and Warsaw made a spirited effort to regain the lead but in the end the fast pace and hard checking told on them. The seven sturdy farm boys from Minesing demonstrated solid teamwork winning the semi-final with an overall 2 goal lead.
Minesing played Ohsweken (Haldimand County) in the final round. On March 14, 1924, Minesing travelled by train to Brantford and after three periods of play the game ended in a tie, neither team scoring.
On March 19, 1924, the final game of the series was held at the mammoth rink in Barrie. With a large crowd on hand to cheer on the Minesing boys, Ell Crawford on a long rush did not disappoint by scoring the first goal for the home team. Ohsweken applied pressure and scored three minutes later. Play was fast and furious for both teams in the second. Charlie Grant broke the tie. Hank Foyston would take a penalty resulting in Ohsweken tying the game and two minutes later taking the lead. Not to be beat at his own game Hank Foyston broke away from the Minesing goal and scored unassisted. At the beginning of the third Ell Crawford made a rush to score the go ahead goal. This goal was followed by goals by Cal Foyston and Ell Crawford. Crawford’s goal was disputed by Ohsweken but the referee stood firm on his decision and allowed the goal. Ohsweken would score a few minutes later but the referee called the pass offside and refused to allow the goal. Ohsweken continued to dispute the referee’s decision and left the ice. Minesing remained on the ice until regulation time had expired. Likewise their cheering supporters remained in the stands. In a 6-3 score Minesing defeated Ohsweken for the UFO Championship. It was certainly a memorable final series for the Minesing farm boys.
This summary of the semi-final and final series is supported by newspaper articles published in The Barrie Examiner in 1924.
Back