1955/56 Elmvale Juveniles Narrative
Article by Mike Townes:
The Elmvale Lions Club Juvenile team of 1955-56 were a group of young men coached and managed by Percy Frankcom with help of Harry Rowley as manager.
The team only lost three games all year and were ready to make a run at an OMHA championship. They defeated Oak Ridges and Cooper to make the finals against the experienced team from Ayr. The Elmvale team had never been to the finals before but Ayr had won the last two titles in the Juvenile division.
Elmvale won game one by a score of 5-3 and then traveled to Ayr and again won 6-2. Game three was scheduled for Elmvale on a Saturday night and over 500 spectators jammed the arena to hopefully witness Elmvale’s first OMHA champs.
Coach Percy Frankcom was ill so Borden Wheeler had to take over the reins for game three. Elmvale opened the scoring on a goal from Dennis Turner assisted by John Cole. Turner scored again unassisted to give the home team a 2-0 lead. After Ayr had cut that lead in half, Joe Marley scored from Dave Stephens and Grant Ritchie to restore the two goal lead.
In the third period, Ayr scored to make the score 3-2 but Peter Steele scored from Ron Frankcom to again put the boys up by two. Ayr was not giving up as they again narrowed the gap to 4-3. Dennis Turner completed his hat trick to finish off the visitors by a score of 5-3. Elmvale had won their first of eight OMHA Championships!
The team took the trophy over to the home of Coach Percy Frankcom the next day so he could have his picture taken with the silverware.
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