The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.2002, Page 13

Vol. 57 #3
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
97
The Romance of the Falcons
or, The Sport Saga of the Vikings
by Fred Thordarson, written in 1932
Edited by Shirley Thordarson McCreedy
Reprinted from The Icelandic Canadian, Fall 1996
PREFACE
It was the keen interest shown by a
group of young men in a brief recounting
of some of the highlights of the (Winnipeg)
Falcon Club’s history—and the back-
ground provided by the hockey of the stir-
ring early days—that gave impetus to a
long-felt urge for setting down in words
The Romance of the Falcons. Often the
remark has been heard that the Club’s his-
tory carries the basic elements of interest
and appeal and, if interpreted aright, would
reveal the essence of successful sport and
the secret of the Falcons’ success. With the
aid of information gleaned from the remi-
niscences of many old-timers, as well as
other younger members and followers of
the Club, the attempt is made to convey to
the young athlete some idea of the spirit
that brought such wonderful results—each
serving his part unselfishly—none given a
semblance of the appearance of “falling
down on the job” or introducing a discor-
dant element. This spirit is essential to any
organization that hopes for a measure of
success and worthwhile accomplishment.
The individuals of a team, or club, create
a certain spirit or atmosphere which the
whole derives from the participation of
each one comprising the group. Some
teams or groups appear to be naturally able
to coordinate their affairs. Others simply
cannot do themselves justice for lack of a
motivating spirit, some jarring note being
present, or an essential something in per-
sonalities that may be lacking. When a
group has this atmosphere or harmony
which, in reality, is the subjection of the
individual to the whole, each and every one
of the group requires the will to contribute
his share—to put forth the effort to make a
“go” of things.
In presenting this “Sport Saga,” with the
famous Falcon Olympic Championship
team of 1920 as the central figures, the
story being told is that of a group of clean-
living young men, each striving with all his
heart and mind to achieve the goal they
have set for themselves, with no thought of
personal advantage but rather of doing
everything for the good of the team.
However, before going on with the main
theme of The Romance of the Falcons, cul-
minating in the Olympic Championship, it
is fitting that the activities of the Club dur-
ing the intervening years—1920 to 1933—
should be reviewed.
The Seasons that Followed - Riding on
the great wave which the spirit of the
Falcon Olympic combination engendered,
the Club produced a junior team in the fol-
lowing year to the Olympic Championship
which won the Canadian Junior
Championship. The success of this squad,
the first Western junior team to travel east
to compete for the Dominion title, is some-
thing of a story in itself. That junior club
had the old Falcon spirit - and harmony
reigned. They were one of the gamest
aggregations ever to step on the ice.
They played through their eighteen-
game schedule without a single loss, but in
their play-off with Regina for the Western
Championship, which they won in two
desperately fought encounters, they suf-
fered a severe blow which had every
appearance of minimizing their chances of
victory in Eastern Canada.