The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.2002, Síða 16

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THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Vol. 57 #3
Seniors Regaining Strength - During
the 1921-1922 season, with Harvey Benson
as playing-manager, the champion juniors
with the exception of Wally Fridfinnson
going over to the Victoria Club with
Connie Neil, and Crutchy Morrison going
to Edmonton with Joe Simpson, the
Falcons played good hockey but with no
exceptional results.
It was in the 1922-1923 season that the
Falcon Seniors again appeared to be poten-
tial Allan Cuppers. Formed around the
remaining seniors and former juniors, they
presented a strong line-up. In goal, Wally
Byron of the Olympic champions, was
outstanding. On the defence, Konnie
Johannesson and Sammy McCallum
teamed up most effectively, while the for-
ward line, comprised of Eddie Stephenson,
Art Somers, Wally Fridfinnson, Harold
McMunn, Frank Woodall, Harry Neil,
Huck Woodman and Lome Carroll, per-
formed in sensational fashion.
Exciting Campaign - Through some
glorious old battles the Falcons of that year
won the Manitoba Senior Championship.
Their play-off with Port Arthur was a hard
fought series, marred only by the misfor-
tune of Eddie Stephenson, who suffered a
broken leg. This colourful exponent of the
game heard the returns of the final game
with Port Arthur over the telephone while
lying in bed in the Winnipeg General
Hospital with the old leg well propped up.
He must have felt plenty of excitement
for with just thirty seconds left to go on the
timer’s watch, Sammy McCallum came
through to score the tying goal. With the
fans wildly cheering, the Falcons then went
on for a later period score which gave them
victory. It was one of those sensational fin-
ishes which beggar description. The two-
game series with Winnipeg Tigers was also
desperately fought.
Then the Anti-Climax - Ordered to
play a sudden death game with Souris
(Manitoba Intermediate Champions) the
following night, the strain began to tell on
the boys. Seven games in ten nights is far
too much for any team to stand, but that
was the necessity which the team had to
comply with. The officials apparently over
estimated the resistance of the team, for
they had completed not only one of the
most strenuous of league schedules but had
been forced into overtime in other hard
fought play-down games.
Harold McMunn, the leading scorer of
the league, was on the sick list and the team
itself physically exhausted. The manager
prevailed upon Konnie Johannesson not to
don his skates during the early part of the
game in order to conserve his energy. The
weary Falcons started the game slowly and
as time wore on without effective results, a
tragic drama gradually unfolded before the
eyes of the wondering audience.
The picture of this mighty team still
stands clear and fresh in the minds of many
of the club’s followers, for in that game
with Souris, for all their skill and ability,
they could not shake off the overpowering
weariness and like some great lion of the
forest, drugged by fatigue, fell victim to a
gallant team which was actually of a lesser
calibre. Tears were in many an eye as the
Pharmacists:
ERNEST STEFANSON
GARRY FEDORCHUK
642-5504
IP^jPHARMASAVE
We care
about your health
Centre and Fourth / Gimli, MB / ROC 1 BO