The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.2002, Qupperneq 29

Vol. 57 #3
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
113
City League.
The 1911-12 season was finished with
the Falcons “out of the money.” It was
about this time that “Big Minty”
Stephenson, Cully Wilson and Connie
Benson became members of the Monarchs.
New “Stars” Gleaming - With the
1912-13 season, some of the other players
retiring necessitated recruiting from the
younger ranks, and in that year’s team were
found two of the coming “world’s champi-
ons,” Konnie Johannesson and Frank
Fredrickson. Harvey Benson was player,
organizer and manager for some years,
while “Buster” Thorsteinson made his
advent on the scene, as also did the pugna-
cious Johnny Jonasson. That year, with the
inclusion of new blood, the Falcons turned
out a winner.
Selkirk was the other team in this league
and they had Stan Jackson in goal, and Rod
Smith, along with Joe Simpson, on defence.
As forwards Jocko Anderson, Johnny
Mitchell, Alf Morrison and Neville were
exceptional.
A smooth combination of young
Falcons of 1913-14 together with some vet-
eran experience, consisted of: goal, George
Johanneson; defence, Bobby and Harvey
Benson; rover, Buster Thorsteinson; cen-
tre, Frank Fredrickson; right wing, Fred
Thordarson; left wing, John Jonasson; and
forward, Konnie Johannesson.
The Honourable Thomas H. Johnson,
honorary president of the Falcon Hockey
Club, was never far away, while Skuli
Hanson and Hebbie Axford acted in exec-
utive capacities with Jack Baldwin as man-
ager.
Falcons Win Independent Title - In
1914-15 Wally Byron assumed goal tend-
ing duties and the Falcons won the
Manitoba Independent League title. The
club had also added to its roster at this
time, Percy Walker, Bill Borland and (Dr.)
Joe Olson. In the play-off against the
Monarchs an exciting series resulted with
the Monarchs winning. The latter team
boasted of such stars as Dick Irwin, Del
Irvine, Clem Loughlin, Tommy Murray,
Alex Irwin, Stan Marples and Frank
Cadham.
The following year the Falcons gained
their objective and were admitted to the
“B” Section of the Winnipeg Senior League
with the Victorias and the Winnipegs,
while the “A” Section was made up of the
Monarchs, 61st Battalion and the All Stars.
The 61st went on to win the division, the
league and the Allan Cup. Chris
Fridfinnson was a new Falcon addition that
year.
The following season of 1916-17 found
the whole Falcon body in the 223rd
Battalion hockey team in the Winnipeg
Patriotic League. With more serious duties
of military pursuits calling, their perfor-
mance did not reach great peaks that year.
Requiem - Here we might pause to pay
tribute to the memory of one hockey play-
er whom team mates and adversaries alike
admired and respected - the popular Olie
Turnbull of the Winnipegs. His death was
a great loss for he was one of those quiet,
lovable fellows with a broad vein of
humour in his make-up. He was “all man.”
Another to pass into the great beyond
was Buster Thorsteinson who made the
supreme sacrifice for his nation in Flanders
on the very eve of the Armistice, just after
his last letter to his loved ones in Winnipeg
telling them of his joy in being able to get a
few days of leave back of the lines. Buster
was the iron man type of player, a clever
stick handler and an ideal rover. Naturally
quiet and reserved, he was a little man but
very sturdily built. It was his disposition
and lovable nature which made him stand
out among his club mates and he had one of
those rare personalities which kindled a
warm glow in human hearts and brightened
the lives of others.
Buster’s pal, the curly-headed George
Cumbers, also laid down his life for his
country over there.
There was a big gap in the ranks and an
ache in the hearts of the Falcons themselves
as they sought to gather up the strands of
three years of war service—years of tur-
moil, heroism, heartbreak and victory—
but ever at work were the laws of nature,
man building, strengthening and sur-
mounting every contingency—carrying on.