The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.2002, Page 37

Vol. 57 #3
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
121
Byron pulled off a wonderful save and
Bobby Benson grabbed the puck and trav-
elled down the ice fast to give Morrison a
hot shot. Morrison was equal to the occa-
sion but unable to clear in time and
Halderson, skating in fast, batted it into the
net for the tally that transformed the mon-
ster gathering of wild-eyed fanatics into a
vast multitude of maniacs in a scene that
beggared description.
It was the dramatic finish to a heart-
breaking game, where the sympathies were
as generous to the losers as the congratula-
tions to the winners. All the other games
for the season were cast into oblivion
before this gruelling tussle ad never did fer-
vid fandom get so many opportunities to
enthuse and give vent to their pent-up feel-
ings.
The usually taciturn Steamer Maxwell
beamed on his proteges.
The spirit of the Falcons had prevailed,
the spirit that would not acknowledge
defeat—that retained confidence as long as
there was a minute left to play—that sub-
jected the individual to the good of the
club. This victory stamped the Falcons as a
truly great aggregation yet they kept their
“balance” and grew in power. They were
never over-confident but had always the
steady determination to stay with it until
they won. And always the cry was, “Speed!
Falcons, speed!”
Meeting the Winnipegs, winners of the
other section of the Senior League, the
Falcons’ superiority was evident by the
scores of 5-0 in the opener and 10-1 in the
second game.
Eliminating the Fort William stalwart
brigade by 7-2 and 9-1 in the semi-finals,
the Falcons were ready to travel to Toronto
in quest of the Allan Cup which had been
in the East for the previous three years.
The same poise and quiet reserve was
always noticeable in the Falcons’ dressing
room before games and practices. Steamer
had a favourite nickname for most of the
players and used these with no malice but
in a most appropriate and telling manner in
his efforts to bring out their best. If Frank
Fredrickson was expounding to Slim on
some weighty matter using four and five
syllable words, Steamer would quietly
remark, “Hey! Education! Save your wind
for the game!” And, “You, Good-lookin’,”
(directed at Slim), “get out there and get
your hair messed up.”
En route east, to meet the Varsity team
at Toronto for the Dominion
Championship, the boys maintained their
steady way. The spirit that prevailed, their
playing talent and Maxwell’s firm guid-
ance, all fused together making them into a
coordinated aggregation with almost
unlimited possibilities.
Those memorable games against Varsity
will long be remembered by those who
were fortunate to witness them. Some of
the newspaper reports, which we have pre-
served, are worth relating. An enormous
crowd packed the great arena to the roof
for the opener.
The Falcons played brilliantly to win the
first game, eight goals to three. Frank
Fredrickson scored the first goal in seven-
teen minutes on a pretty play—a rush from
his own end through the Varsity.
Gouinlock scored in one minute in a mix-
up in front of the Falcon goal mouth. The
second period started with a bang, the pace
being terrific. The third goal came after a
face-off at the side of the Varsity net,
Goodman taking Frank’s quick pass and
lifting it into the corner of the net. Mike
Goodman scored his second goal in five
minutes. It was a beautiful play with Frank
Fredrickson. They broke fast, with the
puck being passed twice to work right
inside the defence for a fast shot which
Langtry had no chance to save. Varsity
attacked viciously but close checking pre-
vented them getting through. Halderson
broke away and dodged the defence but
missed the net by inches. Byron made a
brilliant save from Olson’s shot. Frank
took the rubber at his own defence and
went right through the Varsity team to
score while off balance. This was the most
spectacular goal of the game. Thirty sec-
onds later Mike scored a long shot that
bounded into the corner of the net. Varsity
pressed desperately but Benson relieved.
The play attained terrific speed; attack fol-