The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.2002, Page 41

Vol. 57 #3
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
125
behaved bunch oh athletes ever rep-
resented Winnipeg in a champi-
onship affair than the Falcon play-
ers. They took everything seriously
and were very faithful in their train-
ing at Toronto. They would not
drink the Toronto water, or any-
thing stronger than tea or coffee, did
not smoke, and returned to bed
early every evening. Even after win-
ning the championship there was no
celebration by the players, as might
be expected from the tamest kind of
team. The afternoon of the first day
somebody walked into Slim
Halderson’s room smoking a ciga-
rette, and he was hardly in before
Slim told him, very politely, that no
smoking was allowed in that room,
and to kindly throw away the ciga-
The Falcons Win Olympic Gold
Riding on Their winning the world
championship was confidently anticipated
by the people of Canada, who eagerly fol-
lowed every dispatch and news item on the
Olympic games. The boys did not disap-
point their admirers. Continuing their
steady ways, they defeated the strong
United States entry in a hard, close seven-
man game by 2-0 and carried through to
glorious victory and the first Olympic
Hockey Championship. Their club spirit
had brought them to the pinnacle of hock-
ey fame.
The Swedish and other European teams
(Belgium, France, Czechoslovakia and
Switzerland) appeared on the ice in togs
similar to those used in Soccer Football
with no protection. In their style of play it
was a rare occasion for any player to come
in contact with another but after watching
the Canadians in practice and learning how
powerful the shooting of the Canadians
and Americans really was, the Swedish
goal-keeper turned up bandaged in all the
absorbent cotton he could round up.When
the Swedes managed to score their lone
tally on the Canadians all the players on the
Swedish team rushed to the Falcon men to
thank them profusely for their generosity
in allowing them to score a goal.
The able Hebbie Axford, President of
the club, accompanied the team to
Antwerp along with that most capable of
hockey club secretaries, Bill Fridfinnson,
both of whom gave unselfishly of their ser-
vices to the club for years. Billy Hewitt of
Toronto made a very popular manager for
the Falcons on their Olympic trip. Just
before the big game of the Olympic series
between the Canadians and the United
States’ team, Bill Fridfinnson got into a
tight corner. An officer of the American
army of occupation offered to bet (on
behalf of some of his American army
friends) the small amount of one thousand
francs against the Canadians. Bill, having
no intention whatever of taking the offer,
thought to pull a fast one and said, “make it
ten thousand francs or nothing.” The offi-
cer went away and Bill thought there
would be nothing more heard from him.
Imagine his surprise, however, when the
American returned shortly to say that he
could only get eight thousand francs. Still
with no intention of betting, Bill held out
for the ten thousand, but after the
American had unsuccessfully tried again to
increase the amount, he was in a quandary.
Instead of pulling a “fast one” he had made
a “faux pas,” but after consulting with
Hebbie Axford, they felt that they had
practically obligated themselves to cover
the American money, which they did. Of
course nothing was said to the players but
Bill and Hebbie were certainly on pins and
needles throughout the game and breathed
great sighs of relief when the game was
over and won.
Olympic Victors’ Homecoming - The
boys visited Paris while en route home and
their stay there is particularly remembered
by a delightful dinner given them by Mr.
and Mrs. R.D. Waugh (a former
Winnipegger, Mr. Waugh was at that time
Commissioner of the Saar Valley).
Upon their return to Canada they were
royally welcomed at Montreal and in
Toronto were banqueted and presented
with silver-headed canes.
Arriving in Winnipeg on the 22nd of
May, they were tendered a great Civic wel-