By ALAN HALBERSTADT - Windsor Star Sports Writer - 9/5 thru 9/8/1973
Photo courtesy of Bob Murray
HALIFAX — Windsor Warlocks came to the Atlantic to put their personal official seal on it. Friday night Warlocks did just that before 503 paid Centennial Arena onlookers. With their 18-4 humiliation of Prince George Oldstylers, Warlocks not only put their seal on the President’s Cup for the third time in the last four years, they also sealed this national senior lacrosse championship as a competitive sham.
“It didn’t seem like a national championship to me,” said Warlock captain Jim Hinkson. “It seemed more like a pee wee tournament.” “It wasn’t as exciting as the last time we won it in 1971,” said Mike McMahon. Most Warlocks were in general agreement that the inferior competition bred a certain hollowness of victory.
Yet, on the other hand, most felt compensating rapture in the maintenance of professional pride. “I’m really proud of the way the team has handled itself in this tournament,” said goaltender Don Crocker. Indeed, Warlocks were models of dignity. Not once did they stray from the mission at hand. They remained steadfastly dedicated to their reputation in spite of numerous opportunities to abandon it.
Friday’s systematic destruction of B.C. was a case in point. Warlocks unravelled their total game at the lead-footed British Columbians and, more importantly, they didn’t have to hot dog it to do it. Duffy McCarthy exploded again with seven goals.
Jim Higgs, who just might be the most complete lacrosse player in the country, controlled the floor with four goals and two assists. Crocker finished a storied comeback season with yet another all-encompassing game in goal.
Warlocks have their superstars, but more than that their essence is the team. Several people contributed in the finale.
The awesome power play did it again with eight scores in 11 tries. Besides McCarthy and Higgs, power playmates John MacDonald, Bill Hope and Thom Vann added 15 points.
MacDonald had a goal and six assists, Vann four assists and Hope, who won the round-robin scoring title with 22 points, a goal and three assists. McMahon, Scott Cameron, Ron Liscombe, John Fletcher and Tom Wright added a goal each on behalf of the unsung ones.
“Taking into consideration team spirit, work and dedication, you’ll never see another senior ballclub like that one,” said Warlock coach William “Skeets” Harrison. Harrison was savoring a national championship in his first full year as a coach of lacrosse. His satisfaction was tempered only in the fact that not everyone could partake.
With his decision to dress veteran Don Allen, who might well have experienced his swansong to the game, and 15-year-old junior Ron Martinello, Harrison was forced to sit out rookies Kyle Kingsley and Mike Burke.
The Windsor Star, Friday, September 7, 1973
Sudden-death for Warlocks tonight Oldstylers finally strike….
HALIFAX — The mathematicians took hold of the national senior lacrosse championships late Thursday night and their deductions put British Columbia against Ontario in the President’s Cup final after all. By a quotient differential of 2.5 (whatever that means), Prince George Oldstylers squeezed past Halifax PCOS into tonight’s 8:30 p.m. championship game. Oldstylers alleviated the embarrassment of yielding a final berth to raw beginners PCOS on the strength of 13-7 and 17-7 final-day round-robin decisions over Manitoba All-Stars in the afternoon and Taber Ebony Hawks (representing Alberta) at night. Windsor Warlocks contributed by beating Halifax 13-7 in the opening half of the evening doubleheader.
Oldstylers and PCOS finished the four-team round-robin even in wins and losses at two apiece. The Einsteins took it from there, licking their chops over the tournament’s absurd method of tie-breaking. They took each team’s total goals for, added it to the total goals against and turned right around and divided their answer into the total goals against. The quotients of .487 for B.C. and .512 for Nova Scotia decided second place. Warlocks, of course, were first at 4-0, Manitoba and Alberta trailing at 1-3. Oldstylers apparently understood the tie-breaking commandments well. They knew they had to beat Alberta by seven and they did it on the wings of a dramatic third-period binge. Leading by only four (10-6) at the third period’s mid-point, they buried Hawks 7-1 the rest of the way, Al Lawson, Barry Williams, Vern Norbraten and playing coach Al Watt making it 14-6 and Mike Mushins, Jeff Rowland and Skip Mint salting it away after an Alberta reply. B.C. entered the tournament as second seed to Ontario, but gravely disappointed in the early going. Warlocks battered them 15-3 opening day and PCOS delighted the home folks 10-8 on day two.
The home folks were ready to be delighted again last night but Warlocks interceded on behalf of B.C. A demonstrative crowd of 677 payees assembled in intimate Centennial Arena to roast Warlocks and salute PCOS. Warlocks silenced them with a magnificent first period, their best period by far of the tournament. They threw out their full arsenal of precise and sophisticated lacrosse. PCOS were powerless to stop them. Bruce Belland, Jim Higgs, John MacDonald, Duffy McCarthy, goalie Don Crocker and Mike McMahon powdered Hoss Watson with six first-period goals.
Photos courtesy of the Windsor Star
Crocker recorded his fourth straight first-period shutout in addition to triggering his second series goal. It was a short-handed ruby, an over-the-shoulder display of arrogance that did nothing to enhance Warlocks image here. “That was our best period,” said Warlock coach William “Skeets” Harrison. “We were breaking down the floor and everything.” Warlocks were motivated for the game through a team meeting called by Crocker to ensure prevention of complacency. A TV interview featuring PCOS’ Watson and Wayne Finck didn’t hurt, either. Watson and Finck suggested that Warlocks were not accustomed to heavy checking and that heavy checking was exactly what PCOS were going to do to them. Most of the Warlocks saw the interviews and found it extremely distasteful. They later transmitted that distaste to PCOS on the floor.
Following their supreme first period, Warlocks went on to mount a 10-0 advantage in the second. Hugh Leadbetter finally got PCOS off the ground at 13:44 and with their shutout ruined Warlocks coasted. Actually, PCOS had the place in a tizzy in the third period when they outshot Warlocks 11-8 and outscored them 4-2. Both were firsts in the tournament against Warlocks. “It’s pretty hard to keep them up,” said Harrison. McCarthy scored three times for Warlocks with MacDonald and Higgs adding two each. Crocker, Belland, McMahon, Jim Hinkson, Thom Vann and Tom Wright had the others. Bill Chambers potted three Halifax goals with Dave Carter, Kevin Elliot, Robbie Brown and Leadbetter sharing the others. Said PCO coach Bill McBain: “Windsor’s got a great club, but I’d like to replay the first period. I don’t think our guys realized they could play with them until after the first period. “We out-scored them in the third and it was 20 minutes stop time. If we played three periods like the third period tonight we could beat them.” Unfortunately, McBain and PCOS won’t get the chance.
Thursday, September 6, 1973
At crease, McCarthy scores five Warlocks switch on 12-4 power…
#7 Duffy McCarthy
HALIFAX — How do you improve a power play that has scored seven times in 10 tries? Windsor Warlocks found a way here Wednesday afternoon as they continued to horsewhip their President’s Cup opposition with a man advantage.
Warlocks, peaked from playing three games in 24 hours and undernourished mentally due to a vacuum of competition, fell back on their most reliable and constant force for the umpteenth time this season. After achieving 70 per cent efficiency in the first two games of this round-robin national senior lacrosse championship, Warlocks concocted an acceleration of power play flow. Eight out of nine times they clicked in a 12-4 decision over the surprising Manitoba All-Stars. In what could almost be termed an improvement on perfection, Warlocks transposed the power play patrols of Jim Higgs and Duffy McCarthy. Higgs went from the crease to the slot on the point and McCarthy took up Higgs’ position at the crease.
The result: A slump-ridden McCarthy (goalless in the first two games) went into orbit. He scored five times, four of those on the power play. Higgs counted one of the other four with power playmates Thom Vann (two) and Bill Hope potting the others. “It’s sort of a psych thing,” said McCarthy. “We do it to mess up the defence. Early in the first period, every time I’d get the ball in the slot, they (Manitoba) would start yelling ‘He’s a shooter, he’s a shooter.’ “They were keying on me so Jim and I decided to switch. They left me alone after I went to the crease and all Hope had to do was pop it over to me.”
Hope, the right side crease man, assisted on three McCarthy goals. “We did it a couple of times against Six Nations (in the Ontario finals),” said Higgs. “Duffy was having trouble today and it doesn’t matter to me which position I play. “I have a shallower pocket in my stick than he does and can get rid of the ball a little quicker. The defence gets used to Duffy taking more time getting rid of it and then I take over.” Whatever the theories, Warlocks’ flexibility on the power play devastated an otherwise inspired Manitoba team.
The Manitobans, an aggregation of three Winnipeg teams, gave Warlocks easily their sternest test yet. “They’re the surprise of the tournament,” said Warlock coach William (Skeets) Harrison. “I said I was impressed with them after watching them against Nova Scotia Monday. I think they’ll be there Friday night.” Friday night Warlocks and somebody else will contest the championship.
Warlocks clinched a berth Wednesday with their third straight victory. Even a loss to Nova Scotia tonight at 7:30 (which is improbable) would not knock Warlocks out of the finals. The run for the runner-up slot and a second chance at Warlocks may go right down to the wire. All four teams still have a shot at qualifying. Warlocks, although hardly in top form, found Manitoba a worthy foe. It took them more than half of the first period to break a scoreless tie, McCarthy finally breaking through from crease-side at 10:40. Warlocks outshot Manitoba 17-6 in the first period but undisciplined, erratic shooting and the Herculean work of Bill Crook in the Manitoba net restricted them to a 3-0 lead, all three goals fired by McCarthy from the crease-side. A last-second strike by Hope in the second period gave Warlocks a 7-2 advantage after 40 minutes and they pulled away with difficulty in the stop-time third.
Manitoba coach Jim Hanson attributed conditioning to his team’s slow third-period fade. “With three lines, you can usually look down the bench and have somebody fresh,” he said. “But, in the third period I looked down the bench and nobody was fresh.” Hanson is immensely impressed with Warlocks and was consequently satisfied with only an eight-goal difference. “I didn’t think we’d win,” he said. “I thought the boys did quite well. “It’s a pleasure playing against a team like Windsor. I’d like to play them every week. We’d never win, but we’d enjoy it and learn something.” Hanson, by the way, remarked that Warlocks’ power play is the “best I’ve ever seen.” Harrison was glad it was. “We’re not playing well,” he said. “We beat them on the power play.”
Besides five goals and one assist by McCarthy, Vann and Hope had two goals and four assists each. Bruce Belland, Ron Liscombe and Higgs shot singles and John MacDonald, Warlocks’ other power-play member, gathered four assists. Bill Sterns, Calvin Paul, Dave Martin and Dave Gillis were the four to beat Don Crocker, who once again was superb. Crocker has yet to be scored upon in a first period and has yielded only 10 goals in three games over-all.
Iffy’ windup…..
HALIFAX — It’s still anybody’s guess which team will qualify to meet Windsor Warlocks in Friday night’s battle for the President’s Cup. Halifax threw a wrench into the works with two victories Wednesday, a 9-5 decision over Taber, Alta. prior to a 10-8 nod over Prince George B.C.
Those results, combined with the Alberta entry’s 9-6 triumph over Manitoba on the heels of Windsor’s 12-4 whipping of the Manitobans, left the possibility of a three-way tie for second spot following completion of round-robin competition today. The Warlocks (3-0) have claimed one berth. Halifax (2-1) faces the Windsor entry tonight needing a victory to lock up the other championship berth.
Manitoba and Taber (each 1-2) clash with winless Prince George (0-2) today. Thus, if Windsor beats Halifax and Prince George again comes up empty there will be a three-way tie for second spot and some committee-room untangling scheduled.
Photos courtesy of the Windsor Star
Wednesday, September 5, 1973
Harrison unhappy despite Warlock waltzes
HALIFAX — Speculation here has been that only a plane crash could deprive Ontario of its eighth President’s Cup in 10 years. Well, late Monday night the craft carrying Windsor Warlocks touched down safe and sound. Tuesday Warlocks went about proving the speculators right . . . and then some. The purpose of the 10th President’s Cup is to promote and expose lacrosse to Haligonians with Warlocks the showcase of how the game is supposed to be played. As instructors Warlocks are superb. In a pair of games they have already dismantled much of their repertoire, enough to demolish Alberta 24-3 and British Columbia 15-3 and make this five-province national senior lacrosse championship a competitive mockery.
The first two periods of both games were straight time. The frightening thing about it all is that Warlocks still have some arsenal left in the bag. And they can win lazily without ever exposing it. “We’ve been sluggish since we’ve been here,” said coach William “Skeets” Harrison following Warlocks destruction of the Prince George Oldstylers last night. “We came on with the fast break in the third period but I’d still like to see us put three running periods together. We have yet to play outstanding lacrosse.”
Oldstylers were to have been Warlocks’ chief opposition here. Instead they succumbed with nary a whimper, so meekly in fact that Harrison figures them vulnerable to others. “I really do think Manitoba can beat them,” he said. “Manitoba’s raw material impressed me. They’re in good condition and they have a good goaltender.” Harrison drew these conclusions from watching the Manitoba all-stars outlast Halifax PCO’s 11-9 in overtime in the opener of yesterday’s evening doubleheader before 564 Centennial Arena fans. Only Ontario (2-0) and Manitoba (1-0) remain unbeaten with Warlocks scheduled to make it a one-team show this afternoon. They face Manitoba at 2 o’clock. Thursday night pits Warlocks against Halifax in the wrap-up of their round-robin schedule and Friday night they battle the unfortunate beholders of second place in the 8:30 p.m. championship game.
Oldstylers are a grave disappointment. They are here unheralded as upset victors over New Westminster Blues in the B.C. final. Harry Wooley, who Windsor fans will remember as the man who went bananas in the final game of the President’s Cup two years ago at Windsor Arena (as playing coach of Burnaby), is now the commissioner of the West Coast League. Blues were crowned West Coast League champions before bowing to Prince George (of the Interior League) in a best-of-three western final.
This isn’t exactly lacrosse heaven….
HALIFAX — The Windsor Warlock lacrosse team, a first-class operation, has commuted first class 1,400 miles to partake in a second-class event. Warlocks, pioneers of the dress shirt in Canadian senior lacrosse, have discovered here, much to their chagrin, that most of the rest of Canadian senior boxladom still insists on the T-shirt. Item: Quebec puts the kibosh on a double round-robin format with a last-minute abdication from the President’s Cup tournament, insolvency being the reason. Item: Warlocks arrive here at midnight Monday still unaware of their first-day opponents, the restructured format of the now five-team carnival and indeed, even the fact that they are committed to play two games on opening day.
Item: Forum for this national championship is Centennial Arena, capacity 1,200 brimming over, cracks in the floor, no exterior marquee, no moorings on the nets, no showers in the dressing quarters and generally a dilapidated and unembellished version of Windsor’s Adie Knox Herman Arena. Item: The Halifax Mail-Star publicizes this national showcase with two paragraphs and 82 words in its Tuesday edition. Item: Warlocks take to the floor for game one of the championships Tuesday afternoon against some rustics of lacrosse from Taber, Alta. The game is more of a wake, won 24-3 by Warlocks before a handful of spectators, in fact, less than the number on hand Monday afternoon to see Warlocks off from Windsor Airport. “I think it’s a ludicrous move on the part of the CLA (Canadian Lacrosse Association) to hold the series here,” protests Ontario Lacrosse Association senior convenor Charlie Foster, who accompanied Warlocks east.
“It puts a great financial burden on the individual teams. It isn’t fair to them. “Windsor would be a perfect host. They have the facility and it’s been proven that they can bring in the fans for a national series. It’s strictly a promotional series this year. It’s been done on an experimental basis to attempt to stimulate lacrosse in provinces outside Ontario and British Columbia. It’s strictly a gamble.” For the first time the national championship is being bankrolled partially by a government grant. It will subsidize air fare for the four visiting teams. “To justify its application for the grant, the CLA had to provide a national tournament,” says Foster. “The government will not sponsor a two-team series.” The CLA, through the grant, will pay Warlocks the price of 20 fares, Windsor to Halifax return. Warlocks exhausted those with 19 roster members and coach William “Skeets” Harrison. Team medic Gary Leach, business manager Don Mensch and two statisticians paid their own freight. The Warlock executives, including coach Harrison, dipped into their own pockets to cover the fare of a 20th player, 15-year-old Ron Martinello.
Martinello was prominent in a couple of OLA playoff games on behalf of Warlocks and they felt his contributions to the team merited the trip. Also travelling with the team are two trainers. Warlocks must foot the bill for their transportation. Lodging, food and extras for the entire troupe are other drains on the team budget. Warlocks are living first-class here on the enterprise and devotion of a few men, not on a wad of excess capital. A few days before they left, the executive created the Warlock championship travel fund with an objective of $2,500 to defray costs. Dr. Leach and Mensch were on the phone all day last Friday drumming up donations from professional men and businesses in Windsor. Through their efforts, half of the $2,500 is now realized. The other half? Well, Warlocks will have to wait and see about that. If it isn’t forthcoming, they will simply grin, bear it and take a plunge into the red. Whatever the cost, Warlocks reject mediocrity completely. Now if Warlocks could just get the rest of senior lacrosse up to the level of their rejection, maybe we could work from here.
Wooley witnessed Oldstylers’ upset and says it should never have happened. “The whole series was in Prince George and New West was hoisted by the referees,” he said. “They (Prince George) would be lucky to finish in the playoffs in our league. New West was the best senior B lacrosse team I’ve ever seen from the west.” Harrison, in mulling over British Columbia’s recession, forwarded his agreement. “I think the team they (Oldstylers) beat out was a better ballclub,” he said. Whatever the extenuating circumstances, Warlocks were able to toy with Prince George. They went to the top 3-0 in the first period, increased the advantage to 8-1 after two and then put their fluid game in motion in the third, outscoring Oldstylers 7-2.
Bill Hope led the charge with three goals and five assists. Bruce Belland also fired three, Ron Liscombe, Jim Hinkson and Jim Higgs shot two each and singles went to John MacDonald, Ron Martinello and Thom Vann. Goalie Don Crocker, who has been outstanding even though it has not been required of him, earned six assists. Earl Hughes, Mark Mushins and Tony Ciolfitto responded for Prince George. Crocker astounded Maritime fans, what there were of them, in Warlocks’ rout of the Taber Ebony Hawks in the afternoon. He scored a goal, which, of course, no longer astounds Windsor fans.
Vann potted four goals, Higgs, Scott Cameron and John Fletcher contributed three each, Mike McMahon had two and Belland, Mike Burke, MacDonald, Mike Smith, Tom Wright, Don Allen, Liscombe and Hope added one each. Ken Boychuk scored two for Alberta and Ken Gregus had the other. Warlocks awed the Albertans, who freely admit to their tenderfoot status. “We’ve only been at the game three years,” said Hawk coach Terry Kerkhoff. “We haven’t been able to get into the technicalities of the game yet. We just recently learned to do a couple fancy things with the stick.” Hawks, however, did have pre-game knowledge of Crocker’s offensive antics. “The coach told us to watch out for their goalie,” said Gregus. “He told us that he (Crocker) is probably better with the stick than some of us.”
EDITOR’S NOTE:
All Windsor Warlock photos were digital scans courtesy of Jim Hinkson
