---

From: ST.CATHARINES STANDARD

FRIDAY MAY 14, 1954

ST.CATHARINES -- The new streamlined Ontario Lacrosse Association senior league has its official 1954 opening at Garden City Arena tonight.

Last year’s six team group has been cut to four this season and the experiment which proved so successful…six man lacrosse…will be continued.

The cutting of the league from a half dozen to four teams should give the senior group more balance than at any other time in the past decade. In other seasons clubs liked Brampton and Fergus were left far behind the pack by the time the schedule was one-quarter finished, thus cutting a good deal of the interest out of the league until play-off time.

Now with four teams each roster will be crammed with genuine senior-caliber players and at the present time there doesn’t appear to be a weak unit in the quartet.

The 1954 season will open exactly where it left off last year in Ontario. That is, the Peterborough Trailermen, Ontario and Canadian champs in 1953 will meet their sternest rivals, the St. Catharines Athletics.

Many changes have been made since last autumn and on the surface at least it would appear that the Athletics have strengthened considerably while the Petes have possibly lost a little of their overwhelming power.

Most important addition to the St. Catharines team in the colourful Native (TC edit) combination of Ross Powless and Roger Smith. This pair was signed by the Athletics three months ago despite the protests and threats issued by the Trailermen who owned their contracts last season.

One other newcomer will be in the St. Catharines lineup. A scouting trip by Doug Cove during the intermediate playoffs in the Windsor-Sarnia area last year resulted in the signing of defenceman Paul Soper of the Sarnia team.

Soper arrived in St. Catharines early this week and despite spotting his new club several weeks in conditioning, has been a positive standout in practices held in Garden City Arena.

“He’s rough, in fact has left a few bruises with the other members of the Athletics but I think he’ll be a big help defensively,” stated Coach Doug Cove after the final pre-season practice last night.

“Sure he’s got a lot to learn but he’s so willing to co-operate with everything I suggest that I don’t see how he can miss making a place on the team.”

The Petes have lost strength with the departure of Powless and Smith along with Nip O’Hearn to the west coast. However they have added a couple of junior stars from last year along with veteran Geo. Masters who has seen action with Mimico, Hamilton and Orillia, and Denny Peterson, one of the top members of the Mimico Mounties two seasons back.

Well known players like Harry Wipper, goalie Moon Wootton, Gerry Fitzgerald, Don Ashbee and Russ Slater are back in the Peterboro lineup giving them the depth they feel they need for another Canadian title.

Doug Favell will definitely start in goal for the Athletics tonight. The roster will be completed from the following: Bill Nelson, Don and Al Frick, Doug Smith, Paul Soper, Fred Martin, John Dewar, Jim Bradshaw, Roger Smith, Ross Powless, Don Moore, Derry Davies, Bill Bradshaw, Norm Corcoran and Ted Howe. One player will have to be dropped for tonight to stay within the 15-man limit.