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Tomorrow the remarkable 1938 St.Catharines Athletics will be inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in the team category. With the exception of Harry Green, they were a collection of St. Catharines’ raised lads who grew up together to become the most dominant lacrosse team of that era. The “Home Brews”.

Their regular season record was 23 – 5, went 7 – 1 in the Ontario playoffs (beating three-time champion Orillia Terriers in the finals), and then polished of Cornwall 2 – 0 to win Eastern Canada. In the Mann Cup final they were to meet the New Westminster Adanacs in a best of five series at Maple Leaf Gardens. The A’s 10-7 victory on Wednesday October 12th swept the Dominion finals in three straight and started an immense celebration in the streets of St. Catharines that culminated with a spontaneous parade and public addresses by the returning heroes in the wee hours of the morning in front of radio station CKTB.

Part of the mystique of this team for me was the way they captivated this community. People lined up for hours in advance of game time to crowd into the 2,800-seat Haig Bowl (which caused the city to expand the bowl to 4,200 seats in 1939). Nearly half of the city’s 25,000 citizens stayed up to 1 a.m. to welcome home their champs and for the weeks that followed they were treated as royalty in this city. An extraordinary moment in the history of the great game.

Sadly, none of the members lived long enough to see this honour bestowed upon them. But the members of this great team cast long shadows on the local lacrosse laurels.

The following biographies were taken from the 1938 St. Catharines Athletics program.

BILLY WILSON – 26, 5’11”, 165, FORWARD
- no doubt Bill is Canada’s greatest scoring ace having won this honour after repeatedly topping all scorers both in the East and West. Has played on four Dominion championship teams, 1933 with Hamilton, 1934-35 with Orillia, and 1937 with New Westminster Salmon-Bellies. Although born in Toronto, Billy’s parents established themselves in the Garden City in 1913.

CARL (GUS) MADSEN – 22, 5’11”, 192, DEFENSE
- born in St. Catharines and has played for this city since 1931. Is an all-round athlete, starring in lacrosse, basketball, water polo and rugby. Rated as the best defenseman playing lacrosse today, is very modest about his achievements; has played on two junior and one juvenile Ontario lacrosse championships.

GEORGE HOPE – 22, 6’0”, 165, DEFENSE
- George is a native son and probably has more minor lacrosse championship medals than any player in Canada, having played on two juvenile and four junior Ontario championship teams. Plays defense and is noted for his hard checking and tireless work.

FRANCIS MADSEN – 19, 5’11”, 185 DEFENSE
- youngest member on the team, brother of Carl Madsen and with a few years experience will no doubt achieve the heights gained by brother Carl. Has played on the 1935 and 1936 junior championship teams.

GEORGE (SPARKS) URQUHART – 22, 5’11”, 170, CENTRE
- George is undoubtedly the most tireless worker on the team; great ball-getter and his rushing, fearless tactics give the fans some of their many thrills during the game. Has uncanny ability in obtaining the draw at centre. Stars at basketball and hockey, has played on one juvenile and two junior O.A.L.A. championship teams.

ROY (PUNG) MORTON – 21, 5’10”, 185, FORWARD
- received the nickname from his grandmother who cherished his chubby features. Has natural lacrosse ability; in fact, all sports seem too easy for Roy, starring at lacrosse, rugby, track and field, and basketball. Has played on one juvenile and three junior Ontario championship teams.

HARRY GREEN – 26, 6’1”, 195, DEFENSE
- started playing lacrosse in 1928 on the Cattaragus reservation, played for Rochester during the winter season since 1932; acting as playing coach for the past three years, he has led the Rochester team to many victories over O.A.L.A. senior teams. This is Harry’s second season with Athletics. His defensive ability greatly strengthens the rear-guard.

ROY (BUN) BARNARD, 23, 5’11”, 185, DEFENSE
- born in St. Catharines and has played defense for the Association since 1931. Played on the junior Ontario championship team in 1932; noted for his ability to take a pas in close while running at top speed.

BILL WHITTAKER, 24, 6’0”, 185, GOALTENDER
- born in St. Catharines and with the exception of 1935 when he played for Cornwall, has played all his lacrosse for St. Catharines. Was picked as one of the best goaltenders in 1937; defended goal for the Ontario juvenile champs in 1931 and Ontario junior champs in 1932.

TOM (TANK) TEATHER, 22, 5’9”, 190, FORWARD
- Tank is undoubtedly the Joe Primeau of lacrosse, being noted for his great play-making ability and unselfishness. Has an abundance of speed and can always be depended on to fight till the last bell. Has played on one juvenile and three junior championship teams.

EDDIE KALINOSKI, 22, 5’11”, 160, FORWARD
- Eddie is popularly known as the “whirling dervish” due to the whirling approach or attack he makes towards the nets. Eddie is popular with the players and is just beginning to develop into an all-star lacrosse player. Played for the junior champs of 1935 and 1936.

JOE (CURLY) CHEEVERS, 22, 5’11”, 165, CENTRE
- born in St. Catharines and has played on one juvenile Ontario championship and two junior Ontario championships, and one (senior) Dominion in 1936 with Orillia and in 1937 played in the Dominion finals. Probably the best centre in the game today.

JACK (WANDY) McMAHON, 24, 5’11”, 165, ROVER
- Wandy as he is popularly known, moved to Orillia in 1936 and immediately set the league on fire with his brilliant scoring rushes; led all Ontario in 1936 in goals scored, played on two Ontario junior championship teams in 1932 and 1934, with Orillia Mann Cup Champs in 1936 and with Orillia Dominion finalists in 1937.

BILLY FITZGERALD, 23, 5’11”, 155, FORWARD
- son of the greatest of the great, the late Billy Fitzgerald. Billy has inherited his uncanny natural lacrosse ability, has an abundance of speed and what it takes to stay in there fighting. Has played for St. Catharines on one juvenile and two junior Ontario champion teams; also is a star in softball and basketball.

WINSTON (RED) MILLAR, 26, 5’11”, 150, FORWARD
- Red is one of the original Association players having played on the first championship team sponsored by the St. Catharines Lacrosse Association in 1931. Was one of the famous three horsemen in 1932, noted for their ability to get goals when they were most needed, Played on the ’32 jr. champs, with Burlington, Ontario finalists in 1935.

TC Footnote: The team was coached by Art Brown.
The St. Catharines Standard described Coach Brown in a brief bio with these words:

“Played senior Athletics 1906-10, strict disciplinarian, stickler for team play and condition, gives all credit to his players.”

From The St.Catharines Standard

Thursday October 13, 1938

ST.CATHARINES -- Hailed by the world of lacrossedom as the greatest band of native-born sons of sport, St. Catharines Athletics have been dubbed in that pastime as the Ontario “homebrews”, largely from the fact that the personnel of the team practically grew up together.

JOSEPH CHEEVERS
-Rated the best drawing centre in senior lacrosse in Canada

BILLY FITZGERLD
-Rated the fastest man on the team and tireless worker

HARRY GREEN
-Rated a wizard stickhandler, body checker, and “feeders” in senior lacrosse and hardest man to stop in possession of the ball.

GEORGE HOPE
-Rated one of Ontario’s hardest checkers, strong runner, fine passer and possessor of terrific high shot.

CARL “GUS” MADSEN – CLUB CAPTAIN
-Rated the best “two-way” defensemen in Canada and highest scoring rearguard in eastern Canada.

FRANK MADSEN
-Fast runner and tricky passer and shot

WINSTON “RED” MILLAR
-Fine stickhandler, tight checker, zig-zag runner and precise shot.

JACK “WANDY” McMAHON
-Rated the best ball “ragger” in senior ranks, 2nd fastest man on club, superb stickhandler, terrific worker, quickest shot, coaches juvenile Bears.

ROY “PUNG” MORTON
-Rated an artist in taking passes and delivering deadly shots on the run.

TOM “TANK” TEATHER
-Rated one of the club’s strongest runners, best passers, shots and team player.

GEORGE “SPARK” URQUHART
-Rated the hardest fighter for loose balls on the club, catches, passes, shoots with either hand, is the most improved player on 1938 team.