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ST.CATHARINES -- As the 1939 St.Catharines Athletics railed west in the pursuit of defending their Mann Cup title, they stopped over in Winnipeg to play the Manitoba champions. This afforded the team a rare opportunity for a meeting with an Athletic "oldboy" from the championship team of 1880.

The St.Catharines Standard

Tuesday October 10, 1939

ST.CATHARINES -- K.J. Johnston of Winnipeg, who captained the famed Athletic lacrosse team of 1880 recalls the "kick" he experienced watching the current edition of the Athletics defeat Elmwood Pats 20 - 10 last Monday night at Winnipeg in a letter received at The Standard today.

Received Gold Badge

Fifty-nine years ago Mr. Johnston received a gold badge from his team-mates for regular attendance at practice during the year. At the luncheon tendered the Athletics team in Winnipeg, the old-time double-blue captain had the pleasure, at the request of E.H. Lancaster, K.C., of exhibiting the badge to the Athletics players and explaining how he won the medal.

A clipping from a St. Catharines newspaper of 1880 containing an account of the presentation was included in Mr. Johnston's letter. The presentation was made by Ald. McIntyre, president of the Athletic Lacrosse Club, at a dinner held at the Murray House..."The badge is a handsome gold wreath of maple leaves, in the centre of which is a gold ball and a pair of lacrosse sticks, and above the sticks a beaver, surmounted by a crown, all suspended by a silk band on which is a shield with an inscription," according to the newspaper report.

Early Morning Practice

To win the medal, Mr. Johnston did not miss a lacrosse practice at the old fair grounds on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week for five months from April to September in the season of 1880. The practices were held at six o'clock each morning except on the day of a game. The late James Adie was runner-up for the medal as he missed but one practice.

Recalled Old Times

The former St. Catharines resident states that he remembered the parents of many of the St. Catharines supporters who are accompanying the Athletics in their second bid for the Mann Cup. "They were all pleased to meet me as I was to meet them," he wrote.

Incidentally, Mr. Johnston, a veteran of the old field game mentioned that last Monday's encounter was the first box lacrosse game he had ever witnessed.

The letter contained clippings from Winnipeg newspapers showing photos and comment about the game. The 'Peg fans were not disappointed regarding the defeat. One newspaper referred to the loss as "the annual defeat."

"Like most of the visiting teams to Winnipeg whether from the east or the far west, St. Catharines Athletics had just too much science for the gallant local sextette, which furnished the opposition," the Free Press reporter observed.

The Pats, it was reported, were partially composed of juniors, and the biggest thrill for the fans was in the final quarter when the Winnipeg team outscored the Athletics 6 to 5.

Carl and Frank Madsen, Roy Morton, "Tank" Teather, Harry Green, Bill Whittaker and Jack McMahon stood out, but as the reporter commented, the entire team had too much "experience," and were calm and collected.