Allan Palmer's History of Streatham Ice Hockey.

Introduction

Organised hockey has been played in Britain for over a century. An early fifties copy of the "Ice Hockey World Annual" reveals that the English Champions of 1898 were a team called "Niagara", possibly the last name that one would think of as a name for an English hockey club! However, the mere fact that hockey was organised along league lines at that time means that, almost certainly, ice hockey was being played in Britain well over a century ago. Any similarity between the hockey of those days and that seen today is purely co-incidental. For a start, the game was an "on-side" game; in other words, it was similar to rugby in that the puck had to be passed back. This is not too surprising bearing in mind that, as with other games, the British were in at the commencement and development of yet another sport. Legend has it that, in 1870, a British regiment on duty in Canada started to play hockey during a recreation period. They were playing on the snow when, so it is written, someone suggested that they put on skates and play on nearby ice. Having said that, it is more than likely that even this barely authenticated story is not the earliest evidence of hockey played on ice. In his book "Flashing Blades", Phil Drackett suggests that hockey was played centuries before. The message is that ice hockey is hardly a new game and is certainly not new to the British Isles. It is a game that has long enjoyed Royal patronage in that in the mid-1890's a team of Royal persons played a game against a Lord Stanley team...the latter named team led by the eldest son of the gentleman who gave his name to one of sports most famous and spectacular trophies, the Stanley Cup. Furthermore, during their north American visit in the early 1950’s the, then, Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip saw an ice hockey match in Canada and the Prince was so impressed that he asked to see a game back home. This was duly arranged and, on 4th December 1952 a “royal command” match was played at Wembley between the Wembley Lions and the “Ice Hockey World All Stars”. So, again, ice hockey has an indelible British connection.

However, it is the season of 1933/34 that many regard as being the first in the "modern era" of British ice hockey. To the very good "amateur " players that had played for English teams such as the Grosvenor House Canadians were added Canadian professionals. This not only led to a big improvement in standards, also press coverage grew. Streatham was among the teams in that inaugural league and they finished fourth. Grosvenor House Canadians were the first English National League Champions and much was expected of this club in the second season of National League hockey over here. The club was leaving their home on Park Lane for , in sporting terms, even more opulent surroundings...the Empire Pool and Sports Arena at Wembley. They now became the Wembley Canadians and they must have been short odds to repeat their first success. But, not for the last time, Streatham confounded "big rink" aspirations and duly won their first National League title. Happily, Wembley baptised their new rink with a London Cup success...but the Red, White and Blues won the big one! What is more, this very well balanced team came to within two points of retaining their title in 1935/36 when Wembley's new team, the Wembley Lions won the title (34 points) with Richmond Hawks second (33) and Streatham third (32). Wembley Canadians, later named Monarchs, finished fourth.

The Streatham team of this era was a mixture of home grown and Canadian stars. Gerry Davey, Archie Stinchcombe and Carl Erhardt were players who were, during this season, to win immortality by being in the Great Britain side that won the World and Olympic titles. George Shaw was an outstanding centre and his line was completed (with Davey on his right) by a feisty left winger who was destined to also win immortality in British hockey terms...Harvey "Red" Stapleford. Yet another fine player was a man who perhaps is better known as the founder of the "Ice Hockey World"...Bob Giddens. Bob was a fine player who was said to possess a very powerful wrist shot but it was his zest for the game that was his hallmark and this came through in his love of the game, his love and understanding of hockey players (he later coached the Kensington Corinthians) and his determination to support hockey in the British Isles through his newspaper. Also in this Streatham squad were Maurice Gerth (the first in an impressive list of Streatham netminders) and Dickie von Trauttenberg, captain of the Austrian national team.

I spoke earlier of the World and Olympic success in which Streatham had more than a little interest, bearing in mind the players that they supplied to that memorable team. Having said that, other teams supplied their fair share of players...none more so than the team finishing second in the League that season, the Richmond Hawks. They supplied the legendary netminder, Jimmie Foster and Joe Beaton, who finished top of the scoring list that season.

Another fine player of that era who was sheer box-office was Wembley Lions’ Lou Bates. Not only was Lou an outstanding player whose arrival on the puck produced the “Loooooo” chorus from the Wembley faithful, he also deserves a mention in this homage to Streatham because, if we move the clock forward 15 years, we find Lou at “Red” Stapleford’s side as bench-coach in SW16. Another player from this era was a netminder by the name of Jimmy Justice; movie fans may know him better as James Robertson Justice.

1935/36 saw a new arena being added to the venues of English ice hockey; the opulent Empress Hall at Earl's Court in London. As was the case at Wembley, the Empress Hall supported two teams...the Earl's Court Rangers and the Kensington Corinthians. Although the Rangers were destined to survive in English hockey for almost twenty more years, the Corinthians fared badly and survived only very briefly. Judged on their 1935/36 results this may not be too surprising but their record is only marginally bettered that year by one of the great names in English hockey, the Brighton Tigers. Perhaps the management at Empress Hall felt that having two teams diluted their talent, so they banked on just the one team. Whatever, their decision was a bitter/sweet judgement for Bob Giddens (Corinthians coach) but as one door closed another opened and Bob then put his heart and soul into the "Ice Hockey World" probably the world's first regular hockey newspaper. The inability of west London to support two teams did not deter a second major rink opening in north London. When Harringay Arena opened it's doors, to what was to be Britains finest hockey venue, the Harringay management of Percy Nicklin (coach of the legendary GB 1936 team) and Major Mackenzie launched two teams, the Racers and the Greyhounds. We were to hear alot more of both of these illustrious clubs 'ere long!

Other clubs came...and sadly just as quickly went. Manchester and Southampton Vikings both put in brief appearances although, of course, Southampton became a centre of Intermediate hockey for many years. Thus, after the seven team league of 1935/36, the league grew to eleven in 1936/37 only to fall back to seven in 1937/38 brought about by the demise of Hawks and Corinthians in addition to Vikings and Manchester. So, in 1937/38 the pattern of English hockey that was to survive more-or-less the same until the mid-fifties was set. The Lions and Monarchs of Wembley, Harringay Racers and Greyhounds, Earl's Court Rangers, Brighton Tigers and, of course, Streatham. The very worthy plan to extend the boundary of big league hockey in England by building a rink in Nottingham was beaten by the onset of war and it was not until 1947 that the Panthers competed in the National League. By now the expected dominance of the "big rink" clubs was in full flower and as in 1936 the 1937 League winners were Wembley Lions. However, this merely stung Harringay into action and in 1938 Racers were champions follwed by Greyhound wins in 1939 and 1940. As if to emphasise the "big rink" dominance, the Racers '38 win was on a close call from Monarchs whilst the 'Hounds were pushed all the way by Rangers. But now war clouds had gathered and although a mini league operated during the "phoney war" period (as stated, the Greyhouds won a tourney comprising the two Harringay's and the two Wembley clubs plus Streatham) to all intents and purposes hockey was shut down until the conflict had passed. Services hockey was played during this period at Earl's Court and Brighton.

After the war Earl's Court did not immediately return but the seven team League was preserved by the appearance (at last) of the Nottingham Panthers. Having said that neither Panthers nor the Racers appeared for the Autumn Cup tounament of 1946/47 a competition won by Brighton Tigers. Tigers also won the League and a club led by the legendary Bobby Lee carried all before them. It was a club with some excellent players and others full of good endeavour properly channeled. In their small sea-side home they were virtually unbeatable and they had too much on the ball for the other clubs who were still getting their act together after the long shut down. Brighton's dominance continued into 1947/48 when they again won the League but echoes of pre-war were heard as Harringay Racers and Wembley Monarchs fought a tooth-and-claw battle for the Autumn Cup. So a fully fledged "big rink"/"small rink" battle looked to be being joined. Would the pre-war "big rink" dominance return or would Brighton strike a blow for the "little guy"?

In fact neither was realised. The big clubs did not dominate as before but the reason for this was Streatham rather than Brighton. True, Monarchs won the Autumn Cup and Racers the League in 1948/49 but Streatham consolidated their National Tournament win of 1947/48 with a good showing in the International Tournament of 1948/49 which proved to be the platform for their League win of 1949/50. The big rink dominance was now broken and from having been an emerging club that the other teams were finding more difficult to beat Streatham had now become the team to beat. The club was now firmly in the hands of "Red" Stapleford and his genius at scouting, team building and coaching was now taking his club to the pinnacle of achievement in hockey in not only the British Isles but almost certainly in Europe as well. Incidentally, I referred to a good showing in the International Tournament of 1948/49 and this came about by the inclusion of Paris in this tourney. However, to illustrate the Europe point just made, Streatham defeated Paris 23-3 in their game at Streatham in January 1949...an almost unheard of score-line for those days, but one that illustrates that English League hockey of that time was far superior to that generally seen on the continent. And, about now, Streatham were about to emerge as the best team in that League.

In 1949/50 Streatham won the National Tournament and then the National League. Much of the success of the Streatham team at this time was rightly accorded to "Red" Stapleford but no small amount of credit should go to Bob "Doc" Brodrick, the Streatham captain. Both with this team, and later with the outstanding 1952/53 team, the success of Streatham was to, my mind, shared by the "boss" and an influential skipper. Bob Brodrick was one such and later Don Callaghan, filling the same role, was another. It was almost as if "Red" needed his influence on the ice and, in Bob and Don, he had two captains who filled this requirement. They were both excellent players and they could therefore lead by example. They were both clean players and they both possessed a good temperament. But they neither of them took too kindly to losing, so they were good motivators. If they sound to you like ideal captains then you are correct and this played no small part in the success that was now attending Streatham Ice Hockey Club. Of course, championships are not won by good intentions alone; somewhere along the way good players must perform at their peak for much of a long season. In this Streatham of 1949/50 were well served by some of that eras greatest. Not only Brodrick on defence but also the one and only Art Hodgins. Behind them that steady goaler, Keith Woodall. Then "Paddy" Ryan, Dave Miller, George Drysdale and Mike Yaschuk. And perhaps as much as anybody on the team that lovely skater Kenny Campbell now, sadly, no longer with us.

Art and Keith were the lone survivors of this team to be lined up for 1950/51 and then Keith had to pass up on the trip for family reasons. So 1950/51 saw basically an entire new team with (not surprisingly) new tactics to suit the new squad. Some recruits had played here before; the redoubtable Jack Leckie and that mouth-watering stick-handler Rheal Savard, both formerly with Scottish clubs. Don Callaghan had spent an earlier, largely undistinguished, season at Wembley. But among the raw recruits were two men who would, eventually, become big stars on the British "Great Ice Way"; Ray Maisoneuve and Vic Fildes. Despite their inexperience, this team did really well in the Autumn Cup, finishing runner-up to Brighton Tigers but they fell away badly in the League due to a mixture of poor discipline, injuries and inexperience. However, clouds have silver linings and the better players from this side ( among them Gordie Callaghan) returned in 1951/52 where, added to the talent of that outstanding netminder, Earl Betker, and the likes of Ken Little and Mac Beaton they ran away with the Autumn Cup and finished third in the League. Adding the results of the two competitions together, however, they were "Team of the Year". Then, in 1952/53 "Red" added Fred Dunsmore, Stu Robertson, Vic Kreklewetz, Andre Charest and Bill Winemaster to the pick of the three earlier aggregations to bring together the players that formed one of the great teams in the annuls of British hockey...the English National League champions of 1952/53, Streatham Ice Hockey club.

1953/54 saw many of the great team from the previous year return for what was to be Streatham's last season for six long years. However, there were some notable absentees from this team; Betker was replaced by Ron Kilbey, Kreky and the Callaghans were missing as was Stu Robertson.. Nevertheless, this was still a good team finishing as Autumn Cup winners and League runners-up. Of the newcomers Gene Miller was an impressive rookie who later starred in the Harringay Racers British League championship side of 1954/55 and the much heralded Gordie Knutson was one of those players who lived up to his advanced billing.

However, in May 1954 the Streatham committee wrote the "Letter Edged in Black", a document that formally withdrew Streatham from the League. The plans that "Red" Stapleford had drawn up that were designed to ensure that the first British League venture (combining the English and Scottish clubs) would come to Streatham in fact, consequently, came to nought. Instead, those of his 1953/54 team that remained largely went to Harringay where the Racers duly won the first British League title. I have long mused as to what would have happened had these Streatham players been able to still play in SW16 aided by the additions that "Red" had (so we heard) lined-up. I feel that the club could have allowed Fildes and Kilbey to remain at Wembley and still have won the championship. We will never know.

It took six years for senior hockey to re-emerge at Streatham. By 1959/60 British hockey was in a parlous state and was, now, barely recognisable compared with the standard even of only five years before. "Red" Stapleford was no longer in charge, although he did assist in scouting for the new club. An alumnus of the 1950 championship side managed the team (at least initially); this was George Edwards. Maisie returned as did Vic Fildes. Early in the season Stu Robertson, slower but still weaving magic, also came back whilst George Beach, Red Kurz, Art Hodgins and Lorne Smith were veterans playing on other clubs. New stars emerged; Brian Whittal was a classy play-maker and Carl Forster fired the gun that Brian so effectively loaded. A young Scot named "Red" Imrie starred on a sound defence alongside Danny Wong who, in the late 1980's would be Streatham's principal scout in Canada. Streatham did the Cup and League double (although they succumbed in the play-offs) and they were the best team on view in a league only faintly reminiscent of earlier times. Still, hickory in the hands of old masters was still worth watching and it was sad that this new attempt by Streatham to keep hockey going failed and the club again withdrew.

It took another fifteen years before hockey of any consequence was revived with the recommencement of the English and Scottish leagues. Streatham appeared in the English League South and initially it was if they had retained the habits of earlier teams in that they were invariably there or thereabouts when the championships were being decided. New stars such as Gary Stefan arrived but little by little the improvement being shown by other members of the league, reflecting their ability to draw sponsorship, was matched by a decline at Streatham such that, eventually, they fell out of the Heineken League and out of business. In 1991/92 they made a creditable come-back to organised hockey in the English League but this initiative failed as well. Whether we shall ever see major league hockey again at one of the UK’s historic venues must be in doubt. As said earlier, the demographics of London SW16 are not as they were and it has to be in serious doubt whether the present population mix of the area would show the same interest in hockey as those of sixty years ago. Then there is the matter of the rink itself. In these days of "super arenas" much would need to be done with what is, after all, now a very old building .Then there is the matter of planning permission on what is, I believe, a site that can only be used and developed within very strict guidelines. And, finally, there are economic considerations. Even if developed, could Streatham Ice Rink “house” more than 3500, surely a number on the fringe of economic viability in todays sporting world? But then, as we have seen, being “small” hardly held Streatham back all those years ago when they took-on the might of the “big rinks” and succeeded.

Still, that's the challenge. Out there, possibly, is another Harvey Stapleford. If so Streatham may again build a team to revive memories of the past...and, more important, crowds as in the old days. Streatham needs a three thousand person gate in a town that has forgotten that hockey is part of it's heritage. It needs to draw sponsorship in a city that is somewhat blase and where there are any number of alternative attractions for sponsors to use as homes for their cash. But that's why I like the idea of the NHL playing regular season games in London. Maybe, in a city that once upon a time had thirty thousand fans watching hockey on a Saturday night, will be revived the memories of those great hockey nights and sponsors will see hockey as a good investment and a local team worth supporting.

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