History

History of the League, Part I - In the Beginning

The league started it's first full season in 1982-83 and was known as the Dartmouth Sports Store Gentlemen's Hockey League. The league was developed to give hockey players a league to play in after their minor hockey days were over, players had to be 20 years of age or older and could not play in a contact league, such as Junior, Senior or University. The league's President was Paul Arsenault and played out of the brand new Dartmouth Sportsplex on Tuesday and Sunday nights. The inaugural season comprised of 4 teams; Barker Plumbing, Dartmouth Lakers, Dartmouth Sports Store and Nova Lada. Each team played a 24 game schedule, with the best 2 out of 3 playoff series. Games consisted of 3 - 15 minute straight time periods. One of the rules for the new league was that your stick could not leave the ice for a shot, basically a wrist shot only. Unforunately league statistics are unavailable, but we do know that Nova Lada won the League Championship, Bobby MacNeil of Nova Lada was the league's top scorer and teammate Fred Moser was the top goaltender.

The 1983-84 season saw the league change it's name to the Moosehead Gentlemen's Hockey League. Barker Plumbing dropped out of the league before the season started and was replaced by the Scotiabank Wings, Dartmouth Sports Store changed it's name to Downtowner Beverage Room, Nova Lada and Dartmouth Lakers rounded out the league. Each team played a 29 game schedule up from 24. Nova Lada won the League Championship for the second year in a row as well as Fred Moser as top goaltender. Nova Lada's Brian McDow was the league's top scorer. Unfortunately league statistics are unavailable.

The 1984-85 Moosehead Gentlemen's Hockey League remained the same as previous seasons. Each team still played a 29 game schedule with the playoff format remaining the same. The only changes that season was Nova Lada changing it's name to MacPhee Pontiac and the league naming the championship trophy to the Lake City Trophy. MacPhee Pontiac won the League Championship; the team's third title in as many years. Brian McDow and MacPhee Pontiac won the scoring title for the second year in a row and once again, Fred Moser, won his third top goaltender award.  Both Brian and Fred also won playoff awards. To show how strong the MacPhee Pontiac team was, just look at their record; 27 wins, 0 losses, 2 ties for 56 points and outscoring opponents 179 to 56 in 29 games. They ended up with 30 points more than 2nd place Downtowner in the standings. As well MacPhee went undefeated in the playoffs, sweeping both the Lakers and Downtowner. 1985 Lake City Trophy Champions MacPhee Pontiac - Steve Bowes, Harold Currie, Dennis Doucette, Pat Hagan, Mike Kane, Bobby MacNeil, Bill Matthews, Don McDonnell, Brian McDow, Eric Moir, David Morash, Fred Moser, Graham Owen, Frank Pottie and coach - Paul Arsenault.

I will continue to give you some incite to the history of the Lake City Gentlemen's Hockey League over the upcoming months. I hope you enjoy a look back at some of the teams and players that have participated in our league.

History of the League, Part II - Expansion

The 1985-86 season saw many changes. League President Paul Arsenault contacted Oland Breweries representative Brian Donovan and arranged for Oland's to sponsor the league, hence the league became known as the Oland Lake City Gentlemen's Hockey League. The league also expanded from four teams to six teams; Downtowner Beverage Room, MacPhee Pontiac, Scotiabank Wings and the Dartmouth Lakers changed it's name to Coca-Cola Lakers, and the two new expansion teams were the Builders Market Hawks (known today as Sandtrap Chiefs) and the Cabco Crusaders. In this season there was a 30 game schedule per team. The playoffs saw the 1st and 2nd place teams in the final regular season standings received a bye in the first round, with 6th versus 3rd and 5th versus 4th in the Quarter Finals. The lowest ranking winning team in the playoffs took on the 1st place team with the other winner taking on the 2nd place team in the Semi Finals. The winners of those series played for the Lake City Trophy. 
League budget for the 1985-86 season was $16,452.50 or $2,658.75 per team, also a new rule was added, players had to play 10 regular season games to be eligible to play in the playoffs.
MacPhee Pontiac failed to finish in 1st place for the first time in their history, finishing in 2nd place behind the much improved Coca-Cola Lakers. Brian McDow of MacPhee won his third consecutive scoring title, while Dave Stewart of the Lakers was the top goaltender. The league introduced the Most Gentlemanly Player Award, Don Foster of the Coca-Cola Lakers was the first ever winner.
In the playoffs the Coca-Cola Lakers dethroned the three time champions MacPhee Pontiac, 2 games to 1. Top playoff scorer was Cabco's Mark Woodworth and Richard Morash of Downtowner was the top goaltender. 1986 Lake City Trophy Champions the Coca-Cola Lakers - Dale Abbott Robert Baert, Kevin Bonang, Mike Bonang, Steve Bonang, Art Cole, Paul d'Entremont, Vic Drispale, Phil Edgar, Don Foster, Des Gore, John Leclerc, Dave MacKenzie, Steve Mallen, Bruce Ross, Ed Smith, Dave Stewart (goal), Bruce Striver, Martin Wallace, Clyde Bonang (coach).

The 1986-87 season had the league expand again, this time from six teams to eight teams. The two new teams were the Seaman Cross Alpines (now known as the Secunda Mariners) and the Scoundrel's Flyers. There were some major changes in the league this season. First, each of the eight teams played a 32 game schedule. Second, the game went from 3 - 15 minute straight time periods to 2 - 15 minute stop time periods. The playoff format also changed, the top four teams in the regular season would play in Division 'A' for the Lake City Trophy, while the bottom four teams would play in Division 'B' for the newly created Oland Trophy. Each playoff series still remained best 2 out of 3. The league continued to play on Sunday and Tuesday nights at the Dartmouth Sportsplex. The league also introduced the Schooner Trophy, which was awarded to the team that finished 1st place in the regular season. The league also approved snap shots or shots no higher than the knee. The Coca-Cola Lakers claimed the first ever Schooner Trophy. Lakers Ron Mayhew won the scoring title, while teammate Dave Stewart was top goaltender for the second year in a row. Gale Provo of the Builders Market Hawks won the most gentlemanly award. The expansion Scoundrels' Flyers completed a successful season by winning the Lake City Trophy, in a 2 game sweep of the defending champions Coca-Cola Lakers. The Builders Market Hawks won the first ever Oland Trophy by defeating the Scotiabank Wings 2 games to 1 in the final. Tom Walsh of Scotiabank was the top playoff scorer and Builders Market's Paul MacKenzie was the top playoff goaltender.
1987 Lake City Trophy Champions the Scoundrels' Flyers - Glen Adams, Paul Allen, Steve Elmore, Rick Gates, Randy Hooper, Chris Howlles, Rob Kelly, Chuck LaPointe, Paul MacKinnon, Bob McEachern, Dennis Murphy, David Naugle, Robert Naugle (goal), Kevin O'Brien, Andy Pulsifer, Craig Vincent, Gord Wheaton, Tim Young.