Chicago team won the 1987 Can-Am tournament

B C. Scott Holland

It took 11 years and lots of tough competition before an American club captured the annual Molson Can-Am Jr Hockey tourney held at the former Leamington arena. The team that managed the feat was the Chicago Young Americans, who had beaten a couple Jr. B squads before capturing the 1987 Can-Am title. They beat the Flyers in the final.

For the Americans, the third time was the charm. They had played in the 1983 and 1985 tourneys and head coach Chico Adrahtas stated, “It’s my favourite competition. Belle River, Leamington and Essex are all hot beds of Junior C hockey.”

Despite having some players who had played previously in front of large crowds, having 1,300 in the close confines of the Leamington arena, was an experience.

The award recipients from the 1987 Can-Am Jr. Hockey tournament are pictured here. In the back row are Britt Walling (Leamington, All-Star goaltender), Dave Hildebrandt (Leamington, All-Star forward), Rick Wright (Leamington, All-Star defence), Jeff Perry (Mooretown, tournament scoring champ), Randy Tetzlaff (Leamington, All-Star goaltender). Front row are all Chicago Young Americans. From left, Nick Coracci (most sportsmanlike), Chuck Wood (tournament MVP) and Ken Stubler (All-Star defence).

Photo from the Scott Holland Collection

Flyers’ head coach Reg Mulholland thought the championship game was one of the Flyers’ best efforts of the season, and it was only fitting that both goalies - Britt Walling and Randy Tetzlaff - were named to the tournament All-Star squad. He also noted that the Chicago team played a brand of hockey similar to Jr. B.

Had it not been for Walling, Chicago might have had a large first period lead, as he dazzled the crowd with big saves and kept Chicago to one goal - a tally fired by Jamie McCrae. The Flyers’ Mike Dunmore countered to keep the score even.

A crucial moment of the contest came in the opening minute of the second, when Walling took a high shot off a shoulder and aggravated an old injury. Randy Tetzlaff replaced him.

Near the eight minute mark, Shane Jeffery’s rebound was slotted by Dave Cantlon to put the Flyers ahead 2-1 but that didn’t last long, as Chicago’s Bill Horbach knotted the score.

In the third period, Chicago fired two to go up 4-2.

With just over three minutes left in the game, Garry Symons closed the gap when his blast found the target.

The Flyers pulled Tetzlaff in favour of an extra attacker in the final minute, but it was to no avail, as Chicago won 4-3.

Chicago doubled the Flyers in shots, 45-22 and took their first ever Can-Am title.