26 - Southpoint Sun
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
Myles Meteors were forerunners of Leamington Flyers By C. Scott Holland In the spring of 1952, Leamington’s first junior hockey team, the Myles Meteors, had no home arena and played games wherever they could, late in the season. Often, that meant long trips to Sarnia or Aylmer, which became
the home ice. Under the leadership of coach and GM Bill Burgess, the club won the Western Ontario Senior Rural Hockey Association 1951-52 championship against Port Stanley. In the second game of a two-game total goals set,
BILL MacKENZIE
BILL BURGESS
the Meteors trailed 10-9 with six minutes remaining in the third. One can only imagine the packed house at the newly built (original) Aylmer arena and the mayhem that was unleashed as Leamington struck for five unanswered goals in those fi-
JIM MacKENZIE
nal six minutes. The late-game assault was led by the MacKenzie boys – Eric, Jim and Bill – and Caesar Brndjar. The crowd was stunned. More importantly, the winner would go on to meet either Sutton or Markham for the Ontario championship and the Johannes Trophy. But the reality was that the Leamington team was already deep in debt. Because they had no home rink, they existed despite not having gate revenue. Instead, they relied solely on the generosity of fans and to travel 600 miles to either of those two pos-
sible championship contenders — in a best two of three series —would be financially crippling. Plus, they would have to play any home contests at either Sarnia or Aylmer. The club appealed for aid from Leamington Town Council but were refused. That led to a public plea and citizens wishing to help could contact Jack Sanford, Harvey Wallace, Bill Leavett or coach Bill Burgess. Despite the hurdle, the club overcame the travel costs and battled for the title in a best of three series, much to the dismay of the club they were pitted against — Sutton.
After each team had won a game, a one-game showdown would determine the crown. It was in that third contest that Leamington found heartbreak. After the opening minutes they were down 2-0 and by the time the final whistle blew, Sutton had claimed the championship with an 8-6 victory. For Leamington, lessons were learned and would be applied the following season. As coach Burgess noted, “They (the Meteors) all had a team spirit and deep bond and played with a high level of determination.”
Leamington Falcons were 1952 Ontario champs By C. Scott Holland Basketball is seldom covered extensively and since the 1940s, Leamington has had an entry in some basketball leagues
as well as several leagues operating locally. But back in 1952, the Leamington Falcons Intermediate C squad captured the All-Ontario title
Future Leamington Mayor John Penner not only starred in baseball, but was also a basketball player with both the championship Leamington Aces (1947) and Leamington Falcons (1952). Photo courtesy of the Scott Holland Collection
of the Amateur Basketball Association. Back in those days, series were usually a total points affair with a homeand-home set against an opponent. The Falcons began their road to the title by disposing of Ridgeway with a two-game total score of 164-84. At the time that large 80- point margin of victory was considered an unofficial provincial record. And in their second game victory of 108-42, the Falcons set a record for the most playoff points in one game. Up next was Exeter and the Falcons eliminated another opponent — this time by a score of 135-97. The victory put them
into the finals versus Midland. In the opener of the two-game series, which was held at Leamington, the Falcons downed Midland 95-60. Charles “Pat” Irwin, who was the team’s top scorer in the regular season with over 200 points, netted 32 to pace the attack and give Leamington the points edge. The second and final contest, held in Midland, featured a slow start by the Falcons. About 150 fans watched the contest but when the final buzzer sounded, Leamington had a 79-46 victory and won the two-game total points 174-106. In that second contest, Stan Jackson dropped
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seven field goals and sunk 10 foul shots for 24 points while Pat Irwin was held in check by the Midland Merchants. One of the team’s key players, Dick Hicks, missed the entire playoff, since he was gone to spring training with the Philadelphia Athletics. Previously, Leamington had won the championship in 1947, when the team was known as the Aces. Members of that team were Dick Hicks, Pat Irwin, Doug McCallum, Stan Jackson, Don Robin-
son, John Penner, Lewis Tempich, Harold Wigle, Ken Emerson, and Cecil “Red” Gow.
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