Before The First Games

The Oldtimers Hockey Story

The Winter of 1969-70 saw the first use of the arena for hockey. the first winter the ice plant had not been installed yet, so all it had was natural ice.
The arena was built with lot of volunteers donating their time and skills to get the job done.
The Township of Atikokan donated the use of men and equipment they had to assist in the construction.
Most of the business community donated money, building materials and any other thing that was needed to
got the arena built.
there were many groups who held bake sales, raffles and such to raise money to help fund the ice plant.

A group of older ex hockey players Invited the Thunder Bay old Timers and Fort Frances oldtimers,
to come an play exhibition games to raise money to help pay for the ice plant.

In order to get in shape for these exhibition games, two teams were organized, most of the players had not played
in many years. some of the players who played in the exhibition games did not play again in later years.

Two teams were formed to get in shape for the upcoming games with Thunder Bay and Fort Frances ( some had played and won the Allen cup in the fifties with the Fort Frances Canadians)

Lou Graham coached and managed the team called Graham’s Wafers and Dale Lind managed and coached Lind’s Lunkers.
The only game recorded in the Atikokan Progress, was played in february of 1970, with Graham’s Wafers Defeating Lind’s Lunkers by a score of 6 to 5.
Scoring for the wafers were Jim Koroscil with 2 goals and Doug Tribe, Leo Lamarche, Kieth Norman with on each.

Goal scorers for Lind’s Lunkers were Ralph Finch, Bob Prime, Finn Warren, George Roy and Omer Sampson.
Don Bruce was the Referee for the game, He handed out one penalty in the game to Bill Hrychuk.
This resulted in a penalty shot by Omer Sampson, he did not waste the opportunity and scored.

there were others who played these games but I could not find any reference to them.

if anyone has information that has been missed please don’t be afraid to  leave a comment.