336:, who played most of his minor hockey in Kimberley, paced the Nelson Maple Leafs to a second-place finish, with a record of 26 wins and two ties, against 22 defeats. The slick Leaf forward had little trouble in winning the scoring crown with 94 points, made up of 33 goals and a league high of 61 assists. Coach
464:
24. The
Dynamiters potent line of Hockley, Mellor and Bell paced the league in goals, collecting 103; with Spokane's powerful trio of Kubasek, Nadeau and Miller close behind with 98 goals. Kimberley did top the league in one department, and that was in penalties. They served a total of 619 minutes in
512:
In 1955-56 the
Dynamiters' swing through the Okanagan League, with stops at Kamloops, Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton, cost the club $ 1,950, which included transportation, hotels, meals and lost-time wages. It costs that much today to keep a date in Cranbrook, if you include lost-time wages from the
73:
Memorial Trophy, as the league's best rearguard. Lancien, a 33-year-old former pro, was a tower of strength on the Flyers blueline, and proved one point, that a defenceman doesn't have to be crude to win the respect of fans and players. He was a real leader, picking up only 13 minutes in penalties,
340:
had his Leafs flying high late in the season, but ran up against a rejuvenated Trail team in their semi-final series; and bowed out in the fifth game of the best-of-seven affair. The Leafs had little trouble handling the Smoke Eaters in regular season play, winning nine of their fourteen meetings,
394:
had a frustrating season as coach of the Trail Smoke Eaters, and it wasn't until playoff time did they manage to get rolling. The
Smokies had the horses to win it all, but ran into salary disputes, which caused trouble in the Smokies' quarters. In the playoffs they shook hands and let bygones be
112:
The Flyers locked horns with the
Kimberley Dynamiters in one set of the WIHL semi-finals, and had easy pickings, winning four games to one. Trail's Smoke Eaters pulled off the biggest upset of the season by eliminating the second place Nelson Maple Leafs in five games. Spokane won the right to
405:
shared the
Smokies goaltending duties, with Martin having a goal average of 4.69, compared to Zanier's 5.36. The Smoke Eaters played well away from home, winning nine games, and had the best record against the Okanagan League, winning five of their eight games.
104:
The Flyers not only dominated the league with a record of 30 wins, against 20 defeats—but had the best road record of eleven victories, and only lost six games at home in the (Spokane) Coliseum. Trail's Smoke Eaters won three games in
Spokane, while the
97:, Flyers regular netminder, up and quit the club, and the Flyers were quick in signing Sofiak. Panagrot played real well in the 24 games he played, earning two shutouts. Sofiak performed in the remaining 26 Flyer contests, picking up one shutout.
651:
447:
moving up from the general manager's post to take over the reins. Larsen, despite the fact he had a knee injury, continued on as a player. The
Dynamiters managed to finish with four players right up in the thick of the scoring parade.
469:
was the loop's badman with 165 minutes in fines; with Andre not far behind with 163 minutes. During league play a total of 32 major penalties were dished out, with Andre picking up seven of them, and
Lebodia four.
473:
The
Dynamiters had a disastrous road record, winning only two games on foreign ice all season. They played three of their home games on Cranbrook ice, and managed to win all three; and drew excellent crowds.
395:
bygones, and made short order of the Leafs, before bowing out to
Spokane in the WIHL finals. The Smokies had a record of 24 wins, one tie and 25 losses for 49 points, good for a third-place finish.
516:
Since the Savage Cup, emblematic of the senior hockey championship of B.C., was first played for in 1912-13, Trail has won the cup 16 times, Kimberley eight, Nelson five and Spokane five.
655:
971:
966:
961:
356:, who saw action both with Trail and Nelson, paced the league in the hat trick division, with four three-goal performances to his credit. Andrews finished with 34 goals,
46:
The Flyers enjoyed a good season and were in complete control of the league from the start of the hockey campaign, finished six points in front of the second place
124:, who had an easy time in capturing the Okanagan League title, defeated the Flyers for the British Columbia championship and went all the way, and won the
247:, Spokane's young defenceman, had to take a back seat in the penalty race. He picked up 106 minutes in fines, far behind the league's bad man, "Terrible"
101:, who had the league's best goal average, despite the fact the Dynamiters finished deep in the cellar, registered the league's only other shutout.
61:. He not only won the rookie award by a wide margin, but also paced the league in the goal department with 44 goals, five more than his teammate
683:
437:
The Kimberley Dynamiters occupied the basement suite most of the season, with a record of 18 wins, two ties and 30 losses, for 38 points.
20:
201:
The Flyers had plenty of scoring power in the regular season play, and managed to have five players in the top ten scoring parade.
57:
The Flyers had many bright spots on their roster in 1955-56, with the brightest light the play of their sensational young rookie,
213:, a former pro and a Blairmore (Crowsnet) boy, runner up with 83 points. Other Flyers who managed to score at a fast clip were
492:
51:
50:. The WIHL returned to a balanced schedule, with each club playing 50 games, including interlocking games with the strong
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499:, was referee-in-chief; with Tommy Dunn his assistant. It was a costly experience and lasted only one year.
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was expected to give the Leafs the much needed scoring punch, but only managed ten goals in 29 games.
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of the Dynamiters' 165 minutes. Only two other players received over 100 minutes in penalties;
183:
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was Nelson's second leading point getter with 60 points, made up of 29 goals and 31 assists.
121:
481:
509:
leading scorer, and managed two goals and four assists over the Dynamiters in Kimberley.
487:
The WIHL hired two outside (non-BCAHA officials) referees to handle games in 1955-56.
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190:, Vernon's only local product, rounded out the team. Vernon's Canadians, coached by
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penalties, and to break it down, they played a man short for over ten full games.
410:'s 72 points was high in the Smokies scoring column with 25 goals and 47 assists.
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36:
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72 points apiece. Hockley had 37 goals, Mellor, 38; Larsen, 35; Bell, 30; and
238:
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385:
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372:, 15. What had to be a big disappointment for the Leafs was the showing of
348:, who performed in 49 games for the Leafs and had a goal average of 4.90.
626:
Spokane Flyers advanced to the 1955-56 British Columbia Senior Playoffs.
373:
484:
in 1955-56, after serving Trail for four seasons, two of them as coach.
341:
and with five of their victories coming right in Trail's Cominco Arena.
134:
was a standout in the Canadians' net, and had a powerhouse defence in
69:, Spokane's star defenceman, was unanimously chosen the winner of the
109:
failed to win a single game in the Coliseum, out of seven meetings.
43:
Trophy, emblematic of hockey supremacy of the WIHL, in 1955-56.
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661:
414:
was right on Shabaga's heels with 70 points, 32 of them goals.
74:
and gathered 39 points, made up of seven goals and 32 assists.
443:
resigned as coach of the Dynamiters late in the season, with
652:
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License
209:, was the WIHL scoring king, with 94 points; with Spokane's
650:, which is licensed in a way that permits reuse under the
635:
WIHL League News March 1, 1974 Volume II, Eleventh Edition
595:
Trail Smoke Eaters beat Nelson Maple Leafs 4 wins to 1.
641:
575:
Spokane Flyers beat Kimberley Dynamiters 4 wins to 1.
117:
playdowns, by beating the Smoke Eaters in the final.
623:
Spokane Flyers beat Trail Smoke Eaters 4 wins to 1.
344:The Maple Leafs introduced their rookie netminder,
31:Spokane's Flyers, under the capable eye of coach
677:
8:
962:Western International Hockey League seasons
684:
670:
662:
972:1955–56 in Canadian ice hockey by league
967:1955–56 in American ice hockey by league
658:. All relevant terms must be followed.
162:formed Vernon's number one line, with
452:held down third spot with 81 points;
7:
493:Western International Football Union
456:picked up 77 points, and Larsen and
255:of Kimberley, with 163 minutes, and
166:playing centre on another line with
21:Western International Hockey League
14:
644:, this article uses content from
491:, who officiated football in the
81:received a big break, when the
1:
480:was the playing coach of the
376:, the 25-year-old brother of
266:Spokane's lineup in 1955-56:
52:Okanagan Senior Hockey League
19:was the tenth season of the
988:
113:represent the WIHL in the
933:
701:
194:, were the toast of the
221:with 39; Kubasek, 38;
87:Kevin "Crusher" Conway
647:"1955-56 WIHL Season"
571:Spokane 3 Kimberley 1
568:Spokane 3 Kimberley 0
565:Kimberley 4 Spokane 1
562:Spokane 6 Kimberley 5
559:Spokane 5 Kimberley 1
654:, but not under the
544:Kimberley Dynamiters
497:Regina, Saskatchewan
263:, with 105 minutes.
107:Kimberley Dynamiters
59:Art "the dart" Jones
538:Trail Smoke Eaters
532:Nelson Maple Leafs
478:Gordon "Moe" Young
384:. The ex-pro from
261:Trail Smoke Eaters
207:Nelson Maple Leafs
89:, released goalie
48:Nelson Maple Leafs
949:
948:
619:Spokane 7 Trail 5
616:Trail 8 Spokane 7
613:Spokane 3 Trail 2
610:Spokane 6 Trail 5
607:Spokane 7 Trail 2
378:Detroit Red Wings
308:Bruno Pasqualotto
235:Bruno Pasqualotto
41:George Montgomery
979:
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672:
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591:Trail 3 Nelson 1
588:Trail 6 Nelson 1
585:Nelson 2 Trail 1
582:Trail 5 Nelson 1
579:Trail 6 Nelson 0
445:Johnny Achtzener
122:Vernon Canadians
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482:Kelowna Packers
302:, Jack Miller,
196:Okanagan valley
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526:Spokane Flyers
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418:had 30 goals,
324:Dave Gordichuk
140:Willie Schmidt
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507:Kamloops Elks
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489:George Cullen
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296:Frank Kubasek
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288:Dan McDougald
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272:John Panagrot
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211:Frank Kubasek
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188:Walt Trentini
185:
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152:Sherman Blair
149:
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95:John Panagrot
92:
91:Johnny Sofiak
88:
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83:Kamloops Elks
80:
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68:
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60:
55:
53:
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34:
26:
24:
22:
18:
935:
893:
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859:
837:
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783:
752:
716:
694:WIHL seasons
649:
639:
638:
625:
622:
602:
594:
574:
554:
515:
511:
503:Bill Hyrciuk
501:
486:
476:
472:
458:Claudie Bell
439:
436:
416:Gerry Penner
408:Mike Shabaga
397:
392:Jimmy Morris
390:
366:Wendy Keller
358:Herb Jeffrey
350:Fritz Koehle
343:
338:Chuck Rayner
332:
320:Lorne Nadeau
312:Carl Cirullo
304:Gino Rozzini
292:Jack Lancien
284:Cy Whiteside
265:
253:Gordon Andre
243:
227:Carl Cirullo
223:Gino Rozzini
219:Lorne Nadeau
200:
176:Johnny Harms
172:Merv Bidoski
136:Orval Lavell
130:
119:
111:
103:
85:, and coach
76:
67:Jack Lancien
63:Lorne Nadeau
56:
45:
30:
27:Season recap
16:
15:
551:Semi finals
467:Ted Lebodia
462:Gerry Barre
454:Buzz Mellor
450:Cal Hockley
441:Norm Larsen
424:Frank Turik
420:Bobby Kromm
403:Reno Zanier
399:Seth Martin
382:Gordie Howe
354:Bud Andrews
294:(Defence);
268:John Sofiak
249:Ted Leboida
231:Jack Miller
192:George Agar
180:Art Davison
156:George Agar
99:Earl Betker
79:Roy McBride
37:Dinah Shore
33:Roy McBride
956:Categories
940:indicates
630:References
603:Best of 7
555:Best of 7
546:19-30-1-39
540:24-25-1-49
534:26-22-2-54
528:30-20-0-60
432:Ray Demore
430:, 20; and
370:Red Koehle
368:, 19; and
334:Lee Hyssop
328:Hugh Scott
316:Doug Toole
280:Tom Hodges
276:Ralph Luke
245:Tom Hodges
239:Red Tilson
237:, 20; and
203:Lee Hyssop
168:Frank King
148:Tom Stecyk
144:Don McLeod
132:Hal Gordon
115:Savage Cup
71:Paul Kozak
35:, won the
942:Allan Cup
642:this edit
520:Standings
386:Saskatoon
346:Gus Adams
300:Art Jones
217:with 44;
215:Art Jones
184:Don Jakes
164:Odie Lowe
126:Allan Cup
513:injury.
505:was the
374:Vic Howe
362:Joe Bell
274:(Goal);
257:Joe Conn
160:Art Hart
944:victory
925:1987–88
920:1986–87
915:1985–86
910:1984–85
905:1983–84
900:1982–83
894:1981–82
888:1980–81
882:1979–80
876:1978–79
871:1977–78
866:1976–77
860:1975–76
854:1974–75
849:1973–74
844:1972–73
838:1971–72
832:1970–71
826:1969–70
820:1968–69
815:1967–68
810:1966–67
805:1965–66
800:1964–65
795:1963–64
790:1962–63
784:1961–62
778:1960–61
773:1959–60
768:1958–59
763:1957–58
758:1956–57
753:1955–56
748:1954–55
743:1953–54
738:1952–53
733:1951–52
728:1950–51
723:1949–50
717:1948–49
711:1947–48
706:1946–47
259:of the
205:of the
17:1955–56
640:As of
434:, 19.
426:, 20;
422:, 22;
364:, 19;
360:, 27;
241:, 19.
233:, 21;
229:, 24;
225:, 25;
77:Coach
599:Final
937:Bold
656:GFDL
401:and
326:and
186:and
170:and
158:and
146:and
120:The
495:at
380:'s
958::
330:.
322:,
318:,
314:,
310:,
306:,
298:,
290:,
286:,
282:,
278:,
270:,
198:.
182:,
178:,
174:.
154:,
150:.
142:,
138:,
128:.
93:.
65:.
54:.
23:.
685:e
678:t
671:v
39:-
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.