The new Wetaskiwin Civic Centre, with
artificial ice, opened in September, 1962. Prior to the
opening, a number of former Colonels played major roles
in the formation of the North Central Alberta
Intermediate Hockey League and in the re-organization of
the fifth-generation Wetaskiwin Colonels Hockey Club.
Len Roberts served as the League Commissioner. Earl
Baker, Ralph Pocock, Charlie Baker, Ted Hampsink and
others led the revived club during the first years.
The Wetaskiwin Colonels were one of six
teams to compete within the NCAIHL between 1962 and
1976. The Colonels teams of that era were talented,
well-coached and competitive. Many of the players had
played minor hockey in Wetaskiwin. Most worked and
resided within the community. During those years, the
Colonels won four League Championships, two Provincial
“C” Championships and two Provincial “B” Championships.
Colonels dominated play and
led in most categories - to win eight titles
Of all teams to play during that era, it
was the 1973-74 Wetaskiwin Colonels Team which had the
greatest success. Their few losses that year came at the
beginning of the season due to injuries to key players.
With the return of the injured players to the line-up,
the Colonels dominated play and led in most categories.
They went on to win eight titles.
The FIVE TEAM and THREE PLAYERS' titles
included:
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Winners of the four-team North-Am
Jaycees Tournament. The Colonels goaltender was
selected Most Valuable Player of the Tournament.
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First overall in league play with 21
wins and 9 losses. The team was awarded the CJOI
Trophy. Goals Scored with 175 was the highest in the
League. (Goals Allowed with 132 was third best in
the League.)
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League Scoring: Four Colonels were
among the Top Ten in league scoring placing first,
second, sixth and seventh, one player tied for most
goals and one player earned the most assists.
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NCAIH League Champions: the Colonels
won the semi-finals vs. Ponoka Stampeders in a two
game, total goals series, 5 to 3. Then they won the
finals vs. the Camrose Maroons in a best of 7 game
series, 4 games to 1 and were awarded the Newsome
Trophy.
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Provincial Intermediate B
Championships: all series were home and home, total
goals. The Colonels won each series and played the
Killam Indians, Leduc Oilers, Banff Bisons and
finally the Westlock Eagles.
The NCAIH League ended play after the
1975-76 season. The Colonels continued to play in the
Alberta Major Intermediate Hockey League for the next
two seasons. Retirements, injuries, and the inability to
field a complete and competitive team resulted in the
decision to cease play and operations in February 1978.
With that, the era of the Wetaskiwin
Colonels, which dated back to the 1935-36 season, came
to an abrupt end. Throughout the years, there had been
several exceptionally talented and competitive Colonels
teams. No Colonels team, however, matched the successes
of the 1973-74 Wetaskiwin Colonels.
Members of the team
Coach: Ron
Emmerling |
Ken Grimm |
Andy Crenshaw |
Captain: Jerry
Greene |
Ed Stein |
Ron Stephanson |
Assistant
Captain: Ross MacEachern |
Gary Soucy |
Ray Boisvert |
Assistant
Captain: John Shillabeer |
Doug Walin |
Jim Grayson |
Harold Maciborski |
Ron Huolt |
Rick Norman |
Assistant Coach:
Roy Romaniuk |
Martin Taje |
Ken Sterzer |
General Manager:
Pat Barry |
Ken Berger |
Brian McDonald |
Equipment
Manager: Clarence Jevne |
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Trainer: Les
Nelson |
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Secretary-Treasurer: Frank Lockhart |
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League Rep: Bill
Mojelski |
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Club Room Boy:
Lindsay Robertson |
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The Colonels
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