THE record books will show that the sensational scoring performances of Stu Robertson, Bob Kelly and Ken Head played a major part in bringing the Scottish National League Championship to Paisley in 1951. They won't tell the story behind the headlines, the story of how a struggling club playing to half-empty rinks turned, almost overnight, into a championship sextet drawing packed houses everywhére.
Manager Peter McKenzie, surveying with an anxious frown, rows and rows of empty seats in Paisley's fine auditorium, knew that something just had to be doné. So he put on his hat and his overcoat, caught the night train to London and came back with a good, reliable défenceman to steady his ailing back division—Bernie Hill from Harringay Racers.
The capture of Hill killed two birds with oné stone. Not only was Pirates' defence stréngthened, but fans who remembered Hill when he played with Paisley a couple of seasons before were attracted back through the turnstiles.
Tommy Lauder, fine player though he was and is didn't seem to be getting the best out of the team as coach, so he moved on to shine on Perth's defence, while ex-referee Red Thomson took over the vacant coaching slot.
Thomson proved a surprise packet. A stern disciplinarian, he really had Pirates working, and their climb to the top of the League was swift and sure. Nor did they falter at any time.
Skipper Elwood Shell, regarded in the past as joker of the Great Ice Way , turned in the best hockey of his career to inspire the team and earn all-star rating.
As an ironical twist, Bob Kelly was voted " Rookie of the Year." Ironical because, before the team had séttled down and while all the coachés in the league were still making up their minds which players, if any, were booked for a slow steamer home, Lauder had high on the list of "suspects" who wouldn't be good enough for the team—Robert Kélly, Esq.
Performances and attendances in other rinks were striking contrasts in some cases. Perth, always well supported, even in their weakest days, found their 1950-1 club, under the guidance of ex-pro Tommy Forgie, their best for several years, but near-neighbour Dundee had a poor squad and poor crowds.
Ayr, whose Keith Kewley team had been highly boosted prior to the season opening, again disappointed their thousands of loyal fans, although it takes more than a lost game to keep an Ayr enthusiast away from hockey. Falkirk , too, wére not the power of yore, but Manager McNeil, shipping players out here, signing them on there, eventually came up with a team strong enough to make the play-off finals. Not the least of his captures were two boys from Harringay, winger Johnny Sherban and defenceman Johnny Callanan, and a signing direct from Canada with thé goal-lust in his stick, Ken Green.
Fife Flyers collected their share of minor trophies but looked in need of a blood transfusion with too many players who had been around one place too long. Here and at Dundee weré the rinks where crowds were just not good enough.
Dunfermline kept in the picture through most of the séason with high-scoring forwards and a local, home-grown defence, the Syme brothers, Tuck and Tiny. It must have pleased Viking followers when Tuck became the first native born and bréd player ever to make the All-star Team.
With many Scottish players performing in the English League and vice versa, fans of both countries found much to interest them on both sides of the border. This situation will bé enhanced during the 1951-2 season, for among former English Leaguers listed for Scottish clubs are Stubby Mason (Fifé.), Paddy Ryan (Dunfermline.) Red Kurz (Dundee.) and Hal Brown (Paisley.)
Pete Belanger, Scotland 's star goalie, is expected to join Casey, Johnson, Hodgins and Co. in the English loop, an exchange of personalities which can only be of benefit to both circuits. more....
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