60 Years Ago Today The Merchants Defeated Bradford Expressmen For The Title

GUEST POST by WAYNE REDSHAW via Joe Barkovich (from a reporters notebook) 

Ever since the Welland Arena officially opened its doors way back in 1948 many teams have represented the city in the various Ontario Hockey Association divisions.

For instance, in the intermediate and senior ranks Welland teams have carried names like Bisons, Combines, Centennials, Warriors, Merchants, Burloaks,  Blacks, Steelers and  SUNY’s to name a few.

Then on the junior front Welland has had teams known as Bearcats, Brooke B’s, Clippers, Cougars, Aerostars, Sabres and Canadians.

Quite a few of those teams provided many memorable evenings. In fact, there were many times when the Welland Arena, also known as the “King Street Ice Palace”, was overflowing with screaming fans. In other words better than 3,000 fans packed the joint. And the fans were rocking after being treated to high calibre, entertaining hockey.

Those, you say, were the “good old days” when community interest was high. The fans came out and various teams representing the city responded.

However, out of all the teams to represent Welland dating back to 1948 only one — the Merchants — has won an OHA championship. The Merchants were rewarded with the John Ross Robertson Trophy, emblematic of the Intermediate “A” supremacy in the province.

That happened way back in 1963. To be precise, it was April 24, 1963 —  60 years ago today  — when the Merchants celebrated the city’s first and only provincial championship capping off their 8-1 victory over the Bradford Expressmen in game five of a best-of-seven final.

Veteran Eric Unger, who also had played for the Combines, Centennials and Warriors, led the Merchants scoring in that final game with the hat-trick while captain Vance Millar and Dave Groulx had two each. Tony Macoretta potted the other Welland marker.

The Merchants put on a spectacular display of defensive hockey for the entire 60 minutes and   Bradford’s only goal came on a fluke defection to spoil Red Achesson’s bid for a shutout. The Merchants  led 3-1 after the first period and 5-1 heading into the third.

Other members from that championship club included: Jimmy Robertson, Johnny Groulx, Tom Buck, Mike Kereluk, Leo Cunningham, Tom Balkwell, Sonny Desson, Chester Warhol, Bob Ewer and  Bobby Desson. The coach was Billly “ Squeaky” Kodatsky and the manager Bobby  Rivet.

The Welland Minor Hockey Association  has claimed a number of provincial titles over the years but Welland Merchants still remain the only city team to ever claim OHA honours.

(Wayne Redshaw has covered both amateur and professional sports locally and nationally spanning six decades.)