During the 1970s the Almaguin boys soccer teams won numerous
Muskoka Parry Sound and Georgian Bay Championships.
The teams were talented, hard working and demonstrated
sportsmanship and heart.
Muskoka Parry Sound and Georgian Bay Championships.
The teams were talented, hard working and demonstrated
sportsmanship and heart.
|
Boys soccer was on the sports calendar for the South River-Sundridge Secondary School (SRSS) starting in 1967, with the fully integrated school continuing to field competitive soccer teams. With its increased student population, Almaguin was classified as an “AA” school for athletic competition.
The first Almaguin boys soccer team to win both the Muskoka-Parry Sound (MPS) and the Georgian Bay Secondary School Association (GBSSA) “AA” championships was the junior team in 1973, coached by Mel Key. Almaguin faced St. Andrew’s College in the 1973 GBSSA championship game at the Canadian Forces Base Borden field. |
The St. Andrew’s team was very talented, with players who often played twelve months of the year in impeccable training facilities. In the championship game the Almaguin team only got the ball out of their end of the field three or four times – the field was wet, cold and slippery and as the ball rolled along the ground it would pick up snow! As often was the case, this snow proved to be the “great equalizer” as our boys loved playing in snow! Bruce Hill scored the winning goal assisted by Horst Drape and Rawn McBride.
Mel Key also coached the 1974 junior boys soccer team that won the MPS and GBSSA “AA” championship titles. Because the soccer field at Almaguin was being re-sodded, the championship game against Pickering College was played at Parry Sound High School (PSHS). The Almaguin boys arrived at PSHS in an orange school bus while the Pickering College boys pulled up in a bright, shiny luxury coach! That would be about all that would shine for the boys from Pickering – once the snowstorm blew in off the lake, the Almaguin boys cruised to victory again!
In 1978, all three Almaguin boys soccer teams (midget, junior and senior) were crowned MPS champions and went on to play in the GBSSA “AA” championships. However, only the 1978 senior boys team were able to claim the GBSSA “AA” championship title.
Four members of Almaguin’s 1978 senior boys team came close to missing the championship game because of a personal conflict – miss the chance to win their first GBSSA championship OR miss the long-standing, time-honoured tradition of joining the men in their family at the hunt camp for the opening of deer season! Fortunately, coach Tom Piper was able to convince them to defer their hunting trip but drove two of them to their camp after the championship game.
For the 1978 GBSSA “AA” championship game, Almaguin’s senior boys soccer team had home-field advantage when they faced their opponents and long-time nemesis, St. Andrew’s College. After warming up on Almaguin’s field, St. Andrew’s lodged a protest with the referee and initially refused to play saying that the crossbar on the goalposts at one end of the field was below the international standard of 2.44 meters (or 8 feet). Indeed the goal posts had sunk into the field lowering the crossbar but the referee quickly made his assessment and said, “Well boys, when you change ends of the field at half-time, it will all even out, so play the game!”
Almaguin fell behind 1-0 but the boys showed their heart and fought back with goals by Craig McBride and Jack Cryderman to win 2-1 on their home field. While the 1978 senior boys soccer team qualified to compete at the OFSAA championships the next spring they chose not to send a team as they had lost a number of key players who had graduated at the end of the previous semester.
One story that embodies the heart of our Almaguin soccer players involves a player who was told by the game referee that he could not play in the game with an arm cast. Not to be deterred he showed up at the next game without the cast, telling the coach that “Dr. Dave” had removed the cast and cleared him for the game. As it turns out, “Dr. Dave” was not a practising physician but rather the soccer player’s best friend, Dave (last name not to be revealed) had cut the cast off his friend’s arm before the game in one of the school’s shops! True Almaguin heart!!!
Mel Key also coached the 1974 junior boys soccer team that won the MPS and GBSSA “AA” championship titles. Because the soccer field at Almaguin was being re-sodded, the championship game against Pickering College was played at Parry Sound High School (PSHS). The Almaguin boys arrived at PSHS in an orange school bus while the Pickering College boys pulled up in a bright, shiny luxury coach! That would be about all that would shine for the boys from Pickering – once the snowstorm blew in off the lake, the Almaguin boys cruised to victory again!
In 1978, all three Almaguin boys soccer teams (midget, junior and senior) were crowned MPS champions and went on to play in the GBSSA “AA” championships. However, only the 1978 senior boys team were able to claim the GBSSA “AA” championship title.
Four members of Almaguin’s 1978 senior boys team came close to missing the championship game because of a personal conflict – miss the chance to win their first GBSSA championship OR miss the long-standing, time-honoured tradition of joining the men in their family at the hunt camp for the opening of deer season! Fortunately, coach Tom Piper was able to convince them to defer their hunting trip but drove two of them to their camp after the championship game.
For the 1978 GBSSA “AA” championship game, Almaguin’s senior boys soccer team had home-field advantage when they faced their opponents and long-time nemesis, St. Andrew’s College. After warming up on Almaguin’s field, St. Andrew’s lodged a protest with the referee and initially refused to play saying that the crossbar on the goalposts at one end of the field was below the international standard of 2.44 meters (or 8 feet). Indeed the goal posts had sunk into the field lowering the crossbar but the referee quickly made his assessment and said, “Well boys, when you change ends of the field at half-time, it will all even out, so play the game!”
Almaguin fell behind 1-0 but the boys showed their heart and fought back with goals by Craig McBride and Jack Cryderman to win 2-1 on their home field. While the 1978 senior boys soccer team qualified to compete at the OFSAA championships the next spring they chose not to send a team as they had lost a number of key players who had graduated at the end of the previous semester.
One story that embodies the heart of our Almaguin soccer players involves a player who was told by the game referee that he could not play in the game with an arm cast. Not to be deterred he showed up at the next game without the cast, telling the coach that “Dr. Dave” had removed the cast and cleared him for the game. As it turns out, “Dr. Dave” was not a practising physician but rather the soccer player’s best friend, Dave (last name not to be revealed) had cut the cast off his friend’s arm before the game in one of the school’s shops! True Almaguin heart!!!
Championship teams
Muskoka Parry Sound Champions
Midget boys soccer – 1976-77, 1978-79
Junior boys soccer – 1973-74, 1974-75, 1975-76, 1978-79, 1979-80, 1980-81
Senior boys soccer – 1978-79, 1980-81
Georgian Bay Champions
Junior boys soccer – 1973-74, 1974-75
Senior boys soccer – 1978-79
Muskoka Parry Sound Champions
Midget boys soccer – 1976-77, 1978-79
Junior boys soccer – 1973-74, 1974-75, 1975-76, 1978-79, 1979-80, 1980-81
Senior boys soccer – 1978-79, 1980-81
Georgian Bay Champions
Junior boys soccer – 1973-74, 1974-75
Senior boys soccer – 1978-79
1968-69
Back row from left: Larry Geisler, Dave Stewart, Kevin Brooks, Norman Courvoisier, Ross McBride, Alan Knox, Darrel Robertson. Second: Mr. Haig (Coach), Jerry Rose, David Conlon, Don Stockman, Glenn Coutts, Harold Brooks. Front: Mike Cooper, Gord Smith, Ken Holt, George Oldfield, Ralph Price
1969-70
Junior: Back from left: Frank Robertson, Lannie Rose, Peter Driscoll, Stephen Palmer, Rocky Hummel, Harry McLeod, Kirk Irwin. Front: Wes Wilkinson, Tom Piper, Mr. Jim Calarco (Coach), Jim Hilton, Allen McLeod, Dan Piper. Absent: Bill Watmore, Ross McBride
Senior: Back row from left: Dave Stewart, Glen Coutts, Randy Pickett, Steve Young, Darrel Robertson, Mr. Les Wilkinson (Coach). Front: John Piekarski, Charley Robertson, Gord Smith, Earl Tennant, Larry Geisler, George Oldfield
1971-72
Junior: Seated from left: Tom Piper, Jim MacKellar, Tim Bertrand, Bill Basso, Bruce Hill, Dan Piper. Standing: Bill Stillar, Norm Holt, Bill Carr, Peter Driscoll, Bob Edmunds, Dave Kimberly, Wayne Dellandrea, Bill Burns, Chuck Meharg, Mr. Bill Bisbee (Coach). Absent: Wayne Martin
Senior: Seated from left: John Kennedy, Jim Leigh, Paul Pitkanen, Joe Moreau. Standing: Rene Schneider, Phil Hope, Neil Brodie, Barry Ramsay, Dale Purdon. Absent: Doug Jeffers, Kirk Irwin, Dave Cain, Brad Hunt, Bill Watmore, Ron Maeck, Bob Naismith, Mr. Les Wilkinson (Coach)
1972-73
Junior: Front row from left: Dick Morden, Bruce Bolton, Chuck Meharg, Bill Burns, Rawn McBride. Back: Mr. Mel Key (Coach), Bill Basso, Bill Stillar, Norm Holt, Tim Bennison, Jim McKellar, Larry Barry. Absent: Bruce Hill, Eldon Briggs, Dan Piper, Bob Crosby
Senior: Front row from left: Bob Baechler, Tom Piper, Tim Bertrand, Paul Burns, Dale Purdon. Back: Mr. Mel Key (substituting for Mr. Les Wilkinson (Coach), Joe Morden, Mike Coote, Phil Hope, Bill Carr, Barry Ramsay. Absent: Brad Hunt, Bob Edmunds, Neil Brodie, Rick Kelly, Peter Young
1973-74
Junior Muskoka-Parry Sound and GBSSA Champions: Back from left: Larry Bennison, Ken Peebles, Lynn Forde, Tim Bennison, Allen Bennison, Terry Crozier, John Hickes, Eldon Briggs, Ben Berger, Mr. Mel Key (Coach), Rae Dobbie. Front: Terry Stillar, Greg Poorcraft, Jack Empey, Rawn McBride, Chuck Meharg, Dick Morden, Terry Moore, Horst Drape, Bruce Hill
Senior: Back row from left: Clayton Stewart, Jim Whitehead, Bob Edmunds, George Gruzuk, Bill Carr, Phil Hope (Captain), Norm Holt, Eric Hickey. Front: Larry Barry, Tim Bertrand, Bill Basso, Mark Hensley, Dave Fisher, Ken Morden
1975-76
Midget: Back row from left: Blaine Corless, Craig McBride, Garvin Milne, Steve Kendrick, Bill Hall, Paul Neal, Paul Rand, Scott Thompson, Mr.Steve Ramsay (Coach). Front: Bob Parry, John Askin, Denis Karn, Jack Cryderman, Glen Reid, Paul Miller, Rob Bibby
Junior: Back row from left: Will Drummond (Manager), Jim Cryderman, Bob Dermott, Bill Pledge, Jim Burns, Tim Kelly, Ron Driscoll, Brad Raaflaub, Glen Nelson, Mr. Mel Key (Coach). Front: Mark Hundley, Tom Dellandrea, Tony Titkusis, Gerry Scheyk, Gordon Briggs, Dan Culbert, Brian Scarlett
Senior: Back row from left: Will Drummond (Manager), Eldon Briggs, Rob Van Reekum, Lynn Forde, Wally Spragget, Tim Bennison, Dan Rich, Ronnie Conrad, Ben Burger, Mr. Mel Key (Coach). Front: Ron Mathias, Horst Drape, Larry Bennison, Jamie Coote, Terry Moore, Terry Stillar, Calvin Sararas
1976-77
Midget: Back row from left: Dennis Mason (Manager), Dan McCabe, Brian May, Randy Morden, Tim Crozier, Wally Edwards, Phillip Rauch, Tom Allen, Mr. Steve Ramsay (Coach). Front: Paul Rand, Frank Wahlers, Paul Krolikowski, Joel Vardy, Dennis Karn, Ian Porter, Dave Hall. Absent: Ron Brenner, Jens Drape, Bill Hall, Calvin Rich
Junior: Back row from left: Jim Cryderman, Randy Karn, Bob Dermott, John Porter, Craig McBride, Glen Nelson, Mr Mel Key (Coach). Front: Dan Culbert, Ken Mason, Blaine Corless, Garvin Milne, Jack Cryderman, Kerry Carnevale, Paul Neal. Absent: Gordon Briggs, Craig McGilly, Brad Raaflaub, Tony Tikuisis
1977-78
Midget: Back row from left: John Barfoot, Jeff Young, Tom Allan, Rick Haggart, Tom Preston, Gary Hayward, Ian Porter, Mr. Steve Ramsay (Coach). Front: Jeff Johnstone, Lanny Dennis, Joel Vardy, Rob Welch, Jeff Lamb, Randy Morden (Assistant Captain), Tim Kunkel. Absent: Mark Dellandrea, Doug Hall (Captain)
Junior: Back row from left: Paul Krolikowski (Manager), Frank Wahlers, Paul Neal, Rick Dubois, Ron Brenner, Gerry White, Kerry Carnevale, Mr. Mel Key (Coach). Middle: Bill Hall, Dan McCabe, Dan Culbert, Garvin Milne, Jack Cryderman, Tim Rutledge, David Hall. Front: Blaine Corless, Case Timmerman, Dennis Karn, Kevin Coombs. Absent: Craig McBride
Senior: Back row from left: Glen Nelson, Scott Thompson, Rob Aultman, Bob Dermott, Phillip Rauch, Greg Meeks, Ron Mechefske. Front: Mr. Tom Piper (Coach), Peter Rauch, Brad Rutledge, Jim Cryderman, Steve Mason, Jens Drape. Absent: Horst Drape, Ian Hain, Garth Haysey, Rob Stewart, Tony Tikuisis
1978-79
Midget Muskoka-Parry Sound Champions: Back row from left: Gary Haywood, Mark Yarranton, Bob McAughey, Sherwood Thompson, Gary Radey, Werner Uetz, Brian Westerburg, Bram Courchene, Mr. Steve Ramsay (Coach), Troy Rich, Brad Stoehr. Front: Brent Key, Steve Atwell, Murray Tough, Paul Peace, Tim Kunkle, Tim Fountain, Greg Hersen, Chris Hope
Junior Muskoka-Parry Sound and GBSSA Champions: Standing from left: Mr Mel Key (Coach), Tom Allen, Ian Porter, Bill Hall, Ron Brenner, Phillip Rauch, Doug Hall, Tim Rutledge, Kevin Coombs. Seated: David Hall, Dan McCabe, Case Timmerman, Mark Shierl, Dennis Karn, Kai Marunde, John Barfoot. Absent: Jens Drape, Paul Payne ,Joel Vardy
Senior Muskoka-Parry Sound and Georgian Bay Champions: Back row from left: Mr. Tom Piper (Coach), Peter Rauch, Ian Hain, Bob Dermott, Rick Dubois, Tony Tikuisis, Craig McBridge, Glen Nelson. Front: Jack Cryderman, Gerry White, Randy Morden, Garvin Milne, Gary Jarret, Paul Neal, Dan Culbert. Absent: Kerry Carnevale, Greg Meeks
The Senior team celebrate their victory with Mr. McDermott.
1979-80
Midget: Back row from left: Mr. Steve Ramsay (Coach), Brian Westerberg, Pat Aultman, Mark Pinkerton, Ken Frederick, Chris Hope. Middle: Bill Matthews, Steve Dickson, Matthew Dellandrea, Frank Marunde, Rick Nelson, Bill Weir. Front: Calvin Cope, Scott Burke, Sherwood Thompson, David Lambertson, Brad Stoehr. Absent: Dave Raney
Junior Muskoka-Parry Sound and All Ontario Invitational Consolation Champions: Back row from left: Alan Pettitt, Gary Haywood, Paul Peace, Dave Peters, John Barfoot, Gary Radey, Tim Kunkel. Middle: Bram Courchesne, Randy Morden, Tom Allen, Lanny Dennis, Ian Porter, Mr. Mel Key (Coach). Front: Troy Rich, Brent Key, Kai Marunde, Mark Bout, Murray Tough. Absent: Joel Vardy, Werner Uetz
Senior: Back from left: Ian Kelly, Mark Dellandrea, Philip Rauch, Wally Lott, Rick Dubois, Robin Dekker, Mark Odrowski, Randy Booth, Brian May, Mr Tom Piper (Coach). Front: Kevin Coombs, Ken Rowley, Steve Anderson, John Oullette, Rob Welch, Bill Hall, Dave Hall. Absent: Paul Payne, Jens Drape
Notable Soccer Alumni
Mel Key – Mr. Key started teaching at SRSS in 1967 having previously taught on the Rock (i.e., Newfoundland) for 4 years. Before that, he spent two years of research on solid state physics in London, England. Mr. Key became synonymous with soccer at Almaguin as he started coaching soccer in 1971 and continued for another 25 years until his retirement in 1996.
He instituted the 4-2-3-1 soccer formation – four forwards, two midfield, 3 defense and a sweep – which was an effective strategy. The school’s success in soccer during the early years can be attributed to Mr. Key’s tactical knowledge of the game, his cool demeanor and the care he showed for his players.
He instituted the 4-2-3-1 soccer formation – four forwards, two midfield, 3 defense and a sweep – which was an effective strategy. The school’s success in soccer during the early years can be attributed to Mr. Key’s tactical knowledge of the game, his cool demeanor and the care he showed for his players.
Horst Drape – Horst was Almaguin’s first official European import from Germany. His family immigrated to Canada in 1969 and eventually settled in Sprucedale. He helped to put soccer on the map at Almaguin leading both the 1973 and 1974 junior teams to championships at Muskoka-Parry Sound and Georgian Bay. Horst was far from the biggest player on the field, but he could make the soccer ball dance around any defender and showed a talent for the game unmatched by the competition. When the competition would try to unnerve Horst with physical play, he would simply “up his game” and there were also a few boys on the team who were more than happy to come to his defense.
Horst recalls a home game on the Almaguin field when he was streaking down the right wing and an Almaguin fan on the sidelines screamed out “here comes the Pony Express”. The nickname made have been coined because the shoes he wore were made by the athletic footwear brand, PONY - an acronym for Product of New York - which was popularized during that time by brand ambassador, Pelé,the Brazilian former professional soccer player. From that moment the nickname “Pony Express” stuck with Horst and he tells us he even has the license plate “pnyxxprs” to prove it !
Horst recalls a home game on the Almaguin field when he was streaking down the right wing and an Almaguin fan on the sidelines screamed out “here comes the Pony Express”. The nickname made have been coined because the shoes he wore were made by the athletic footwear brand, PONY - an acronym for Product of New York - which was popularized during that time by brand ambassador, Pelé,the Brazilian former professional soccer player. From that moment the nickname “Pony Express” stuck with Horst and he tells us he even has the license plate “pnyxxprs” to prove it !
Jack Cryderman – While Jack lacked size in terms of pure physical stature on the respective midget, junior and senior teams on which he played during his time at Almaguin, he was unmatched when it came to playing with heart. He was fast, talented and commonly led the team in goals. Jack scored the winning goal in the 1978 senior boys GBSSA championship game and was also named the Most Valuable Player (Soccer) for 1978-79.
Rawn McBride – Rawn was an excellent and rock-solid inside forward, who played soccer in all five years at Almaguin. In his freshman year at Wilfrid Laurier University, Rawn, with no prior organized football experience, made the varsity football team and went on to play four years as a Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawk, helping the team win the Yates Cup (the Ontario University Athletics football conference championships) in 1978 before losing to the UBC Thunderbirds in the Canadian Inter-university Athletic Union (CIAU) championships.
Rawn McBride – Rawn was an excellent and rock-solid inside forward, who played soccer in all five years at Almaguin. In his freshman year at Wilfrid Laurier University, Rawn, with no prior organized football experience, made the varsity football team and went on to play four years as a Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawk, helping the team win the Yates Cup (the Ontario University Athletics football conference championships) in 1978 before losing to the UBC Thunderbirds in the Canadian Inter-university Athletic Union (CIAU) championships.