Editorial Note: Bill Antler wrote a thorough history of the West Ferris Minor Hockey Association’s annual Atom Tournament for its 25th anniversary program in 1993.
It is hard to imagine that some thirty years have passed since the first members of West Ferris Minor Hockey gathered in Mr. Howie Russell’s basement, as the first official executive of the West Ferris Minor Hockey Association. The executive consisted of Danny Wilkes (president) Frank Dell, Marcel Corriveau, Howie Russell, and Jack Medig. These five gentlemen developed a minor hockey program for the youth of West Ferris which was to be played in the soon to be built West Ferris Centennial Community Centre. Their main objective at that time was to do “WHAT IS BEST FOR THE BOYS” a motto that is still upheld by the West Ferris Minor Hockey organization of today. Although many changes have occurred in the past thirty years, the main principle of giving children a chance to have fun while playing hockey has not escaped the present day philosophy of the West Ferris Minor Hockey Association. Today, as in the past, all children at all levels in West Ferris Minor Hockey are guaranteed an equal amount of ice time so that all players can develop, not only as hockey players but also as better all around citizens.
However, as with any organization, growing pains had to occur and because of these growing pains the Atom Tournament as we know it was founded to measure the success of the hockey program that was developed for the youth of the West Ferris community.
“We will never be embarrassed like that again.” Those were the words that generated the first Atom tournament 25 years ago. They were spoken by Mr. Marcel Corriveau, who had taken a team from West Ferris Minor Hockey to a tournament in Toronto as the representatives of the N.O.H.A.. This team was a pee wee team of house league players who were thrown together to compete against some of the best from around the province of Ontario. The result was a total embarrassment for this group of kids as they were beaten by large one-sided scores. Upon their return Marcel met with the members of the executive and the recreation director telling them “We have a long way to go.” and with that the executive developed a plan to make all teams from West Ferris Minor Hockey competitive with the rest of the province.
Over the next year, the West Ferris Minor Hockey executive developed a plan to allow their better players to play together on association representative teams. They knew that in order to develop a strong program for years to come they needed to have a strong foundation and with this in mind they began a program which included house league and “AA” hockey teams. After one year of the developed program being used the executive along with the help of the recreation director (Mr. Don Pecore) invited teams from across the province to compete in the first annual Atom Tournament. This was to measure the success of the hockey program that they had initiated.
The first tournament took place in 1969 and was to coincide with the North Bay Winter Fur Carnival. It saw twelve teams from across the province play hockey for the coveted Harry (Suze) Turner Memorial Trophy, which was donated by the family of the late Mr. Turner, a long time sports enthusiast in North Bay. It was more than fitting for the Turner family to honour the tournament with his name, as Mr. Turner promoted fair play and sportsmanship in all sports he played in and coached in. The winner of the first tournament and first recipients of the Harry (Suze) Memorial was Georgetown. The first tournament was so well received that
the teams involved registered for the second annual tournament before they left town. Because of the small community aspect that was alive in West Ferris, the community turned the tournament into THEIR tournament. Any problem that arose was quickly extinguished by the community and people became involved as the Community Centre was the focal point in the West Ferris community.
By the time the puck was dropped for the second tournament the number of teams had increased from the original twelve to twenty-four. However with the success of the tournament came more problems. Financially the tournament was a success the first year but with the larger number of teams and the increased expenses it was felt by the carnival committee that some type of financial guarantee was needed. This is where the people of the community rallied together. Two individuals, Mr. Bill Evans and Mr. Heinz Hoffmeister, deposited a credit note for one thousand dollars each, against their construction companies, to guarantee the financial end of the tournament operation. This money was held in trust for the next five tournaments before they removed the notes as the tournament had developed into the largest atom tournament in the province and was financially stable. With the increased number of players and the limited amount of accommodation people such as Jean Harvey spent hours on the phone to ensure every boy had a host family to spend the weekend with. It was not uncommon to find supporters of the tournament billet two or three children from different teams. These billets not only fed the young hockey players but also drove them to the games and ensured that they saw the carnival grounds and the activities that the carnival was famous for.
With the increased number of teams came a greater calibre of hockey and the second year saw one of the most exciting games ever to take place in the tournament. Two teams from West Ferris played in the B Pool championship. Marcel Corriveau who coached the NGM “AA” atom team saw his team go up against the West Ferris Atom “B” team which was coached by his brother Jerry Corriveau. With the arena packed the two teams played to a tie in regulation time thanks to the outstanding play of the Atom “B” team goalie, Claude Nopper. This young goalie was faced with an onslaught of pucks being fired at him throughout the game as the “AA” team out skated the “B” team. In the end it was a shot that deflected off of the leg of a team mate that finally beat the young goalie resulting in a 2-1 victory for the NGM “AA” team. The NGM team then went on to win the grand championship and thus the program that had been adopted only two years earlier had paid returns. They could now compete with the best in the province.
During the first two tournaments people who had volunteered to help with the tournament began to take their involvement seriously. It was not uncommon to find people taking holidays in the week leading up to the tournament to ensure that every detail was perfect to see that each child was treated special. This was exemplified in the likes of a gentleman by the name of Jimmy Shields who was a permanent fixture in the equipment room. Jimmy would take holidays and set up the equipment room so that when the teams began to arrive all of their equipment would be given to him, where he would remain in charge of it all weekend. This job Jimmy took very seriously and he would even sleep in the equipment room to make sure that the young players who were playing in the 7:00am game would have their equipment in their dressing room when they arrived. The young players and their coaches would marvel at how this man made them feel. He would take all of their gear and dry it out between games and he would make sure that it was in the dressing room before game time. Jimmy would often be heard saying to these young players “This is how they are going to treat you when you get to the NHL.”
Other roles were also adopted, Ken Thompson became the tournament hospitality chairman. His ability to remember names and faces of past coaches and
players made all participants feel as if they were special by just being at the tournament. Bill Evans was responsible for the “Old Tyme Stomp” which was the name of the bar upstairs during the carnival, which was sponsored by the West Ferris Minor Hockey Association. Bill would contact members of the association and get together a work party to construct an old tyme bar complete with barn board and foot rails. Gentlemen like Rolly Lalande and Fergie Bethune could be found at the rink all weekend volunteering to do anything from organizing timekeepers and goal judges to sweeping dressing rooms and carrying equipment. Don Pecore, the arena manager, would have the rink spotless. The ice would be freshly painted with West Ferris Minor Hockey logos at centre ice, along with the tournament year, giving the arena a similar appearance to that of Maple Leaf Gardens. The mothers of the community, known as The West Ferris Ladies Recreation Committee, could be found then the same as they are today busily working on a volunteer basis behind the snack bar counter serving hot dogs and hot chocolate early in the morning making sure all the young hockey players were happy. This was the Atom Tournament, a community ran tournament that was fun for all.
In 1972 the second memorial trophy was added to the tournament to recognize the consolation winners. This was done in the name of Mr. Claude Horner, a long time coach who became personally attached to every boy he had ever coached or helped. He often referred to the many youth who he had helped to become better people as “my boys.” The trophy collection was completed with the addition of the Ike Bowness Memorial Trophy which was to be awarded annually to the most valuable player of the tournament. Because of the large number of quality players the idea of an All-Star team was adopted and over the past twenty-five years some one hundred and fifteen boys have been regarded as All-Stars by the tournament committees.
Because of its popularity the tournament was forced to turn teams away. The number of teams applying was nearing thirty-five by the time the fifth tournament rolled around. However in order to keep the tournament successful the tournament committee maintained a team entry limit of twenty-four. This was the way they felt they could continue to bring in top quality hockey teams. It was this decision that brought in quality teams with quality players; as only the best teams from the across province were accepted.
Over the past twenty-five years the Atom Tournament has also become renowned for the opening ceremonies that accompany the tournament. Not only have community dignitaries been involved in opening face-offs but pipe and drum bands have escorted teams to and from the ice, majorettes have appeared marching and twirling batons, and 1978 saw the introduction of The Silver Birches stage band which became a tradition for the next ten years.
Players who have appeared in the program over the past twenty-five years include: PAUL COFFEE (Los Angeles Kings), RON FRANCIS (Pittsburgh Penguins), DARREN TURCOTTE (New York Rangers), BOB ESSENSA (Winnipeg Jets), most valuable player of the 9th Annual Atom Tournament SHAYNE CORSON (Edmonton Oilers), KEVIN KERR (Buffalo Sabres), and the most valuable player of the 8th Annual Atom Tournament STEVE YZERMAN (Detroit Red Wings). This high calibre of player is a credit to the tournament committees of the past who had to select the teams that have participated over the twenty-five years of the tournament.
In 1972 the tournament changed from the Atom Tournament to the Novice Tournament; however, this did not diminish the calibre of play that people had come to expect from the tournament. In fact the popularity of the tournament increased and by 1975 teams from outside Canada began to apply. With the name of the tournament returning to The Atom Tournament in 1975, the first team from outside Canada was accepted, a team from, Amherst, New York arrived to challenge the best atom teams in Ontario. This was the first time a team from United States had ventured this far north to challenge in a hockey tournament at the atom age. The West Ferris arena was packed as an international flair was now with the tournament. Although the team from New York did not fair well, the hospitality that was heaped upon them brought them back again in 1976.
The year 1975 also saw the tournament break away from a carnival activity, as West Ferris Minor Hockey decided to operate the tournament on their own without any financial commitment to the carnival committee. This decision was made due to the increasing financial demands of the carnival committee upon all carnival activities. It was done with regret, but the tournament executive did not feel they could continue to turn tournament profits over to the carnival committee and still offer the young hockey players the quality tournament that they had come to expect. This decision allowed the Atom Tournament to continue as the debt ridden carnival slowly down-sized until it could no longer function. However, the foresight of the tournament executives and the executive of West Ferris Minor Hockey were able to continue with a twenty-four team tournament despite the carnivals assistance in helping to draw teams.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the tournament is that every year has seen a different tournament chairman. This idea developed and has been supported by the executives of West Ferris Minor Hockey. In many instances, the tournament chairman has not been a member of the West Ferris Minor Hockey Executive. Many of these chairmen have also gone on to coach the West Ferris Atom “AA” team in this tournament. For example Marcel and Jerry Corriveau, Steve Boyle, John Lloyst, and Mike Park have all served as chairman and have also coached in the Atom Tournament. To the credit of the executives, they have allowed the tournament committees and the chairmen of the past and present to run the tournament as they see fit, knowing that the main goals of the very first tournament are still the main goals that help operate the twenty-fifth tournament. This unique trend has seen eleven presidents within the association relinquish their control for the betterment of the youth who have participated in the Atom Tournaments of the past. But then that is part of the unselfishness that has developed within the tournament over the past twenty-five years.
The 16th Annual Atom Tournament saw the end of the Pool System and the introduction of divisions under the titles of Hoffmeister, Forth, Thomson, and Schrader. Each one of these divisions was named in honour of an individual who had unselfishly given of himself in order that the game of hockey and the players involved would benefit. From serving on the West Ferris Minor Hockey executive, to sponsoring teams, and chairing the Atom Tournament these individuals were honoured by their peers as their way of saying thank you.
During the first fifteen years of the tournament most teams that entered the tournament came from centres such as Toronto, Hamilton, Oakville, Ottawa, Nepean, Niagara Falls, St. Catharines Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, and Cedar Hill. These large centres continually arrived in North Bay for the Atom Tournament so they could play the best teams possible. It was no secret throughout the province that the strongest teams would meet in North Bay and the winner of the Atom Tournament may just be the best in the province. With this in mind it was not uncommon to see a team take part one year and then not return the next as they felt they could not compete.
Unfortunately with the incorporation of the “triple A” system, throughout the larger centres in Ontario, the early eighties saw a decline in the number of teams from Southern Ontario. This was due to the fact that the tournament remained a “AA” tournament and many of the teams from the south began to venture into the Northern United States. This caused the Atom Tournament to be down scaled and in 1983 during the fifteenth anniversary the number of teams being accepted into the tournament was reduced to only sixteen. However this in no way hampered the quality of tournament play. Teams from Timmins, New Liskeard, and the Sudbury area soon began to replace the teams from the south and the result has been that the hockey action has been outstanding. Rivalries have developed and this has brought about an increased fan participation. The closeness of the communities to North Bay has allowed for a friendly atmosphere of competition. While many smaller hockey tournaments failed because of the swing to the “triple A” system the members of the Atom Tournament continued with their persistence to give the players a quality tournament. This has resulted in the Atom Tournament increasing the number of teams that participate in the tournament to twenty. Teams from across the province have again returned as the dedication and determination of the tournament volunteers has refused to let the tournament die.
Many memories lie within the individuals who have passed through the Atom Tournament from players to parents, from referees to timekeepers, from organizers to observers and none can ever deny that the tournament has been run in a manner that can only be described as outstanding. Many friendships have resulted from the Atom Tournament not only within the association but also between the participants.
Today, twenty-five years later, this is still the Atom tournament. Members of the original atom tournament can still be found around the rink during the tournament. Although many are not actively involved in the tournament operation, they nonetheless appear at tournament time to ensure that the tournament is still of top calibre and that all the players are treated special. You will still find Yosh Kamachi acting as floor manager, Guy Picard in his familiar role as official photographer, Peter Webster who has served as chairman and referee-in-chief, Fred Shippam who has served as referee-in-chief and is still responsible for the program today, Don Pecore past arena manager and official scheduler since the inception of the tournament, and the Lazarou family who for the past twenty-five years have taken part by serving as referees, tournament chairmen, timekeepers, or doing much needed electrical work to the sound system.
Although the above mentioned are still seen around the tournament, there are those founding fathers that are no longer with us. People that dedicated their time never wanting recognition or asking for accolades. As we look back over the twenty-five years it is easy to see the influences that these individuals have left on the atom tournament. To people like Heinz Hoffmeister, Bill Evans, Earl McParland, Russ Metcalfe, Bernie LeSage, Bob Arnew, and Jim Sinopoli I dedicate this historic look at the atom tournament. To all the tournament committees of the past, the countless volunteers, and to the past executives of West Ferris Minor Hockey I extend my congratulations and thank you for letting me be a part of this historic occasion. To know the number of youths that have benefited from your kindness is not possible. Why do these people continually volunteer their time to see that the Atom Tournament remains “The largest in Northern Ontario?” These dedicated people take on these extraordinary tasks unselfishly for one reason, that is because some thirty years ago, in a basement, five individuals got together and decided to do “WHAT WAS BEST FOR THE BOYS.”
