Events that affect a Hockey Career

                 Little events that can affect young mans Hockey Career

                    Trying to remember your teenage life seventy years ago
                                  is a very interesting exercise.                                                                                                                                                                                   Moving up through the various divisions within any sport, can be a difficult time for a young person. 

As one moves along the age groups, at times they get labeled very young. 

Sometimes regardless how they progress, their coaches see them through the original lens. It quite often takes an outside coach or manager to see the potential and skill the locals miss, thus many late drafts in the NHL turn out to be star players.

                             Sickness and injury in the early stages can have a huge impact on a young person’s career.

                                 Note: Throughout this portion of my life

                     GRADUATING FROM GRADE TWELVE WAS ALWAYS 
                                    PARAMOUNT IN MY  MIND!

Event 1

From the age of twelve or thirteen, when Bob Stark called on the phone: “Larry, I told our Peewee coach you were a good Hockey Player. He said to bring you out for the game tonight”.

 Hockey has played a major part in my life.

 My Uncle, Cliff Bennett, was a star player For the Saskatoon Wesleys in the late 1930’s.

They went to the Memorial Cup Playoffs.

 I always wanted to play for the Wesleys! 

Bob and I both attended ‘King George’ Public School, in Saskatoon. I of course played street hockey, and at small outdoor rinks, like Mr. Millins rink across the street.

 I played a lot!

 However, I never played any organized hockey with referees, and rules!

After the game (they were a few weeks into the season), at the giant (to me) Saskatoon Arena, the Coach Mr. Davidson, gave me a beautiful Detroit Red Wings sweater with the number 13, and said “see you next Week larry”.  I assumed I had made the team as a member of the “Red Wings”. 

 During this season, and the next, Bob and I also played for King George public school, against all the other schools in Saskatoon. Both of us represented our school in the famous yearly Public Schools All Star Game, at the Saskatoon Arena in 1948. 

That Arena officially held about 4000 fans, but for this special game, students were let in free and about 9000 very loud kids filled the rink. What a thrill. Bob and I then went on to play for the Wesleys hockey organization, though Bantam, midget, and Juvenile hockey.

Event 2 Jan. 1951

Jan. 1951 Taken to St. Paul Hospital in Saskatoon.  Major exploratory stomach surgery. Had an Eight Inch incision, spinal didn’t take, great pain, had to be put under.  Missed final three months of Juvenile Hockey season. In effect this was the whole season at that time.

Event 3 June 6^th, 1952

June the 6^{th 1952}, was a very important day in a very eventful year. I was to start that evening as Shortstop for the Saskatoon Optimist Junior Baseball team. The game was to start at Cairns field, under the lights at 7pm.  

At about 3pm that fateful day, I crashed on my old Indian Motorcycle. 

I was in the hospital for about two weeks with a fractured skull, cuts and bruises, and a serious injury to my right arm and elbow. The main damage was losing all the skin, and some bone after sliding along the pavement with my arm behind my back. I was unable to play any baseball games that year.  

One may read that entire story later under the title “Am I Dead”?

https://larrysstories.blogspot.com/2012/10/am-i-dead.html

 I had been playing on the “Saskatoon Wesleys Rep A Minor league teams” for the past three years and was planning on continuing with the Juvenile team this year again. The doctors, and my Mother and Father, were sure I could not play this season, and advised me to skip a year.  However, my fractured Scull was not bothering me much, and my right elbow that had lost most of its skin, was healing quite well after two operations.  I began attending tryout camp in early oct. 1952.

 I had never been a star player on Rep A Team but continued to improve. However, my parents talked to the coaches and convinced them maybe I should take a year off. I was reluctant to do this, but there was a strange thing happening at practice. Both me and the coaches had been a bit concerned.

 At times, as I was digging out to get to full speed, suddenly one or both legs would just quit. No warning of any kind. After getting up everything seamed OK. However, maybe once again at that practice, or maybe the next day, it would happen again. I had not told my family or the Doctor about this.

I did miss another year!

I now had basically missed two consecutive years playing hockey on The Wesleys Rep A teams. This at what is about the most crucial time in a player’s career.  

Event 4 About Aug. 29, 1952

I had a meeting with Bedford Road High’s Vice Principal on about the 29 the of Aug. 1952. I explained my accident and time in hospital. Since I was unable to write the grade Eleven Final Exams I requested permission to attempt Grade Twelve. I was quite surprised the Vice Principal Said no, I would have to do Grade 11 over again. I was shocked, and a bit devastated. Did not return to Bedford Road that September.

 I did however, return in March 1953, to attempt writing the Grade Eleven Exams in June. The Principle was rather surprised that I had not continued on and attempted grade Twelve. I told him about the Vice Principal.  I didn’t make a big deal of it.

Passed the Grade eleven exams in June 1953.

Event 5 1953  - first day of training camp

(Had started Grade twelve, September 3, 1953.)

Tryout for the big Wesleys Junior A team. I was with the same group of minor players coming up together through the Wesley Rep division, ranks. Many of these included players from our original Pee Wee team the “Red Wings”. Including Wally Bentley, Art Jones, Henry and harry Yam, Bobby Mckusker, Dicky Baltzan, and of course my old friend Bob Stark. We had been together as a group for the past four years.

As it happened, I believe it was the first day of tryouts the Manager and a Scout from the previous year’s champions the ‘Prince Albert Mintos’ was watching our practice. 

As I was leaving that day, Bob Stark (yes good old Bob) with the Mintos Management in tow, approached me. and asked me to come and tryout with the Mintos. This was a very pleasant turn of events. It is a nice feeling to be wanted.  At that particular time, I did not feel I was getting a fair look.

I could use a pleasant event! 

They promised me they could get me straight into grade twelve. I had been attending Bedford Road grade Twelve up till this time.   To help with my decision, the Mintos paid their players a couple of hundred dollars a month.. 
So being a rather naïve teenager, not to mention stupid, I did not tell the Wesleys brass what I was doing. I just packed my stuff that evening, and drove my 1946 Hudson Super Six, to Prince Albert.

Event 6 about sept 23th, 1953

In Prince Albert I was playing on a line with Skip McKay and Orland Kurtenbach in the tryouts, both star players. I was almost in shock I was so happy.

 We were in bed around midnight in the house I shared with Bob, and two other Minto Players.  I was fast asleep when Bob whispers to me in the darkness, “Larry, wake up, I think there are girls in the house.” 
In a bit of sleep fog, I replied, “Don’t be silly, you are dreaming, go back to sleep”  We heard a soft giggle. We woke up and entered the living room.  

 There were four very attractive, very inebriated, teenage girls in our living room. To say this was a shock is an understatement, a rather pleasant shock though.  

They were only wearing Bra’s and panties.  

At almost the exact instant we entered the living room, from our bedroom, the front door opened. It was another shock. Coach Fraser entered the living room. The girls left!! We all received a very stern lecture.

 We all were late for morning practice.

                                                                             We all got fired.

This is a copy of the Prince Albert Daily --Herald Sept 24/1953
I am mentioned in 2nd column about 14 line up rom bottom. Beginning with" Other Green marksmen were

Kenny combes and Clarence Bennett, (me) both with two goals

Big LIFE Event 7.      Oct 1953   
      

I Had just returned from Prince Albert Mintos

Met Beth Bowron at the High School’s Skating Party. Vic Worobey pushed me into her, and I made her fall down.  I Apologized, we drove her home, and I got her phone number. She gave her name as Liz.?

Bigger Event 8 - Dec 10 (approximately) 1953 

Took Beth on first date – to look at the pretty Christmas Lights in my 1938 Packard.   I believe we were “going steady” from that day on.                      

                                                                  I know I was!

                                1938 Packard Straight 8 Coupe with Rumble Seat’ 

                    

                                                       JUST LIKE THIS   - not quite this good!!      

Event 9   Oct. 13, 1954

 Played in inter-squad game a the Arena!    Last player Cut from Junior Wesley Team. 

I was devastated! 

I Had a very serious run-in with another player on the team! He made some slanderous remarks, about a friend of mine!   

Two bad experiences.  In retrospect, this was the end of any Chance of a hockey career.

  
Two weeks later I started a very short career with the Royal Bank of Canada in Elrose, Saskatchewan!   I had a great year playing for their senior team.                                                    

Event 10 – Jan 1956 Swift Current Sask. 

He was playing for the Swift Current Senior team. I was playing for our little group of castoffs, Saskatoon Wildcats touring team. We were playing in the Saskatchewan Senior C (I think) playoffs I am refering to the player I had the serious run-in with at the Wesleys camp in oct. 1954. He broke my ankle after I had scored a goal.  

The Player I had run-in with at the Wesleys oct 13 1954 tryout, broke my ankle. He hit me low and very late after I had scored a goal.This injury has bothered me for the rest of my life!. Did not get it set by a doctor!

We won and went on to play against the Melville Millionaires. The strangest thing happened during this series.

Their goalie, every time I had, or even was in the general vicinity of the puck, would scream, “get Bennett” or “watch number 9, Bennett”.

I found this rather strange, since I had never played in Melville before. I knew no one in this city and had no idea who this strange goalie was.

As it turned out this was Coach Fraser, from our Prince Albert Mintos debacle. Evidently, he had been fired as head coach later on the same year, after Bob and I had been sent home!

Event 11 sept 29^th 1956  

                          

                   Beth and I married in Regina

                                                                    Events have continued!!