1947-48 Simcoe Midget Hockey Team
Left to right, back row: Dr. Wm. Drennan of Lions Club, Walt Gardiner, Reg Basset, Norm Gardiner, Orville Kemp of Lions Club,  Bob Mullin, George Armstrong, George Baldock of Lions Club.
Centre row:  Bill Rogers, Gord Downs, Bert Walker, stick boy Bruce Murray, manager and Lions Club member Len Blacker, Karl Kowalsky, Jim Quinn.
Front row: Jim Cleaver, Bill Cooke, Bud Harris, Howard Slade, Brian Rodgers, Harry Bentley.
Photo courtesy Brian Rodgers and Anne Downs.

These boys played on natural ice in the Commercial Building at the Fairgrounds on various Town League teams, under the sponsorship of the Simcoe Lions Club.  In late, March 1948, this "All-Star" team was entered in a midget tournament in Barrie.  Although badly beaten, this team represents the beginning of Minor Hockey in Simcoe.

From the 1 Apr 1948 Simcoe Reformer:
"... lack of experience through the lack of ice for practice and competitive play proved a terrific handicap for the Simcoe boys who represented Simcoe in the Ontario Midget N.H.L. tournament at Barrie on Monday and Tuesday.  The local kids who were swamped in all three games, were badly outclassed by Barrie, Copper Cliff and Weston."