Team
1977-78 Chatham Royals Hockey
SPORT | Hockey
LEVEL | Intermediate “C”
YEAR OF INDUCTION | 2014
Front Row: Brett Glasier (assistant trainer), Larry Verlinde, Wayne Cowell, Randy Aitken, Cliff Glasier (manager), Copper Leyte (coach), Derek Davenport (president), Chuck Howard, Chris Whiteside, Tom McIntosh (trainer) Back Row: Dave Warren, Rick Martin, Colin Thompson, Tom Rogers, Brian Legue, Reg Howard, Kent Byrnes, Randy Trudeau, Rick Stickney, Steve English, Wayne Anderson, Don Vandersluis, Peter Badour, Mike O’Meara, Ron Haddock (executive member), Brian Allin Absent: Ross Cook (assistant trainer)
1977-78 Royals Hockey Team Induction into the Chatham Sports Hall of Fame, 2014 Front Row: Randy Trudeau, Wayne Anderson, Wayne Cowell, Rick Martin, Tom McIntosh (trainer), Peter Badour Middle Row: Brian Allin, Mike O’Meara, Rick Stickney, Don Vandersluis, Colin Thompson, Larry Verlinde, Steve English Back Row: Chuck Howard, Derek Davenport (president), Kent Byrnes, Tom Rogers, Randy Aitken
1977-78 Royals Hockey Team Induction into the Chatham Sports Hall of Fame, 2014 Front Row: Randy Trudeau, Wayne Anderson, Wayne Cowell, Rick Martin, Tom McIntosh (trainer), Peter Badour Middle Row: Brian Allin, Mike O’Meara, Rick Stickney, Don Vandersluis, Colin Thompson, Larry Verlinde, Steve English Back Row: Chuck Howard, Derek Davenport (president), Kent Byrnes, Tom Rogers, Randy Aitken
The Royals Hockey Team was started by Derek Davenport in the hopes of moving up to Senior “A” and eventually competing for the Allan Cup. The team consisted of players who lived in Chatham and played in the city hockey league. Copper Leyte was the coach. They played a regular Intermediate schedule but did not practice as a team until after the city league was finished for the season. Their league record was 22 wins, 7 losses, and 2 ties, earning them first place in the final standings. In the league playoffs the Royals defeated Dresden Lumberkings in 4 straight games and then Wheatley Olmsteads in 4 straight.
In the OHA semi-finals they played Stirling (near Belleville). After winning the first 3 games, the Royals won the fourth and deciding game 7-4 before 1500 fans at Memorial Arena. In the finals they played Port Elgin Sunocos who had not lost a game all year. Chatham won the first 2 games but then lost 3-1 in game three. Since the ice had been removed from Memorial Arena, game 4 was played before a sell-out crowd at Northside Arena and the Royals won 4-1. Going into game five the Royals were short three key players because of injuries and Coach Leyte was hospitalized for tests and eventual surgery.
George Aitken stepped in to take over as coach. Port Elgin won the next 2 games to even the series at 3-3. Game 7 was played at the Port Elgin Arena which was packed. The Royals led 2-0 after one period, trailed 4-2 after two periods, but then scored 4 third period goals to record a come-from-behind 6-4 victory and claim the OHA Intermediate “C” title. Their overall record was 39 wins, 10 losses, and 2 ties with the players competing in over 100 games with the Royals and their city league teams during the year.