1954
National High School
Hockey Tournament
PENGUINDROME, FROSTBITE FALLS
Welcome!
This years National Hockey Tournament is sure to heat up the soul of even the the most mild hockey fan. Seven of the top rated teams in the final poll have made it here and with last years champion out, a new champion will be crowned in the world of high school hockey on the Island!
We hope you enjoy the best the Island has to offer in the teams and communities that have made it here and relish in the rich tradition that has become the Island’s favorite sport.
This is the very first year that the games will both be televised and carried over radio as these teams all quest for the National Championship trophy. Smile brite and cheer loud! History is being made!
The tournament is in it’s 19th year and we see no signs of it stopping as the enthusiasm continues to grow and build. Enjoy yourself at the tournament and may the best team win!
THE PENGUINDROME
Built in Frostbite Falls in 1930 as one of the most palatial and spacious arenas on the Island, the Penguindrome has been the home of the Island Boys Hockey Tournament since its inception in 1936. The Arena seats 5,800 and is used all year round for events other than just hockey. Musical acts, carnivals, festivals, auto shows and auctions have also been held in the Penguindrome, named for the Island’s national animal – the beloved Great Frostbite Penguin, which originated nearby.
PREVIOUS CHAMPIONS:
1953: Railton Riverside Raiders
1952: Railton Riverside Raiders
1951: Twin Pines Lumberjacks
1950: Trainworld City Cathedral Saints
1949: Fort Terminus Titans
1948: Saint George Military Academy Dragons
1947: Holy Cross of Trainapolis Crusaders
1946: Boldon Bombers
1945: Trainapolis Apollo Trojans
1944: Trainapolis Apollo Trojans
1943: Fitzgerald Mariner Memorial Mariners
1942: Frostbite Falls Penguins
1941: Maidaville Memorial Mustangs
1940: Trainworld City Park Wildcats
1939: Frostbite Falls Penguins
1938: Trainapolis Central Chargers
1937: Copper Point Cougars
1936: Copper Point Cougars
THIS YEARS FIELD OF TEAMS
Tom Skull, Trainworld Tribune Sports
OVERVIEW: While no team is undeserving of reaching a Championship Tournament bracket, it is with great surprise this year that the top ranked, two time defending National Champions and number 1 section seed the Raiders of Railton Riverside, fell in the Section 6 semifinals to unranked and the #5 seeded Lions of LaSalle School of Riverside. The Cinderella’s of Section 6 knocked the Raiders off 3-2 in overtime despite losing 6-1 earlier in the regular season. The Lions continued their streak and captured the Section title, again in overtime, defeating Railton North 4-3 to get to their first National Tournament appearance ever. But the Lions are not alone in their eyebrow raising performance.
In Section 3, the Mariners of Fitzgerald Mariner Memorial were the number 3 seed, yet took on and defeated number 2 seed Copper Point to meet top seeded Holy Cross of Trainapolis and soundly defeated the Crusaders 5-1 to advance to their first National Tournament in two years.
In the Section 5 final, unranked yet #2 seeded Fort Terminus fought the nationally second ranked Dragons of Saint George Military Academy to a standstill, until sophomore standout Joey Padden scored the game winning goal in overtime to bring St. George back to the tournament.
There are quite a few players to watch for making their appearance here in the tournament. We’ll start with the just mentioned Joey Padden, aforward of Saint George Academy. A 15 year old hockey sensation, he’s been the power behind the Dragons this season and his youthful prowess seems to keep propelling the Dragons to new heights.
Paul “Puck” Powell, is another to keep an eye on. The senior forward from Frostbite Falls is currently tied as the Island scoring leader with fellow tournament player Maxwell Lindzvig, a junior from Fitzgerald Mariner. Both capable players, Powell has offers from University of Michigan in the United States, the University of Trainworld, and Wisconsin. Lindzvig, although only a junior, has attracted an equal amount of interested scouts from both the United States and the colleges here on the Island.
Billy “Brick” Baroue of Boldon is currently the goaltending champion in high school hockey on the Island. The junior netminder for the Bombers has stifled his opponents with a staggering 1.66 goals against average.
Zach Jeckich of Trainworld City Park has been the utmost enforcer this year as well as a great forechecking senior defenseman. His 22 goals leads the Wildcats in scoring and leads all defensemen on the Island in the category. The soon to be Northern Michigan recruit wont have to shed some of his Wildcat memories, as Northern Michigan touts the same mascot.
Johnny O’Connor, a junior defenseman from Maidaville Memorial, has also gained attention from several colleges with his 18 goals this season. This is his third National Tournament as a Mustang and has attracted attention for his penalty minutes as well, 86 in all. Notre Dame, Minnesota, and Abnormal State University all have their eyes on picking up the 6-2 210’ player.
WATCH FOR THESE PLAYERS!
FINAL HOCKEY RANKINGS
(Island Associated Press)
#1: Railton Riverside Raiders 18-2
#2: St. George Academy Dragons 18-4
#3: Frostbite Falls Penguins 20-2
#4: Trainapolis Apollo Trojans18-4
#5: Boldon Bombers 16-2-2
#6: Trainworld City Park Wildcats 16-6
#7: Fitzgerald Mariner Memorial Mariners 18-4
#8: Maidaville Memorial Mustangs 19-4
#9: Trainworld City Cathedral Saints 17-4
#10: Holy Cross of Trainapolis Crusaders 15-6
HONORABLE MENTION:
Copper Point, Twin Pines, Maidaville Metropolitan, Chippewa Bay, Whitefish Valley
THE SCHOOLS
(Alphabetical)
BOLDON “BOMBERS” 18-2-2
The Bombers of Boldon ride into the 1954 tournament with a #5 national ranking and an 18-2-2 record, with losses to Chippewa Bay and Frostbite Falls and ties to Bannockburn and Trainville West. The Champions of Section 7, the Bombers are led by stellar goaltending by Billy “Brick” Baroue with an incredible 1.66 goals against average. Scoring comes from senior Bill Berg and Ken Gracco. Boldon dispatched the Bulldogs of Chippewa Bay in the Section 7 title game to reach their second straight tournament. The school of 467 from the iron mining and railroad community in the Frostbite Mountains, won the National Title in 1946 and were runners up in 1947. This is their 9th tournament appearance. The number 3 seed in the 1954 National Tournament, the 5th ranked Bombers take on the champions of Section 1, the 4th ranked Trojans of Trainapolis Apollo.
FITZGERALD MARINER MEMORIAL “MARINERS”
18-4
The Memorial Mariners of Fitzgerald started the season strong, knocking off opponent after opponent on their way to a 7-0 unbeaten streak before running into top ranked Railton Riverside, losing 6-2 in December. They then loss twice to Holy Cross, once in the Mehina Coal Tournament, 4-0 in January, and again 3-1 in the regular season a week later. As a result, the #10 Crusaders entered the Section 3 Tournament as the number one seed, and the Mariners were number three. So the #7 Mariners had to fight their way thru the sectionals, defeating #2 seeded Copper Point, 4-2 and then defeating their nemesis, Holy Cross, 5-1 in the Sectional Final to reach the tourney. Center Max Lindzvig is tied for the Nations leading goal scorer with 29 goals and is sure to entertain, while his winger Jackie Sinclair has an impressive 21 goals. A private school on Fitzgeralds east side near the shipyards, the school of 368 was built and funded by donations from Great Lakes mariners and their families, hence their nickname. The Mariners won the 1943 tournament defeating Frostbite Falls in overtime that year, 4-3. This is their 6th tournament appearance. They will be meeting the Champions of Section 5, the St. George Academy Dragons.
FROSTBITE FALLS “PENGUINS”20-2
Perhaps theres no more a storied team in the tournament than the Penguins of Frostbite Falls. Champions in 1939 and 1942, the Champions of Section 4 have been to the Tournament an astounding 13 times, the most of any team in the tournament. This year the #3 ranked Penguins drew the top seed in the tournament and will face the # 6 ranked Wildcats of Trainworld City Park in the first game of the tournament. Senior center Paul “Puck” Powell is currently tied as the Islands leading goal scorer with 29 goals and is sure to set the ice on fire. He is backed by sophomore Brian Buskalava in the nets, solid with 2.24 goals against average. The Penguins of Frostbite Falls have a home ice advantage with their home arena, the Penguindrome, being the longtime host arena for the Tournament. Frostbite Falls High School, with an enrollment of 593 serves the community area of Frostbite Falls, mostly a tourist ski town, home to a Hamms Brewery and the origin of the Frostbite Falls Railroad, the Islands first domestic railroad.
LaSalle School of Railton “Lions” 14-6-2
The Cinderella team of this years tournament, the Lions of LaSalle High School are enjoying their first National Tournament appearance. Their epic run of upsets in Section 6 play was rewarded with a berth in the tourney. The fifth seeded and unranked Lions started their tournament run entering the Section 6 tournament with a 12-6-2 record. They defeated Railton Central 2-1 in the quarterfinal to meet top ranked and # 1 seed Railton Riverside, where the Lions upset the two time defending National Champions 3-2 in the semi-finals. They hung in overtime once again to defeat the third seeded Knights of Railton North 4-3 to advance to this years National Tournament. LaSalle is led by senior forward Ted Lonsdale with 14 goals and 19 assists this season. The private engineering preparatory school of 296 studentsis located on Railton’s Southwest side, is more known for their scholars instead of sports. Named for famed European explorer Robert de La Salle, the school is hoping to change that image and round out it’s athletic program with future trips here to the National Tournament.
MAIDAVILLE MEMORIAL “MUSTANGS” 19-4
Number 8 ranked Maidaville Memorial is no stranger to Tournament play, having been here eight times, and winning it all in 1941, and runner ups in 1944, 1945, and 1950. The Champions of Section 8 have experience on their side as they cruised through their sectional as a number one seed, defeating crosstown rivals, the Cardinals of Maidaville Cathedral 6-3 in the semifinals, and then advancing to meet unranked Bessemer Bay in the Section Championship. The Beavers, who upset the #2 seeded Masons 3-2 in overtime to advance to the Section title tilt, were no match for the Memorial Mustangs who scored fast and early to win a 7-1 Sectional Title crown. Junior Johnny O’Connor leads the Mustangs with 18 goals this season as being heavily looked at by area universities and colleges. Memorial, enrollment of 938, sits on the northwestern edge of town near the railroad yards, massive Maidaville Cement Works, and factory of Trainworld Steel and Rail Company.
SAINT GEORGE MILITARY ACADEMY
“DRAGONS” 18-4
The Dragons of Saint George Military Academy in Fort Terminus have been a machine all year long. Starting the year as the second ranked team in the country, they lost their first game to defending National Champion and top ranked Railton Riverside 3-1, then to Trainapolis Apollo, 4-3 and then to Frostbite Falls, 3-1 to start the season. They lost those shakes since, losing only to Boldon during that time frame. Sophomore sensation Joey Padden scored the game winning goal in overtime in the Section 5 Championship against a tough Fort Terminus club to win 3-2, sending the Dragons back to the Tournament for a sixth time. Saint George won the title in 1948 and were runners up in 1947 and 1949. Saint George Academy will take on A military academy located next to the Island’s major Military Academy and college, the Minerva, the Dragons enrollment of 269 doesn’t seem like a lot, but each cadet is pushed to excel, and excel they do. The Dragons are well known for their academic as well as athletic prowess.
TRAINAPOLIS APOLLO “TROJANS” 18-4
The Trojans of Trainapolis are making their fourth trip to the National Tournament, and first since winning it all in 1945 and 1944, back to back. Junior forward Trent Stannard has led the team with 19 goals and 22 assists this season while Paul “Pottsy” Pompansario has net minded the Trojans to just four losses on the season. The 4th ranked team on the Island had a number 1 seed in the Section 1 Tournament, easily defeating Trainapolis East, 9-3 in the semifinals, and then dispatching the Wolverines of Trainapolis West, 6-2 in the Championship to advance to the National Tournament. Apollo will take on the #5 ranked Boldon Bombers, a team that defeated the Trojans earlier this season 4-2. Trainapolis Apollo, a private school named for the Greek God Apollo, sits to the West in the city and is known for its cultural and musical programs as well as it’s athletics. It’s enrollment is 566.
TRAINWORLD CITY PARK “WILDCATS”16-6
The Wildcats of Trainworld City Park are back in the National Tournament for the first time since 1946, when they lost to eventual champion, Boldon, 6-3 prior to winning it all in 1940. The # 6 ranked Wildcats come into the tourney on a six game winning streak. Seeded #1 in the Section 2 Tournament, the Cats made quick work of Trainworld City West in the semi finals, 4-1 before tangling with unranked and 3d seeded Trainworld City Boyat Memorial. The Bulldogs gave the Wildcats everything they could handle but it was Park coming away in the Championship with a 3-2 win to head to the National Tournament. Senior defenseman Zach Jeckich leads the team in scoring with 22 goals, despite being a defenseman, but he leads all defensemen in scoring on the Island. The future University of Northern Michigan recruit and his team have their work cut out for them as they face the top seeded and #3 ranked Penguins of Frostbite Falls in the first game. Park High School, on Trainworld City’s southwest side, is located on the industrial side of town near the mills and railyards. With an enrollment of 947, it is one of the larger schools on the Island. The Cats are looking to hoist a Championship banner next to their 1940 one back in Trainworld City.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
By: Ricky Lund, Sports writer, Trainworld Tribune
The 1954 tournament will have a new champion.
Three of the schools in the tournament are private.
One school has never made it to the National Tournament.
Two schools are looking for their third National Championship.
No school has ever won a third National Title.
Five schools are looking to add a second National Title.
One school was unranked coming into the tournament.
. . . . and ONE school WILL win it ALL!