The photo above and article below were published in the Powell River News on April 16, 1970.
Regals make all-Canada finals
Powell River Rodmay Regals have made their way to the finals of the all-Canadian Intermediate ‘A’ hockey crown, winner of which will take the W.G. Hardie Trophy. This Friday at Powell River Civic Arena the Regals meet Val D’Or, Quebec Olympic in the final series of the playoffs.
Dr. Gilbert Gamache, president of the Olympic, will be bringing a “powerful club bent on retaining the national title in La Belle Province,” Jack Teahen secretary of the Rodmay Regals told The News. (Last year’s winner of the title was La Toque, Quebec.)
Val d’Or Olympic won the right to compete in the finals against the Regals by defeating eastern Intermediate ‘A’ teams in Newfoundland and Ontario.
In a telephone conversation a spokesman from the Olympic said the club hopes to bring a “strong contingent” of fans to the coast this weekend.
Price increases for seats have been inevitable, Teahen told The News. “The cost of hosting the national finals is expensive, but the Papertown fans met the increase with hardly a murmur,” he added.
The local club had to guarantee the Quebec team $10,500. “The Powell River Civic Area Commission has guaranteed that $10,500 to the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association,” a source told The News, and added that there is “no chance that the municipality will have to foot the bill. Already over $6,000 has been collected in advance bookings, and we will take in more than $10,000 in the first three games. But somebody had to underwrite the guaranteed $10,500. Don’t forget this is the biggest thing in hockey ever to hit Powell River.”
Added Teahen for the Regals: “The prestige and distinction brought to Powell River through its hockey club has given the whole community a boost. These ambassadors have brought Powell River and the Sunshine Coast into the focus of the whole country.”
The series between the Regals and Olympic will be a best-of-five games.
Lineup of the Olympic under coach Lou Trepanier is distinctly French in flavour with a dash of Scottish and English: Rene Lafreere and Bart Caron goaltending and Jean Paul Veilleux, Yves Repage, Jean Laliberte, Gerry Allaird, Norm Furlong, Fred Nolet, Red Ptilon, Fern Harvey, Duncan MacDonald, Jeannot Marenjer, Yves Caoutte, Gatien Higgins, Jean Noel Parent, Giles St. Jacque, Luc Sigouin, Roger Draeau.
A Tuesday morning telegram received by Regal’s secretary Teahen, from the Hon. Isabel Dawson, minister without portfolio, probably reflects the thoughts of most Papertowners:
“Again I add my congratulations to all of you on winning the Western Canada Intermediate ‘A’ Hockey Championship. You represented Powell River very well, and I wish you luck in the future.”
Mayor J. W. Sabourin of Val d’Or is expected to arrive in Powell River Friday morning, probably aboard the morning Pacific Western Airline flight.
