​Remembering the Pine River hockey team of possibly 1937

It appears that hockey has been a long-time favourite sport in Bruce County.

Thanks to Wayne Pollock for this picture of the Pine River team – in 1937, he thinks, but maybe earlier. In those days, there would have been several rural teams in Huron Township.

“A History of Huron and its Hub Ripley,” which has this picture, tells us that the “new” arena was built in 1927 and a very active rural league was formed. Perhaps Amberley, Lochalsh, Paramount, Verdun, Lisburn were among the teams.

If we were to read the digitized “Ripley Review” or “Kincardine News” on the archives website, we would likely find reports of games played by these teams.



I might have picked out your dad, Wayne, and Gordon Farrell, maybe Carl Funston. I certainly recognize the other names. Some of them are also on my family tree. So who are these young men?

Lester Armstrong - coach or supporter? His store at the corner of Highway 21 and Concession 8 would have supplied the local families with groceries, hardware, and gas for their cars. His daughter, Noreen, was a good friend of my Mum.

Bob Hardie, son of William and Agnes Bell Hardie, grew up on the Base Line between Concessions 10 and 12. Later, he lived with his wife, Ruby Shelton, in Kincardine.

Gordon Farrell, son of Uncle Jim and Aunt Emma Wilson Farrell, lived on the northeast corner of Concession 6. That’s where we used to get apples from the orchard of his nephew, Roger, and wife, Gail. Gordon’s sister, Marion, was Mum’s best friend.

Elmer Pollock, son of Uncle James D. and Aunt Mary Dane Pollock, lived on the farm that is now a Thompson farm, south of the Pine River corner. He and his wife, Kathleen Shewfelt, have a legacy of hockey players from Kincardine to the NHL.

Burt Graham lived with his parents, Bill Alex and Margaret MacTavish Graham, opposite Bethel Church. His dad built many houses in the neighbourhood, including Grandpa’s house at Pine River. Burt was killed in an automobile accident near Mitchell in 1941. Gordon Farrell, who was with him, survived the accident. Burt is on the Graham branch of my Family Tree.

Lennie Huston was the son of William and Minnie Graham Huston who lived on Concession 8, at the corner with Sideroad 30 where Daddy and Mum built their house in the 1970s. Lennie and his wife, Marion, later lived with their children on Highway 21 between Concessions 10 and 12. They are all on my Graham Tree as well.

Earl Tout and his wife, Bertha, also lived on Concession 8 but closer to Pine River. Earl served as clerk-treasurer of Huron Township for 21 years.

Carl Pollock was the son of S. Wesley and Sarah Elliott Pollock who lived on Concession 12 until they moved to Concession 10 west of Sideroad 30. I remember attending Sunday School at Bethel with his children, Doug, Anne and Joan. He had married Jean Grant.

John Bell lived with his parents, William and Ellen Smith Bell, on the southeast corner of Concession 8, kitty-corner to Armstrong’s store. John enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 1941, serving in the RAF throughout the war. You can read about the high honours he received in the 2015 edition of “Families and Farms of Huron.”

Carl Funston, son of Frank and Lillian Fair Funston, lived all his life in one or another of the Funston houses at the corner of Concession 6 and Highway 21. His wife was Gladys Hardie, sister of Bob.

John S. MacDonald was, I believe, the son of Donald A. MacDonald and Margaret McLay who lived further east on Concession 8. Although his name and the names of his sisters are very familiar to me, I cannot think of his position in the township. Help, please!

Bob Liddle, I’m guessing he came from Wardsville in Elgin County but where he lived and how he is connected to local Liddles, maybe even McMurchies, I have no idea. Irene, can you please straighten this out?

As you glance over these mini-bios, we can imagine how neighbourhoods knit together as this one was, would fill the stands at weekly hockey games.