1941/42 Pacific Coast Senior Hockey Association, Part 4

Nanaimo Clipper, against whom the Norvans snapped their 7-game losing streak

 After an entire month of losing every game they played, the Vancouver Norvans Shipyards broke a seven-game losing streak with a surprise home win at the Vancouver Forum over New Westminster on Dec. 15, 1941. The Victoria Daily Colonist reported; "Vancouver Norvans Nose Out Spitfires In Hockey Surprise - Halt Losing Streak at Expense of League Leading New Westminster Club, 4-3 – Beattie Nets Two Goals in Final Period Offensive With a trio of new players and return of several on the injured list Norvans gave a much improved performance over that of the past few weeks which saw them drop seven games in a row."

New Westminster Spitfires

The following night back in New Westminster, the Norvans continued their turnaround; "Vancouver Iceman Register Victory Over Rival Squad - Norvans Continue Bid for Cost Hockey League Honors by Rallying in Final Period to Turn Back New Westnminster Spitfires, 4-3 – Nanaimo Here on Friday NEW WESTMINSTER-Staging a terrific last-period surge, Vancouver Norvans chalked up their second successive victory over New Westminster Spitfires here tonight when they downed them 4-3 in a Pacific Coast Amateur Intermediate Hockey League game that ended in a near riot. With only seconds remaining to play, the players engaged in a free-for-all on the ice and Art Schuman, Vancouver and Ed Trites of Spitfires, were penalized. They  attempted to continue the fight in the stands and spectators joined in, but police intervened and stopped the fracas. The score was an exact duplicate of last night’s victory and drew Norvans to within one point of third-place Nanaimo Clippers. Trailing 3-1 going into the final session, Norvans began to roll like a well-oiled machine and ‘Red’ Beattie cut the lead to 3-2 after three minutes of play. Bonneville evened the score four minutes later. Norvans forged into the lead at twelve-minute mark on a goal by Ken Barker from Schuman while New Westminster was short-handed."
Some good old original Slap Shot action with players fighting in the stands and the police intervening. A timely power play marker capped a three goal third for the Norvans in this exciting affair.

The Norvans won their third straight 4-3 game against Nanaimo on Dec. 22 as they clawed their way back into the Coast League race; "Vancouver Beats Nanaimo in Keen Ice Hockey Game Norvans Tighten Up Race for Coast League Honors By Downing Up-Islanders, 4-3 – Peters Scores Winning Goal in Last Period – Spitfires And Clippers Meet Tonight" Three victories in a row to turn their season around, the explanation could be as simple as being called out by their coach as told by the Daily Colonist; "Tip O’Neil, manager of the Vancouver hockey team, called his men together last week and said in a loud penetrating voice; ‘You fellows get out there and play hockey from now on or you’ll be looking for work somewhere else?’ The order hit the right spot for the Norvans skated out and trimmed the league-leading New Westminster club twice, and on consecutive nights."
The roll continued on Dec. 29 at home; "Vancouver Icemen Turn Back Bapcos In Hockey Fixture

VANCOUVER- Vancouver Norvans moved their winning streak to four straight games tonight as they downed Victoria Bapcos, 3-2 in a Pacific Coast Intermediate Amateur Hockey League game here. The win put Norvans into a tie with Bapcos, three points back of the league-leading New Westminster Spitfires and Nanaimo Clippers, also tied. The game opened slow and neither team seemed to be able to get going during the first fifteen minutes. Norvans had a narrow escape when Goalie Tommy Horne left a loose puck lying in front of the goal after making a stop. Bapcos tried hard for the evener and carried the play to the Vancouver end a number of times, but just couldn’t make it. Harney was called on to stop a lot of pucks himself before the game ended."

The Norvan's fourth consecutive victory left all four Coast League teams within one game of each other in the standings. The streak would come to a halt in their first game of the new year on Jan. 2 in Victoria; "There is standing room only at the top of the Pacific Coast Intermediate Amateur Hockey League today as a third team, Victoria Bapcos, crowded into that rarified atmosphere as a result of their four-all overtime draw with Vancouver Norvans at the Willows Ice Arena last night. Two majors to McIntyre and Schuman were handed out in the second session for fighting, and the gladiators were still watching the proceedings from the bastille when Algar was waived off on a trip. The McIntyre-Schulman set-to brought both men to the ice swinging and was gleefully appreciated by some 1,800 howling fans. Schulman dived for the Bapco rearguard in what was apparently intended for a flying tackle and the big fellow braced for the attack, met the onslaught with a series of effective uppercuts. When the boys were eventually pried apart and examined for injuries it was discovered that little damage had been inflicted. Bapcos looked like the better conditioned club as they overran the Vancouver team in the early stages of the third period. The tempo of the game, faster than in either the first or second periods, continued at a driving pace as the Norvans, trying desperately for the tying counter, drove in with threatening rushes."

 The next evening, a log-jam was caused in there Coast League standings as the Norvans beat Nanaimo with yet another 4-3 victory; "Mainlanders Come From Behind and Nose Out Nanaimo

Norvans Mark Up 4-3 Decision Over Clippers in Pacific Coast Hockey League Encounter- Outcome Leaves All Four Clubs Tied Up With Fifteen Points Each NANAIMO-Vancouver Norvans tonight moved into the favored first place circle, already occupied by Spitfires, Clippers and Bapcos, to create a four-way tie by defeating Clippers 4-3, in a hard fought Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey League fixture at the arena here."

Next post; they can't all finish first, can they?