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Hockey History in Trail
The Early Days of Hockey in Trail
As a fast-growing industrial town, Trail attracted large numbers of single men to become residents and sports quickly became a prominent part of the social culture.
Hockey was first played in Trail and Rossland in the early 1900's when weather permitted outdoor games on natural ice surfaces. The earliest hockey league in B.C. was formed in 1908, in the Boundary area, with teams from Phoenix, Greenwood and Grand Forks competing. Rossland and Nelson joined later.
Trail's Fall Fair Building
Trail's first hockey team was formed in 1912 and competed in the local league out of the new Trail Rink (Fall Fair Building).
In 1922, Kootenay teams first played for the B.C. amateur title and were eligible to compete for the Allan Cup. In 1924 and 1925, Rossland teams won the Provincial title.
In 1927, artificial ice was installed in the rink.
The first Trail senior amateur hockey team was organized in 1926 and they were immediately successful, winning the 1926-27 Savage Cup (Provincial Championship) and going to the Allan Cup Semi-Finals. They repeated as Provincial Champions in 1927-28, 1928-29, 1929-30, 1930-31, 1931-32, and 1932-33. In these years they reached the Allan Cup Semi-Finals in 1928, 1929 and 1930. A remarkable record.
Hockey was now firmly established as the number one sport in Trail.
Hockey in Trail in the 1920's
The first Trail senior amateur hockey team was organized in 1926. The Trail Seniors were immediately successful, winning the Savage Cup (Provincial Championship) and going to the Allan Cup Semi-Finals.
 Trail's first amateur B.C. champions on the way home with the Savage Cup.
Back Row: E. Arthur (Trainer), Curley Wheatley, Percy Jackson, Jim Hanson, Clarence Reddick, Wm. Brown, O. Gustafson, Howard Anderson, Ralph Garland, Fred Lauriente Front Row: Dick Dimock (Manager/Coach), Carrol Kendall (Captain)
They repeated as Provincial Champions in 1927-28 and 1929-30, also reaching the Allan Cup finals in 1928 and 1929.
 Trail Hockey Club, Champions of B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan, 1927-28 Holders of Savage, McBride, Daily News and Meikle trophies. Back Row: R.S. Jones (Executive), A.J. McDonnell (President), Sam Stewart (Vice-President), R.B. Dimock (Manager) Middle Row: H. Potter (Assistant), S. J. Meredith (Assistant), H.D. Anderson, Jas. Hanson, C.P.Reddick, J.P. Schofield (Secretary), E. Arthur, Trainer. Front Row: Art Mackie, G.W. Bond, O. Gustafson, P.J. Jackson, C. Kendall, G.W. Wheatly, G. Brennan. On Floor: Ray Barnes (Mascot)
 The name "Smoke Eaters" was adopted for the 1928-29 season. A Vancouver Province columnist called the Trail team "smoke-eaters" after an irate fan threw a pipe on the ice during the 1928 final against the Vancouver Monarchs. Trail's Carroll Kendall picked up the pipe and smoked it while killing a penalty.
Kendall and Trail's Curley Wheatley were the two top scorers in the 1927-28 West Kootenay Hockey League season.
Left: Carroll Kendall
The Smoke Eaters in the 1930's and 1940's
Some 1937-38 Trail Smoke Eaters
Top Left: Joe Benoit Top Right: Jimmy Morris Lower Left: Bunny Dame Lower Right: Mel Snowdon
 The 1938-39 Allan Cup and World Championship Trail Smoke Eaters
 The 1938-39 Smoke Eaters at CCM Office
In 1938, Trail reached the pinnacle of amateur hockey in Canada, the Allan Cup finals. Played in Calgary, Trail's record over the Cornwall Flyers was four games to one. Trail citizens were ecstatic and over 7000 fans welcomed the team home with a large parade through the downtown streets.
As a result of their Allan Cup victory, Trail represented Canada in the 1939 World Hockey Championships in Basel and Zurich, Switzerland. Their record in this tournament remains remarkable to this day. The team won all eight games, outscoring their opposition 42 to 1 (Duke Scodellaro recorded all 7 shutouts).
In their 71 game European Tour, Trail won 62, lost 7 and tied 2, outscoring the opposition 374 to 107.
The 1938-39 Trail Smoke Eaters was one the best amateur teams to play hockey in Canada and left a legacy for others to follow, most notably, the 1961 World Championship and 1962 Allan Cup Champions.
 Left: Crowd at Trail CPR Station welcomes home the 1938 Allan Cup Champions
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1938 Trail Smoke Eaters arriving at downtown Trail train station after winning the Allan Cup Championship
Players being paraded through downtown Trail (1938)
Trophies won by1938 Trail Smoke Eaters
Members of the 1938 Trail Smoke Eaters in the dressing room after winning the Allan Cup
In 1939-40, the Smokies won 23 of 27 games to win the league championship. Bunny Dame, Ab Cronie and Joe Benoit finished 1-2-3 in league scoring.
 1939-40 Trail Smoke Eaters
The team won the provincial championship again (Savage Cup) in 1940-41.
Because of World War II, the West Kootenay Hockey League suspended operations from 1942-45.
The league was revived in 1945-46 and the Smoke Eaters, coached by Jimmy Morris, won the Savage Cup. Mike Buckna and Ab Cronie finished first and second in the league for scoring.
The Western International Hockey League was formed in 1946-47. The Smokies won the Savage Cup in 1947-48 and 1948-49. Among the top Trail scorers in the late 1940's were Dave Nichol, Frank Turik and Terry Cavanaugh.
 Trail Smoke Eaters - B.C. Champs, 1946-47 Back Row: Jim Anderson, Dave Nicol, Don Menzies, Emil Kwasney, Ab Cronie, Ralph Luke, Hedley Marshall, Ron Gardner, Larry Kwong. Front Row: Ed Crowder, Les Christensen, Bill Waddell, Duke Scodellero, Jim Morris, Mike Buckna. Larry Kwong [back row, far right] was one of the first Chinese-Canadians to play hockey in a high-level league. Kwong played one game in the NHL with the New York Rangers.
 1947-48 Trail Smoke Eaters were the last to play in the old rink.
The Smoke Eaters in the 1950's
 1957-58 Trail Smoke Eaters
The 1950's was a time of rebuilding, toward the great Smoke Eater teams of the 1960's (the 1959-60 team had ten homegrown players, who had been playing with and against each other since their Peewee hockey days).
The 1950-51 season saw the arrival of right-winger Bobby Kromm, who was to become the WIHL's top all-time points leader and coached the 1961 World Championship Team. Veterans such as Duke Scodellaro, Ab Cronie, Frank Turik, Terry Cavanaugh and Johnny Rypien were still with the club, but there was a new coach, Gerry Thompson and new players, Bobby Kromm, Mike Shabaga, Laurie Bursaw, Ray Hamilton and Bob Weist.
Trail won the Savage Cup in 1951-52, their last appearance in the provincial final for eight years.
Seth Martin joined the club in 1952, Cal Hockley in 1956. Adie Tambellini was WIHL Rookie of the Year in 1957. Two Smokies won the WIHL's Most Valuable Player Award in the 1950's: Ab Cronie (1950-51) and Moe Young (1953-54, 1954-55).
The Smoke Eaters in the 1960's
The 1960-61 Trail Smoke Eaters won the world Amateur Hockey Championship in 1961.
They had come second in the 1960 Allan Cup Finals but were invited to the World Tournament when the 1960 Allan Cup winners declined the invitation. This was the second time in the history of the hockey club that the World Championship was brought home to Trail.
The Smoke Eaters were the last amateur hockey team to bring the Championship to Canada.
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Trail Smoke Eaters vs. Moscow Selects Cominco Arena, January 27, 1960 Trail won 7-6
Trail Smoke Eaters vs. Kelowna Packers Savage Cup Finals, Cominco Arena, 1960
Trail Smoke Eaters vs. Chatham Maroons Allan Cup Finals, Cominco Arena, 1960
Film courtesy of Gord DeRosa
With Audio Please do not touch screen while video in progress
Canada (Trail Smoke Eaters) vs. USSR CBC Highlights of 1961 Final Championship Game Canada wins 5-1
Film courtesy of CBC
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Canada (Trail Smoke Eaters) vs. USSR CBC Highlights of 1961 Final Championship Game
Bobby Kromm and Seth Martin Practice Cominco Arena, 1961
Film courtesy of CBC
In 1976, the 1960-61 Smokies were inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame as an Honoured Team.
 1960-61 World Champion Trail Smoke Eaters Playing Coach: Bobby Kromm Harold Jones Adolf Tambellini Cal Hockley Dave Rusnell Norm Lenardon Hugh "Pinoke" McIntyre Harry Smith Don Fletcher Ed Cristofoli George Ferguson Seth Martin Gerald Penner *Laurie Bursaw *Frank Turik *Bill Margoreeth **Walt Peacosh **Jackie MacLeod **Darryl Sly **Michele Legace Claude Cyr Trainer: Joseph Garay Assistant Trainer: Marshall Anselmo Manager: Ugo DeBiasio President: James Cameron * did not play in Europe ** picked up from other teams to play in the World Championships.
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