Whitby Dunlops

The Whitby Dunlops were a senior team that played in Whitby, Ontario, Canada, a town just east of Toronto.

History

This team operated for just four seasons at the Senior A level, yet they made a great impact on Canadian and International hockey. In those four seasons they won two Allan Cups and one World Championship. They couldn't compete for the Allan Cup in the season that they won the World Championship - otherwise they probably would have won three!

They started out as the Senior B Oshawa Truckmen in 1952-53. They moved to Whitby in 1954-55 after the arena in Oshawa burned down. In their second season they won the Ontario Senior B championship.

In 1956 Wren Blair, the general manager of the Dunlops, organized the Senior B group as a Senior A league. He helped put together a real powerhouse that went on to win the Allan Cup.

In 1957-58 the Dunlops were chosen to represent Canada at the World Championship in Oslo, Norway. Before they went overseas, the Dunlops got 74 of a possible 96 points playing against OHA senior teams, They also beat the Moscow Selects 7-2 in the latter's first game of a Canadian tour. Over in Europe the Dunlops won 13 straight exhibition games before going 8-0-0 and winning the World Championship. They then won 5 of 6 further exhibitions before returning to Canada. Unfortunately, time did not permit them to play for the Allan Cup.

The next year (1958-59) they again won the Allan Cup. Unfortunately, the Olympics were being held the next year and the Dunlops were ineligible. Many of their players were former pros who, under the rules of the time, were not eligible for the Olympics.

In 1959-60 the Dunlops finished first for the fourth straight year but lost the league semi final.

The team folded before the 1960-61 season, a victim of the steep decline in the popularity of senior hockey.

World Championship Roster

1958 Whitby Dunlops

The 1958 world champion Whitby Dunlops were, from left: (front row) Ted O'Connor, Ed Redmond, manager Wren Blair, Sid Smith, liaison officer Bill Hannah, Tom O'Connor, Bob Attersley; (middle row) Fred Etcher, Roy Edwards, Gord Myles, Frank Bonello, Harry Sinden, Sandy Air, John Henderson, assistant manager Wally Brabin; (back row) assistant trainer Jack Donlevy, George Samolenko, Alf Treen, Bus Gagnon, Don McBeth, George Gosselin, Connie Broden, trainer Stan Waylett. Absent from photo: Jack McKenzie, Jean-Paul Lamirande, Charlie Burns.

Record

League	Season	Games	Won	Lost	Tied	Points	Goals for	Goals against	Standing	Playoffs
OHA Senior B	1954-55	48	27	19	2	56	269	224	3rd	Lost Semi Final
OHA Senior B	1955-56	40	33	5	2	68	298	129	1st	Won Provincial Final
OHA Senior A	1956-57	52	34	16	2	70	291	183	1st	Won Allan Cup
OHA Senior A	1957-58	48	35	9	4	74	250	151	2nd	Won World Championship
OHA Senior A	1958-59	52	33	11	8	74	254	154	1st	Won Allan Cup
OHA Senior A	1959-60	54	34	20	0	68	220	199	1st	Lost Semi Final

International Exhibitions

In Canada

• Nov. 22, 1957 7-2 Moscow Selects
• Jan. 19, 1960 9-1 Moscow Selects
• Mar. 4, 1960 6-2 Czechoslovakia

Overseas

See 1957-58 Whitby Dunlops