Thistles Presented with Loving Cups

Lake of the Woods Museum Newsletter
Vol. 27 No. 1 – Winter 2017

From the Kenora Miner and News – February 16, 1907 edition

A barricade of silverware lined the front of the stage at the opera house last night that would have made a Cobalt boomster’s heart jump with pride, and in the boxes at either side the “bloom” lighted up the faces of the young men who landed the Stanley Cup. It was an inspiring occasion heightened by the very tasteful decorations of the stage. The central decorative effect placed to the rear of the stage was an imitation of an immense thistle worked out with red, white and blue electric lights. This was the handiwork of the town’s electricians. Surrounding this and branching off to the outer edges of the stage were the club colors intertwined, while numerous Union Jacks added to the affect. The Stanley Cup, a rather squat and somewhat insignificant looking piece of silverware, when compared to the splendid western championship trophy sitting to its left, was perched upon a pedestal in the front of the stage. Between the two cups a pair of hockey sticks were crossed with a puck in the centre. The citizens of the town contributed largely to the silverware effect by providing nine silver loving cups for the boys, a silver service to the trainer, and in addition there was a large sized silk hat for Manager Hudson.

Mayor Belyea opened the proceedings with a neat address complimenting the players on their success in winning such a trophy emblematic of the world’s hockey championship. He also read letters of regret from A.B. Donley, A.M. Ross, Joey Hall and Ald. Robertson.

The first number on the program was a piano solo by Miss Weidman, executed with good effect. Mr. Herbert Carpenter sang with splendid spirit the patriotic song “Land of Hope and Glory.” It enthused the audience and put them in touch with the spirit of the occasion. Mrs. Brent followed with a solo entitled “Only a Flower”, very suitable for the occasion and splendidly rendered.

Dr. Schnarr, who accompanied the boys on their first two trips after the Stanley Cup, and who was present at the final landing of the trophy in Montreal, gave a very good history of the club, and especially since the present team emerged from what was known as the school team five years ago. They had to fight their way all the time. To secure a standing at home they defeated the old Thistles. The junior western hockey league held them but one season, and they sought the senior league but the haughty Winnipeg teams didn’t consider the young Thistles in their senior class. The boys replied by defeating their best. The Winnipeg clubs formed another league but the Thistles entered the M. & N.W. and won the western championship. The boys then had ambitions for the Stanley Cup and went after it, unsuccessfully, it is true, but they have at last landed the trophy. It has been a steady persistent effort on their part all through and it won out. 

Dr. Schnarr then made some humorous sallies, venturing the statement, well approved by the audience, that it was due to the ladies that we have the best hockey team. Efforts have been made from time to time by other clubs to secure our players, but they remain loyal to the town. “You know”, said the doctor, “affection and sympathy hold a man when dollars will not.” The speaker also paid a tribute to the genius of management exhibited by Jos. Johnson, president of the club. He concluded by stating that he hoped the boys would hold the cup as long as they are the best team and not a minute longer. 

Mr. Angus Sutherland followed with a rousing song entitled “Conquered” and responded to an encore. 

Mr. Wm. Rose, an enthusiastic hockeyist, delivered an eloquent address which brought forth the enthusiasm of the audience, and especially when he referred to the splendid efforts of the team to land the Stanley Cup.

Mr. Chas. Kyle, a former Kenora boy, rendered a humorous song entitled “Crocodile Isle.”

Mr. J. F. MacGillivray, who might be termed the legal adviser of the club and who has fought the battles in the committee rooms, both east and west, was the next speaker. He confined his address to a short history of the attempts to secure the championship. Nothing succeeds like perseverance, coupled with ability, and the Thistles had both. In Montreal he said there was no doubt that the better team had won. We have made a record in going after the cup oftener than any other team. Let us make another record by defending the cup oftener than any other team. For this they would need the continued support of the people of Kenora. 

Mrs. W.J. Gunne made a hit of the evening by rendering in beautiful voice a song composed by herself for the occasion. It caught the audience and worked up the enthusiasm to a high tension. Needless to say she was rapturously encored. Following are the words:–

We sing of the might of Britain boys,
in the face of Britain’s foes,
And side by side on the veldt, boys,
we’ve fought for the English rose.
We own a sneaking fondness boys for
the Shamrock green and bright,
But the bravest blooms of all, boys
are the Thistles we cheer to-night.
The Union Jack and the colors, boys,
are the things for which we fight,
But the colors that hold our hearts always
Are those of the red and white.
We bid you welcome home, boys, the
news from sea to sea
Is only heard in praise, boys, and joy of victory.
We’re proud of you at home, boys, and
of your hard-earned fame.
We’re proud of your bumps and bruises
because you have played the game.
The Thistles are the winners, boys,
from Halifax to Nome;
They’re hailed as kings of hockey, boys,
our Thistles here at home.
We love to hear you praised, boys, we
value what they mean.
When every message tells us, “Kenora
men play clean.”
It’s words like this we prize, boys –
the words we least could spare,
‘Twas great to win the Cup, boys, but
best, you have won it fair.
The Thistles are at home again, our
bravest and our best,
We are not perhaps the biggest town,
but the proudest in the west.
Phillips and Griffis and Ross, boys,
McGimsie and little Geroux.
Hooper and Beaudro played, boys, as
often we’ve seen them do.
The East has sadly laid, boys, her
hard won laurels down.
Before the whirlwind victors from our
little lakeside town.
Three time you’ve tried to win, boys,
“three times and out” they say
But now the cup is yours, boys,
you’ve brought it home to stay.

To ex-Mayor A.S. Horswill fell the pleasure of making the presentation of the loving cups to the nine active players of the Thistle hockey club, to Trainer Link and a silk hat for Manager Hudson.

Capt. Phillips stepped forward to receive the trophies on behalf of the team and was received with tremendous applause. He made a short, but taking (sic) address, and had he as much practice in public speaking, we believe he would excel as in hockey. On behalf of the club and the players, he thanked the citizens of Kenora for the splendid reception tendered them. It gave the boys pleasure to know that they had been fighting for a good cause and for a good bunch of people. They had tried every time to do their best, as they felt they had the reputation of the town at stake. “Now that we have the cup, I hope the team that takes it from us will have as much trouble as the Thistles had in winning it.” Capt. Phillips also thanked the officers of the club for their cordial support.

The program concluded by a duet entitled “After the Fray”, splendidly rendered by Messrs. Carpenter and Sutherland. After “God Save the King”, hearty and ringing cheers were given by the immense audience for the world’s champions, and the boys responded with three cheers for the people of Kenora. 

SIDEBAR

What is a loving cup?

Usually made of silver, the two handled cups were often given as trophies to winners of games or competitions. They were called “loving cups” because they were traditionally used as shared drinking containers at weddings.