Undefeated 1974 Peterborough PCOs Honoured In Reunion at Lakers Game

The band was back together for one night as the undefeated 1974 Peterborough PCOs lacrosse team was honoured in a reunion at the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers game on Thursday night.

Mitch Wilde, Brooklin transition; Ben Floyd, PCO coach and Robert Hope, Lakers captain in a ceremonial face-off before the 1974 Peterborough PCOs. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The celebration was in recognition of the 150th anniversary of lacrosse in Peterborough. The PCOs were honoured prior to the opening faceoff in front of 2,334 fans at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

Journalist Ed Arnold and his book, “Peterborough’s Perfect Season: With Benny and His Jets” was promoted and were available for sale with book signings from the 1974 team.

Roughly 18 members and staff of the team were present to accept the honour.

“When we did it (the perfect season), we didn’t think anything of it,” said Ben Floyd, 1974 PCO coach. “As the years go on and you realize that nobody has ever done that before or since, in any sport, hardly anyone has gone undefeated, it means a lot now.”

“The great thing about that is the tradition in Peterborough, if they didn’t continue to be successful which they have been over the last 20 years, it just goes to show you from the 50s, 60s and 70s and up to now, how that tradition continues so this is a big part of that tradition and I hope it continues,” said Bob Wasson, 1974 PCO captain.

(From left to right) David Soul, CLHOF executive director, RJ “Bobby” Allan, four-time Mann Cup champion (twice with the Lakers); Johnny “Shooter Davis, Mann Cup champion and Matthew Black, CLHOF chair. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

During the first intermission, the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame (CLHOF) commemorated the city again with a scroll of honour that recognized the players, builders and teams involved in Peterborough lacrosse that have already been inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

The two CLHOF delegates had previously bestowed the honour to the city at the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame last Friday.

The following are honoured members and teams of the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame affiliated with Peterborough written on the scroll of honour:

• 1965 - Lloyd “Moon” Wootton

• 1969 - Ross Powless

• 1971 - Harry Wipper

• 1972 - Ike Hildebrand

• 1973 - Douglas Miller

• 1974 - Bobby Allan

• 1976 - Bob Oliver

• 1977 - Arnold Dugan

• 1980 - Pat Baker and Paul Parnell

• 1982 - John “Curly” Mason

• 1984 - Johnny Davis

• 1985 - Cy Coombes

• 1989 - Larry Ferguson

• 1991 - Ben Floyd

• 1992 - Terry Davis

• 1994 - Grant Heffeman and Lou Nickle

• 1995 - Don Barrie

• 1997 - Brian Evans

• 1999 - Jim “JJ” Johnston

• 2002 - Peterborough Timbermen (1951-56)

• 2003 - Bob Wasson and Jim Wasson

• 2004 - Tim Barrie

• 2005 - Ted Higgins and Clinton “Mick” Magee

• 2006 - Greg Thomas

• 2007 - Paul Evans, Kerri Hardill and Lee Vitarelli

• 2008 - John Grant Sr.

• 2009 - Ken Ruttan

• 2010 - Peterborough PCOs Team (1972-1975)

• 2012 - Bob Curtis and Craig Stevenson

• 2013 - Bill Armour and Joey Todd

• 2014 - Andy Ogilvie

• 2015 - Peterborough James Gang (1981-83)

• 2017 - Clinton “Jan” Magee and Peterborough Maulers (1986-87 & 1989)

• 2018 - Brian Hall

• 2020 - Jamie Batley and Paul Day

The Lakers earned a 12-7 win over the Brooklin Lacrosse Club after coughing up the first four goals of the game.

Peterborough never led until 11:43 left in the third period. They scored eight unanswered goals and shut out Brooklin 7-0 in the final stanza.

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Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame Honours 150 Years of Peterborough Lacrosse

The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame (CLHOF) has awarded Peterborough with a scroll of honour to commemorate the city’s 150 anniversary of the sport in a ceremony at the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame on Friday.

Tim Barrie, Hall of Fame lacrosse goaltender (left) with Matthew Black, Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame chair with the Mann Cup, Ed Arnold’s book ‘Peterborough’s Perfect Season: With Benny and His Jets’ and a scroll of honour. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Several current Peterborough Hall of Famers were in attendance at the ceremony including goaltender Tim Barrie and three-time Mann Cup champion John Grant Sr. Major Series Lacrosse commissioner Doug Luey also appeared at the event.

The scroll commemorates players, builders and teams involved in Peterborough lacrosse that have already been inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

“150 years is quite the milestone but to see that it's not petering out but it's actually just expanding and growing,” said Matthew Black, CLHOF chair.

“I’m totally blown away that an organization can survive that period of time with all the changes we've went through,” said David Soul, CLHOF executive director. “World War I, World War II, recessions, everything so my hat's off.”

Both Hall of Fame delegators attribute Peterborough’s long success to the grassroots programs and lacrosse community members giving back to the sport after their playing careers.

“They have the tradition, a lot of the players have given back. After their careers are over, they come back as coaches and builders and give the continuity,” said Soul. “When you get some of the finest and greatest, giving back and helping the young children come up through the ranks, that's something that doesn't happen in most communities.”

“You have the family connections here,” said Black. It’s part of the culture. The history here, the enthusiasm, everything is so conductive to a positive experience and competitive experience as well.”

The following are honoured members and teams of the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame affiliated with Peterborough:

• 1965 - Lloyd “Moon” Wootton

• 1969 - Ross Powless

• 1971 - Harry Wipper

• 1972 - Ike Hildebrand

• 1973 - Douglas Miller

• 1974 - Bobby Allan

• 1976 - Bob Oliver

• 1977 - Arnold Dugan

• 1980 - Pat Baker and Paul Parnell

• 1982 - John “Curly” Mason

• 1984 - Johnny Davis

• 1985 - Cy Coombes

• 1989 - Larry Ferguson

• 1991 - Ben Floyd

• 1992 - Terry Davis

• 1994 - Grant Heffeman and Lou Nickle

• 1995 - Don Barrie

• 1997 - Brian Evans

• 1999 - Jim “JJ” Johnston

• 2002 - Peterborough Timbermen (1951-56)

• 2003 - Bob Wasson and Jim Wasson

• 2004 - Tim Barrie

• 2005 - Ted Higgins and Clinton “Mick” Magee

• 2006 - Greg Thomas

• 2007 - Paul Evans, Kerri Hardill and Lee Vitarelli

• 2008 - John Grant Sr.

• 2009 - Ken Ruttan

• 2010 - Peterborough PCOs Team (1972-1975)

• 2012 - Bob Curtis and Craig Stevenson

• 2013 - Bill Armour and Joey Todd

• 2014 - Andy Ogilvie

• 2015 - Peterborough James Gang (1981-83)

• 2017 - Clinton “Jan” Magee and Peterborough Maulers (1986-87 & 1989)

• 2018 - Brian Hall

• 2020 - Jamie Batley and Paul Day

The CLHOF is located in New Westminster, B. C. They have been inducting members since 1965. Peterborough lacrosse coaches Paul Day and Jamie Batley are the most recent inductees into the Hall of Fame for the class of 2020.

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Justin Trudeau Sends Letter of Congratulations For 150 of Lacrosse in Peterborough

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent Peterborough a congratulatory letter of celebrating 150 years of lacrosse.

The 150th-anniversary lacrosse flag was flown for a week beginning on May 4 before being kept at the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame. Photo by David Tuan Bui

Trudeau’s letter recognizes the city’s history in the game while commemorating the milestone. The following was written:

Letter courtesy of Ed Arnold.

Dear Friends:

I am pleased to extend my warmest greetings to everyone celebrating the 150th anniversary of lacrosse in Peterborough.

Lacrosse saw its beginnings here in 1872 when the Red Stockings played their first game. One hundred and fifty years later, Peterborough has become a celebrated lacrosse community, having won 29 senior and junior national championships and more than 150 provincial titles. This special milestone offers a wonderful opportunity to reflect upon the proud history of the sport in the city, to pay tribute to those who have contributed to its growth and success, and to set goals for the future.

I would like to commend the Peterborough Lacrosse 150th anniversary committee for their hard work in organizing this celebration. I am certain that the many events planned to mark this milestone will be enjoyed by everyone in attendance.

Please accept my best wishes for a memorable anniversary celebration and continued success in the years to come.

Sincerely,

The Rt. Hon. Justin P. J. Trudeau, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers are having their home opener with an opponent named later this week on Thursday.

A flag celebrating 150 years of lacrosse was flown at city hall on May 4 and was there for a week. It was given to the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame after being taken down. Mayor Diane Therrien declared 2022 to be the “Summer of Lacrosse” during that ceremony.

A “150” beer was crafted by Publican House Brewery to commemorate the occasion on May 26. The beer is a four per cent lager.

The third annual Peterborough Lakers Alumni Golf Tournament is being held on on June 24 at Keystone Links Golf & Country Club.

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Peterborough Lacrosse Makes Another Stamp In Its 150th Anniversary With Commemorative Beer

Peterborough’s 150th lacrosse anniversary continues its milestone celebrations with the “150” beer made by Publican House Brewery in a collaboration announced on Thursday.

Marty Laskaris, Publican House president and co-founder (left) and Tim Barrie, Lakers hall-of-fame goaltender (right) shared the ‘150’ lager for the first time on the beer’s launch. Lacrosse began on a cricket field in East City in 1872. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The beer came as an idea from a lunch between Marty Laskaris, Publican House president and co-founder and Tim Barrie, Lakers hall-of-fame goaltender and journalist Ed Arnold.

"We can make a beer, 150-anniversary beer that can help with events in the summer and we can do some other things with the proceeds and we'd love to be a part of that,” said Laskaris. "The whole thing came together after that."

A portion of the beer sales benefits minor lacrosse associations in the Peterborough area. The beer remains on the brewery’s menu as long as it maintains its sales.

"If you read Ed Arnold's book, the book is primarily about 1974 undefeated team but it took 10 years to build that team," said Barrie. "It's something no other community had was a minor system like Peterborough had where we basically lived and breathed lacrosse all summer and it was a sport we loved and we just wanted to play. The foundations of the game are so important."

The beer is a four per cent lager that best represents the undefeated season of the 1974 Peterborough PCOs that went 46-0 according to Laskaris.

"The team that went all the way in '74, undefeated, very smooth, very light on their feet, very fast so I thought this light lager is going to come together with the theme of the team back then," he said.

The beer is available at Publican House’s beer store beside its restaurant. Copies of Arnold’s book, ‘Peterborough’s Perfect Season: With Benny and his Jets’ is also available for purchase.

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