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
