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Fernie Swastikas, c. early 1920'sIn 1923, 1924 and 1926, the Swastikas advanced to compete in Banff for the Alpine Cup, then the highest award given to any such team in Alberta and British Columbia. In 1923, they defeated the Calgary Regents to win the coveted award.
Courtesy of Verne Hornquist
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ChampionsAt these and other events, Fernie's teams gained notoriety. In the 1930's and forties, local hockey teams such as the Fernie East Kootenay Power Junior team advanced to the BC finals, usually to face their strong opponents from Trail. In soccer, the Fernie United team performed exceptionally in its league and often advanced to play high-caliber teams such as the Calgary Callies. In other competitions, Fernie's athletes have earned distinction for themselves and our city.
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The Fernie United soccer players ,19481948
Fernie
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"Back from whence they came," 1948The Fernie United soccer players have brought home the Dicks, Mutz, Crahan and Central Cups, each donated by local businesses. They have defeated their Crow's Nest Pass Soccer League opponents as well as visiting teams at Fernie's annual tournaments.
Courtesy of Fernie & District Historical Society
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Valued ContributersPrior to the 1930's, before the days of government-sponsored athletic programs, private support of amateur sports was especially important. In Fernie, several businesses donated trophies, which were highly valuable in the early twentieth century. Among them were A.C. Liphardt, a local jeweler and optician, and G.G. Henderson, founder of the Fernie Free Press, who donated two trophies to the Crowsnest Hockey Association around 1900. Other avid sports fans including Edward Telfer Dicks, owner of the Fernie Garage, donated trophies to the Crow's Nest Pass Soccer League.
These and other businessmen also sponsored teams in Fernie. Bill Ingram, who ran Ingram's Gym, among other operations, was especially supportive. He sponsored local hockey and soccer teams in Fernie named the "1-5-0's," after his business street address and telephone number. Bud Dicken, a bus line manager, offered
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Fernie baseball team, c. 1940's1945
Fernie
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Fernie baseball team, c. 1940'sThe Crow's Nest Pass Coal Company sponsored this team and its predecessors beginning in the early 1900's.
Courtesy of Peter Caufield
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Holy Family School Pee Wee hockey team, 19371937
Fernie
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Holy Family School Pee Wee hockey team, 1937Note the "1-5-0" crest on each player's jersey. Bill Ingram sponsored this and other local teams named the "1-5-0's."
The Fernie Rotary Club sponsored the league this team played in.
Courtesy of Verne Hornquist
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Nonprofit sponsors were also very supportive. The Fernie Gyro Club and its successor, the 3300 Club, were especially involved in running minor hockey in Fernie prior to the 1960's. Their primary objective from the middle 1940's was to organize local minor hockey leagues and to purchase uniforms and ice time for each team. Many club members also helped to coach the teams. The Rotary Club and the Royal Canadian Legion in Fernie were also supportive of hockey and other sports in Fernie. Among their many contributions, they supplied local Juvenile and Midget hockey players with team uniforms.24
Fernie Gyros Juvenile hockey team crest1947
Fernie
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Fernie Gyros Juvenile hockey team crestThe Fernie Gyro Club formed and sponsored this team during the 1946-47 playing season. Club members Jeff Commons and Bob Craig trained and coached the team.
Courtesy of William Milburn
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Coaches and ManagersThe success of Fernie's teams, especially the Intermediate and Senior teams, depended greatly on their coaches, managers and medical assistants. Among them were James Pearce and Alf Crompton, president and secretary of the Fernie United Soccer Club. General manager Gus Peters, president Dominic Citra and treasurer Norm Crossfield effectively ran the Fernie baseball team during the late 1940's and early fifties. Norman Pointon helped the team in many ways, including as a driver and a field superintendent.
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Coal Creek Girls Hockey Team with Coaches1927
Coal Creek
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