14

Toburn Mine Hockey Players
Circa 1930's
Toburn Gold Mine, Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Museum of Northern History

15

But working in a mine came with hazards. The following six images of newspaper clippings are an example of one of the dangers miners faced below ground. Roddy O'Connor worked in the Lake Shore Mine and was a member of the Kirkland Millionaires hockey club prior to the accident.

16

Newspaper Clipping - Hockey Player Injured in Mine Accident
Circa March 1936
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Hockey Heritage North Archives

17

Newspaper Clipping of Hockey Player Mine Accident
Circa March 1936
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Hockey Heritage North Archives

18

Newspaper Clipping of Hockey Player Injured in Mine Accident
Circa March 1936
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Hockey Heritage North Archives

19

Newspaper Clipping of Hockey Player Mine Accident
Circa March 1936
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Hockey Heritage North Archives

20

Newspaper Clipping of Hockey Player Mine Accident
Circa March 1936
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Hockey Heritage North Archives

21

Newspaper Clipping of Hockey Player Mine Accident and Recovery
Circa March 1936
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Hockey Heritage North Archives

22

Mines would often import "tourist" players from outside the area so that they could play on the local teams. There was a problem with having imported players, though. While they were able to produce exciting games for the fans and provide championship titles for the mine owners and managers, the use of imported players meant that the time and money was being invested in players who would in time leave Kirkland Lake - and not in the homegrown talent of the time.

Kirkland Lake was not as susceptible to the economic hardships experienced during the Depression as other communities across Canada. Because it was a resource based town, the town did not feel the effects of the Depression as quickly, or as long, as other parts of the country. Where else but in a gold mining town could a hockey team afford to call itself "The Millionaires" during the 1930's.

23

Kirkland Lake Millionaires Hockey Club
Circa 1935
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Hockey Heritage North Archives

24

Kirkland Lake Millionaires Player
Circa 1935
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Hockey Heritage North Archives

25

Kirkland Lake Millionaires Player
Circa 1935
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Hockey Heritage North Archives

26

Kirkland Lake entered the district Senior League of the NOHA in 1935. The Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA) helped to organize hockey across much of Northern Ontario, and helped communities like Kirkland Lake develop local Senior players. This resulted in fewer players being imported into the community to supply many teams.

The NOHA also developed Juvenile level hockey at this time. With greater involvement at younger levels of hockey, Kirkland Lake (with the help of the NOHA) was able to lay down the framework that would result in more local players growing up and playing from the younger levels of hockey up to the Juvenile and Senior levels in their hometown.

Mining areas were dominating the hockey scene as was evident in the Northern Senior Group as early as 1936, with its seven team Gold Belt League. The League teams were the Timmins Gold Diggers, South Porcupine Porkies, Noranda Copper Kings, and the four Kirkland Lake teams were all sponsored by local mines - Tekimas, Toburn, Wright-Hargreaves, and the Lake Shore Mine with its Blue Devils.

Simply put, the number of northern players couldn't keep up with the demand for more players and skilled coaches for the many teams appearing across the north.

27

Wright-Hargreaves Mines Hockey Team
Circa 1936
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Hockey Heritage North Archives