Keeping alive memories of Penticton’s Allan Cup triumph
EDITOR’S NOTE: Parts of this column originally appeared in the Herald on May 13, 2016.
McLelland said the thing that still stands out to him after all these years is the fact the Vees “were never supposed to have a chance” to lift the trophy.
“We finished in third place and really just scratched our way into the playoffs,” said McLelland, noting the Vees had just three forward lines and two defence pairings. “Along the way we knocked off a Winnipeg team with a bunch of ex-pros and we beat an incredibly talented Sudbury team that was built to win it all. Max Silverman spent a ton of money to put that team together.”
While the Vees became renowned during that Allan Cup run for last-ditch comebacks, May 15, 1954 was all about hanging on — after goals by Jim Fairburn late in the first and two quickies early in the second by Jack McDonald and the legend himself, Grant Warwick.
It was 3-0 Vees late in the second and Penticton fans lucky to be inside, as well as 1,000-plus more outside Memorial Arena were preparing for a party to end all parties.
But the heavily favoured Sudbury squad would not quit.
Two goals in 11 seconds with less than three minutes to play turned the game on its ears, cutting the Vees’ lead to 3-2 and setting the stage for an epic third period.
McLelland and the Vees were under siege throughout and it came down to 30 seconds left, a sixth Sudbury attacker and a faceoff in Vees’ territory. A mad scramble, two saves by McLelland and finally a shot block by defenceman/captain George McAvoy and it was over.
After a 33-game playoff roller-coaster ride, the Vees were Allan Cup champions and had earned the right to represent Canada at the 1955 world championships.
The Vees faced elimination in all but one of their five playoff series but kept finding a way to get it done.
Nobody outside of Penticton expected the Vees to beat the powerhouse Wolves in the Allan Cup final, and after an 8-2 triumph in Game 4 in Kelowna gave Sudbury a 3-1 series lead, it looked like the Little Team That Could, ultimately would not. (Games 3, 4 and 6 were played in Kelowna, which was considered Sudbury’s “home” rink for the series).
The Vees trailed 5-2 with less than 10 minutes left in Game 5 in Penticton. Facing elimination, the Vees amazingly rallied to tie the game and won on Jack McIntyre’s goal with 15 seconds left in overtime.
Game 6 was played in Kelowna on Thursday the 13th and again it looked as though the Vees’ luck had run out as they trailed 4-2 after two periods and were outshot 30-12.
But the Vees stormed back again with four goals on eight shots in the third period to win 6-4 and put the Wolves’ much-publicized plans for a victory parade on hold for yet another night.
In a one-game, winner-takes-all in Game 7 in Penticton, the Vees were able to get the jump and hold on for one of the most stunning upsets in Allan Cup history.
Speaking to Ivan yesterday, the now 87-year-old said it’s still “amazing” 54 years later how many people still approach him to talk about the big game.
McLelland, almost completely recovered after suffering a mini-stroke last year, said he feels “truly blessed” to be healthy and active at his age.
“I worked out all winter . . . ironically at Memorial Arena, because that’s really where I feel most comfortable,” he said.
“I still do all my charity work, all my visitations, and I’m back playing golf and walking the course.”
Oddly enough, the big date in history had slipped the legendary goaltender’s mind when we spoke on Monday morning.
“Thank you so much for reminding me, David,” he said, noting he has has been busy with several other projects.
Ivan said he will be giving his old teammate and close friend Doug Kilburn a call today to mark the occasion.
Hopefully it’s a call the two hockey legends get to share for many more years to come.
David Crompton is a sports reporter with the Penticton Herald. You can reach him via e-mail at: david.crompton@pentictonherald.ca.