S.A. UKRAINA 1969.
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I missed the very first game "Dnipro" played, but heard so much about them
that I decided to see what this new gang really looked like. It was
then that I first met Jarry Sklar, George Bachinsky, Roman Bojko, Boris
Denysewych, Danny Pilat and the rest. Few could speak English except
Jerry Kulba, who did most of the talking, anyway. My Ukie is still
bad.
The name was changes to "Ukraina," and when the following year the great
"Italia" squad started , there came a humerous language issue. The
Italians naturally talked Italian among themselves, but several Ukes chimed
in too, much to their surprise. They had spent the War years in Italy,
and were quite fluent. Result: no more private signals in Italian.
That was the year of the big battles with "Polonia" at Charlevoix and Notre
Dame, with such Ukes as Kozar, Hopaliwsky, Iwaniw, Zwonyk, Pete Waskiw
starting his brilliant career and Bohdan Kluchnyk on the right wing before
going to Ontario.
The Italians' five year reign without defeat left little for the Ukes,
but I was present when they battled Toronto Ulster into overtime in 1955
Dominion and the Torontoese refusal to continue sent the locals into the
grand final against Westminister Royals at Toronto. By then, Jimmy
MacAuley was on goal, Bill Drake at pivot, Cammie Buchanan and Tony Fitzharris
up front, and I was there when they only bowed out in a third game.
Stan Palinsky alone is left now.
I was also there when they won the big trophy in the rain before a packed
Faillon Field, after taking the Quebec Trophy from the great "Sparta,"
2-0, following 1-1 and 0-0. That was their finest hour, for the Ukes
had to come from behind Ions goal, a Steckiw-Pollock move sent Waskiw in.
The winning 2-1 marker came with 15 minutes left, Pollock to Waskiw, Joe
Feeney heading home.
For the record, that wiunning line up: MacAuley; Hrycyn; and Ursika; Snelyk,
Shapka and McVicar; Pollock, Steckiw, Waskiw, Feeney and O'Neill.
Subs: Sim and Resch.
I also went to Sudbury this summer when Jesus Monje's penalty-kicks earned
the run to St. John's, Newfoundland, where Kutic and Stipersky put them
into the final.
What's next? If they keep that gang together, I could be seeing them
in another final.
Article
written by: Doug C. Campbell
