A look back at Eatonia’s first hockey team

By Joan Janzen

The first hockey team in the Eatonia district was formed in 1915 when games were played on an open rink at Root’s farm. Meanwhile, in Eatonia, the first rink was made on the south side of 2nd Avenue East. The open-air rink was practically located near the water main.

According to A.M. Defoe’s records of the Eaton Hockey and Skating Club, a shack adjoining the skating rink was sold to the Eaton Skating and Hockey Association in January of 1921. This information was documented in Eatonia’s history book, “A Past to Cherish”. At that time Eaton’s first men’s hockey team was formed.

A women’s hockey team was also organized by Phoebe Snyder. The history book’s article noted Phoebe had to hang on to a hockey stick to stand up. Evelyn Boomer was a team member and recalled Ruby Clark hitching her fingers under Phoebe’s girdle and being pulled the full length of the rink as Phoebe scored a goal.

There were no uniforms. Instead the players wore skirts and were known by the colours of their warm flannel bloomers.

Eatonia’s first hockey team - 1921: L-R: William Ewing, G.C. Burbidge, F.J. Corcoran, Thos. Defoe, A.M. Defoe (Manager), Slim Wilson, Harvey Hahn, Mike Herr, William Harper, Cleve Root, Clem Bennett. Photo from A Past to Cherish