User:Slave28/ Ottawa All-Stars’ European Tour/doc

The Ottawa All-Stars were a ice hockey team selected by Cecil Duncan of the Ottawa and District Amateur Hockey Association (O&DAHA) from team in the Ottawa City League. The European Tour occurred when the All-Stars travel to Europe in late 1931 through early 1932 to showcase Canadian hockey style of play.

Early stages and planning
In 1930, Cecil Duncan of the O.& D.A.H.A received permission from the C.A.H.A. to take one of the Ottawa District City League teams to Europe the following season to compete in an informal tournament. The topic was discussed during several meetings and it was decided at one point to send an All-Star team, mainly out of concern for the Auditorium whose owners were not pleased with the prospect of having their schedules being altered with a complete team being removed from competition for an entire season.

Player selection
On November 11, 1931, the nine players selected to become Ottawa’s All-Star Team has been announced by Cecil Duncan of the O.& D.A.H.A. Mr. Duncan who will manage the squad when they play overseas has put together a most formidable team which includes: Louis St. Denis as the goalkeeper, Lou Bates, Les White and Jack Draper were the defence picks. The forwards were Bill Cowley, Normand Schultz, Jacques Moussette, George Reaume and Gene Savageau.

Initially a team of ten players were to be selected in order to have two complete forward lines, they could not find an all-round forward fitting enough that could be dropped back to the rearguard in an emergency so it was therefore decided to carry three defencemen. The team combines speed and hard shooting.

The team was selected from a pool of players who, through City League managers, submitted their intentions of wanting to make the trip. Final arrangements for the trip must be finalized in Paris but the team must arrive in France by early December. Twenty games in eight weeks will be played exclusively in England, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Prussia, Austria, Switzerland and Czecho-Slovakia until the middle of January. Although no specific jersey has been selected, the team will wear traditional Ottawa colours with a red, white and black pattern. The new squad had some practices and played an exhibition game against St. Francis Xavier of Montreal on November 21. New Edinburgh is the only club in the City League circuit that was not represented.

On the very next day of the All-Star line-up announcement, the Senior City Hockey Association began its season. La Salle and Shamrocks opened at the Auditorium where midway through the second period after a great scoring opportunity, Normie Schultz crashed into Tommy McInenly and both players got knocked off balanced and crashed to the ice. McInenly’s skate ended up lacerating Schultz’ palm in which he needed twelve stitches to close the wound. Although a replacement will now need to be found, it is hope the injury will heal in time for the games in Europe.

On Friday November 20 it was announced that Ernie Stitt would replace Schultz for the European hockey tour. Stitts, a dependable right winger has dropped back to defence that year was just what Duncan was missing in his initial team selection. An all-round performer. Stitt’s addition now gave each City League team representation as he played with New Edinburgh.

Exhibition game
On November 21, they played their exhibition game against the M.A.A.A. where his Excellence the Governor General was in attendance. Ottawa All-Star Captain, Jack Draper presented Lady Bessborough a huge bouquet of red roses and the players raised their sticks and gave three cheers for Their Excellences. The team wore their brand new jerseys, provided to them by George Bourne, owner of forty year old establishment that was regarded as the best sporting goods business in Canada at the time. White jerseys with a red and black band with a large crimson maple leaf on the front marked with the words “Ottawa - Canada” in block letters of black and white.

Voyage to Europe
A large gathering of friends and relatives of the players were at Union Station to wish them “Bon voyage” and success as they headed off to Europe on November 24, 1931. At least 400 people thronged the station, from prominent citizens to hockey players and executives, civic leaders and of course the aforementioned. The boys presented a smart appearance as they fyled in carrying their blue coloured suit cases bearing the team’s Maple Leaf insignia with “Ottawa Ice Hockey Team” written in block letters. Before they boarded the last arrival, a team photograph was taken which included manager Cecil Duncan with his wife and little daughter Beryl. After the team had boarded and the train began pulling away, those in attendance for the send-off gave three hearty cheers. They made their way to Montreal and from there transferred to another train that took them to New York. As they headed out towards New York where they board the French liner SS De Grasse tomorrow, they will begin their journey across the Atlantic for Le Havre, and should arrive in Paris by December 3. During the trip each player will have specific work detail to facilitate the smooth functioning of the trip.

With the SS De Grasse approaching the European coastline, the captain was concerned he would not make it to Le Havre on the estimated time schedule and pre-arranged for the team to be dropped off at the port of Vigo, Spain. Unfortunately none of the players had passports for that country but after much explaining of their dire situation they were permitted to disembark. They quickly were put into cars and make a quick run across Spain to Valladolid in Old Castille where they caught the Sud Express to Paris. Unfortunately Cecil and his family had to continue on their voyage aboard the liner until they got to Le Hague. The All-Stars exhausted from the mad dash to get to the game on time, manage to tie the French top players two apiece in front of 16,000 fans in Le Palais des Sports in Paris.

Arrival in Europe
After arriving at Le Hague and meeting up with his team and learning of their exploits, Cecil Duncan sent a cable to S.C.H.A. office stating that if Normand Schultz’ hand had recovered he was to join the team in Berlin at once. Acting S.C.H.A. secretary Jimmy McCaffrey responded that after consulting with a physician, Schultz would not be able to attend as his hand had become infected and he would now sit out the remainder of the regular season. It was a most unfortunate accident as not only did it rob Schultz of the opportunity to represent Ottawa and Canada in Europe, he also turned down a chance to turn professional that year with the Buffalo Bisons of the International League.

They continued on their 34 game schedule over a period of two months in which every team was either a National team or an All-Star team. The Ottawa All-Stars won 32 of their games, tied 2 and St. Denis, who turned down many pro offers, had 17 shutouts.

The Ottawa All-Stars final game against the European All-Stars in Paris was broadcasted in Canada. This was the first time a hockey game was broadcasted from Europe. Ottawa All-Stars were also the first team to have names sewn on the back of their jerseys and were the first hockey team to travel by plane when they flew from Paris to London.