The Basin Record Newsletter Vol.2 Issue 2

With the Canadian Women’s hockey team taking the gold at Turino, everyone is interested in women’s hockey. Did you know that the Columbia Basin region has an old and vibrant history in this sport? WendyWalsh gave us some information on a team that stood the hockey world on its ear 80 years ago. In February 1921 the Calgary Regents Ladies Hockey team, Western Canadian champions, came to Fernie and “exhibited their talents as feminine hockeyists, crossing hickories…” with the Fernie team. Fernie lost this match 1 to 0. Dahlia Schagel, Ella Fenwick and Edith Biggs put in a very strong game for Fernie. After the game the Fernie ladies entertained their visitors at a banquet at the Northern Hotel. In the fall, the Fernie team changed its name first to the Fernie Red Wings and then to the Fernie Swastikas. They sponsored a dance to raise money and bought brilliant red and white uniforms. Perhaps it was the new image, the new name, or the new goaltender – the Swastikas surprised the Regents 4 to 0. “MissWood, the Fernie custodian, was merely an onlooker in this period (2 nd ), as she had but one shot to turn aside.” Calgary came to Fernie in February, 1922, winning 1 to 0 against the Swastikas. Late in February the Swastikas defeated a new team in Calgary, the Byngs, by 3 to 0. They played a return match on home ice. “Playing the finest class of ladies’ hockey ever witnessed at the local arena, the Fernie Swastikas overcame a goal lead gained early in the game by the Calgary Byngs and ran out victors by a score of two to one.” The Swastikas continued their winning ways in March, defeating the Calgary Regents in Blairmore 1 to 0. Ella Fenwick bulged the net with the only tally in the first three minutes of the game. That closed the 1922 season, and set the stage for 1923, when the Swastikas could find no one to play against. After receiving an invitation to compete for the World’s Championship Lady Hockey Team Cup in Banff, Basin Biography The Fernie Swastikas the team put its energy into raising funds. The Calgary Regents came to town in mid-February, playing to a 1- 1 tie but refusing to take to the ice for the regulation tie breaker. At theBanffCarnival Fernie earnedabye in thefirst round, drawing in the second round the World Champion Ladies’Hockey1922 titleholders, theVancouverAmazons. The Swastikas hammered the Vancouver goal relentlessly from the outset, scoring both of the game’s goals in the first period with the winner coming from team captain Dahlia Schagel. Then the Calgary Regents defeated the Edmonton Monarchs to face the Swastikas in a two game, total points series for the World Championship. The first game of the series was played to a scoreless tie. The game the next evening went overtime by 30 minutes, ending in a 2-2 tie. Calgary failed to field a team for the deciding game, defaulting to Fernie. On the way home, showing their supreme sportsmanship, the Fernie women stopped in Calgary to play a fundraiser for the Regents. They were astounded to find the fundraiser advertised as a game for the Championship, the venue changed from Banff to Calgary without consulting Fernie. This game also resulted in a scoreless tie, with Calgary taking all the gate receipts. The Swastikas returned to a victory celebration in Fernie, bringing with them the Alpine Cup trophy and gold medals signifying the World Championship Ladies’ Hockey title. A special reporter to the Calgary Herald summed up the unsportsmanlike conduct throughout the series with the following: “The Fernie Swastikas… established an enviable reputation in Banff by their ladylike demeanor and true sportsmanship tactics at all times.” This historic team deserves to be remembered as women’s hockey again comes to the fore in sports circles. The Columbia Basin had many women’s hockey teams in the 1920’s in places such as Lumberton, Cranbrook, Fernie and smaller towns throughout the region. Let’s celebrate our rich history.