Sport Popular Here in 1930's

Women played hockey in Stratford as early as the late 19th century, according to a number of sources, including Brian McFarlane's book, 'Proud Past, Bright Future'.

But little is known about the sport in that period since names and photos of the players were never published, and modesty dictated that men were prohibited from the Arena when the ladies were playing.

In the period of 1917-1919 though, those restrictions had been lifted and the sport was flourishing here. Exhibition games were played against teams from St. Marys, Clinton, Port Colbourne and Welland and in one 15-game stretch, the Stratford team lost just once.

The team's roster included Annie Ellis, Reta Neelan, Agnes McKay, Aileen Roffey, Janet Allen, Ruby Stoddart, Laura Ament, Flossie Knechtel, Gladys 'Dinty' Moore, Lorene Sinclair, Irene Ferguson, Flossie Connell, and Edna 'Trixey' Birkett.

Leonard Lavelle assisted in the coaching and Ed Tobin did most of the refereeing.

Women's hockey, at least in an organized form, then apparently disappeared for a period until 1935-36 when the Stratford Aces were founded by Armour and Rose Keane, owners of the Ice House. The name Aces was established because that was Rose Keane's nickname.

About 35 girls ages 14-18 tried out, with 13 being selected to form the original team. Each girl supplied her own skates while equipment was provided by the Keane family.

Through the first two years, Armour Keane acted as head coach and Rose assisted. The team held several practices each week to learn the skills of the game and exhibition games were playing in the neighbouring towns.

In 1937-38, playl in the Women's Hockey League took the team to London, Preston and Hamilton in a 15-game schedule, and the team played nedarly as many exhibitin games. The Stratford Classic City Arena was home ice for the Aces. Remuneration for playing on the team was free passes to public skating and junior hockey games at the Arena.

Lottie Rigg, the team's goaltender, became the star, holding off the likes of Preston's Schmuck Sisters, who led the Rivulettes to numerous winning seasons.

The Rivulettes defeated Stratford 10-1 and 3-2 in a best-of-three series that season for their seventh Ontario championship.

"If Lottie had been a boy, she would have made it to the NHL," proclaimed Ollie Aiken, another team member. "She was just tremendous."

Lottie may have never got a chance to play in the NHL, but her son did. She married NIck Libett and their son, Nick Jr., went on to star with the Detroit Red Wings (and later Kansas City and Pittsburgh).

"We had a pretty good team and had a lot of fun," recalled Lottie. "We had a lot of good skaters-- Ollie especially was very good on skates. We just lived at the arena when we were younger, skating or playing."

Lottie, who played "all the sports" when she was growing up, said that the style of game played by the Aces was no different than the one played by their male counterparts. Yet, the idea of women playing hockey was not considered rebellious. "We played just like the men did (but) we were treated just like women. We had good crowds."

In 1938, a Beacon Herald account of a game between the teams gives an indication of the talent of the local side. It read: "Preston Rivulettes, who still talk about the time they lost a game three or four years back, spent a few anxious minutes at the arena last night. The Rivulettes, holders of just about every title that's available in the reallm of ladies' hockey in Canada, left the ice at the end of the first period trailing Armour Keane's Aces 2-1. Only twice in the last seven years have the gals from the mineral springs town lost a hockey game, so there wasn't much whoopie in their dressing room between periods. They came back with a do-or-die look in the second session and rattled in three goals, without a reply from the Aces. Another counter in the last session gave them a 5-2 decision."

In 1938-39, Dr. Lorne Robertson took over the management of the team and recruited Butch Kelterborn as head coach. The team flourished and public support increased. Up to 1,000 fans regularly attended home games.

Among those was Ted Keane, the son of Armour and Rose, who now operates a photography studio on Ontario Street.

"They could skate and hit like the men," recalled Keane, a young teenager at the time. "they played a physical game and there was a certain amount of slashing. They even had a brawl one night here at the arena. The Toots Clark line and Jean Stirling really stood them up on defence. But it was good hockey--quick and with a lot of good passing."

Although no helmets were worn, even by the goaltenders there were few injuries. On one occasion, however, Lottie took a slapshot to the face and received a broken nose. Dr. Robertson administered first aid on the ice and she finished the game.

"We hit and we checked, and when you got hit, boy, you got hit," said Ollie. "I was watching the professional women play on TV the other day and it reminded me of the way we used to play. I don't think most of the girls today play like we did. And we didn't have all the protection they do -- just shoulder pads and shin pads, no helmets."

On one memorable night, the Aces played an exhibition game against the local Rotary Club at the Classic City Arena.

"Some of them could hardly skate the length of the ice and of course it was all in fun," Ollie said. "But we were just young girls and we got a little carried away. I remember the crowd was up and cheering and the more they clapped, the more we gave them. We knocked the heck out of them until they wouldn't come out for the third period."

The team disbanded after its fifth season as the players became too old to be eligible to play, moving on to careers and family. And there was no minor system in place to keep the team alive.

"It was kind of sad when things broke up," said Ollie. "We were always chaperoned and treated well. It was a lot of fun. I think if you ask any of the players, they'd tell you that those were the best five years of our lives."