Hockey: Imports and Exports

The Allan Cup & the Lake Shore Blue Devils Ice Hockey was almost a religion in Kirkland Lake. Rival teams within the various mining towns were actively supported. Gambling was popular, and it was rumored that a lot of money was placed on each game. So much so that players were paid to be traded, almost on a weekly basis, depending on which teams were playing. Kirkland Lake still today, has a tradition of producing great hockey stars. Among some famous names are Ted Lindsay & Dick Duff.

The Allan Cup was donated to encourage and support the sport of senior amateur hockey in 1908 by Sir Montague Allan of Montreal. It has played an important part in Canadian Amateur Hockey right up to the present.  The Lake Shore Blue Devils competed regularly for the Allan Cup in the 1930's. E. W. Todd, Mine Superintendent at the Lake Shore Mine, convinced the directors of the mine to finance a competitive team. Lex Cook was given charge of the team and he brought excellent players from across the country to play for the Blue Devils. Their efforts paid off when the team succeeded in winning the Allan Cup Championship in 1939. During the 1939 playoff rounds, the team bested their opponents on almost every occasion.

Ice Hockey was almost a religion in Kirkland Lake. Rival teams within the various mining towns were actively supported.

Famous Kirkland Lake NHL Players
Barclay Plager St-Louis Blues	Bob Plager St-Louis Blues
Dick Duff Toronto Maple Leafs	Wayne Hillman Philadelphia Flyers

Gambling was popular, and it was rumoured that a lot of money was placed on each game. So much so that players were paid to be traded, almost on a weekly basis, depending on which teams were playing. Kirkland Lake even today has a tradition of producing great hockey stars.

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