APRIL 19, 1948
DUKES WIN THREE STRAIGHT TO CLAIM CUP
The Toronto Dukes capped a Cinderella season going from the worst record in the league a year ago to Challenge Cup champions after they rallied with 3 straight victories to top the New York Shamrocks 4 games to two in the Cup final. The Cup win ends a two-year Boston hold on the chalice and is the third title in 5 years for the Dukes, who now have won the Cup 7 times -tied with Boston for the most all-time.
It was a most improbable Cup final as few, if any, expected Toronto and New York to be dueling after they duo upset the Boston Bees and Chicago Packers in the semi-finals. The Packers, who led pretty much wire to wire during the regular season, somehow were knocked off in 5 games by a Shamrocks team that finished fourth. The Dukes upset was only slightly less surprising as despite the Bees being without one of their top players in Tommy Hart, Toronto swept them with veteran backup goaltender Terry Russell filling in for Gordie Broadway who missed the entire playoffs with a viral infection.
Things looked bleak for new coach Jack Barrell and his charges after the Dukes fell behind the Shamrocks 2 games to one with a 6-0 shellacking in game three but Toronto quickly regrouped and evened the series with a 5-2 victory on Bigsby Garden ice in game four. Russell, who had surrendered 6 goals in each of the two previous losses and had many thinking he might not win another game, was outstanding and made 40 saves in a key bounce-back game. 32-year-old veteran Herb Burdette, who missed most of last season with an injury, continued to prove his worth to the Dukes with a goal and two assists to lead the offense.
Back in Toronto for game five it was Burdette who once more led the way, scoring twice and adding two helpers to key a 7-2 Toronto rout. Quinton Pollack, the top rookie a year ago in Brooklyn, also played a key role with a goal and 3 assists while Les Carlson scored twice in the Toronto victory.
With New York on the ropes the Dukes pulled out all the stops in game six and it took just 22 seconds for Alex Lavalliere to open the scoring with goal after a nifty three way passing play involving Pollack and Phillippe Dubois. Tommy Brescia evened the score for the Shamrocks early in the second period but Burdette was once more up to the challenge and restord the Dukes lead only 3 minutes later. Trevor Paker's shorthanded goal 6 minutes into the third period delivered a dagger to the hearts of Shamrock fans and made the score 3-1. Joe Martin got one back for the Greenshirts but Toronto dominated play in the final stanza and held on for a 3-2 victory before parading around the Bigsby Garden ice with the Challenge Cup.
More coverage of the Dukes Challenge Cup win can be found
here in the latest edition of the Ballad of the Barrell Brothers.
OTHER HEADLINES THIS WEEK
- At 27-9 the Chicago Cougars finished with the best spring record in baseball. The season gets underway tomorrow with action on 4 fronts including Washington's Columbia Stadium where President Truman will be on hand to throw the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Eagles game with the Philadelphia Keystones.
- Ward Messer of Liberty College -younger brother of New York Gothams outfielder Walt Messer- was named the winner of the Art Barrette Trophy as the top player in collegiate basketball this season.
- After 29-days the coal strike was settled after John Lewis won $100 monthly pensions for the members of the United Mine Workers but failed to save hmself from an order to stand trial for contempt of court in defying return to work orders.
- The House has approved more than $2 billion in additional funding to expand the Air Force.
- President Truman renewed his demand for immediate enactment of anti-inflation controls, declaring that "the strength and vitality of our economy are being undermined by inflation."
Full national sports coverage is available in this week's edition of
THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL.