1986
Collie Coleman | Marbles Currier | Theresa Forsyth | Donald MacDonald | Duncan MacDonald | Alex Sullivan
Lawrence Currier was a son of Fred Currier and his wife, the former Armanda Seguin. He was born in Maxville, June 1914. Lawrence Coleman was a son of Dan Coleman and his wife, the former Ella Bergeron. Lawrence Coleman was also born in Maxville, September 1912.
January 11, 1935 became a hockey historic date in Maxville’s sport heritage. A new hockey club was organized, with Osie Villeneuve coaching a group of players determined to prove their credibility as a winning intermediate club. The nucleus were Lawrence Currier, “Doc” Munroe and Lawrence and Howard Coleman. With two players leading the team defensively and in goal scoring, and both christened Lawrence, Ottawa sport writers were at times confused about which one scored or assisted. The problem was solved by reverting to their boyhood nicknames, “Marbles” Currier and “Collie” Coleman. That is how they were popularly known for the rest of their short lives. The young Millionaires won the 1936 district championship, but lost 7-6 to Ottawa CDS in Citizen Shield playoffs. “Marbles” and “Collie” led the scoring, but fell one short. The Millionaires’ success in 1936 won the hearts of Stormont and Glengarry hockey fans. A special train conveyed the fans to Hawkesbury in the valley intermediate final. The Millionaires won, mainly due to “Marbles” and “Doc” Munro playing 60 minute games on defence and aiding “Collie” and his wingers in scoring six goals to the Hawks’ three. Another train load of fans headed by member of the 59th Pipe Band were on hand in the Ottawa Auditorium to cheer the Millionaires as they won the Citizen Shield for the first time by defeating Bells Corners 3-2. Ottawa sport writers classed “Marbles” Currier as an outstanding defenceman, a smooth skater and tricky stick handler. “Collie” was awarded the same rating as a two-way forward, a skilled goal scorer and assisted by his brother Howard. The next year, 1937, after winning the league honors, Millionaires lost in the Citizen Shield finals to Ottawa Carsons by a two-goal margin. The 1938 season opener indicated that the Millionaires were out to regain the prestigious Citizen Shield. They defeated a highly rated Massena team 5-4. “Marbles” scored two goals and assisted “Collie” on the game winner. As the schedule drew to a close “Marbles” Currier was awarded the Knight Trophy , emblematic of the league’s most valuable player. “Collie” Coleman was runner up by playing the best hockey of his career at centre, right wing and defence. In the finals, the Millionaires regained the Citizen Shield by defeating Bells Corners 6-4. On March 24, 1939, the Millionaires recorded Ottawa District hockey history by winning the Citizen Shield for the third time in four years by defeating Westboro 10-2 . “Marbles” and “Collie” again led the way by each scoring two goals and two assists. The champions were later feted at a Maxville banquet attended by Ottawa and District hockey officials. Tommy Shields, Ottawa Citizen sports editor, was guest speaker and presented the shield. “Marbles” and “Collie” basked in the 1939 warmth of hockey glory for only a few short weeks. On May 29th, they met death in a tragic car accident. |
Lawrence Currier was a son of Fred Currier and his wife, the former Armanda Seguin. He was born in Maxville, June 1914. Lawrence Coleman was a son of Dan Coleman and his wife, the former Ella Bergeron. Lawrence Coleman was also born in Maxville, September 1912.
January 11, 1935 became a hockey historic date in Maxville’s sport heritage. A new hockey club was organized, with Osie Villeneuve coaching a group of players determined to prove their credibility as a winning intermediate club. The nucleus were Lawrence Currier, “Doc” Munroe and Lawrence and Howard Coleman. With two players leading the team defensively and in goal scoring, and both christened Lawrence, Ottawa sport writers were at times confused about which one scored or assisted. The problem was solved by reverting to their boyhood nicknames, “Marbles” Currier and “Collie” Coleman. That is how they were popularly known for the rest of their short lives. The young Millionaires won the 1936 district championship, but lost 7-6 to Ottawa CDS in Citizen Shield playoffs. “Marbles” and “Collie” led the scores, but fell one short. The Millionaires’ success in 1936 won the hearts of Stormont and Glengarry hockey fans. A special train conveyed the fans to Hawkesbury in the valley intermediate final. The Millionaires won, mainly due to “Marbles” and “Doc” Munro playing 60 minute games on defence. And aiding “Collie” and his wingers in scoring six goals to the Hawks’ three. Another train load of fans headed by member of the 59th Pipe Band were on hand in the Ottawa Auditorium to cheer the Millionaires as they won the Citizen Shield for the first time by defeating Bells Corners 3-2. Ottawa sport writers classes “Marbles” Currier as an outstanding defenseman, a smooth skater and tricky stick handler. “Collie” was awarded the same rating as a two-way forward, a skilled goal scorer and assisted by his brother Howard. The next year, 1937, after winning the league honors, Millionaires lost in the Citizen Shield finals to Ottawa Carsons by a two-goal margin. The 1938 season opener indicated that the Millionaires were out to regain the prestigious Citizen Shield. They defeated a highly rated Massena team 5-4. “Marbles” scored two goals and assisted “Collie” on the game winner. As the schedule drew to a close “Marbles” Currier was awarded the Knight Trophy , emblematic of the league’s most valuable player. “Collie” Coleman was runner up by playing the best hockey of his career at centre, right wing and defence. In the finals, the Millionaires regained the Citizen Shield by defeating Bells Corners 6-4. On March 24, 1939, the Millionaires recorded Ottawa District hockey history by winning the Citizen Shield for the third time in four years by defeating Westboro 10-2 . “Marbles” and “Collie” again led the way by each scoring two goals and two assists. The champions were later feted at a Maxville banquet attended by Ottawa and District hockey officials. Tommy Shields, Ottawa Citizen sports editor, was guest speaker and presented the shield. “Marbles” and “Collie” basked in the 1939 warmth of hockey glory for only a few short weeks. On May 29th, they met death in a tragic car accident. |
“Terry” Hebert was posted overseas in 1944 and as a member of the Bomber
Group Headquarter her team won the Overseas RCAF Women’s softball championship
played in Edinburgh, Scotland. Basketball became her
favorite game, despite the fact as a member of the RCAF women’s track team she
competed in the All Canadian Track and Field meet held at the famed Wembley
Stadium in London, England.
In 1946 Terry played with the softball team in the Cornwall City League, winning the trophy, and met in the playoffs Morrisburg, Brockville and Chalk River, but lost the Eastern Ontario Amateaur Softball championship to Ottawa. Turning to basketball, Terry played as a quard and, after defeating area teams in playoffs, the OCOT Golds won the Ottawa and District Intermediate Women’s championship in 1947. In 1948 Terry and her Golds girls played their way right to the top of the Dominion Intermediate Basketball championship, but were defeated by Hamilton’s Zion Ramblers by the narrow margin of 26-24. Undaunted by defeat, the Golds OCOT girls resumed their next year’s practice and playing schedule with one purpose in mind and that was to win the coveted Dominion Trophy. They achieved the first step of their ambitious route by dedfeating the Ottawa District champions. Then it was on to Toronto to meet the famed Montgomery Debs, mighty rulers of the basketball court. So full of pride and self confidence, Toronto referred to the series in typical “Hogtown” fashion. The Deb’s coach quipped, “We shouldn’t have any trouble with those farmers.” What a jolt the coach and his Debs received in the first game when the Golds won 22-16. Terry Hebert was in red and Coach Kaneb was forced to keep his star and team inspiration leader on the bench for the second game. The Golds played with determination and scored point for point with Debs. At the final whistle the score was tied 45-45. In the first minutes of overtime play, each team scored a basket. Time was running and apparently Coach Kaneb, as great coaches always do, gambled that Terry Hebert’s injured knee would stand the strain of a last-minute rally. Nick sent her into the game. Knowing that Hebert had to be stopped some way, Terry was fouled. Would this be another dramatic moment by a Glengarry athlete that has so enriched our sport heritage? Terry’s free shot arched directly into the hoop web and the Golds, the bunch of farmers, were Dominion Intermediate Basketball Champions, 1949. Among the boisterous Cornwall fans who greeted the girls on their return, apparently in Terry Hebert’s estimation there was one in particular and that was “Bill” Forsythe. In 1951 that assumption became a reality when Terry Hebert became Mrs. William “Bill” Forsythe. Their first home was in Summerstown. They now reside in Glen Walter. |
Donald A. Sandfield Macdonald was
by this time a budding young lawyer. His office was opposite the now
police station-old post office, Realizing action had to be taken, Donald
Sandfield bought and paid for two dozen lacrosse sticks. He kept them
allowing first year AHS students, like this writer, to have the
privilege of carrying an armful of those sticks east on Catherine
Street, by the high school and through the open field to the fairgrounds
for an evening practice. That was the revival of lacrosse in
Alexandria, thanks to the leadership and money of Donald Sandfield.
Curling in Alexandria began about 1986. The rink was built where the nursing home is now, previously the family home of druggist John McLeister. Eventually due apparently to lack of interest the rink housing the “Roarin” Game ceased in Alexandria. Now we will move along to the post World War One era known as the Golden Twenties. Donald A. Macdonald once again shouldered the Sandfield sport heritage by organizing a charter curling club that rebuilt the long gone curling rink of the 1890s. This was 1923-24. Donald A. Macdonald was the elder son of Col. A.G.F. Macdonald and his wife the former Eugenie Hebert Montreal. Donald A. Macdonald’s wife was the former Fernande Roy, also of Montreal. They had three daughters, Claire, Louise, and Beatrice. |
All he had to acquire were a few fundamental points. Physically he was at the head of the class. The 200-lb., sixfooter, all brawn and agility, became the tough anchorman on the line.
He was among the leaders in the first few games and so impressed Ottawa sport writers they dubbed him “Big Dunc” MacDonald. That was his first year at college. In due course the team was molded into championship class. In 1889 and ‘90 they ruled Canadian football and were crowned Dominion champions, the Grey Cup of today. Following those historic football days at Ottawa College, “Big Dunc” hung up his cleats and football gear. He was now studying in Montreal for the priesthood. On December 22, 1894, one of Canada’s great football players became Father Duncan McDonald at his ordination in Montreal. |
Alex Sullivan, apart from attending school, spent his time either playing hockey or lacrosse. In lacrosse Alex teamed with his brother Paddy at inside and outside home (forwards). Neither were six footers, but once the ball was worked up field (12-man lacrosse of course) it took a sturdy defence to check Alex from either scoring or relaying the ball to Paddy, who was equally capable of firing a rifle-like shot. Alex was rated among the best of Glengarry lacrosse players of that long gone era.
Alex Sullivan signed with the Royal Bank and left home to pursue his hockey and banking career in Montreal. He was also instrumental in the bank making a deal with brother Paddy. They were dubbed the Sullivan twins, as they became point leaders with both the Royal and St. Anne’s. Scouts were again knocking on the door of the Sullivan brothers. Paddy wished to become a dentist, as his other brother Bill was enrolled at MacGill and played hockey with the Redmen. Alex Sullivan married Kathleen Saunders and they had one son. Alex lived in Ottawa and died in 1979. |