1949-50 Camrose Maroons
Central Alberta Hockey League
#17 Jim Richardson Game Worn Jersey -
Photo Match
The Camrose Maroons were an Intermediate team in the Central Alberta Hockey League 1936-40 and 1945-53. And in the Alberta Intermediate Hockey Association in 1940-41, 1947-48 and 1948-49. They were Northern Alberta Intermediate “A” Champions in 1947-48. The term “Intermediate” in Alberta was relative to the term “Senior” in other provinces at the time.
In 1948-49 the Camrose Maroons team lost to the eventual Western Canada Intermediate Champion, Edmonton Waterloo Mercurys, who would go on to represent Canada and claim Gold in the 1950 World Championships in London, England and Gold again in the 1952 Olympics in Oslo, Norway. This was the last amateur hockey team ever to win Olympic Gold for Canada.
Interestingly enough, the goaltender for this 1949-50 Camrose team was Ralph Hansch who would be one of the goaltenders for the 1952 Edmonton Mercurys and Olympic Gold Medal Champion. He would be the goalie in the Gold medal clinching final game.
Also on this 1949-50 team were playing coach, Mac Colville (former NHL star with the NY Rangers) and Harvey Dodds (member of the 1950 World Champion Edmonton Mercurys).
The jersey has been photo matched to the details of the scripted crest on the jersey worn by Jim Richardson and slight wave in the white shoulder yoke.
This jersey may also have been worn in the previous 1948-49 season however I have yet to uncover a photo of that team. I place this jersey as 1949-50 based on the fact the SIHR list of players for the 1948-49 team contains 6 players not in the team photo attached. Also Mac Colville is listed as not playing in either 1948-49 or 1949-50 seasons, but is noted as coaching in the 1949-50 season. Also the player of whom the jersey is photo matched to, Jim Richardson, did not play on the 1948-49 team. However this does not discount the possibility that the jersey was worn in 48-49. We do know however that it was not worn in the 47-48 season as a team photo shows that those jerseys did not have a white shoulder yoke.
This beautiful wool jersey has remained in immaculate condition with felt crest and number and the original “Unique Cresting Toronto” tag sewn into the lower inseam. It is now being preserved as part of the rich history of the Senior Circuit in Alberta.