EXPECT TEN FAST TEAMS AT AVOCA FOR ICE NUMBERS

The Anaconda Standard, Anaconda, 1923-02-01, p.6

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Summary

Sub-head: "Contests for Prizes Will Bring Best Players of State Into Action." Preview of the first-ever Butte-Anaconda intercity ice hockey tournament, Lake Avoca, Sunday February 11 1923. Announced by A. E. H. Clarke (manager of Boucher's team). **Senior division entries:** Boucher's and Murphy-Softley's of Butte; Washoe Athletic club and Old Timers' team of Anaconda. **Junior division entries:** Lake Avoca Juniors, Hollanders, several other Butte youth aggregations. Anaconda sextets. Background notes: hockey has had a big following in Butte since 1908, when the game was first taken up with regular play, but a tournament has never been held. "Players from Canadian leagues have taken up their homes in Butte and Anaconda and local athletes have developed as stars of the game." The Boucher club and Washoe athletic team include experienced players from the Montana league play since December. Old Timers (recently organized in Anaconda) include Oliver La Londe and Bill McKay, veterans of the sport in Montana cities. "**The Murphy-Softley team has a personnel of younger stars who started the game three years ago at Lake Avoca and have developed into a senior class organization.**" Hollanders are recently organized from skaters at Holland rink. Closing: "Because Anaconda skaters will be participating in a big municipal ice carnival next Sunday, the game between Boucher's and the Washoe Athletic club, scheduled at Lake Avoca that date, has been postponed, the Murphy-Softley club being substituted for the Anacondans, it was announced yesterday." ARCHIVE SIGNIFICANCE. (a) Confirms Murphy-Softley sponsored its hockey team from the store's founding year (1920) at Lake Avoca. Three years on, the squad is in the senior division (intermediate state championship contender, per the Feb 4 1923 clipping). (b) The first-ever Butte-Anaconda intercity hockey tournament puts Murphy-Softley on the bill as one of four senior teams — strong brand association for the store. (c) Confirms an active Lake Avoca winter-sport scene by 1923; useful color for the Butte chapter.

People

Also mentioned

  • A. E. H. Clarke · bouchers_team_manager_tournament_organizer
  • Oliver La Londe · old_timers_player_veteran
  • Bill McKay · old_timers_player_veteran

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  • candidate_family
  • color
  • evidence_supporting

Source type

news_item

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Transcription
transcription: complete · confidence high
# EXPECT TEN FAST TEAMS AT AVOCA FOR ICE NUMBERS ## Contests for Prizes Will Bring Best Players of State Into Action. *The Anaconda Standard, Thursday, February 1, 1923, p. 6.* A hockey tourney, the first in the history of the two cities, will be staged for Butte and Anaconda teams at Lake Avoca a week from Sunday, it was announced yesterday by A. E. H. Clarke, veteran booster of the game and manager of the Boucher's team. Play for senior and junior clubs will be on the card that will also have added ice features for the fans. Boucher's and Murphy-Softley's of Butte and the Washoe Athletic club and Old Timers' team of Anaconda will be the entries in the senior division that will battle for cash prizes, while the Lake Avoca Juniors, Hollanders and several other youthful aggregations of Butte will tussle with Anaconda sextets of youngsters who have taken up the puck game in the junior class. While the sport has had a big following in Butte since 1908, when the game was first taken up with regular play, a tournament has never been held. Since then players from Canadian leagues have taken up their homes in Butte and Anaconda and local athletes have developed as stars of the game. The contests next Sunday will bring in action the best hockey players in the state. The Boucher club and Washoe athletic team include experienced players who have been competing in the Montana league play since December. The Old Timers, recently organized in Anaconda, have Oliver La Londe and Bill McKay, veterans of the sport in Montana cities, in their lineup and are expected to be one of the favorites in the tourney play. The Murphy-Softley team has a personnel of younger stars who started the game three years ago at Lake Avoca and have developed into a senior class organization. The Hollanders, recently organized from skaters at Holland rink, and Lake Avoca Juniors are two of the likeliest-looking crews in the junior class. Because Anaconda skaters will be participating in a big municipal ice carnival next Sunday, the game between Boucher's and the Washoe Athletic club, scheduled at Lake Avoca that date, has been postponed, the Murphy-Softley club being substituted for the Anacondans, it was announced yesterday.