TOA. THE OSHAWA TIMES, Thursday, December 10, 1964 ; Arena A Big Reason For Generals Return The return of the Generals to. Oshawa three years ago was the fulfillment of a promise made by the Boston Bruins in 1953, when their Junior A Hockey Club was made homeless by a fire which razed the Oshawa Arena. ; Fittingly, their return was brought about through the ef- forts of Wren Blair, Oshawa's "Mr. Hockey". When the Gen- erals were disbanded in 1953, Blair was also evicted by the blaze with his Senior B Oshawa Truckmen, The paths of the Bruins and Blair crossed again in 1960 when Lynn Patrick, Bruin General Manager signed him to a three- year contract. Through his ef- forts and Patrick's, the Generals were reborn. WESTON ADAMS President -- the Boston Bruins Despite opposition. in the Bruins organization, Blair nego- tiated with the now-defunct Metro Toronto Jr. A League, and was given a franchise to operate from Oshawa, but play all home games in Maple Leaf Gardens. Part of his persuasion consist- ed of his stand that an arena would be built in Oshawa. BEHIND DRIVE "I know the fellows that are behind this new arena drive," he told Weston Adams, Presi-| dent and General Manager' of the Bruins, "and I am sure it will go through this time." Adams agreed to the move, and the team was stocked. Last season, after the Metro League folded and the Toronto Marlboros went back into the Junior OHA, Oshawa's: position was precarious once again. *'R. D. HUMPHREYS, QC President -- Oshawa Generals The Bruins already had a jun- for entry in the league, Niagara Falls, Hap Emms, owner-man- prot at the Falls had no objec- ion : Since the Civic Auditorium was still in the building stages as the 1963-1064 season opened, the Generals played their home In their first season in the very-tough Junior A loop, they finished sixth and in the play- offs. This season they are hang- : g -- away from, or in, the op spot ARE TWO THINGS Phin Oshawa Generals are two t They" are the players whom Boston hopes wil staff their NHL teams of the future, and they are the local heroes for the entertainment of Oshawa citi- zenry. Boston supplies the players, through the scouting efforts of Wren Blair, Baldy Cotton, and their area scouts. They also sup- ply a large amount of the work- ing capital in the team, a $75,000 per year operation. On the local side, a limited company was formed by Blair consisting of business and pro- fessional men in the commun- ity. Russell D. Humphreys, the present president of the Oshawa Junior A Hockey Club Ltd., was a charter member and director. Other present-directors now in- clude: . Crown Attorney Bruce Afffeck (Secretary - Treasurer); Dr. Charles: Mcllveen (Vice-Presi- dent); Wren Blair (Managing Director); Gerald Deegan, Mur- ray Johnston, Dr. Peter Zakrow, DDS, and Dr. W. M. Shaw. There are 50 to 6 sharehold- ers, and the eight-man executive is chosen by election each year. When the company was formed 'one which three years ago, 2,000 $10 shares | were put on the market, and an additional 2,000 were held 'in abeyance. As a. business, the Generals are running. a $40,000 deficit, lair expects to make up in the operations at the new Auditorium. The Bowmanville Arena, pack- ed every night for the Generals, has a capacity of only 1,600, while the Auditorium rink will seat close to 3,600, plus standing room. Blair expects the crowds the Generals will draw to the west end location will help to offset the debt, and the costs of main- taining the structure. **No one is interested in mak- ing money," he. said. 'The Bruins only want players, and the local people are all inde- pendently wealthy enough not to need hockey revenue. "There is every reason to be optimistic about our activities in the new arena." Even for Junior Hockey, the Generals are a young team. Mest of them are going to school in Oshawa during the day and playing at night. The Bruins pay their room and board _in the city, find them accommodations and pay all the costs of their schooling from September to June. Aside from this, the young- sters are given a living allow- ance. For the few not attending school, other arrangements are made. MILT SCHMIDT Bruins' Coach LYNN PATRICK Bruins' GM Congratulations: - OSHAWA on ou r . s s The Auditorium is one to. be proud of . . . and YOU get the credit! Gli LL AR CLEANIT Ler SERVICE LTD. . 92 Wolfe St. 725-3555 33 games in the Bowmanville Afena,; 94 they are doing now. the generous efforts of the citizens of Oshawa. Henderson Concrete Products Limited are proud to have been chosen to supply "Autoclave" concrete building blocks for Oshawa's New Auditorium, 1089 Nelson OSHAWA'S NEW CIVIC AUDITORIUM JIL | O LAS! NAAN and it will, as an outstanding achievement accomplished through We take this opportunity to extend congratulations and best wishes for every success in this and future civic undertakings. "It was built to last" . .. with concrete products from HENDERSON CONCRETE PRODUCTS LTD. Oshawa gee PEERLESS et