Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Oil Kings Clinch, Lose Massive Supporter, and relive the past.

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One of the biggest supporters of junior hockey in Edmonton passed away last Friday. Vic Mah was 91. (above, middle)

I didn't know Vic Mah very well but from what I've read and from what others have told me, he was a major part of the hockey scene in Edmonton.


The Oil Kings have a nice piece on him, and I spoke to former Oiler/Oil King Al Hamilton today about Mah. Hamilton said he was a tremendous supporter of the team and always welcomed players into his restaurant post game and otherwise. Vic was on the board of directors the first time around with the Oil Kings and was still visible around the team when it returned to the league.

In other Oil King news, Corey Graham tweeted tonight that the team has clinched a playoff spot thanks to a Lethbridge loss, Edmonton will be playoff bound for the second time in modern franchise history. Where they will finish is still to be decided, the Wheat Kings lost to Saskatoon tonight so Edmonton is still a point up on the Brandon for 6th place.

Congrats to the 1963 and 1960 versions of the Edmonton Oil Kings. The Memorial Cup winning clubs will be inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame on May 27th in Red Deer. Previously mentioned Al Hamilton was on the '66 team, while the following won on the '63 team:
The 1963 Oil Kings included General Manager Leo LeClerc, Head Coach Buster Brayshaw, players Ron Anderson, Butch Barber, Tom Bend, Roger Bourbonnais, Jim Brown, Rich Bulloch, Jim Chase, Vince Downey, Jim Eagle, Bob Falkenberg, Doug Fox, Harold Fleming, Russ Kirk, Bert Marshall, Max Mestinsek, Butch Paul, Greg Pilling, Pat Quinn, Dave Rochefort, Glen Sather and Reg Tashuk, as well as trainer Walter Serediak and stick boy Swede Knox.
Some pretty impressive names there, and they'll be accompanying some big name athletes as well. Glenn Hall, Norm Kimball, the 1950 Edmonton Waterloo Mercurys who after a 3 and a half month trip won the World Championship and others can be found on the list here.

One final note, former Oil King Thomas Vincour scored his first NHL goal tonight, an absolute laser beam short side shelf. You can see it here. Anyone else see a little Marion Hossa in the goal or is it just that he's big, wearing 81 and is from the former Czechoslovakia?

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