Senior Hockey in Bonavista became more organized in the 1950s and 1960s. The Bonavista Bear Cats was the premier team at the old outdoor rink on Station Road and provided the townspeople with many exciting games against opposing teams from Little Catalina, Melrose, East Point, Port Union, and elsewhere. The Bear Cats continued for awhile after the opening of the new Bonavista Stadium, but the team soon underwent changes and became known as the Bonavista Flyers. Later, as the years passed, the senior team was an all-star team from the area and became known as the Cabots. Lloyd Keats was the first coach of the Bonavista Bear Cats, and coached the team to a championship in 1962 - 63. Bonavista won four games against Glovertown at a tournament in Clarenville to win the trophy. The trophy was the first to be brought to Bonavista by a senior hockey team. A showcase of Bear Cats memorabilia has been prepared and is available for viewing at the Bonavista Stadium. Janette Carpenter (Catalina), daughter of Lloyd Keats, supplied the photos of the Bear Cats and the Flyers, and Fred Groves and Lloyd Little helped to identify the team members.
BONAVISTA BEAR CATS
Team Members (in photo):
(Back Row, l-r): Fred Groves, Ken Fisher, Lloyd Alexander, Ches Stagg,
Doug Hampton, Will Mouland, Howard Abbott, John Abbott
(Front Row, l-r): Doug Groves, Jack Keats, Frank Little, Ken Alexander,
Lloyd Little, Lloyd Keats (Coach), Murley Cuff, Albert Little, Tom Abbott
Missing from photo: Ralph Fisher, Winston Harris, Hollis Thompson
BONAVISTA FLYERS
Team Members (in photo):
(Back Row, l-r): Boyd Abbott, George Stagg, Fred Groves, Wilbur Rideout
(Assistant), Lloyd Keats (Coach), Max Butler, Cecil Abbott, unidentified
(Front Row, l-r): Jack Keats, Ralph Fisher, Lloyd Little, Ray Maidment,
Constable Perry Ellis, Ron Burke
Thanks to Harold Tremblett for sending me the above pictures and information
The following two pictures are not good quality but I've included them anyway. I'm not sure if the team names are correct or who the players are. Perhaps someone can let me know the names of the players, especially the Catalina players. It appears that the pictures were taken on the old outdoor rink off Station Road, Bonavista.
BONAVISTA BEAR CATS
Port Union Lions
Thanks to "Kathy" for informing me that the name of the team was the Port Union Lions and that the player in the back, left corner,is Harold Russell.
Bonavista Bantam Team 1969
Here's the same team 25 years later:
Jim Norman, Gordon Winsor, Abel Mouland, Rick (Ricky) Carpenter, LLoyd Taylor, Asst. Coach, Glenn Cuff, Calvin Hicks, Aiden Walsh , Wade Sheppard, Calvin Penny, Wayne Ryder, Harvey Hayley, Lewis Fifield, Coach, Bob Hayley, Terry Way, Randy Fisher, Rick Hayward, Bob Snow, Murray Tippett , Kevin Bradley, Rick Carpenter, Rick Hayward, Lewis Fifield
