REGULAR SEASON
| U.B.C. | 12-4 | 20-12 | Peter Mullins | |||||
| Calgary | 11-5 | John Dewar | ||||||
| Saskatchewan | 9-7 | 13-12 | Don Newton | |||||
| Alberta | 5-11 | 6-21 | Steve Mendryk | |||||
| Manitoba | 3-13 | Bud Fraser | ||||||
Manitoba rejoins the league.
U.B.C. won title with a 12-4 record despite losing captain Mike Potkonjak with a ruptured Achilles tendon two-thirds of the way through the season. The T’Birds actually finished tied with Calgary for the title but the Dinosaurs were forced to default and forfeit one game for using an ineligible player. Calgary dressed and played 11 men, one more than allowed by WCIAU bylaws, during an 81-80 win over Alberta. The rules allowed visiting teams to dress only 10. Otherwise, the Dinosaurs would have tied UBC and necessitated a playoff. The Golden Bears successfully protested the game and were awarded a win in the final standings. The Dinosaurs had defeated the T-Birds in three of four match-ups during the season. Had the protest been denied U.B.C. and Calgary would have finished tied atop the standings with 12-4 records. Instead, Calgary finished with an 11-5 record and it was deemed that a postseason series was unnecessary. Calgary coach John Dewar told the Calgary Herald that “I wasn’t aware of the 10-player rule so I thought they might as well dress as watch the game from the stands.” The protest was decided by a vote among the physical education department heads of member universities. The T-Birds, coached by Australian-born Dr. Peter Mullins, were led by John Cook and Laurie Predinchuk. Calgary in its second year in the league, was coached by John Dewar and led by B.Y.U. graduate Martin Lundmark, Idaho State graduate and former Lethbridge Brodeur’s Sr. A star Lloyd Harris.
Non-medalist rosters:
Alberta Golden Bears: Fred Shandro, Doug Hayes, Len Dudka, Irvin Strifler, Jeff Hakeman, Jim Fisher, Rod Esper, Ed Blott, Jim Walker, Mike Reitsma, Nestor Korchinsky, Gary Smith, John Hennessy, Darwin Semotiuk, Rod Esper, coach Steve Mendryk, assistant Jim Munro, assistant Ed Lucht
Manitoba Bisons: Robin Fry, Fred Melnyk, Dave Mills, Bob Kingsmill, George Mitchell, Bill Devries, John Embry, Eugene Senicki, Frank Clark, John Embry, Sorba, Graham, B Gibson, Bill Dotten; coach Bud Fraser; manager Sam Simcoff, manager Joe Micklovich
In regular season play: …………………………………………………… Alberta opened the season by getting clocked in Vancouver 83-44 and 63-51. …………………………………………………… In game one, UBC transitioned its way to a 83-44 win. “We expected it but we couldn’t do very much to stop it,” said Bears coach Steve Mendryk. “But the game wasn’t as bad as everyone thought it was.” Alberta was within seven with a minute to play in the first half but then relinquished a 14-0 run. Nestor Korchinsky paced the Bears with 11. Garry Smith added 10. …………………………………………………… In game two, UBC prevailed 63-51. The Bird shot 43% from the field, while Alberta hit 40%. UBC led 44-43 in the final quarter and eventually forced the Bears out of a zone by taking a slim lead. That allowed them to get their running game going in the final minutes. Cook paced the Thunderbirds with 13. Potkonjak added 12. Garry Smith paced the Bears with 18. Doug Hayes added 11 and Jim Walker 10. Coach Steve Mendryk said a zone defence kept it close. “In the second half, we just the game down to a walk, to make play our kind of game, as we couldn’t match their experienced personnel.”
Alberta split with Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, losing 59-48 and winning 62-56. …………………………………………………… In game one, Saskatchewan prevailed 59-48 after quickly taking a 14-3 lead early and 34-19 at the half. Pat Lawson paced the Huskies with 19. Mel Huszti added 17, Don Belsher 8, Don Fry 5, Bob Mirwald 4, Roger Tourigny 4 and MacLean 2. Garry Smith led Alberta with 9. Nestor Korchinsky scored 8 before fouling out, Jim Fisher 7, John Hennessy 7 and Doug Hayes 7. Saskatchewan shot 42% from the field, while Alberta hit 32%. …………………………………………………… In game two, Alberta won 56-52. The Huskies led 31-30 at the half but Alberta opened the second frame with 6-1 run and slowly built a double digit lead. Garry Smith paced Alberta with 19. Jim Walker added 12, Jim Fisher 8, Mike Reitsma 8 and Nestor Korchinsky 6. So incensed was Alberta coach Steve Mendryk about the officiating that at one point, he threatened to pull his Bears off the floor. Don Fry led the Huskies with 18. Pat Lawson added 12, Bob Mirwald 7, Mel Huszti 6, Dick Ruschiensky 4 and Don Belsher 5.
The Bears then lost to Calgary 68-66 and 105-75. The Dinosaurs featured Lloyd Harris, a Nashville, Tennessee native who played at Idaho State before being cut the NBA’s Minneapolis Lakers during training camp, as well as Bob Babki, who along with Harris played for the Lethbridge Brodeurs before transferring to Calgary. …………………………………………………… In game one, Calgary prevailed 68-66. The Dinos led 36-22 at the half but Alberta rallied down the stretch. Jim Fisher paced the Bears with 18. …………………………………………………… In game two, Calgary smacked Alberta 105-75. Jim Walker paced the Bears with 20.
Host Calgary defeated Saskatchewan 69-58 and 67-60. …………………………………………………… In game one, Calgary prevailed 69-58 (67-58, according to The Gauntlet) after leading 26-13 after one quarter and 39-22 at the half. Lloyd Harris led the Dinosaurs with 27, including 13 after subbing back into the game with the Dinosaurs trailing by six after a stint on the bench with four first-half fouls. Pat Lawson led the Huskies with 14. Roger Tourigny added 12 and Mel Huszti 12. The Huskies outrebounded the Dinosaurs 46-41. …………………………………………………… In game two, Calgary edged Saskatchewan 67-60. The score was knotted at 29 at the half. Lloyd Harris paced Calgary with 27. Don Fry paced the Huskies with 18. Pat Lawson added 12.
Host Saskatchewan split with Calgary winning 63-62, and losing 44-37. …………………………………………………… Saskatchewan nipped Calgary 63-62 as Bob Mirwald hit a bucket with three seconds to play. Pat Lawson led the Huskies with 17. John Deverell added 14. Lloyd Harris paced the Dinosaurs with 25. …………………………………………………… Calgary defeated Saskatchewan 44-37 after breaking to a 19-10 lead and then exploding for a 17-1 run and going into a stall.
The host Alberta Golden Bears defeated Calgary in a thriller 74-73 as Garry Smith scored 22, Ed Blott 13, John Hennessy 11, Reitsma 9 and Korchinsky 8. Alberta led 38-36 at the half but Calgary rallied to a 71-64 lead with two minutes to play. But Darwin Semotiuk hit a long bucket and then added a pair of free throws. With four seconds on the clock, Mike Reitsma tipped in a Semotiuk set shot to win it for the Bears. Lloyd Harris paced Calgary with 26. Bob Babki added 19, Ken Myhre 14 and Martin Lundmark 8. …………………………………………………… The following night, the Bears lost 70-68 in overtime to Calgary but were later awarded the game when Calgary illegally dressed too many players. Larry Pizzey and Jerry Crawford had dressed for the Dinos after arriving by bus with booster. Pizzey saw two minutes and Crawford none but the regulations limited teams to dressing 10 players. The rule was designed to prevent wealthier universities, who could afford to dress and travel more than 10 players, from gaining an advantage over poorer institutions. “I wasn’t aware of the 10-player rule so I thought they might as well dress as watch the game from the stands,” Dinos coach John Dewar told the Calgary Herald. Alberta led 37-31 at the half but Calgary relentlessly clawed back, hitting three unanswered buckets down the stretch to take a six-point lead. Alberta countered within its 6-0 run to knot the score with a minute and 15 seconds to play. Calgary delayed for the last shot but missed it and the scored was knotted at 62 after regulation. Mike Reitsma hit a pair of buckets and Garry Smith another but it wasn’t enoughas Bob Babki, Harris and Kit LeFroy scored 8 between them. Garry Smith missed a mid-court bomb at the buzzer as his shot bounced off the rim. Bob Babki led Calgary with 19. Lloyd Harris added 17, Ken Myhre 14, Phil Helgerson (a member of the Raymond Comets provincial high school champs a year earlier) 8, Nelson 7, Barry McCullough 4, Kit Lefroy 2 and Martin Lundmark 1. Garry Smith paced Alberta with 14. Jim Fisher added 11, Nestor Korchinsky 11 and Darwin Semotiuk 9. “The team played terrifically and they deserve all the credit,” said Bears coach Steve Mendryk. “I couldn’t ask any more from the team.”
Manitoba v. Alberta: 71-64; 70-54; 60-70; 53-68. …………………………………………………… In the first game, Manitoba defeated Alberta 71-64 in overtime after taking a 17-point lead and despite playing without star point guard Garry Smith, who sprained an ankle at the start of the second half. Alberta led 30-16 at the half. Three Bears fouled out in the third quarter. “They had 12 players to our six and after going all out, using the press to tie, we didn’t have enough left in overtime.” Robin Fry paced Manitoba with 33. Smith scored 17 for Alberta before being injured. …………………………………………………… The Bears dropped a second contest 70-54 as Dave Mills scored 20 and Robin Fry 14, while nabbing 17 boards. Mike Reitsma led the Beards with 11. Jim Walker added 10. “These were the worst two games we’ve played this season,” said Bears coach Steve Mendryk. …………………………………………………… In the fourth contest, Gary Smith led Alberta with 21. Darwin Semotiuk added 8. Garth Mitchell led the Bisons with 11. Dave Mills added 10.
Calgary defeated U.B.C. three games out of four. …………………………………………………… At home, the Thunderbirds split with the Calgary Dinosaurs 73-68; 66-68. …………………………………………………… In game one, U.B.C. prevailed 73-68. Al Harris led the Dinosaurs with 17. …………………………………………………… In game two in Vancouver, Calgary edged U.B.C. 68-66 (66-64, according to The Gauntlet) in overtime as Skip Morgan hit the winner at the buzzer. Kit Lefroy had forced overtime by hitting a bucket with five seconds remaining in regulation. Lloyd Harris led the Dinosaurs with 13. …………………………………………………… Calgary twice defeated UBC at home, 75-60 and 61-54. …………………………………………………… In game one, the Dinosaurs prevailed 75-60 as Bob Babki scored 22, Lloyd Harris 21, Ken Myrhe 8, Joe Smith 7 and Jerry Crawford 6. The Dinosaurs led 38-34 at the half. Mike Potkonjak scored 14 for the Thunderbirds before tearing his Achilles tendon. Keith Hartley added 14. …………………………………………………… In game two, Calgary prevailed 61-54 as Lloyd Harris, who’d fouled out with 11 minutes to play, scored 20, Ken Myhre 17, along with 11 boards, and Bob Babki 16. John Cook led U.B.C. with 16. Ron Erickson added 14 and Keith Hartley 10.
The Bears lost two at home to Saskatchewan 64-63 and 68-62. …………………………………………………… In game one, Saskatchewan prevailed 64-63. The Huskies led by 11 at the half but Alberta trimmed the margin and had the ball with 15 seconds on the clock. Garry Smith drove for a layup and was fouled by Mel Huszti but the refs swallowed the whistle. Huszti said after the game that he deliberately hacked Smith as he knew the refs would not call a foul on the final play. Mickey McNeill led the Sled Dogs with 14, including a four-point play after hitting a jumper with 1:53 to play and seeing the ref call a Golden Bear for an intentional foul, after which McNeill hit two free throws. Roger Tourigny added 12, along with 14 boards, Mel Hustzi 10, Don Fry 9, Pat Lawson 7, Bob Mirwald 6, John Deverell 6, while Grant Sinclair, Dick Ruschiensky and Jack Somerville were scoreless. Garry Smith led the Bears with 17. Darwin Semotiuk added 14. …………………………………………………… In game two, Saskatchewan prevailed 68-61 after leading 36-30 at the half. “We just weren’t ready for them,” Bears coach Steve Mendryk told The Gateway. “They got the lead early in the game and held it for the whole game. We just couldn’t catch up.” The Huskies repeatedly pilfered the ball off their press. Bob Mirwald led the Huskies with 19. Mel Huszti added 18, Roger Tourigny 13, Pat Lawson 11, Don Fry 6 and Mickey McNeill 1, while Grant Sinclair, Dick Ruschiensky, John Deverell and Jack Somerville were scoreless. Nestor Korchinski led Alberta with 19. Jim Fisher added 11, Garry Smith 8 and Ed Blott 8.
U.B.C. thrashed host Alberta 81-62 and 75-59. …………………………………………………… In game one, UBC prevailed 81-62. The Thunderbirds led 42-32 at the half before Alberta rallied to knot the score at 56. Then the wheels fell off. “we had been pressing all game and just ran out of energy,” said Bears coach Steve Mendryk. Jack Cook paced UBC with 26. Laurie Predinchuk added 18 and Court Brousson 13. Garry Smith led Alberta with 16. Nestor Korchinsky added 11 and Ed Blott 10. …………………………………………………… In game two, UBC won 75-59. Alberta led 19-18 after one quarter but the Thunderbirds rallied to take a 38-30 lead at the half. Alberta opened the second half with a 6-0 run but again fell apart as UBC built a 56-41 lead after three quarters. Jack Cook led UBC with 25. Erickson added 11. Garry Smith paced the Bears with 16. Darwin Semotiuk added 12 and Fisher 11. Guard Jim Walker left the team before the game, saying “I felt that, if I was going to be sitting out the last three games, I wouldn’t be doing the team any good. If the team would have needed me, it would have been a dirty thing to do, but my time spent at team practices could be put to better us.” The ex-co-captain added that leaving gave other players more of a chance to play. Three weeks earlier, Walker had been asked to fill in at the point for injured Garry Smith and did not live up to Mendryk’s expectations. Mendryk said Walker had lost his minutes to freshman Darwin Semotiuk, who improved during the season. “Semotiuk has the ability to play ahead of him.”
The Bears then closed out the loop by defeating Manitoba 70-60 and 68-53 at home. …………………………………………………… In game one, Alberta prevailed 70-60 after opening a double digit lead in the first quarter and maintaining to the final buzzer. “I didn’t feel that we played any better or any worse,” said Bears coach Steve Mendryk. “But when the other team went into their press, this time we didn’t collapse. … Forward Doug Hayes played the best he has played all year.” Garry Smith scored 16 to lead Alberta, while Nestor Korchinsky nabbed 16 boards. Doug Hayes scored 15 on the two nights. Mendryk also said that Jim Fisher did a tremendous job containing Bison scored Robert Fry, while scoring 20 points in the two games. Alberta outrebounded Manitoba by 22. Semotiuk scored a combined 15 points in the two games, Reitsma combined 5, Strifler a combined 5 and Ed Blott ad combined 5. Dave Mills scored a combined 28, Garth Mitchell a combined 22 and Robin Fry a combined 21. …………………………………………………… In game two, Alberta prevailed 68-52 as Garry Smith scored 21.
Host U.B.C. thrashed Saskatchewan 84-53 as Keith Hartley scored 16 and Gord McKay 15. …………………………………………………… In the second game in Vancouver, U.B.C. dusted the Huskies 64-25 as Keith Hartley scored 14, Ken MacDonald 12, John Cook 9, Mike Potkonjak 9, Laurie Predinchuk 6, Court Brousson 5, Roy Erickson 4, Jack Lusk 2, Norm Vickery 2 and Gordon Betcher 1, while Gord McKay was scoreless. Mel Huszti paced the Huskies with 9. Bob Mirwald added 6, Pat Lawson 5, Rodger Tourigny 3 and Don Fry 2, while Grant Sinclair, John Deverell, Errol Needham, Dick Ruschiensky and Mickey McNeill were scoreless.
On the second last weekend of the season, host Saskatchewan and U.B.C. split a series, with the Huskies winning 49-47 and the Thunderbirds prevailed 50-37. …………………………………………………… In game one, Saskatchewan defeated U.B.C. 49-47 in overtime. “Everything was off,” U.B.C. coach Peter Mullins told the Ubyssey. “We went into the game complacent and they taught us a lesson.” The Huskies led 22-5 early and 29-16 at the half. Bob Mirwald paced the Huskies with 15, including 11 in the second half. Pat Lawson added 11, Mel Huszti 10, Tourigny 7 and Fry 6, while Sinclair, Ruschiensky, Deverell, Somerville and McNeill were scoreless. John Cook led the Thunderbirds with 15. Keith Hartley added 10., Erickson 7, Betcher 4, McDonald 4, Predinchuk 2, Vickery 2, Brousson 2 and McKay 1, while Lusk was scoreless. …………………………………………………… In game two, U.B.C. clipped Saskatchewan 50-37 as John Cook and Keith Hartley each scored 15. Ken McDonald added 10. “Our shooting game was off again but our defensive game made up for it,” Thunderbirds coach Peter Mullins told the Ubyssey. Don Fry led the Huskies with 12. Mel Huszti added 8.
U.B.C. swept its four games with Manitoba: 49-44; 54-51; 75-48; 78-54. …………………………………………………… U.B.C. nipped host Manitoba 49-44. …………………………………………………… In game two in Winnipeg, U.B.C. prevailed 54-51. …………………………………………………… In the first game in Vancouver, the Thunderbirds prevailed 75-48. …………………………………………………… In the second game in Vancouver, U.B.C. thrashed the Bisons 78-54 as Keith Hartley scored 15, John Cook 15, Mike Potkonjak 12, Gordon Betcher 10, Laurie Predinchuk 8, Ken MacDonald 6, Ron Erickson 5, Gordie McKay 3, Norm Vickery 2 and Jack Lusk 2. Fred Melnyk led the Bisons with 18. Dave Mills added 13, George Mitchell 10, Robin Fry 9, Frank Clark 8 and Bob Kingsmill 1, while John Embry, Sorba, Eugene Senicki and Graham were scoreless.
Calgary defeated Manitoba in three of their four encounters: 80-74; 57-59; 75-57; 72-67. …………………………………………………… Calgary dispatched Manitoba 80-74 as Lloyd Harris scored 22, while nabbing 14 boards. Bob Babki added 18. The Dinosaurs hit 33-81 (.407) from the floor. Harris was an American playing his fifth year of eligibility in Canada (because only four are allowed in the States) who’d led the Lethbridge Brodeurs to pair of national senior men’s titles. …………………………………………………… Manitoba nipped Calgary 59-57 as Robin Fry scored 17. Lloyd Harris led the Dinosaurs with 18. The Dinosaurs hit 25-80 from the floor. …………………………………………………… Calgary whipped Manitoba 75-57 as Lloyd Harris scored 19, Bob Babki 17 and Bill Myer 10. Robin Fry paced the Bisons with 20. Fred Melnyk added 13. …………………………………………………… Calgary dispatched Manitoba 72-67.
Manitoba v. Saskatchewan: 55-70; 42-57; 58-68; 46-53. …………………………………………………… Host Saskatchewan dumped Manitoba 70-55 after leading 36-30 at the half. The Bisons were befuddled by the Huskies zone. Mickey McNeill led the Huskies with 17. Don Fry added 16, Mel Huszti 15 and Roger Tourigny 14. Dave Mills led the Bisons with 16. Robin Fry added 12. …………………………………………………… Saskatchewan defeated Manitoba 57-42 in a literal slugfest that saw three players ejected, including Huskie Roger Tourigny for retaliating to a Bob Kingsmill blow, as well as Bison Frank Clarke for levelling Mel Huszti. Bob Mirwald paced the Huskies with 18, along with 10 boards. Don Fry added 15. Robin Fry led the Bisons with 25. …………………………………………………… Saskatchewan defeated Manitoba 68-58 after ripping off a 19-2 run down the stretch. Pat Lawson led the Huskies with 26. Robin Fry added 17 and Bob Mirwald 12. Mel Huszti nabbed 14 boards and Rodger Tourigny 9. …………………………………………………… Saskatchewan clipped Manitoba 53-46 after leading 27-17 at the half. Bob Mirwald led the Huskies with 15. Mel Huszti added 13 and Dick Ruschiensky 7, along with 7 boards. Dave Mills led Manitoba with 17. Robin Fry added 10.
The bronze medalist Saskatchewan Huskies: Don Fry; Pat Lawson; Bob Mirwald; Mel Huszti; Dick Ruschiensky; Don Belsher; Roger Tourigny; John Deverell; Jack Somerville; Mickey McNeill; MacLean; Grant Sinclair; Errol Needham; Hank Marcuk; coach Don Newton; manager S Pidsosny
The runner-up Calgary Dinosaurs: Martin Lundmark; Lloyd Harris; Bob Babki; Bill Miller; Ken Myhre; Kit Lefroy; Joe Smith; Bill Myer; Philip Helgerson; Skip Morgan; Richard Nelson; Barry McCullough; Larry Pizzey; Steve Sparks; Jerry Crawford; Wayne Shaw; coach John Dewar; manager Andy van Goar
The champion University of British Columbia Thunderbirds: John Cook; Ken Macdonald; Keith Hartley; Gordon Betcher; Norm Vickery; Court Brousson; Gordie McKay; Ron Erickson; Jack Lusk; Mike Potkonjak; Laurie Predinchuk; coach Peter Mullins; manager Mel Galloway