| E. RD 1 (NB): Woodstock d’d Saint John 74-69; 57-58 (Total 131-127) E. RD 1 (Ont): Toronto Nortowns d’d West End Y x-x; 80-54 (2g-0) W. RD 1 (Man): University of Manitoba Bisons d’d Winnipeg YMHA Blues 61-77; 71-50; 67-66 (2g-1) W. RD 1 (SASK): Regina Mailers d’d Saskatchewan Teachers College 82-52; 57-47 (T: 139-99) W. RD 2 (MAN): Winnipeg YMHA Blues d’d Brandon Clowns x-x; 91-57 (2g-0) W. RD 2 (BC): U.B.C. Braves d’d Vancouver YMCA 62-69; 61-55; 54-52; 63-59 (3g-1) E. QF (NB/PEI): Woodstock d’d U.P.E.I. 56-44; 67-61 (Total: 123-105) E. QF (Ont): Toronto Nortown 88’s d’d Oshawa Simcoe Hall 42-27; 85-50 (Total: 127-77) E. QF (Que): Montreal Mont St. Louis d’d Montreal Snowden Y 84-45; x-x (Total: x-x) W. QF (BC): U.B.C. Braves d’d Alberni 61-39; 49-52 (Total: 110-91) WITHDREW FROM DOMINIONS E. Semi (Que/Maritimes): Montreal Mont St. Louis d’d Woodstock N.B. 88-56; 118-52 (Total: 206-108) E. Semi (Ontario): Toronto Nortown 88’s d’d Windsor AKO 70-67; 78-49 (Total: 148-116) W. SEMI: Winnipeg YMHA Blues d’d Fort William Westfort 72-48; 107-69 (Total: 179-117) W. Final: Winnipeg YMHA Blues d’d Calgary Ambassadors 69-59; 79-69 (2g-0) E. Final: Toronto Nortown 88’s d’d Montreal Mont St. Louis College Saints 93-44; 109-76 (2g-0) CANADIAN TITLE: Toronto Nortown 88’s d’d Winnipeg YMHA Blues 75-61; 74-83; 70-58; 52-63; 71-55 (3g-2) |
In the NB finals, Woodstock d’d St. John 74-69 and then lost 57-58 but won total point series 131-127. …………………………………………………… In game two, Dickenson scored 16 for Woodstock. Montgomery added 12. Mabey led Saint John with 19.
In the Maritime finals, Woodstock easily handled St. Dunstan’s U. (now known as U.P.E.I.) 56-44; 67-61
(Total: 123-105). …………………………………………………… In game one, the Jets prevailed 56-44 as Chuck Ashe scored 24, Montgomery 12, Porter 10, Dickinson 2 and Jones 2, while Connell, Hamilton, Hoyt and Fletcher were scoreless. John Kelly led the Panthers with 24. Fearon added 6, Morrison 4, Pingley 4, W Kelly 4 and Swift 2, while Ledwell and McConnell were scoreless.
In the Toronto city final, the Nortowns d’d West End Y x-x; 80-54 (2g-0). …………………………………………………… In game two, the Nortowns completed the series sweep by pounding West End Y 80-54 as Warren Reynolds scored 25, Doug Gaidy 15, Marv Cohen 12 and Art Green 12. Jerry Wojdon paced West End with 20. Dies Jaworski added 12.
In the Ontario playoffs, the semis saw the Toronto Nortown 88’s thrash Oshawa Simcoe Hall 42-27; 85-50 (Total: 127-77). …………………………………………………… In game two, Doug Gaidy scored 11, while Bernie Nisker notched 18, Warren Reynolds 12 and Marv Cohen 10 as Toronto romped 85-50. Jack Owen led Oshawa with 15. Tom Olinyk added 14.
In the Ontario finals, the Toronto Nortown 88s defeated Windsor AKO 70-67; 78-49 (Total: 148-116). …………………………………………………… In game one, Warren Reynolds scored 19 as Toronto won 70-67. Doug Gaidy added 17, Green 10, Waters 9, Cohen 9 and Nisker 6. Fred August led Windsor with 26. Al Lachwicz added 13, Tom Newton 13, Gary Weir 12 and Vernes 3. …………………………………………………… In game two, Toronto led 20-14, 38-26 and 61-30 at the quarters before running away with a 78-49 win. Warren Reynolds paced Toronto with 21. Phil Waters added 18, Bernie Nisker 8, Art Green 4, John Unger 2, Marv Cohen 7, Joe Winch 0, Doug Gaidy 10, and Joe Druck 2. Fred August led Windsor with 11. Ted Szalay and Gary Weir each added 9, A. Hoffman 0, Fahringer 0, Lachewicz 2, J. Hoffman 0, Newson 8, Vernes 4 and Hamilton 0.
In the eastern semis, Montreal Mont St. Louis d’d Woodstock N.B. 88-56; 118-52 (Total: 206-108). …………………………………………………… In game one, Montreal Mount St. Louis Collegiate pounded Woodstock 88-56 as John Vinet scored 30, Claude Gervais 20, Pierre MacKay 17 and Gary Keating 12. Dave Jones scores 18 for Woodstock. Charlie Ashe added 16. …………………………………………………… In game two, Mont St. Louis crushed Woodstock 118-52 as Jean-Paul Vinet scored 44. Pete MacKay added 27. Dave Jones led Woodstock with 24.
In the East final, the Toronto Nortown 88’s swept Montreal Mont St. Louis College 93-44; 109-76 (2g-0). …………………………………………………… In game one, Toronto set the tone early, exploding to a 26-2 lead and leading 52-27 at the half before winning 93-44. Warren Reynolds paced Toronto with 23. Marv Cohen added 18, Doug Gaidy 18, Phil Waters 11, Bernie Nisker 8, Joe Druck 5, Art Green 4, John Unger 4 and Joe Winch 4. Montreal coach Jackey Walker said that “if our shooting was on, we could have made a better showing.” John Vinet paced the Collegians with 12. Pierre McKay added 8, Bob Forcione 7, John Vinet 5, Keating 5, Jones 3, Dubois 2 and Suudeyns 1, while Gervais and Murphy were scoreless. …………………………………………………… In game two, Toronto led 38-11 at the quarter, 62-39 at the half and won 109-76. Doug Gaidy paced Nortown with 29. Warren Reynolds added 27, John Unger 14, Joe Winch 10, Phil Waters 9, Bernie Nisker 8, Art Green 0, Marv Cohen 9 and Joe Druck 4. Pete MacKay led the Saints with 24. Gary Keating added 18, Francois Venne 15 and John-Paul Vinet 10. Claude Gervais added 3, Bob Forcione 0, Jones 4, Murphy 2, Dubois 2 and Sourleyns 0.
In the British Columbia semis and Vancouver finals, the U.B.C. Braves defeated Vancouver YMCA 62-69; 61-55; 54-52; 63-59 (3g-1). …………………………………………………… In game one, YMCA prevailed 69-62 as Holyoak scored 18, Pennington 15, Keller 11, O’Fallon 8, Peterson 8, Robbins 8 and Elkington 2, while Carey and Hunt were scoreless. Horton led the Braves with 17. Stephens added 15, McNee 13, Hoar 8, Oldham 5 and Gustin 4, while Yada, Simmons, Russell and Corbett were scoreless. …………………………………………………… In game two, U.B.C. evened the series with a 61-55 win as Stephens scored 24, Symonds 11, Gustin 9, Horton 8, McNee 6, Russell 2 and Hoar 1, while Yada, Oldham and Corbett were scoreless. Pennington led YMCA with 15. Robbins added 14, Keller 7, O’Fallon 5, Holyoak 5, Hunt 4, Oddy 3 and Peterson 2, while Carey was scoreless. …………………………………………………… In game three, U.B.C. nipped YMCA 54-52 as Lance Stephens scored 21, Horton 15, McNee 8, Hoar 6 and Gustin 4, while Yada, Oldham, Symonds and Russell were scoreless. Robbins led YMCA with 16. Holyoak added 12, Elkington 10, Oddy 8, O’Fallon 2, Carey 2 and Pennington 2, while Keller, Peterson and Hunt were scoreless. …………………………………………………… In game four, U.B.C. took the series with a 63-59 win as Stephens scored 23, McNee 14, Horton 12, Gustin 10, Symonds 2 and Russell 2, while Hoar and Yada were scoreless. Pennington led YMCA with 12. Oddy added 10, Keller 9, Robbins 9, Holyoak 7, O’Fallon 4, Elkington 3, Carey 2, Peterson 2 and Hunt 1.
In the British Columbia finals, the U.B.C. Braves defeated Alberni 61-39; 49-52 (Total: 110-91). …………………………………………………… In game one, the Braves torched Alberni 61-39 as Stephens scored 18, Horton 13, Hoar 10, Gustin 10, McNee 6, Oldham 2 and Symonds 2, while Corbett, Russell and Yada were scoreless. Gailloux paced Alberni with 11. Price added 9, MacLean 8, G Kootnekoff 5, Ward 4 and Vikstrom 2, while Gallic, Keller, Larson and Willis were scoreless. …………………………………………………… In game two, Alberni prevailed 52-49 but lost the total-point series by 19. Kootnekoff led Alberni with 14. Vikstrom added 13, Price 11, Gailloux 7, McLean 4 and Keller 3, while Gallic, Larsen, Ward and Willis were scoreless. McNee led U.B.C. with 16. Stephens added 10, Gustin 6, Corbett 4, yada 3, Hoar 2, Horton 2 and Symonds 2, while Russell was scoreless. …………………………………………………… Shortly before the start of the finals, U.B.C. announced that if they prevailed, they would withdraw from the Dominion championships. Both Alberni and Vancouver YMCA said they would not participate because they didn’t want to be viewed as “second best” in the province. U.B.C. athletic director Bus Phillips said the nationals were booked at a time when students should be studying for Easter exams. Critics argued that U.B.C. should have withdrawn before the start of the playoffs.
In the Manitoba semis, the University of Manitoba Bisons defeated the Winnipeg YMHA Blues defeated the University of Manitoba Bisons 61-77; 71-50; 67-66 (2g-1). …………………………………………………… In game two, the University of Manitoba prevailed 71-50 as Bill Novak scored 18, Barry McDonald 8, Gene Walker 15, Dennis Woolley 10, McEachern 3, Murata 3, Kolomaya 2 and McFetridge 2. Ed Melnyk led the Blues with 14. Len Sedun added 9, Ross McKenzie 8, Ken Hartas 6, Muth 6, Rypp 3, Miller 2 and Slaby 2, while Blank was scoreless. …………………………………………………… In game three, the Bisons edged the Blues 67-66 as McDonald scored 9, Novak 13, Bill McElhoran 12, Woolley 8, Walker 6, McFetridge 5, Murata 2 and Kolomaya 2. Melnuk led the Blues with 20. Miller added 5, Hartas 4, Muth 10, Rypp 5 and Slaby 2, while Sedun was scoreless. …………………………………………………… Though the Bisons contested for the city crown, it did not enter the national playoffs, so the Blues advanced to face Brandon for the Manitoba title and subsequently, to face the Northern Ontario champs.
In the Manitoba finals, the Winnipeg YMHA Blues defeated the Brandon Clowns x-x; 91-57 (2g-0).
In the Saskatchewan semis, the Regina Mailers defeated the Saskatchewan Teachers College 82-52; 57-47 (Total: 139-99). …………………………………………………… In game two, the Mailers took the series with a 57-47 win as Jack Wood, Bryan Mcurity and Don Holzer each scored 8. Gerald Elmsley led the Teachers with 12.
In the Quebec finals, Montreal Mont St. Louis d’d Montreal Snowden Y 84-45; x-x (Total: x-x). …………………………………………………… In game one, Mont St. Louis prevailed 84-45 as Claude Gervais scored 22, Jean Vinet 19 and Gary Keating 12. B Stein led Snowden Y with 15.
In the West semis, the Winnipeg YMHA Blues defeated Fort William Westfort 72-48; 107-69 (Total: 179-117). …………………………………………………… In game one, the Blues prevailed 72-48 as Len Sedun scored 16. …………………………………………………… In game two, Winnipeg pounded Fort Williams 107-69 as Ed Melnyk scored 31, Len Sedun 16, Ken Hartas 15, Ross McKenzie 2, Ed Miller 12, Muth 10, Blank 6, Slaby 3 and Rypp 2. Don Copeland paced Westford with 17. Mike Kostecki added 4, M Kantymir 14, Larry Kwasny 12, Cheredaryk 5, Siciliano 3 and Faris 2, while Webster was scoreless.
In the West final, the Winnipeg YMHA Blues defeated the Calgary Ambassadors 69-59; 79-69 (2g-0). …………………………………………………… In game two, Winnipeg prevailed 79-69 as Ed Melnyk scored 17, Ken Hartas 6, Ross McKenzie 16, Ed Miller 9, Len Sedun 9, Harv Muth 8 and Rypp 4, while Blank and Slaby were scoreless. Wally Macintosh paced the Ambassadors with 29. Dais added 2, McNeil 2, Gillespie 5, Dixon 4, Denny Beatty 4 and Edwards 3, while Lewis, Alexander and Gordon were scoreless.
In the national finals, the Toronto Nortown 88’s repeated as champions by dumping the Winnipeg YMHA Blues 75-61; 74-83; 70-58; 52-63; 71-55 (3g-2).
In game one, Toronto broke open a tight affair by dominating the final four minutes of play to prevail 75-61. Led by 5-10 guard Joe Druck, who scored all 14 of his points in the second half, the 88’s trailed 58-57 with 4:20 to play but closed out the match with an 18-3 run. Warren Reynolds paced Toronto with 28. Doug Gaidy added 14, Phil Walters 11, Marv Cohen 2, Art Green 5, John Unger 0 and Joe Winch 0. Ed Melnyk paced Winnipeg with 20. Ken Hartas added 18, Ed Miller 12, Ross McKenzie 6, Muth 2 and Rypp 1, while Len Sedun and Blank were scoreless.
In game two, Winnipeg took a big first half lead and held on for an 83-74 win. Ed Melnyk paced the Blues with 22. Ken Hartas added 16, Ed Miller 12, Sedun 4, McKenzie 4 and Rypp 2, while Muth was scoreless. Doug Gaidy paced the Nortowns with 12. Marv Cohen added 10, Warren Reynolds 8, Joe Druck 8, Art Green 6 and Phil Waters 4, while John Unger and Joe Winch were scoreless. The 88s led 24-20 at the half.
In game three, Toronto prevailed 70-58 as Doug Gaidy scored 25, including 15 in the first half. Phil Waters added 17, Marv Cohen 10, Warren Reynolds 9 and Art Green 2, while Joe Druck, Joe Winch and John Unber were scoreless. Ed Melnyk led Winnipeg with 28. Ross McKenzie added 12, Ken Hartas 7, Ed Miller 6, Muth 2, Len Sedun 2 and Rypp 1, while Blank and Slaby were scoreless. Winnipeg led 36-33 at the half but Marv Cohen hit a bucket to give Toronto its first lead early in the second half and Nortown 88’s never looked back. They led by as many as 13.
In game four, Winnipeg evened by series as they dumped Toronto 63-52. Winnipeg led 24-20 at the half and maintained control until the final buzzer. Ed Melnyk paced Winnipeg with 22. Ken Hartas added 15, Ed Miller 12, Len Sedun 7, Ross McKenzie 4 and Rypp 2, while Muth was scoreless. Doug Gaidy led Toronto with 16. Marv Cohen added 10, Warren Reynolds 8, Joe Druck 9, Art Green 5, Phil Waters 5, John Unger 0 and Joe Winch 0.
In the decisive fifth game, Toronto prevailed by 16 as Doug Gaidy opened by scoring the first three points to give the Nortown 88’s a lead they would never relinquish. Toronto prevailed 71-55. Toronto led 32-22 at the half and by at least seven through the entire second frame. Warren Reynolds paced Toronto with 26. Doug Gaidy added 18, Joe Druck 10, Marv Cohen 5, Phil Waters 7, Art Green 6 and John Unger 0. Ed Melnyk led Winnipeg with 20. Ken Hartas added 13, while starting center Ed Miller was used sparingly after injuring his knee. He finished with 5 points. Len Sedun scored 8, Ross McKenzie 6, Rypp 0 and Slaby 0.
A rule changed announced for the 1956-57 season, boosted the eligibility limit to 20 years of age from 19.
The runner-up Winnipeg YMHA Blues: Ed Melnyk; Ken Hartas; Ed Miller; Harey Muth; Al Blank; Len Sedun; Ross McKenzie; Meyer Rypp; Hal Sloby; coach Mike Spack; manager Harv Lipkin; equipment manager Jack Koslofsky
The champion Toronto Nortown 88’s: Doug Gaidy; Warren Reynolds; Marv Cohen; Phil Waters; Art Green; Bernie Nisker; John Unger; Joe Winch; Joe Druck; coach Dave Sherman