REGULAR SEASON

Alberta  8-0   Maury Van Vliet        
  Manitoba  4-4   Bud Fraser        
  Saskatchewan  0-8 5-15 Bob Keefe        
                 

        Alberta romped through the Western League with an (8-0) record. Post Ed Lucht notched a record 88 points in a regular season game against Saskatchewan.

        Alberta defeated Manitoba 69-45 and 54-39. …………………………………………………… In game one, Alberta prevailed 69-45 as Don McIntosh scored 22, Ed Lucht 16, Norm Macintosh 12, Art Kruger 7, Don Newton 6, Derril Butler 4 and Don Day 2, while Jim Munro, Arnie Ottenbreit, John Dewar and Sid Bercov were scoreless. Dave Smith led the Bisons with 13. Bob Rodgers added 7, Sam Dolhun 6, Dave Fraser 6, McKenzie 5, Cooper 4, Stu Douglas 3 and Dave Fraser 1, while Dangerfield was scoreless. …………………………………………………… In game two, Alberta again defeated Manitoba 54-39 after leading 25-12at the half. The Bears held the Bisons without a field goal for the first 13 minutes. Ed Lucht paced Alberta with 25. Norm Macintosh added 6, Art Kruger 5, Don Macintosh 5, Don Newton 4, Derril Butler 3 and Jim Munro 1, while Arnie Ottenbreit, John Dewar and Don Day were scoreless. Dave Smith led Manitoba with 8. Dave Fraser added 7, Sam Dolhun 6, S Fraser 5, Stu Douglas 5, Dangerfield 4, McKenzie 3 and Cooper 1, while Bob Rodgers was scoreless.

Alberta dumped Saskatchewan 84-59 and 65-47. …………………………………………………… In game one, Alberta prevailed 84-59 by dominating all facets of the game. Norm Macintosh paced Alberta with 22. Arnie Ottenbriet added 19, Art Kruger 18, Don Newton 16, Jim Munro 3, Sid Bercov 2, Derril Butler 2, Don Day 2, while John Dewar and Don Macintosh were scoreless. Windy Hudon paced Saskatchewan with 15. Brennick added 14, Hugh Morrell 8, Ray Hnatyshyn 7, Baxter 6, Siemans 5, Stark 3 and Gordon Dempsey 1, while Ferry, Springman, Bill Birgulus and Fusedale were scoreless. …………………………………………………… In game two, Alberta completed the sweep by crushing Saskatchewan 65-47. Don Newton paced Alberta with 21. Art Kruger added 14, Derril Butler 9, Norm Macintosh 8, John Dewar 8, Arnie Ottenbreit 3 and Don Day 2, while Jim Munro, Sid Bercov and Don Macintosh were scoreless. Ray Hnatyshyn led the Huskies with 16. Lawrence ‘Windy’ Hudon added 12, Hugh Morrell 8, Gordon Dempsey 4, Bill Girgulus 3, Brennick 2 and Jim Baxter 2, while Doug Stark, Dan Siemans, Ferry, Al Springman and Colin Fusedale, Koosma Tarasoff and Mike McCathery were scoreless.

Alberta throttled Manitoba 82-66 and 80-69. …………………………………………………… In game one, Alberta prevailed 82-66 as Ed Lucht scored 25, Don Macintosh 22, Don Newton 9, John Dewar 8, Arnie Ottenbriet 7, Derril Butler 4, Sid Bercov 4 and Jim Munro 3, while Norm Macintosh, Don Day and Oscar Kruger were scoreless. Dave Smith paced Manitoba with 19. Jerry Jensen added 18, Stu Douglas 11, Bob Rodgers 8, Dick Scarth 3, Rod Cooper 3, Sam Dolhun 2, Dangerfield 1 and Dave Fraser 1, while McKenzie was scoreless. …………………………………………………… In game two, Alberta dumped Manitoba 80-69 as Ed Lucht scored 22, Don McIntosh 17, Don Newton 16, Norm Macintosh 12, Art Kruger 7, Arnie Ottenbreit 4 and Derril Butler 1, while Jim Munro, Don Day, John Dewar and Sid Bercov were scoreless. Dick Scarth led the Bisons with 16. Rod Cooper added 15, Jerry Jensen 9, Dave Smith 8, Stu Douglas 7, Bob Rodgers 7, Dave Fraser 4 and Sam Dolhun 3, while Dangerfield and McKenzie were scoreless.

Host Manitoba defeated Saskatchewan 62-44 and 63-44. …………………………………………………… The Bisons bounced the Huskies 62-44 as Rod Cooper scored 14, Dave Fraser 10, MacKenzie 8, Dave Smith 7, Bob Rodgers 7, Gerry Jansen 6, Dick Scarth 6, Stu Douglas 3 and Dangerfield 1. Don Brennick led the Huskies with 13. Gordon Dempsey added 9, Hugh Morrell 7, Windy Hudon 6, Stark 5 and Ray Hnatyshyn 4, while Baxter, Springman and Don Siemens were scoreless. …………………………………………………… Manitoba clipped Saskatchewan 63-44 as Dave Smith scored 13, Dave Fraser 11, Sam Dolhun 9, Bob Rodgers 9, Stu Douglas 5, Gerry Janzen 4, Dick Scarth 4, Dangerfield 3, Rod Cooper 3 and MacKenzie 2. Don Brennick led the Huskies with 12. Windy Hudon added 8, Gordon Dempsey 7, Ray Hnatyshyn 5, Bill Girgulis 4, Hugh Morrell 4, Colin Fusedale 2 and Baxter 2, while Springman, Don Siemens, Dick Stark and Tarasof were scoreless. “They outplayed us. They had the better team and so they won,” Huskies coach Dr. Keefe told The Sheaf.

Manitoba defeated host Saskatchewan 65-36 as Dave Smith scored 15, Stu Douglas 13, Dave Fraser 11, Gerry Jansen 10, Dick Scarth 10, Rodgers 6 and Cooper 3. Hugh Morrell scored 11 to lead the Huskies (coached by Bob Keefe). Windy Hudon added 9, Jim Baxter 4, Hnatyshyn 4, Siemens 3, Bill Girgulis 2 and Colin Fusedale 2, while Dick Stark, Gordon Dempsey and McCaffery were scoreless. …………………………………………………… Manitoba tripped Saskatchewan 53-38 as Stu Douglas scored 19, Jerry Jansen 11, Dave Smith 10, Rodger 8, Cooper 2, Fraser 2 and Scarth 1. Windy Hudon led the Huskies with 12. Ray Hnatyshyn added 7, Hugh Morrell 7, Dick Stark 6, Bill Girgulis 4, Baxter 2 and Siemens 1, while Springman, Gordon Dempsey, Colin Fusedale, Mike McCaffrey and Tarasoff were scoreless.

Host Alberta closed out its regular season undefeated by clocking Saskatchewan 114-37 and 83-42. …………………………………………………… In game one, Alberta romped 114-37 as 6-7 Ed Lucht set an all-time Canadian record by scoring 88. He averaged 35.2 on the season. Lucht shot .600 on the night. Lucht scored 22 of 26 Alberta points in first quarter, 42 of 52 by half. Saskatchewan played slow down ball control in third but Lucht still scored 18 in third quarter and 28 in final quarter. John Higgin added 8 for Alberta, while Art Kruger scored 6, Derril Butler 4, Jim Munro 2, Don Newton 2, Don Day 2 and Don Macintosh 2, while Norm Macintosh, Sid Bercov, Arnie Ottenbreit and John Dewar were scoreless. Dan Siemans led Saskatchewan with 8. Hugh Morrell added 6, Windy Hudon 4, Mike McCaffrey 4, Colin Fusedale 4, Bill Girgulis 4, Ray Hnatyshyn 3, Al Springman 2, Gordon Dempsey 1 and Jim Baxter 1, while Doug Stark and Ferry were scoreless. …………………………………………………… In game two, Alberta coasted to an easy 83-42 win. Norm Macintosh paced Alberta with 22. Don Macintosh added 12, John Higgin 12, Art Kruger 11, Don Day 9, Derril Butler 5, Don Newton 4, Jim Munro 4, Arnie Ottenbreit 2, John Dewar 2, while Sid Bercov was scoreless and Ed Lucht did not play. Windy Hudon paced Saskatchewan with 11. Hugh Morrell added 8, Gordon Dempsey 4, Ray Hnatyshyn 4, Colin Fusedale 3, Bill Girgulis 2, Mike McCathery 2, Al Springman 2, Jim Baxter 1, Dan Siemens 1 and Ferry 1.  

After the season, the Bears forayed to U.B.C. (which did not compete in the regular season) and loses twice, leading many to declare UBC the Western Champ. But Alberta was awarded the Rigby Cup on the basis of their regular season victory and the fact that UBC was not part of the league and had only played two home court games against Alberta and none against the other teams in the league. Still, some considered U.B.C., coached by Jack Pomfret, as the champ for having defeated Alberta 61-49; 85-73 (2g-0). UBC finished 11-13 on the season. …………………………………………………… In game one, UBC prevailed 61-49 after leading 20-7, 28-20 and 40-31 at the quarters. Brian Upson led UBC with 18. Geoff Craig added 12, Danny Zaharko 10, Buzz Hudson 9, John McLeod 5, Forward 4 and Bob Bone 3, while Frith, Madill, Nyhaug, Pollock and Carter were scoreless. Ed Lucht led the Bears with 19. Norm MacIntosh added 13, D MacIntosh 9, Newton 5, Kruger 2 and Ottenbreit 1, while Munro, Butler, Dewar and Higgin were scoreless. …………………………………………………… In game two, Geoff Craig led UBC with 20. Danny Zaharko added 18, John McLeod 17, Bob Bone 14, Brian Upson 12 and Hudson 2, while Frith, Nyhaug, Madill, Forward, Pollock and Carter were scoreless. Alberta took an early 21-19 lead but the Birds exploded with a 28-18 run. Lucht led the Golden Bears with 20. Newton added 14, D MacIntosh 10, Munro 4, Kruger 3, Ottenbreit 2 and Dewar 1, while Butler and Higgins were scoreless.

After the season, Saskatchewan hires Paul Thomas, then coach of the Toronto Tri-Bells senior men’s team, to man the helm of the Huskies.

The bronze medalist Saskatchewan Huskies: Windy Hudon; Hugh Morrell; Gordon Dempsey; Ray Hnatyshyn; Colin Fusedale; Bill Girgulis; Mike McCathery; Al Springman; Jim Baxter; Dan Siemens; Doug Stark; Ferry; Don Brennick; Koosma Tarasoff; coach Dr. Keefe; manager Gerry McGeough

The runner-up Manitoba Bisons: Dave Smith; Dave Fraser; Sam Dolhun; Stu Douglas; George Dangerfield; Doug McKenzie; Rod Cooper; Bob Rodgers; Jerry Jansen; Dick Scarth; Tom Scott; Pat Gorman; Dick Herbertson; Trevor Fraser; John Woods; coach Bud Fraser

The champion Alberta Golden Bears: Ed Lucht, Don Macintosh; Norm Macintosh; John Higgin; Don Newton; Art Kruger; Arnie Ottenbriet; Derril Butler; John Dewar; Don Day; Jim Munro; Sid Bercov; Len Cooper; Al Tollestrup; coach Maury Van Vliet; manager Bob Gourdine; manager Bert Thompson