1955 -1956 Hockey Team to be Inducted in SR Hall of Fame

Benson Kelly nominated the 1947 Bombay High School baseball team. The Bombay High Team won the class “C” Championship of the Franklin- St. Lawrence League by defeating the North Lawrence team 7-0. This win put the “Bays” into the next round of sectional play, which would put them against Parishville. The Bombay team would go on to win that game 16-0. The Ft. Covington Sun stated that Jim Bero pitched a masterful shutout in the baseball win. Joe Dingle made the big noise with his bat, banging out two, 2 base knocks and a single. The following Friday, the Bombay team went on to win again, winning the Championship of Section 10. This win allowed them to play Potsdam, a large school team, for the overall championship. Unfortunately, Bombay lost to Potsdam but brought home the Section 10 championship to the small school of Bombay. The Bombay Team also played many large schools from the Catholic league, including St. Josephs of Malone, St.Marys of Ogdensburg, and St. Johns of Plattsburgh. In one game against St.Marys, George Bero threw seven innings of no-hit, no-run ball. He struck out eight and walked only one. The Bombay team won the game 1-0. The article goes on to say that George Bero had thrown a one-hitter with 16 strikeouts the previous Friday against Brasher-Stockholm High School, as Bombay High went on to win that game 22-0.

The team members included: Jim Bero, George Bero, Joe Dingle, Ben Kelly, Clarence Thompson, J. Donald White, Buddy Bero, Stan Elliot, Jack Lantry, Dick Barlw, Don “Muzzy” Cook, Jay Powell, Tom Black. They were coached by Jim Correnti.

After high school, most of the boys continued to play baseball in the strong Northern Valley League.

If anyone is interested in attending the 2009 SR Athletic Hall of Fame Induction ceremony, call Joe Binion 358-6620(Sr. and Jr. High School)or Rene Cook at CKON, Hall of Fame 358-6670. Ticket prices are $15.00

1955-1956 Hockey Team To Be Inducted Into The Hall Of Fame

Centralization into the Salmon River Central District in 1953 brought many changes in the local towns of Bombay, Ft. Covington, Hogansburg, and Westville. One of the bonding factors for students and the communities was supporting the high school sports teams. Laurie Smiddy would like to nominate one of these teams to the Salmon River Hall of Fame. That team is the 1955-1956 hockey team.

This team brought together students from all communities. Hockey was a big drawing card for the Fort Covington community and a varsity sport in the high school. The 1955-56 team drew several students from the former Bombay High school. They now became Salmon River Shamrocks! This group of young men made our communities very proud by their competitive spirit and winning ways. Coached by Mr. Ray “Tuffy” Dupree, they posted a very impressive season record.

This team boasted a 13-1 season record; unsurpassed in the State. This gave them a ranking of champions for BOTH “A” and “B” divisions. They were the Champions of the Clarkson “A-B” Tournament and the Clarkson “B” Tournament. They were runners-up in the “B” division of the Lake Placid Tournament; having their only loss of the season to Canton 3-4. These tournaments would be compared to the State Tournaments that our teams play in today. They determined the New York State Scholastic Hockey standings. The attached newspaper articles will show the list of teams played and the scores of each game.

Many of the young men who played on this team have remained in our communities as successful fathers, businessmen, and leaders. They have been supportive of our school. It is my pleasure to nominate this team of “young men” to the Hall of Fame committee:

Bernard McElwain

Philip Therrien

Philip Lauzon

Alvin Beanne

Walter “Butch” Premo

Harold “Howie” Grant

Bruce “Buck” McElwain

Wayne MacDonald

Michael Fullum

Sidney Herne

Morey Cook

John Russell

Philip Leroux

William Martin

Leonard Legder

Paul Grady

Desmond Collette

Hugh McPherson

James Henderson

James Russell, Manager

Coach Raymond “Tuffy” Dupree