by John Doolan, Alumni Co-Chairman
During the PHATS/SPHEM Convention, I was approached by several older members who commented that many younger members are not aware of previous groundbreakers or characters in some instances who came before. Therefore, I have decided to use this opportunity to put a spotlight on those who were the trailblazers of PHATS/SPHEM.
Ross “Lefty” Wilson – Detroit Red Wings
Lefty had a dry sarcastic sense of humor and was the center of any discussion. He was also an accomplished Ball player in his native Toronto.
Ross was the first President of the NHLTA the fore runner of PHATS/SPHEM. The association was formed in 1967 at the NATA Convention. One of the hurdles that the trainers faced was to convince the owners that they were not attempting to form a union but enhance their profession. Ross was well aware of the pitfalls of establishing an association, as he had viewed it firsthand watching HOF’er Ted Lindsay who was instrumental organizing the NHLPA during the late 50’s and 60’s. There was a fear that these trailblazers would lose their jobs over the group’s formation due in part that Ted Lindsay, the Wings Captain, who after 13 season and 758 points was traded primarily for his involvement with the NHLPA’s formation.
Lefty took a job in 1945 as the trainer and spare goaltender with the Omaha Knights of the old USHL. Gordie Howe was stopping in Omaha that year prior to embarking on his NHL Hall of Fame career. Ross would rejoin Howe in Detroit for the 1950 season as the assistant to Carl Mattson.
After seven seasons he took over the Head Trainer position for the next 25 years. During his tenure he was part of three Stanley Cup teams, worked six All-Star games and was the trainer for Team Canada during the 1976 Canada Cup. He worked over 2,300 games in his career.
Before teams had mandatory EBUGS, many trainers were also the practice goalies as teams in the 50’s only had one goaltender on the roster. Occasionally, the trainer had to don the gear for either their team or the opponent. Ross did this three times while in the minors and three more times in the NHL. Between 1953 and 1957, he would suit up for the Red Wings, Maple Leafs and Bruins. In these three stints he logged 81 minutes with a 1 GA and a 1.15 GAA. He is credited with a tie against the Wings while subbing for the Bruins in 1957.
Lefty was one of the early pioneers of the goalies protective face mask and set the standard for making his first iconic light weight mask in 1963 that Terry Sawchuck wore. It was crude and simple in terms of design, but it served its purpose as Sawchuk credited the mask for extending his career. What Wilson’s masks lacked in protection they made up for in style. His masks had large eye openings and the slits he cut for the mouth and ventilation which gave the goalie a stolid android like look.
He was the Societies’ first HOF inductee in 1995. The native of Toronto, Ontario, he passed in 2002 while visiting friends in Florida at the age of 83.
Ken “Kit” Carson – Pittsburgh Penguins/Toronto Blue Jays
Ken was also an original member of PHATS/SPHEM as he was elected to the position of Treasurer on the inaugural board for the NHLTA. Kenny got his start in training in his hometown of Barrie, Ontario when then Barrie Flyers trainer, Buddy LeRoux took him under his wing. He amassed sixty-five years in pro sports. After the 1960 season he followed the team as they relocated to Niagara Falls of the OHA, the forerunner of today’s OHL and was the youngest head trainer at the ripe old age of 19. From there he left the Boston Bruins farm system and arrived in Rochester in 1965 in the Toronto Maple Leafs system. NHL expansion arrived in 1967 and Ken became the first trainer for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Ten years later he would become the first trainer for the newly formed Toronto Blue Jays of the MBL. He also has the distinction of being the only person to work two All-Star games in two major league sports.
During his days in hockey, he was also an innovator. At the time, game sweaters did not come with “tie downs”, some players would take a quarter and a skate lace and configure one. Ken came up with the concept of taking garter belt straps and sewing them directly to the sweater which then could attach to the pant buttons.
Several years ago, many of you began adding “Plate Protectors” to gloves. Ken worked with Spalding, who were in the hockey biz in Canada, to design what we called a “Fastback glove” designed to add extra protection. It was also introduced by other manufactures like Cooper and Jofa.
Kenny left the training room behind in 1987 to become GM of the Dunedin Blue Jays and Director of the Jays training facility. 2007 saw him become a senior consultant and joined the Minor League Board of Trustees representing the Florida State League where he became President in 2015 till his retirement in 2019. In 2007 he was inducted into the Barrie Sports Hall of Fame and the Florida State League Hall of Fame in 2012. During his career he was part of a Memorial Cup, Calder Cup (2) and two World Series winners.
Ken and his wife Lillian were married on the mound of Rogers Center prior to a Jays game in 2012. Ken jokes that he wishes the fans in attendance had passed the hat that day. They have been guests of the Alumni at our convention in 2018. He has also authored a book titled “From Hockey to Baseball I Kept Them in Stitches” which chronicles his life in pro sports. The book is available on Amazon and is well worth the read.
To see more history on former and current members please visit our Family Tree at: Family Tree (groverweb.com).
All photos courtesy of John Doolan
Seat of Your Pants
by John Doolan
To ‘fly by the seat of your pants’ is to decide a course of action as you go along, using your own initiative and perceptions rather than a predetermined plan or mechanical aids. It’s a similar phrase to “winging it,” and both expressions come from early aviation. A line from the movie “Heartbreak Ridge” in which Clint Eastwood says “Adapt, Overcome, and Persevere.” I am confident that even in today’s game, you are all winging it at some point.
At some point either your athletes or yourselves have used a few of the below mentioned adaptations or inventions.
Tommy Naylor spent 26 years with the Maple Leafs and was part of 9 Cups. He retired in 1970 but was called back to do skates for Team Canada in the 72 Summit Series. He was widely sought out for his sharpening doing so not only for hockey but also international figure skaters.
He has been credited with designing the portable sharpener so teams could travel with their own machine. He also had a hand in the evolution of skates, which did not have a tendon guard. After seeing players getting tendon cuts, Tom came up with a sewable guard, which then was intricated into the boot by manufacturers. Bobby Hull played his whole career with the boot and sewn on tendon guard. Blades have come a long, long way from Tommy’s days. At one time we had tube skates, maybe you young guys have seen pictures. The heal of the blade came to a sharp point and if a player fell a certain way, the heal of his skate could injure someone. Tom came up with a heal plug (pictured 1,2) that inserted into the open end of the tube style blade. He also came up with the wrap around calf protection for shin guards mostly used by defenseman. (pictured 3)
This is just a short overview of what Tommy Naylor gave to the game and our groups.
The Alumni strongly encourage the HOF committee to induct Mr. Naylor posthumously.
Fifty or so years ago, manufactures did not make goalie pants. Goalies wore the same pant as everyone else except for one change. We would take foam and make a roll about two inches in diameter, tape it and sew them into the inseam to close the 5 hole.
Mitten Clips are just what the name says, small bands of elastic with two clips. Their purpose is to prevent little tykes from losing their mittens and clip to the coat. Someone came up with the idea to use them to keep suspenders tighter on the pants. Zinger in Winnipeg had a cottage industry supplying a beefed-up model to other equipment managers at one point in time.
What would happen if your sweaters showed up without a “tie down, fight strap?” Well, they were not always taken for granted. In fact, they are the result of “Winging It.” Up until expansion in 67’ the game was not as rough until the Big Bad Bruins and Broad Street Bullies came to play. My first recollection of a tie down was taking an old skate lace and a quarter and tying the quarter, then tying to the pants. Ken Carson, long time trainer in both hockey and baseball took it a step further. He would take garter belts, cut the straps and have those then sewn to the sweater, preferably on a number for better reinforcement. The strap could then be attached to the pants’ suspender button.
Several years ago, you began adding “Plate Protectors” to gloves. Well once again, this is a concept that goes back to the late 60’s. Ken also worked with Spalding, who was also in the hockey biz to design what we called a “Fastback Glove”. (picture 4) Designed to add extra protection, it was also introduced by other manufactures like Cooper and Jofa.
HOF member Mark Brennen has also winged it several times over his career. There was a time when the toe of goalie pads was attached to the skate with “toe buckles and staples that went around the cowlings of the skates resulting in goalies taking direct shots to the skate. (picture 5) Mark came up with the idea of putting a protective piece where the buckles were and lacing them to the skate using a lace resulting in the “Toe Bridge” that is the now the norm.
Just as today, we had an open relationship with the players, manufactures and the equipment reps. We looked to them for innovation, and they looked to us for inspiration. It was a working relationship, we shared ideas and we were happy to see changes made to where we all are today.
We will have several Alum in attendance in Florida, so please take a moment to introduce yourselves and pick our withering brains. Good luck for the rest of the season!
All photos courtesy of John Doolan