Catch You On The Rebound: Looking Back 50 Years to 1975
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In sports, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier battled in the legendary “Thrilla in Manila,” one of the greatest boxing matches of all time.
Meanwhile, McDonald’s catchy jingle –“Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun”–became a cultural phenomenon.
Back home in Fort McMurray, the sports scene was thriving:
Randy Gullison and Wayne Bourque struck gold at the Canadian Junior Boxing Olympics, with Bourque also winning the Alberta Silver Gloves title. Riel Webb claimed the Alberta Golden Gloves intermediate flyweight championship, while Bourque (105 lbs) and Dean Phillips (90 lbs) also won titles.
The YMCA opened a local branch, and the town council launched plans for an $18.5-million project at MacDonald Island.
Showcasing the region’s diverse demographics, Fort McMurray won the Alberta Gaelic football championship.
The Fort McMurray Knights hosted their first-ever rugby match in front of 300 fans, falling 4-0 to the Edmonton Tigers.
The Catalytic Centennials defeated Grant MacEwan College 71-65, led by Brent Farch’s 33 points. The 6-foot-6 Farch, a former University of Calgary Dino all-star, even received a tryout offer from the ABA’s Indiana Pacers and was a member of Canada’s Olympic B Team.
Howie Ewashko set a provincial record in the 200m individual medley, while Michael Tokaryk took bronze at the Great Falls Figure Skating Championships.
D&S Sports claimed the Clearwater Ladies Fastball League title, while the Whips won the Fort McMurray Commercial Hockey League championship in overtime. The CGOS Blades repeated as Senior Hockey League champions, led by George Hicks.
Art Turnbull was named Fort McMurray Sportsman of the Year for his contributions to minor hockey and fastball. Frank Piche defended his title as “King of the North” at the Fort McMurray Winter Carnival. Bill Tucker of New York won the 61-mile sled dog race in 4:12:00, taking home a $900 purse.
A local swimathon raised $3,500. The Fort McMurray Commercial Hockey League donated its Wednesday night ice slot to minor hockey, which had 450 players registered.
Kim Lee and Don Marchand were named top riders in the Clearwater Riding Association, while Paddy Boyhan of the Fort McMurray Roadrunners placed second in the Edmonton Journal 5K race.
The Jeans Open Frisbee Fingerama drew six contestants.
Mary Murowchuk won local titles in both curling and softball. John McAulay captured gold in men’s badminton at the Northeastern Alberta Winter Games. Darren Rice netted the lone goal as TSRA edged MacLeods 1-0 to win the Mite Division in Minor Hockey Week.
The Fort McMurray TarMacs defeated Canadian Forces Base Namao 9-3 and 5-4 in senior hockey action.
The Fort McMurray Cosmo Baton Twirlers competed in Edmonton, with Lynn Maciborski winning gold.
The Lys Clifford rink (with Val Sinclair, Cathy Honns, and Yvonne Steinke) won the Fort McMurray Curling Club’s Ladies Open, besting 36 other rinks. In the Hill Drugs Ltd. Visitors Aggregate Bonspiel, the Hill Drugs rink of skip Dave Gerlach, Ernie Klaffke, Dave Hill, and Ken Hill took the title.
The Whips defeated the Flyers 5-4 in overtime to win the Fort McMurray Commercial Hockey League finals. Earle Christenson, the league’s regular-season top scorer, was named MVP, while Daryl Sparks earned Best Goaltender honours.
Catch you on the rebound!
About the author
Curtis J. Phillips
Honoured with the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2022, Phillips has been a Founding Father of various sports events and organizations, including the high school Challenge Cup (1984) and Wood Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame (2000). He has been inducted into three Sports Halls of Fame to date and was the inaugural recipient of two national tributes recognizing community involvement.