It
is noted that also during the 1907 season, the Cupar
team travelled by train and played exhibition games
against teams from Saskatoon, Moose Jaw and Regina.
In September, 1910, discussion began on a new enclosed
arena. The four thousand dollars needed to build
this rink was financed by T.J. Shore, and work began.
On Christmas Day, 1911, the rink was opened.
The
war years (1914-1918) wreaked havoc on the Senior
Clubs, and to help keep the club going, many younger
players were part of the team. It was during this
time that Eddie and Aubrey Shore started to make
their mark.
By 1920, hockey had evolved to six man game, with
one or two substitutions allowed. For the 1920- 1921
season, Cupar played in the North QuAppelle
League which consisted of teams from Abernethy, Lipton
and Cupar.
In March, 1922, Cupar defeated Moose Jaw to become
Southern Provincial Champions, but eventually lost
the Henderson Cup to Melville for the Provincial Championship.
In
1926, again Cupar was a member of the Kirkella Branch
Hockey League. Cupar lost to Lipton in the league
final.
In the 30s and 40s, there was greater
emphasis placed on Minor Hockey. In 1930, Bert Hillborn
formed a junior team. Inspite of this, Cupar managed
to ice a Senior team every year playing exhibition
games against teams from Balcarres, Dysart, Lipton,
Markinch, Quinton, Southey and the Souix Indians from
Fort QuAppelle .
In 1954, with the efforts of Bill Findlay, a new skating
and curling rink was built. It was this year the Senior
Club known then as the Cubs, joined the Last Mountain
Hockey League. The first game in the new rink was
played in January, 1955 against Govan.
The Right Angle Hockey League was formed in the fall
of 1962. Cupar joined the R.A.H.L. the following season
(1963) and was a member until 1985, when the league
folded. In the 1985-86 season, Cupar was accepted
into the Highway Hockey League and continues to play
in the league today.
In 1990, the Cuplex, the present day arena
was opened becoming the new home of the current senior
team, the Cupar Canucks. The first game in the Cuplex
was played on December 21, 1990 against Southey.
In 2001, the Senior team hosted a Cubs/Canucks reunion.
Over 250 current and ex players including Eddie Shore
Jr. attended the event with the highlight of the evening
being the renaming of the Cupar Sports Grounds "Shore
Recreation Park".
January 31, 2006 marked the one hundredth anniversary
of Senior Hockey in Cupar. The organization celebrated
this historic moment on January
6, 2007, by wearing 1920 replica uniforms in a
league game against the team's arch rival, the Southey
Marlins. A pre-game ceremony took place where local
and provincial dignitaries addressed the crowd. Ninety
seven year old Brock Turner of Cupar dropped the ceremonial
puck. After the game a social and an auction of the
game worn jersey's was enjoyed by all who were in
attendance.
Much
has transpired since the first meeting in 1906. Senior
Hockey in Cupar has survived many trials and tribulations
over the years and as we look forward to the future,
we also
remember and take pride in our historic past!