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exciting game called hockey that was being played in Charlottetown. To play the game in all kinds of weather, a closed-in rink was needed.

The first indoor rink in Souris was on lower Belle Avenue, west side, but does not appear to have been in use for very long. A second rink was built in the early 18908 on Church Avenue behind where the Souris Co-op now stands.92

Shortly after, a special train brought Charlottetown’s First and Second Victoria teams up to Souris to demonstrate the game of hockey. Souris immediately organized two teams of its own, also called Victoria I and II (Vic for short). Later a third team of younger players got together and called themselves the Stars. This group gradually replaced the Souris Vic II team. The games, played in two periods at that time, were rough at first with some players using homemade hockey sticks. But they improved.93

In March of 1896, Summerside and Souris teams met the Charlottetown teams in Hillsboro Rink. Souris’ Vic I team played Charlottetown’s Vic II tfiam for the first time. The Guardian of March 14, 1896 had this to say about t e game:

Eight hundred people saw hockey games at Hillsboro Rink last night. The Victorias beat Summerside 4 to 2...Souris team came on the forenoon train. (Jim Paddy) McInnis of Souris and Wright of Charlottetown faced off. Before five minutes, spectators were cheering themselves hoarse. The reason was that, in this game, everyone except the Souris team anticipated a walk over for the Charlottetown team.

N 0 goal in the first half. Soon after the second half started, Hutchinson scored for the Charlottetown Vic I team, and then Harry McLean got a goal for Souris. Mat- thew of Souris made some vigorous runs but no more goals were scored. Final decision, a tie.

The Patriot of February 11, 1902 records: “Two hundred spectators in Souris saw the Stars beat Charlottetown Vic II team 11-5....The Souris Rink is very small, 26 laps to the mile. Charlottetown players complain saying, ‘It’s like playing in a barrel.”’ The Stars had a strong team but found it impossible to beat that team on their own ice.

One player on the Star team was probably ahead of his time. A teammate recalled in later years: “Angus (Lavie) was good for dishing out body checks, throw them over the promenade, almost. Show card at Hughes (Drug Store) window: See Big Angus at Hillsboro Rink!”9‘

About this time c. 1903, some girls in Souris formed a hockey team which was coached by Roy McLean. Players were Laura Cox, Nellie Clark, Rena McLean, Ella Matthew. Adele Stems, Maude Morrow, Ella Morrow and Maizie Duff. And of this daring group, what has history to record of their skill and victories? Only a dental miracle. Ella Matthew had a tooth knocked out. Her teammates accompanied here to Marven the local dentist who put it back and it stayed!95

After Georgetown built their rink, they called on Souris to show them the game of hockey. As related by Harry McLean to George A. Leard: Fifteen players planned to take two sleighs to Georgetown, but one backed out at the last minute. As the load was too much for one horse, the players walked at least half the distance. They arrived late but were able to put on a game. They returned home the next day.