m THE RINKS

It is unknown who thought of “The Pioneers,” as a name to represent the St. Peters Bay hockey team, but it is safe to assume that it was one, if not a group consensus, of the initial Pioneer team in 1911. The first rink in the St. Peters Area had its origins with a group of young men in 191 1, who according to Chester Pratt decided “to put a wall around a plot of ice, and keep it cleared for skating and hockey.” (31) After meetings held in Anderson’s Hall enthusiasm mounted, and soon the entire community was behind the young men and their quest to build a rink. A full—fledged covered rink was built that year, which Chester Pratt believed to be the second* such rink ever built on the Island. (32) In 1973, Chester Pratt described how this first rink was erected in an article in The Patriot:

A large committee was appointed to solicit contributions — money, lumber, or labor. A plot of land was given by Norbert McInnis, behind his forge. Stephen Sutherland and Murdock MacInnis gave a week’s cutting of lumber, with four lumberrnen allowed. Gavin Walker was engaged as architect and head carpenter at the pricey sum of two dollars per day... Charlie Qui’gley, who operated Quigley and Balderston’s Mill, which was handy the village, and who owned woodland in Ashton, told the committee to cut all remainder needed and bring it to the mill for sawing... Everyone who could use a hammer or saw contributed their labor with enthusiasm and such skill, as they possessed. In a month we had a rink with dressing rooms — heated by coal stoves — a promenade, and other necessities.

{33}

Members of the Original St. Peters Bay Pioneer Teams:

Women: m:

Maggie Coffin Chester Pratt Myrtle Coffin William Anderson Evelyn MacInnis Lloyd Anderson Blanche MacCallurn Russell Davidson Helen MacCallum Roy Rattray

Vera Rattray James Walsh

Ronnie Gillis Frank Gillis Ronnie MacInnis

* Chester Pratt believed the first rink was built in either Kensington or Alberton. The location of the rink in St, Peters was in the lot just west of where the Post Office is currently located.

184