By this time the TTHL was recognized as the second largest amateur hockey league in North America and staging a headline show on the evening set aside to recognize and present the league champions with their hardware, was certainly a very proud time for the management of the Toronto Township Hockey League officials and volunteers. However, it almost didn’t happen. The league was cash strapped and was basically running in the red most of the time. The visiting St. Michael’s Junior team, as did all of their OHA counterparts, travelled as a unit. The TTHL were responsible for paying all the costs of bringing the team to their party and that’s where things started to unravel. When Les Pallett heard about the situation he quietly slipped away, returning a short time later with the cash to cover the league’s expenses.
The Port Credit Weekly sports reporter, Vic Henderson, wrote “when the prince of the good guys, Les Pallett, heard about the problem, he once again for the umpteenth time in the last couple of years came through. No man has done more for the TTHL than Les Pallett. Teams win trophies for being champions, but if anyone deserves a trophy, he does as champion of the entire league.”
The advertisement announcing the event included a mention of six players billed as OHA league stars. Two of the players listed, Peter Conacher and Kenny Wharram, went on distinguished NHL careers. Also billed as a feature attraction that evening was Howie Meeker, who had just been elected to Parliament, and Gus Mortson. Both were on hand to present the trophies and crests to the TTHL championship teams.
The fans received their money’s worth that night. The game proved to be just as exciting as the famous guests on hand for the festivities. The visiting Irish held the Township All Stars 3-0 for the first two periods. The fans thought the OHA squad was going to do what was expected of their TTHL rivals. But, the All Stars powered back in the third to tie the game. Late in the final stanza St. Mike’s notched the winning goal for a 4-3 victory.
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