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Hockey in Enderby

2243copy.jpg (13852 bytes)The first hockey league in the Okanagan was established in 1913. This league included Vernon, Armstrong, and Enderby. The season was from January to the beginning of March. The first season Enderby played eight out of twelve games. The president of the league was Mr. P.H. Murphy of Enderby, the vice president was Mr. F.O. Wolfenden and the secretary-treasurer was Mr. J.G. Simmes of Vernon.

The games each consisted of three twenty-minute periods with intervals of five minutes each. If a player was to get hurt during the first and second periods a substitute would immediately be brought in. When a player was injured in the third period, the opposing team had the privilege of either dropping a man or allowing a substitute to go on the ice. Postponed games had to be played within seven days of the original date. Each team also had to nominate two referees. The league officially ended in 1923.

Hockey slowed down in 1914 because of the first World War. However, it was revived in 1920. The Okanagan League at this time included teams from Salmon Arm, Armstrong, Vernon, Lumby and Enderby.

In 1922-23 Enderby's team was named Intermediate Champions of British Columbia and winners of the emblematic Coy Cup. Support for the Enderby hockey team, dubbed the "Enderby Sparrows", was intense and exciting during the l922-23 season. well.

Interest in hockey was revived in 1967 when artificial ice was added to the Enderby Arena. In 1968 Minor Hockey was established and a Men's League was formed. A hockey school was formed in 1975 to make use of the arena in the summer months. And in 1989 girls were able to play hockey with their own team, the Ringettes.

Heather MacDougall
ALF School 1989