St Johns Ravenscourt School - Eagle Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

Page 32 text:

■The Kurd of vVwiKW.Aaflf «J 5T A ' WNv ' - ' E v.VURT iCH OCl U «A ff ‘ Av.rC a ' PorrdH. „ , th« TXxttm W A«na. t«cv.fc ’ ,ur M.A. Red” Dutton and son Norman with plaque acknowledging ' leadership ... in the creation of the Dutton Memorial Arena. ” 29

Page 34 text:

Eddie Shore, former N.H.L. player, was one of the many dig¬ nitaries present at Hockey Night in Winnipeg. Five hundred of Mervyn Red” Dutton’s friends showed up at the Fort Garry and made FIockey Night in Winnipeg” one of the most memorable events in the city’s long and illustrious associa¬ tion with the sport. They — hockey people — came from coast to coast to honour a man who has given so much to the National Hockey League, Winnipeg, the city of his birth, and Canada. It was, indeed, and enormous gathering of hockey personali¬ ties. ’King’ Clancy came from Toronto, Clarence Cambell, the NHL president, flew here from Montreal, ’Babe’ Pratt made the trip from the west coast, ' Sweeney’ Schriner, Fred Page, president of the CGHA, were on hand, as were Sid Abel, coach and mana¬ ger of the Detroit Red Wings, Frank McCool, folly hick Adams, Monsigneur Athol Murray, Rev. David Bauer, Premier DuffRob- lin, Ian Sinclair, president of the CPR, Calgary publisher Max Bell, Winnipeg financier, James Richardson, Foster Hewitt, John Wintermeyer, Eddie Shore, Frank Boucher and all the members of the Detroit Red Wings and Canada’s National hockey teams, to mention a small handful of dignitaries who were present. Dutton, showing the old fire in his speech, was emotionally choked up at times. What has happened here today makes me proud to be a part of our great game,” Dutton told his audience. I owe every¬ thing to hockey — the friends I have and my business.” A huge portrait of Dutton and a banner reading Welcome Mervyn (Red) Dutton” hung on the wall behind him as he spoke. Dutton vividly recalled some of the incidents and players who helped make hockey the great spectator sport it is today. Dutton spoke on Canadianism at length. What a feeling it is to be a Canadian. We have the greatest country in the world and hockey unifies it more than any other sport. We can well be proud of our national game and the men who play it.” Earlier in the day, the Dutton Memorial Arena on the St. John’s-Ravenscourt School grounds was dedicated to Red” Dutton’s two sons, Joseph and Thomas who were killed in the Second World War. James Richardson and Max Bell, co-c hairmen of the successful $25 plate dinner, paid tribute to Dutton and the Arena which he was instrumental in building. ’The Dutton Memorial Arena now becomes a stepping stone on our way toward improving our position in world amateur hockey”, Richardson said. Max Bell called the former NHL president the most complete Canadian I know.” He was a good hockey player in the best league in the world, a coach and then its president,” Bell said. In war, he gave two sons and nearly lost his own life, while in peace he contributed handsomely to charities and hospitals.” Syndicated columnist Jim Coleman, who acted as master of oeremonies, read numerous telegrams Dutton received from across Canada. One was from Conn Smythe who called him a great soldier and a great Canadian.” King” Clancy, was called upon to speak briefly and all but stole the show with his humor. Other speakers included Premier Roblin, Babe” Pratt, Father Bauer and Foster Hewitt. Red Dutton in whose honor the dinner was held. il 31