The 1971 Junior Beavers. Back row: Bob Fawcett, Don McDuff, Bob Bourne, Andy, Kambeitz, Gary Sarota, Randy Arther, Bernie Lukowich Brian Lampitt, Rick Johnston. Mike Hanus. Front row: Dale Knisley, Wayne Ray, Bill Dunba, Rick Boyes, Doug Mitchell, Ken Nelson Jr., Blair Hoffman, Tom Bidart, Hugh McIvor, coach/manager Bob Colliar. Bat Boys: Kelvin Colliar and Dale Cooper. (Submitted photo/Kelvin Colliar)

By Martin Martinson

Baseball memories

50 years ago: former Jr. Beavers look back on hosting 1971 National Championship

Aug 25, 2021 | 6:00 PM

It may be 50 years since the 1971 North Battleford Junior Beavers hosted the Canadian Junior Baseball Championship in the community, but for those who were on the team, it still feels much more like yesterday.

“It really is hard to believe it’s been that long,” Huge McIvor said with a laugh, reflecting back on the tournament. “I remember meeting a bunch of players from across Canada, and it was really a neat experience in that way.”

McIvor, who played mostly shortstop and outfield for the local team during the tournament, grew up in the Battlefords, and in 2007 was inducted to the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame.

As part of the local nucleus of the Beavers’ 1968 team who had won a provincial midget (U18) championship just a couple of years prior, McIvor, along with other names such as Brian Lampitt, Mike Hanus, Rick Johnston (of Maidstone), Bernie Lukowich, Ken Nelson Jr., Dale Knisley, and Blair Hoffman came up largely together through the minor ball ranks in the community.

Led by veteran coach and manager, Bob Colliar, who had coached the team since the late 50s, and who was no doubt looking to put his club in the best position possible, the Beavers added to their impressive core of local talent with other top players from around the region.

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Those additions included Bob Bourne and Randy Arther from Kindersley, Doug Mitchell and Ricky Boyes from Unity, Bob Fawcett of Saskatoon, and Andy Kambeitz from Southey.

Fawcett, was one in particular that McIvor remembers helping take their team to the next level through his play on the mound.

“Bobby really threw well for us and ended up being kind of the man for us in that tournament, as we managed to make the playoffs,” McIvor recalled.

While the Beavers Cinderella run would ultimately come to an end in the tournament semifinals, falling 9-0 to Quebec, it was nonetheless an experience all, from the starting pitcher to the ball boys, still remember fondly.

In fact, serving as a ball boy on that 1971 team was current co-commissioner of the North Sask River Baseball League, Kelvin Colliar, the son of Bob Colliar.

Kelvin said from future NHL players like Bourne, who would go on to win four Stanley Cups with the dynasty New York Islanders, and Lukowich, who would go on to be drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1972, Sask Baseball Hall of Fame inductees, McIvor and Brian Lampitt (2013), and even a future Mayor of North Battleford in Wayne Ray, it’s something special to look back on the roster from now a half-century ago.

Lampitt, who is from nearby Denholm, Sask., started with the U18 Beavers in 1968 and played his midget, junior and senior ball in the community, suiting up for the local program through to the spring of 1991.

A pitcher and first baseman for the local team for much of his time at the junior ranks, Lampitt said that tournament in the spring of 1971 is one he’ll remember for some time for the memories made in North Battleford, all those years ago.

“It was good to play against the kids from all over the country and we had a chance to build a pretty good team knowing ahead of time that we’d be hosting,” he said. “We had a pretty good nucleus and it’s hard to believe it was 50 years ago.”

For more on the history of the Junior Beavers, click here.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1