Los Angeles Ramblers The Los Angeles Ramblers played one season ( 1946 - 47 ) in the Western International Hockey League . Back in 1946 - 47 , a group of Los Angeles businessmen came up with the bright idea of entering a team in the WIHL . After operating the team for one year and losing well over $ 100 , 000 they threw in the towel . The cards were stacked against the Los Angeles group , for they had to guarantee teams from Kimberley , Nelson , Trail and Spokane all expenses to sunny California , with each club making four trips and playing a doubleheader . During the week the Los Angeles Ramblers would fly up to the Kootenay for return games . It was a big gamble for the Los Angeles group to undertake , for Los Angeles had a second team with Vancouver , Seattle , Portland and San Francisco . Many thought the calibre of hockey in the WIHL was far more superior than in the other league , but they forgot that Kimberley , Nelson and Trail were only small spots on the map , and the tuxedo crowd didn ' t appreciate a good brand of hockey . To add colour to the league , the Los Angeles Ramblers ' executitive came up with the George Montgomery - Dinah Shore Cup , a beautiful trophy donated by the film - famed pair from Hollywood . The trophy went to the league champions , with the Kimberley Dynamiters the first team to have their name carved on the cup . It was very doubtful if the Kimberley Dynamiters had an outside chance to win the WIHL title in 1946 - 47 - - for Kimberley was the only city in the league with natural ice , and never had a home game until December 10th , and by that time they were buried deep in the WIHL basement . The Dynamiters ' coach , Ralph Redding , had real problems that fall , for the East Kootenays were enjoying an exceptionally mild fall , and the Dynamiters were depending on nearby frozen lakes and sloughs , to hold their practices . With no ice , and the hockey season soon to open , the Dynamiters were forced to set up camp in Nelson for one week , and it turned out to be a costly project . The Dynamiters were forced to play their first six games away from home , and only managed one win , before ice was available in Kimberley . It was a hard climb for the Dynamiters - - from deep in the WIHL basement suite to the penthouse - - and it climaxed one of the greatest comebacks in the annals of the Kootenay League . If anyone anyone made the statement on December 31st that the Dynamiters would win the WIHL championship - - they would be considered insane . The Dynamiters won the league championship in the final weekend of play , and in order to do so , had to defeat the Los Angeles Ramblers twice , in a doubleheader played in Kimberley . The Ramblers had led the league right from the start of the season , and needed only one tie in Kimberley to be declared champions . Coach Ralph Redding had a surprise waiting for the Ramblers , with the Dynamiters closing the gap with a close 6 - 4 win in the first game . The Dynamiters left little doubt who was the best team , by lacing the Ramblers 14 - 1 in the final game of the regular season - - with Jack Forsey collecting four goals . Benny Redisky scored the hat trick in that game , with Gordie Wilson gathering six assists . The Dynamiters started to jell after the new year , and finished the season with 18 straight home victories ; and despite their disastrous start only lost 12 games the entire season , while winning 24 . The league played an unbalanced schedule , with the Dynamiters playing 36 games , the same as Nelson and Trail . Los Angeles participated in 32 games , with Spokane performing in 40 matches . The Kimberley Dynamiters finished with a . 667 winning percentage ; Los Angeles . 657 percent ; Trail . 514 percent ; Nelson . 458 percent ; and the Spokane Spartans . 250 percent . The Spartans managed only ten wins , while losing 30 games . Coach Kenny Stewart , a native of Lethbridge , Alberta ( and a former Lethbridge Maple Leaf - Charlie ) , was the playing - coach of the Ramblers , and he moulded together a big , rough team ; with plenty of experience . Vern Kneeshaw was their number one goalie , with Fred Holger doubling as spare netminder and general mangaer . Mayer Flett , Lou Labovich , Jack Lambrecht and Harvey Barnes formed the Ramblers ' defence . Up front they had Joe Levine , Benny Hayes , Max Labovich , Kenny Stewart , Jack Miller , Hassie Young , Terry Cavanaugh and Jim Fleming . Eric Bishop announced the Ramblers games ( on radio ) , both at home and away .