Vancouver Wheelers

The Vancouver Wheelers were a men's senior team based out of the Kerrisdale Cyclone Taylor Arena in Kerrisdale, British Columbia. The team was formed as the Kerrisdale Monarchs in 1949 as a member of the Okanagan Mainline League. The coastal members of the league were separated from the interior teams due to travel issues between the coast and the interior forming the Pacific Coast Senior League. The Monarchs would be sold in November of 1951 after the owner would announce he was ceasing the teams' operations a week earlier and would be attempting to sell the team due to financial loses and the issues it was causing with his health. The team would assume the Wheelers name in late January and would fold along with the league after the season ended.
==History==
VANCOUVER PROVINCE - November 24, 1951
MONARCHS WIND UP WITH WIN - Kerrisdale 6, Trail 5
Well, let it never be said that Kerrisdale Monarchs
didn't bow out on a high note.
The team, playing before the biggest house of the
season, gave all in their last performance Friday
night at Kerrisdale Arena, and beat Trail Smoke Eaters
of the Western International League, 6-5.
None of the Monarch players knew that, following the
game, they'd be out of a hockey job.
VICTORY DIMMED
The dressing room sounded as though Kerrisdale had
just produced a Stanley Cup. But only for for a few
minutes. Owner Sid Hole came in as the players were
half undressed and announced he was folding - for
keeps.
The players wore some pretty glum looks for a while
but finally Len Mutcheson said: "Oh, what the hell. It
only happens once, anyway."
Coach Scotty Milne, who continued to profess amazement
at Kerrisdale's knack of going well against a good
club and bad against a mediocre team, just shrugged
and said, "We'll stick together for a few days and see
what happens."
NEVER BETTER
It was a fitting note on which to wind up. Monarchs
never looked better. Mickey Lynch scored three goals
and goalie Roy Worrall made several miraculous saves.
The big crowd - about 2100 - thought Monarchs might be
hitting their stride. The fates said "no".
Nanaimo Clippers will carry on, Harry Porter, club
official told The Vancouver Daily Province today: "As
long as fans want hockey, the Clippers will continue
to play the game."
Nanaimo is a running-mate of Kerrisdale in the
two-club coast amateur hockey league.
The Kerrisdale club lost $8700 last year under the
ownership of John Taylor, Fred Taylor and Frank
Bernard and lost an additional $2300 this season
before Hole took over Oct.28. He bought the club for a
reported $1700.
Jack Elliot, Arena manager, said he would turn the
rink over to the juveniles and juniors if Monarchs
stuck by their guns.
SCOTTY SURPRISED
Hockey coach Scotty Milne was caught completely by
surprise by the announcement.
"What about John Taylor buying into the club again?"
Milne was asked.
"Yeah, that could be," said Milne.
Two minutes later he was handed a single sheet of
paper with four paragraphs outlining the difficulties
encountered by the new owner and his decision to quit.
Hole, who saw Monarchs turn in their best game of the
season in defeating Trail Smoke Eaters, 6-5, said the
local two-team league was his downfall.
JUNIOR HOCKEY
"Take tonight (Friday), for instance," he said. "We
pay the rink $325 and Trail around $300. When we play
in Trail we pay all our own expenses and don't receive
and out of the gate. It just can't work out right."
VANCOUVER PROVINCE - November 27, 1951
$2100 FOR MONARCHS? BUYER OFFERS $1750 - by Hugh
Watson
Owner Sid Hole put a $2100 price tag on the Kerrisdale
Monarchs today and at the same time announced he is
"definitely through with hockey for the year."
Hole, who paid between $1800-$1900 for the Monarchs
Oct. 28, made his decision Monday night after advice
from his doctor to take things easier.
Prospective buyers of the club are reportedly a dime a
dozen. At least one, Stephen Kripps, Vancouver
druggist, had made inquiries concerning the sale of
the Monarchs.
$1750 OFFERED
Kripps, brother-in-law of Monarchs' centre, Ted Sims,
will offer $1750 for the Monarchs, providing the
equipment goes with the team.
Coach Scotty Milne held a meeting of the the players
Monday night and, in between about 30 phone calls
asking "What's doing," decided to carry on as before.
Crux of the puzzling situation is the Point Grey
Community Association, landlords of Kerrisdale Arena.
If the PGCA agrees to a nightly rink rental of $175 at
least two or three Kerrisdale businessmen are reported
willing to gamble on the Monarchs.
AVERAGED $1038
As things stand now, the Arena charges $325 per game
or 30 percent, highest rental in B.C. amateur hockey.
Last week, a Monarch spokesman said, the Arena made
$800 off the Monarchs. Monarchs, meanwhile, lost about
$150.
VANCOUVER PROVINCE - November 28, 1951
MONARCHS SEEK PLAN TO CARRY ON
Kerrisdale Monarchs are not dead.
Although they are without a sponsor, the club will
fulfill its weekend engagements, playing Nanaimo here
on Friday night at Kerrisdale Arena and meeting
Nanaimo at home Saturday night.
"I have told the boys they can use the equipment,"
said reluctant owner Sid Hole. "They can keep all the
gate receipts. I feel I have contributed all I can
justify to paying their expenses.
If they want to carry on, they can use the equipment
and they might get by on the gate receipts."
VANCOUVER PROVINCE - November 29, 1951
NEW SPONSER TAKES OVER MONARCHS
Kerrisdale Monarchs will carry on. Fred Dietrich and
Jim Collins of the Dietrich-Collins Equipment Ltd.,
announced today that his firm would sponsor the club
starting immediately.
Nick Lucas, president of the Point Grey Community
Society, said his group has endorsed the new sponsors
and urged all resident in the community to support the
club.
The team starts under the new management tomorrow
night when Nanaimo will be at the Kerrisdale Arena for
a scheduled Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey League game
starting at 8:30.
"I and my partner, Jim Collins, both like hockey,"
said Mr. Dietrich. "We are going to do our utmost to
put over the Monarchs. We think it is a good thing for
the community and will give us all worthwhile
entertainment."
New directors will include former owner Sid Hole and
John R. Taylor.
Fred W. "Cyclone" Taylor, one of Canada's most famous
hockeyists, returns as an advisor to the team.
Bill Clancey is manager.
VANCOUVER PROVINCE - November 30, 1951
MONARCHS BACK OWNERS; 'PROMISE' VICTORY TONIGHT -
DIETRICH, COLLINS SEEK FAN CLUB, PLAYERS - by Hugh
Watson
Fred Dietrich and Jimmy Collins, new owners of the
Kerrisdale Monarchs of the Pacific Coast Senior
Amateur Hockey League, received a vote of confidence
from their players Thursday night on the eve of their
first venture into organised hockey.
The players met with manager and publicity director
Bill Clancey Thursday night following a one-hour
workout at Kerrisdale Arena.
"Above all, we want a win tonight," said Clancey.
Nanaimo Clippers, five games ahead of the Monarchs,
will be the opposition.
Clancey, who could be to Monarchs what Bill Veeck is
to St. Louis Browns, said the B.C. Regimental Band
would be on hand tonight for between periods
entertainment.
WANT BOOSTER CLUB
Three immediate resolutions were outlined by Clancey
following the meeting with the players. They were:
(1) A Monarchs Booster Club, with fans traveling with
the Monarchs to Nanaimo for Saturday night games, to
be organised.
(2) Additional player help if any is obtainable. "We
will not stand still," added Clancey.
(3) An effort to break even and give Kerrisdale fans
"a team to be proud of. Certainly a winning team next
year, if not this."
RITCHIE TO STAY
Len Mutcheson, who made his debut on defence last
Friday when Monarchs beat Trail, 6-5, will again
partner Bud Ritchie. Coach Scotty Milne said he would
probably operate with 14 men tonight against Nanaimo.
ICE CHIPS
Eddie Schmidt has offers from Nelson Maple Leafs and a
team in Whitehorse... Gwynn Lovett attended Thursday's
practise. He's completely recovered from the head
injury sustained three weeks ago. Bud Richtie
by-passed the offer from nelson and will stick with
Monarchs... There is a possibility of a series between
the Monarchs and an all-star team from the Commercial
Hockey League, winner to get a Dietrich-Collins
Trophy...
VANCOUVER PROVINCE - January 16, 1952
KERRISDALE PUCKSTERS WILL GET A NEW NAME
Kerrisdale's senior amateur hockeyist will abdicate as
Monarchs next weekend.
Manager Bill Clancey said that a new team name for teh
local squad will be announced next Sunday, at which
time news of Kerrisdale's current player hunt will
also be forthcoming.
Monarchs have had three owners so far this season, and
are presently bankrolled by Dietrich-Collins Equipment
Ltd. Presumably their new name will emphasise this
tieup.
Scotty Milne's club, which beat Penticton V's on
Monday night, willrest for the balance of the week.
Their next start is against Nanaimo here next Monday,
and a swing through the Kootenays will follow.
VANCOUVER PROVINCE - January 20, 1952
MONARCHS' NEW NAME WHEELERS
The name "Kerrisdale Monarchs" faded out of the local
hockey world Sunday with the announcement by publicity
chief Bill Clancey, that the club's name has been
changed to Vancouver Wheelers.
"We Felt that a change was needed if we are to have a
tie up with eastern hockey circles," said Clancey.
"People in Montreal and Toronto know where Vancouver
is but they've never heard of Kerrisdale, and would
probably think twice before sending us players."\
The Vancouver Wheelers name was influenced by the very first Stanley cup champions the Winged Wheelers who won the prize in 1893.
Winners in nine of their last 12 games, Wheelers make
their first appearance under the new name tonight at
Kerrisdale Arena when they meet Nanaimo Clippers.
Game time is 8:30pm.
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OL = Overtime Losses,, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Season 	League/Competition 	GP 	W 	L 	T 	Pts 	GF 	GA 	Finish 	Playoffs 	
Kerrisdale Monarchs/Vancouver Wheelers	Kerrisdale Monarchs/Vancouver Wheelers	Kerrisdale Monarchs/Vancouver Wheelers	Kerrisdale Monarchs/Vancouver Wheelers	Kerrisdale Monarchs/Vancouver Wheelers	Kerrisdale Monarchs/Vancouver Wheelers	Kerrisdale Monarchs/Vancouver Wheelers	Kerrisdale Monarchs/Vancouver Wheelers	Kerrisdale Monarchs/Vancouver Wheelers	Kerrisdale Monarchs/Vancouver Wheelers	Kerrisdale Monarchs/Vancouver Wheelers	Kerrisdale Monarchs/Vancouver Wheelers
1951-52 	37 	14 	23 	0 	28* 	- 	- 	2nd 	Lost Final 	 	
#*-denotes point percentage was used to determine standings for season due to unequal number of games played.
The Okanagan Mainline League split in 1951-52, mostly because of travel costs. The Nanaimo Clippers and the Kerrisdale Monarchs formed the Pacific Coast Senior League. Midway through the season, the Monarchs changed their name to the Vancouver Wheelers.
The league and both teams folded after this season.
Category:Canadian ice hockey teams
Category:Established in 1952
Category:Disestablished in 1952
Category:Defunct Teams
Category:Pacific Coast Senior League teams