An Evening with the 1960-61 St. Michael’s Buzzers and Majors Championship Teams

It’s been 60 years since St. Michael’s College School (SMCS) capped off one of the most memorable seasons in a much-celebrated hockey history.

The 1960-61 season ended with an achievement only accomplished twice before (1933-34 and 1944-45) in the school’s history — both the St. Michael’s Majors and Buzzers captured league championships in the same year.

The Junior ‘B’ Buzzers handily defeated Owen Sound to take home the Sutherland Cup followed by the Majors capturing their fourth and final Memorial Cup.

Sixty years after the Torontonians lined Bay Street to celebrate these two SMCS hockey championships, a group of former players and special guests are getting set to gather virtually to remember and reunite.

On Thursday, April 1 at 7 p.m., the next edition of the Alumni Information Series will feature Larry Colle ’69 along with television journalist Steve Paikin, as they relive some SMCS hockey history with a panel of former Buzzers and Majors championship players and special guests.

Paikin is the anchor of ‘The Agenda’ on TVO, co-host of ‘The #OnPoli Podcast’, host, and a hockey enthusiast. He will interview the panel on various topics including championship runs, what it was like to be part of those teams, and more.

“To commemorate the 60th anniversary of this championship season, and to re-connect with those players and other hockey alumni, we are bringing together an online school community celebration,” says Colle. “We hope to recreate and remember the wonderful feelings and friendships that those special times brought to the St. Michael’s College School community.”

The panel will include former players: Kevin Burkett ’62, André Champagne ’62, Gerry Cheevers ’59, Bill Crawford ’61, Dave Draper ’60, Barry MacKenzie ’63, and Terry O’Malley ’60. Also joining the panel will be special guests EJ Bauer, representing Fr. Bauer ’44, CSB, Dave Keon ’60, OSM, and Ed Sanford ’46.

“That was a special time in my life as I had just graduated and I was playing for the Maple Leafs,” Keon reflects in preparation for next week’s event. “Fr. Bauer was coaching and the Majors were on their way to winning the Memorial Cup. It was a great time to be a SMCS student.”

Following the livestreamed panel discussion, attendees are invited to participate in a virtual reunion. This part of the evening will be moderated by Colle, as well as Lora Evans, and Paul Patskou, from the Hockey Time Machine Hockey Program. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask the panel their own questions and share personal memories.

“We are incredibly grateful for Larry Colle and his amazing committee; they have spent the last few weeks organizing this evening,” says Stephanie Nicholls, Alumni & Special Events Officer. “Not only are we fortunate to be joined by alumni who are gathering to retell a special time in our rich hockey history, but also a time for alumni to come together to celebrate the past, whether they played on the team, had a special connection to the players, or simply an interest in the impact of junior hockey at SMCS during that era.”

Join the livestream discussion and Zoom reunion.