Summerfield and Kinkora competed fiercely. School children also made great use of the rink and when conditions permitted, it was a hive of activity at noon hours.

Another highlight of rink activity was the Masquerade Ice Carnivals held once or twice a year. All masqueraders were allowed on the ice free. They would be divided into classes and judged for the best costumes in each class. Two outfits that provided a lot of entertainment was the lochness monster, headed by Leslie F. Simmons and Barney Google and his horse. In the latter, Colby Lewis was Barney Google; Russell Burns and John Lewis acted the horse. These, along with many other costumes, provided a fine evenings entertainment. Prizes were usually boxes of chocolates and other articles that appealed to young people. Prizes were also given for most graceful skater, and most graceful skating couples. Everyone was given an hours skate after the judging. Carnivals are still held each year in most of the larger rinks.

In the late thirties, there was no Minor Hockey Association on the Island. In 1939-40, however, Ken MacLean and Keith Howatt registered a Kensington Juvenile team in the Maritime Amateur Hockey Association. Freetown boys on the team were Harold Drummond, Walter Simmons, Gerald Jardine and Allison Deacon. They were successful in winning the RBI Championship and the right to play off with the Amherst Juveniles for the Maritime Championship. They tied Amherst in their home rink but lost to them in Kensington Rink before 2800 fans in the second game.

In 1934-35, Freetown Hockey teams had started to play in the Bedeque Rink. In 1940, the Freetown Maple Leafs emerged the winners ofthe South Shore League and the Simmons & MacFarlane Trophy. They then took the Tip Top Trophy and went on to win the Hon. C.C. Baker Trophy emblematic of winning the North Shore League.

Following this success, the Freetown team adopted the name “Freetown Royals” and carried on under that emblem for a decade, winning the Simmons and MacFarlane Trophy for eight consecutive seasons. In addition they won the Horace Wright Trophy for first place and the J. Frank Arnett Trophy for second place many times in regular league play.

They won the North Shore League again in 1950 and 1951 but lost out in the South Shore League in 1954 and 1955. They came back to win the South Shore League, the North and South Shore League Championship and the Prince County Championship in 1956.

Freetown Royals Hockey Team Reunion, 1983

Back rowleft to right: Balfour Read, Heath Reeves, Clayton Mill, Eric Taylor, Walter Stavert, Horace MacFarlane, Robert Hogg, Albert Waugh, George Somers, Walter Paynter.

Second row: George Roberts, Wilfred Burns, HilaryMoynagh, Aeneas McEntee, Reginald Bradshaw, Brewer Auld, Bill Moreside, Walter Campbell, Ian MacMurdo, Robert MacMurdo, Wendell Mayne, Harold Drummond,

Lloyd Reeves. Front row: EdgarMiller, Charles Sark, Desmond Roberts, Ray Smith, Prowse Gardiner, Walter Simmons, Allison

Reeves, Ray McCarville, Allan Clow, Horace Paynter, Robert Jardine (coach). Others not present: Ezekiel Roberts, Lee Taylor, Edgar Taylor, Eustace Reeves, Eldon Roberts, Vernon Paynter, Alan Andrews, Joseph Dorsey, Arnold Johnston, Carl Woodside, Morris Deacon, Arnold Hill, Mort Grover,

David Loggie, George Reeves.

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