The 1953-54 Western Hockey League was made up of seven clubs: the Calgary Stampeders, Edmonton Flyers, New Westminster Royals, Saskatoon Quakers, Seattle Bombers, Vancouver Canucks and Victoria Cougars. Each team played 70 games, plus as many as three playoff series.
The Quakers had their home ice at Saskatoon Arena, built in 1937 and demolished in 1989, with seating for 3,300. The Stampeders played at the 7,475-seat Stampede Corral which was built in 1950 and demolished in 2021. The Quakers were affiliated with the New York Rangers, the Stampeders with the Chicago Black Hawks.
During the 1953-54 season Saskatoon had two player-coaches: Alex Kaleta, formerly of the Black Hawks and New York Rangers, and Doug Bentley, the Black Hawks’ star left winger from 1939 till 1952 and a future Hall of Famer. The Stampeders’ head coach was Frank Currie. In the 1930s he played for Richmond Hawks and Earl’s Court Rangers of the British National League, for the Montreal Royals during the war, and the Edmonton Flyers after the war.
October 5th was opening night. Saskatoon hosted the Stampeders.
First period: goals by Kobussen (Saskatoon) and Scott (Calgary).
Second period: no scoring.
Third period: goals by Senick (Saskatoon) and Kobussen.
Final score: Saskatoon 3, Calgary 1.
Eldred Kobussen was born in Vanscoy, Saskatchewan. He played for various AHL clubs in the 1940s and early 1950s before moving to the WHL where he played for Seattle, Saskatoon and the Brandon Regals.
George Senick was from Saskatoon and played professionally from 1947 till 1966, including 13 games with the New York Rangers in 1952-53.
Archie Scott spent nearly his entire career with the Calgary Stampeders.
Sources: Saskatoon Star-Phoenix (October 6, 1953) at Google News Newspapers; and hockeydb.com.
