Fernie Swastikas
Encyclopedia
The Fernie Swastikas were a women's hockey
team that was formed in 1922 in Fernie
, British Columbia
. Their uniform used as a symbol the swastika
, which before World War II
was a common religious symbol, and especially a sun sign
. In 1923, the Swastikas won the Alpine Cup at the Banff Winter Carnival women's ice hockey championship. There were two other teams called the Swastikas, one in Edmonton
, Alberta
, and another the Windsor Swastikas
Windsor, Nova Scotia
.
Due to the limited number of opponents in the Kootenay region, the Fernie team played only one game in 1920. It was played in January against the Calgary Regents, at the Victoria Park arena. Fernie was defeated by a 1-0 score. Despite the loss, the Fernie team was invited to participate in the first ever Calgary Winter Carnival in 1921. At the Carnival, Fernie played the Regents once more. The Regents triumphed by a 3-0 score and a rivalry was born between the two. In February 1921, the Regents visited Fernie and won by a 1-0 score.
In January 1922, the Fernie Ladies Hockey Team was named the Fernie Swastikas. The uniform was composed of white knickers and red sweaters. The Swastikas would appear at the 1922 Calgary Winter Carnival and play the Calgary Regents. The Swastikas won by a 4-0 score. The Regents were a much different team from the previous year, as many members had left to form the Calgary Byngs club.
and the Vancouver Amazons
to become champions.
The city of Fernie welcomed back the team on March 7, 1923, as the club returned from Banff by train. When the Fernie team returned home, schools were let out early so that the children could cheer their champion team. Also, they were escorted to the Fernie City Hall celebration party by a RCMP
honor guard and Fernie pipe band. Of note, Dahlia Schagel was captain of the team, and team member Dorothy Henderson was the daughter of the mayor of Fernie.
at the Banff Winter Carnival. At the Carnival, the Swastikas beat the Vancouver Amazons
by a 2-0 score. By virtue, the Swastikas were named Alpine Cup champions as they had defeated the defending champions. During the Carnival, the Swastikas played two scoreless games against the Calgary Regents, who attempted to win the Cup from them.
The Swastikas returned to the Banff Carnival in 1924 to defend their title. In the quarterfinals, the Swastikas defeated the Calgary Patricias by a 4-1 tally. Their opposition in the semifinals was a newly formed team called the Canmore Minnewankas. Team founder Edith Biggs would crack her rib in the first period of the game against Canmore. By the third period, Canmore was ahead 1-0 and had upset the Swastikas. Despite the loss, Fernie team captain Dahlia Schagel was elected as Carnival Queen for the upcoming year.
, while team founder Mary Dragon moved to the United States.
With the formation of the Alberta Amateur Hockey Federation, the Swastikas could only play teams from Alberta at the Banff Winter Carnival. This would limit the level of competition for the Swastikas. The only opposition in British Columbia for the Fernie team was the newly formed Cranbrook Canucks. The Swastikas would not play a game in 1925, although Dahlia Schagel fulfilled her obligations as Carnival Queen at the 1925 Banff Winter Carnival.
Their last appearance at the Banff Winter Carnival was in 1926, when they were defeated by the Edmonton Monarchs
for the Alpine Cup
.
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
team that was formed in 1922 in Fernie
Fernie, British Columbia
Fernie is a city in the Elk Valley area of the East Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia, Canada, located on BC Highway 3 on the eastern approaches to the Crowsnest Pass through the Rocky Mountains...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. Their uniform used as a symbol the swastika
Swastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
, which before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was a common religious symbol, and especially a sun sign
Solar symbol
A solar symbol is a symbol which symbolises the Sun. Solar symbols can have significance in psychoanalysis, symbolism, semiotics, astrology, religion, mythology, mysticism, divination, heraldry, and vexillology, among other fields.Some solar symbols include:...
. In 1923, the Swastikas won the Alpine Cup at the Banff Winter Carnival women's ice hockey championship. There were two other teams called the Swastikas, one in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, and another the Windsor Swastikas
Windsor Swastikas
The Windsor Swastikas were a Canadian ice hockey team in Windsor, Nova Scotia, from 1905–1916. Not to be confused with the Fernie Swastikas across the country in British Columbia, the Swastikas chose their name as at the time the swastika was a symbol associated with luck and success.-Team...
Windsor, Nova Scotia
Windsor, Nova Scotia
Windsor is a town located in Hants County, Mainland Nova Scotia at the junction of the Avon and St. Croix Rivers. It is the largest community in western Hants County with a 2001 population of 3,779 and was at one time the shire town of the county. The region encompassing present day Windsor was...
.
History
The first recorded women's ice hockey game in Fernie took place in January 1918. The game was played between teams composed of school teachers and bank clerks. Another game was held on January 1, 1919. The teams were organized by Mary Dragon and Edith Biggs. Several days later, the best players from both teams became the Fernie Ladies Hockey Team.Due to the limited number of opponents in the Kootenay region, the Fernie team played only one game in 1920. It was played in January against the Calgary Regents, at the Victoria Park arena. Fernie was defeated by a 1-0 score. Despite the loss, the Fernie team was invited to participate in the first ever Calgary Winter Carnival in 1921. At the Carnival, Fernie played the Regents once more. The Regents triumphed by a 3-0 score and a rivalry was born between the two. In February 1921, the Regents visited Fernie and won by a 1-0 score.
In January 1922, the Fernie Ladies Hockey Team was named the Fernie Swastikas. The uniform was composed of white knickers and red sweaters. The Swastikas would appear at the 1922 Calgary Winter Carnival and play the Calgary Regents. The Swastikas won by a 4-0 score. The Regents were a much different team from the previous year, as many members had left to form the Calgary Byngs club.
1923 Championship
In the 1920s and 1930s, there was a women's hockey tournament called the Alpine Cup at the Banff Winter Carnival. In 1923, the Fernie Swastikas defeated the Calgary RegentsCanadian women's ice hockey history
The first instances of organized women's ice hockey in Canada date back to the 1890s when it is played at the university level. The Women's Hockey Association claims that the city of Ottawa, Ontario hosted the first game in 1891. In February 1921 a women’s international championship series that was...
and the Vancouver Amazons
Vancouver Amazons
-Early years:The Vancouver Amazons were a women’s hockey team from the 1920s. They were the first women’s hockey team from Vancouver to participate in the invitational women’s hockey tournament sponsored by the Banff Winter Carnival. The Amazons competed in 1921. The Amazons qualified for the final...
to become champions.
The city of Fernie welcomed back the team on March 7, 1923, as the club returned from Banff by train. When the Fernie team returned home, schools were let out early so that the children could cheer their champion team. Also, they were escorted to the Fernie City Hall celebration party by a RCMP
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
honor guard and Fernie pipe band. Of note, Dahlia Schagel was captain of the team, and team member Dorothy Henderson was the daughter of the mayor of Fernie.
Banff Winter Carnival history
On January 24, 1923, the Swastikas beat the Regents by a 3-0 score. After the victory, the Swastikas were invited to play for the Alpine CupAlpine Cup
The Banff Winter Carnival women’s ice hockey tournament was an ice hockey tournament played in Banff, Alberta, Canada. In the early years, it was contested to determine the women’s ice hockey provincial champions of Alberta...
at the Banff Winter Carnival. At the Carnival, the Swastikas beat the Vancouver Amazons
Vancouver Amazons
-Early years:The Vancouver Amazons were a women’s hockey team from the 1920s. They were the first women’s hockey team from Vancouver to participate in the invitational women’s hockey tournament sponsored by the Banff Winter Carnival. The Amazons competed in 1921. The Amazons qualified for the final...
by a 2-0 score. By virtue, the Swastikas were named Alpine Cup champions as they had defeated the defending champions. During the Carnival, the Swastikas played two scoreless games against the Calgary Regents, who attempted to win the Cup from them.
The Swastikas returned to the Banff Carnival in 1924 to defend their title. In the quarterfinals, the Swastikas defeated the Calgary Patricias by a 4-1 tally. Their opposition in the semifinals was a newly formed team called the Canmore Minnewankas. Team founder Edith Biggs would crack her rib in the first period of the game against Canmore. By the third period, Canmore was ahead 1-0 and had upset the Swastikas. Despite the loss, Fernie team captain Dahlia Schagel was elected as Carnival Queen for the upcoming year.
Disband
After the loss to Canmore, the composition of the Swastikas team had changed. Dorothy Henderson had died on May 24. Elaine Ross moved to Edmonton (and would later play for the Edmonton MonarchsEdmonton Monarchs
The Edmonton Monarchs were a women's ice hockey team that started as the Edmonton Victorias in 1914. The club represented Victoria High School in Edmonton.-Victorias:...
, while team founder Mary Dragon moved to the United States.
With the formation of the Alberta Amateur Hockey Federation, the Swastikas could only play teams from Alberta at the Banff Winter Carnival. This would limit the level of competition for the Swastikas. The only opposition in British Columbia for the Fernie team was the newly formed Cranbrook Canucks. The Swastikas would not play a game in 1925, although Dahlia Schagel fulfilled her obligations as Carnival Queen at the 1925 Banff Winter Carnival.
Their last appearance at the Banff Winter Carnival was in 1926, when they were defeated by the Edmonton Monarchs
Edmonton Monarchs
The Edmonton Monarchs were a women's ice hockey team that started as the Edmonton Victorias in 1914. The club represented Victoria High School in Edmonton.-Victorias:...
for the Alpine Cup
Alpine Cup
The Banff Winter Carnival women’s ice hockey tournament was an ice hockey tournament played in Banff, Alberta, Canada. In the early years, it was contested to determine the women’s ice hockey provincial champions of Alberta...
.
See also
- Canadian women's ice hockey historyCanadian women's ice hockey historyThe first instances of organized women's ice hockey in Canada date back to the 1890s when it is played at the university level. The Women's Hockey Association claims that the city of Ottawa, Ontario hosted the first game in 1891. In February 1921 a women’s international championship series that was...
- Windsor SwastikasWindsor SwastikasThe Windsor Swastikas were a Canadian ice hockey team in Windsor, Nova Scotia, from 1905–1916. Not to be confused with the Fernie Swastikas across the country in British Columbia, the Swastikas chose their name as at the time the swastika was a symbol associated with luck and success.-Team...
- Western use of the Swastika in the early 20th centuryWestern use of the Swastika in the early 20th centuryThe swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form or its mirrored left-facing form. Archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates from the Neolithic period and was first found in the Indus Valley Civilization of the Indian...