In 1950-1951, the Midland Juveniles appeared to be a team no one wanted. The hockey club was without a corporate sponsor and it was quickly given the nickname Orphans. This didn’t stop head coach Garnet Armstrong from guiding this team to an Ontario Minor Hockey Association championship in 1951.
The Orphans wore sweaters during their memorable championship season that had been presented to them by the St. Louis Flyers, an American Hockey League club of the era.
St. Louis was one of a number of professional teams during the 1940s and 1950s, who travelled to the Midland Arena Gardens to play exhibition games against local teams. After playing one game against the Orphans, the Flyers players presented the Midland squad with their jerseys. In addition to winning the Georgian Bay Championship title in 1950- 1951, the Orphans went on to claim the Lionel Conacher Trophy and later the OMHA title.
The Orphans were the last Juvenile team from Midland to win an Ontario Championship title. Some of the players from that team went on to careers in Major Junior A Hockey and other professional leagues, while others involved themselves in scouting.
Other players stayed in Midland, and either played amateur hockey locally, or coached in and around the Midland area.
Members of the 1950-1951 Midland Orphans Juvenile OMHA Championship team included: Art Ambeau, Everett Brooks, Neil Goneau, Pete Hudson, Nelson Kennedy, Tom Marion, Bob Murday, Bud Quinn, Pat Roberts, Don Scott, Dick Sturgeon, Wayne Taylor, Ken Webb, Doug Wright and Murray Yorke with Garnet Armstrong (coach), Jack Morrison (executive), Harold Jackson (trainer).
In addition to winning the Georgian Bay Championship title in 1950-1951, the Orphans went on to claim the Lionel Conacher Trophy and later the OMHA title.
