I remember….

LONDON – The Wembley Lions Ice Hockey team was formed in 1934 but it was 1951 before I got the opportunity to see the team play at the then Empire Pool & Sports Arena at Wembley, North London. Originally named the London Lions, actually the team was formed by Canadian, Blaine Sexton, who was born in Windsor, Nova Scotia. Sexton retired at the end of the 1932-33 season, after which came the demise of the team.
 
The following season (1934) saw the opening of the Empire Pool with two hockey teams using the facility. The new Wembley Lions and the Wembley Canadians, who were founded in 1929 as the Grosvenor House Canadians. In 1936 the Canadians became the Wembley Monarchs. Hosting two teams at the Empire Pool became too difficult and the Monarchs folded in 1950.
 
My first and very memorable visit to watch the Lions was to see them play the Nottingham Panthers. Although I was rooting for the Lions it was a Panther player that caught my eye, Victor Zamick, known as Chick.
 
Zamick was born to Russian parents in Winnipeg, Manitoba, into a large family of 13 children. In 1947 Zamick was asked by coach Sandy Archer to join the Nottingham Panthers, which he did and had an 11 year run.
 
That night in the 50’s will stand out in my memory forever, with Zamick leading the Panther’s line like a man possessed. He was the Panthers top scorer in every season he played, only failing to score above 100 points twice.
 
Much to my delight in the early 60’s, Zamick signed up for the Wembley Lions. The 5’8” 176-lb. center ended his playing career with the Lions in 1963. He is a member of both the British Hockey Hall of Fame and the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame. Zamick died on Oct. 8 2007, but he will always remain in my thoughts.
 
Another character that took to the ice for the Lions was James Robertson Justice, a British actor who goal-tended for a season in the 1930’s. Robertson made over 80 movies throughout his career. In 1930 at the age of 27, he was secretary to the British Ice Hockey League, he then played for the London Lions in 1931-32. He also managed the British team in the European Championships.
 
The very first televised ice hockey game in the U.K. took place March 1956 when the Lions traveled to Nottingham to beat the Panthers 8-3. The Wembley Lions went on to win the British National League in 1956-57, as well as the British Autumn Cup in 1957-58.
 
Then ice hockey in the U.K. started to wane, mainly because of the cost of importing players. Facilities became more difficult to secure and the British League folded after the 1959-60 season.
 
In 1963 the Southampton Vikings moved to Wembley and revived the Lions. The team played in the BBC Grandstand TV Trophy competition in 1963-64 and 1966-67. Unfortunately, the end of the Lions was near. In November 1968 the Wembley Lions played their final home game beating the Paisley Mohawks 3-0.
 
Amazingly ice hockey has made a huge comeback in the UK this century. The Elite Ice Hockey League was formed in 2003 with 10 teams. London, however, still has representation on the ice with the Lee Valley Lions, formed in 1984. Another London team, the London Racers, folded in 2005.
 
My dream would be for the Lions to be resurrected, the red and white jerseys with the Lion crest, would be a wonderful sight.
 
Contact the writer at Eddie.Mitchell@prohockeynews.com