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Providence, RI (April 20, 2006): The Rhode Island Reds Heritage Society will hold a special celebration at its 6th annual reunion at Goddard State Park in Warwick on Sunday, August 6. The reunion will honor the 50th anniversary of the Reds last American Hockey League Calder Cup championship of 1955-56 by saluting the players and families of that great team. The society has invited former players from ’55-56 that include “Hockey Hall-of-Fame” goaltender Johnny Bower, Jimmy Bartlett, George “Dusty” Blair, Bruce Cline, Aldo Guidolin, Ivan Irwin, Don Raleigh, Bob Robertson, Ray Ross, Ron Attwell and Camille Bedard. Families of deceased players and team officials also have been contacted and invited to attend. They include surviving spouses and children of Zellio Toppazzini, Harvey Bennett, Andy Branigan, Paul Larivee and George McAvoy, plus owner Louis A. R. Pieri, general manager Terry Reardon and coach Johnny Crawford. The team of 1955-56 may have been the greatest in the club’s 51-year history. The Reds finished first in regular season play with a record of 45-17-2 for 92 points, nipping by just two points the powerful Pittsburgh Hornets. In a tough semi-final series against Buffalo, the Reds squeezed out a 3 games to 2 victory over the Bisons. In the meantime, Cleveland had upset Pittsburgh in the semis, 3 games to one. The relentless Reds took advantage and went on to sweep the Barons, 4 games to 0, in the finals. It was the team’s last-ever Calder Cup conquest. The society’s 570 members are being notified about the reunion in a newsletter scheduled for distribution by May 15. Non-members may obtain information by calling the society’s office at 401-247-2666. |
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