Powerhouse Panthers relive the glory

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This article was published 22/09/2023 (910 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Members of the fabled 1973 Gordon Bell Panthers football team were rolling back the years Thursday afternoon.

As the kickoff event of a reunion to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Gordon Bell’s Winnipeg High School Football League crown — ending a 14-year championship drought — the now greyer and slower Panthers gathered at their old school for a special screening of the film of their 27-21 triumph over the Grant Park Pirates in the title game on Nov. 1, 1973.

The film, originally shot with a 16mm camera at Winnipeg Stadium, was recently transferred to digital and the images evoked a special reaction.

“It’s exciting to watch again,” said Allan Walkey, a 5-6, 145-pound Panthers split end who caught a 12-yard touchdown pass and finished the game with two catches for 34 yards. “Whenever I get to meet the fellows again I get nervous … the heart starts pumping and you see old friends and you want to catch up with them. Just to witness the game again is a lot of fun.”

The pride of that accomplishment still stirs strong memories.

“I think maybe it’s our competitive nature because we still get keyed up,” said offensive guard Dennis Chambers, then a 5-7, 165-pounder who was responsible for helping protect ace quarterback Kurt Munt and opening holes for stud running back Grant Webb. “Winning a championship is something you never forget and you’re reliving it and you’re back there on the field (like) you’re 17 or 18 again.

“Personally I thought I played pretty well in that game (at the time),” Chambers added with a laugh.

The Panthers went 6-1 and outscored their opponents 227-45 during the regular season and beat Daniel McIntyre 21-6 in a semifinal playoff without Munt, who was sidelined with a knee injury.

But the stars, Munt and Webb, stood out in the final.

Munt rumbled for 199 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries and added 88 passing yards, while Webb added 115 yards on 20 carries against Grant Park.

Munt also provided a game-saving defensive stop with time winding down in the fourth quarter when he picked off Pirates QB Dave Mears to snuff out a comeback attempt.

“Obviously, Webb and Munt were the two outstanding players. But we had so many contributions from other guys because (Webb and Munt) would be keyed on, so other guys would have to step up,” said Walkey.

The Panthers were well-drilled, led by the head coach Bob Lawler, and had the benefit of a dedicated group of assistants that assembled a championship team despite being without its own practice field. The squad bused daily to practices 20 minutes away at Tec Voc and did the same for home games.

“I think that was probably one of the best things that happened because the rides back and forth allowed us to bond, as opposed to us being out on the field and coming into the dressing room, showering and going home,” said Walkey.

The team’s leadership was mix of teachers and volunteers who took a well-organized approach.

“We had Bob Keating as the offensive line coach … Bob had played some professional football and he’s a big man and he was a real taskmaster,” said Paul Moist, a Grade 12 defensive tackle on the ‘73 champs. “And Bob Jaskiewicz, another big guy, was our defensive line coach (and) he had played serious football. Then we had Graham Simpson, who was a phys-ed teacher.

“Apparently this was not common in high school football: (Simpson) was scouting upcoming games for us and Lawler and company designed practices where we kind of knew what we were going to face with St. John’s or Daniel Mac.

Lawler, a chemistry teacher at the school, also seemed to have an innate sense for the composition of a winning football team after taking the reins of the program in 1972. His meticulous preparation, including an off-season training program for his players, may have been ahead of its time.

“They were in the final in ‘71 so I kind of let them down, I only got them to the semifinals (in 1972),” said Lawler, who would go on to guide the Panthers to city championships in 1974 and 1977 before leaving the coaching ranks in 1979.

He taught at the school until 2002 before retiring.

“Their dedication is what struck me because these (coaches) were not getting home for supper five nights a week and sometimes we practised on the weekend. That level of commitment is just unbelievable.”

After the thrilling final in 1973, the Panthers headed to teammate Sid Drobot’s house on Lipton Street to celebrate. Almost 50 years later, 24 players and five coaches were expected to gather for dinner Friday, toasting the past while also celebrating old teammates — Munt, Webb, Doug Gillis, Don Kisil, Ray Mahrel, Pat Ryan and Bruce Shelest — with memoriam tributes.

With changing demographics and declining interest, the school’s football program was discontinued in 1982 and has not been resurrected.

But the memories of 1973 live on.

“It’s true with all championship teams,” said Walkey. “Once you’ve experienced the euphoria of winning a championship, those things last a lifetime.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca