RI HOCKEY LEGACY

​Fisticuffs in Stockholm

Picture
Picture
​The United States National Team participated in the 1949 World Hockey Championships in Stockholm, Sweden with two Rhode Islanders; forward Gerry Kilmartin (LaSalle) and defensemen Bill Thayer (Warwick). After earning a bronze medal, losing only to Canada and Switzerland, the team continued to tour Europe. Kilmartin and his fellow Yanks found themselves in a fist-swinging affair in Sweden. The US beat a combined Stockholm team 6-2 but Kilmartin became involved in a slugging match with Aake Engquist of the Swedish club. Two days later against Soedertaelje Sporting Club, they got into another melee that included spectators. Chief agitator Kilmartin started the fight taking off his gloves to maul Swedish forward Rolf Erickson. While sitting in the "cooler" after being penalized for going after another Swedish player, American John Kelley was attacked by a spectator who moved down from the grandstand. Several teammates went to his rescue and several spectators went to the aid of the Swede. Police and stadium commissioners rushed to the penalty box and ended the extra-curricular activities. The Swedes sent a telegram to AHA requesting that "measures" be taken against the team. A third fisticuff occurred during a two-game series later in March. This time Bill Thayer and Sweden's Rune Johansson went after each other and the fight developed into a free-for-all. The headline of the day was "American Hockey Players Scandal in Sweden". The Americans won the game 2-0 and captured weekend series four goals to three. The US would continue besting Canada 3-2 in France winning the Jean Potin cup, competed for by the US, Canada and the Paris Racing Club of Paris. The AHA team finished the tour 32-11-3 with Kilmartin compiling 75 points, good for third on the team.
  • Home
  • Schoolboy
    • 1900s
    • 1910s
    • 1920s
    • 1930s
    • 1940s
    • 1950s
    • 1960s
    • 1970s
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • New England Championships
    • All-State >
      • All-State Teams
      • All-State Photos
    • Journal Honor Roll
    • Divisions
  • Schoolboy Stories I
    • Opening Night
    • Schoolboy Polo to Hockey
    • Battle of School Leagues
    • Flying Frenchmen
    • Flying Green Thunderbolt
    • Packed House
    • All Stars at the Garden
    • Big Night for Cougar
    • One, Two, Three Punch
    • Mighty Blue Wave
    • Maroon Between the Pipes
    • Premèire Femelle
    • Arlington Here We Come
  • Schoolboy Stories II
    • New England OT Thrillers
    • Doubleheader at the Park
    • Bay State Battle
    • California Dreamin'
    • Bienvenue a R.I. Montréal
    • Third Time's A Charm
    • The Kids Called Her Coach
    • Dueling Opinions
    • And The Winner Is ...
    • Eight Ways to Sunday
    • Not One But Two!
  • Sr Amateur Teams
    • Providence Hockey Club
    • Richard J. Dennis Post
    • Canadian Club of Rhode Island
    • East Side Hockey Club
    • Providence Club
    • Flying Frenchmen of Woonsocket
    • Rhode Island Marquettes
    • Club Marquette of Woonsocket
    • Sandager Club
    • Dunnes of Cranston
    • P & Q of Woonsocket
    • Providence Chicks
    • Eastern Olympics
    • Cranston Hockey Club
  • Se Amateur Leagues
    • Industrial Hockey League
    • Blackstone Valley Amateur Hockey League
    • Rhode Island Amateur Hockey League
    • Rhode Island Amateur Hockey Association
    • Inter-City Amateur Hockey League
    • CYO Senior Hockey League
    • Rhode Island Senior Hockey League
    • Rhode Island Amateur Hockey Assoc.
    • Rhode Island Amateur Hockey League
    • Old Colony Hockey League
    • Massachusetts Hockey League
  • RI Scarlets
    • RI Amateur Hockey Club
    • RI Scarlets 1930s
    • RI Scarlets 1940s
    • RI Scarlets 1950s
    • RI Scarlets 1960s
  • Did You Know? I
    • Hooray For Hollywood
    • Maryland, My Maryland
    • Across the Pond
    • Goodbye Detroit Hello Prague
    • Fisticuffs in Stockholm
    • The Diamond to the Blueline
    • Little Rhody on the Reds
    • First Dominicans on Ice
    • Brown Finally Plays Harvard
    • Amateurs at the Auditorium
    • Can You Spare a Goalie?
    • In The Army Now
    • Mademoiselles Play Too
  • Did You Know? II
    • East Side Skating Club
    • USA versus RI
    • Down East Hockey
    • Olympic Tune-up
    • Title Quest
    • Anthony's Skating Rink
    • Scout's Honor
    • Putting on the Stripes
    • The Under Card
    • The Great Outdoors
    • Kid to the Rescue
    • The Pride of Chambly Basin
    • The Sharpshooter
  • Junior Hockey
    • Providence Jr Hockey League
    • Jr Amateur Hockey League
    • Jr AHA
  • College
    • Brown University
    • Providence College
    • Bryant College
    • Roger Williams College
  • All-American
  • USA
  • Sr. A.A.U./A.H.A.
  • Origins
  • RI In The Pros
    • NHL
    • AHL
    • IHL
    • EHL
    • CHL
  • Dick Ernst Articles
  • Contact
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Schoolboy
    • 1900s
    • 1910s
    • 1920s
    • 1930s
    • 1940s
    • 1950s
    • 1960s
    • 1970s
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • New England Championships
    • All-State >
      • All-State Teams
      • All-State Photos
    • Journal Honor Roll
    • Divisions
  • Schoolboy Stories I
    • Opening Night
    • Schoolboy Polo to Hockey
    • Battle of School Leagues
    • Flying Frenchmen
    • Flying Green Thunderbolt
    • Packed House
    • All Stars at the Garden
    • Big Night for Cougar
    • One, Two, Three Punch
    • Mighty Blue Wave
    • Maroon Between the Pipes
    • Premèire Femelle
    • Arlington Here We Come
  • Schoolboy Stories II
    • New England OT Thrillers
    • Doubleheader at the Park
    • Bay State Battle
    • California Dreamin'
    • Bienvenue a R.I. Montréal
    • Third Time's A Charm
    • The Kids Called Her Coach
    • Dueling Opinions
    • And The Winner Is ...
    • Eight Ways to Sunday
    • Not One But Two!
  • Sr Amateur Teams
    • Providence Hockey Club
    • Richard J. Dennis Post
    • Canadian Club of Rhode Island
    • East Side Hockey Club
    • Providence Club
    • Flying Frenchmen of Woonsocket
    • Rhode Island Marquettes
    • Club Marquette of Woonsocket
    • Sandager Club
    • Dunnes of Cranston
    • P & Q of Woonsocket
    • Providence Chicks
    • Eastern Olympics
    • Cranston Hockey Club
  • Se Amateur Leagues
    • Industrial Hockey League
    • Blackstone Valley Amateur Hockey League
    • Rhode Island Amateur Hockey League
    • Rhode Island Amateur Hockey Association
    • Inter-City Amateur Hockey League
    • CYO Senior Hockey League
    • Rhode Island Senior Hockey League
    • Rhode Island Amateur Hockey Assoc.
    • Rhode Island Amateur Hockey League
    • Old Colony Hockey League
    • Massachusetts Hockey League
  • RI Scarlets
    • RI Amateur Hockey Club
    • RI Scarlets 1930s
    • RI Scarlets 1940s
    • RI Scarlets 1950s
    • RI Scarlets 1960s
  • Did You Know? I
    • Hooray For Hollywood
    • Maryland, My Maryland
    • Across the Pond
    • Goodbye Detroit Hello Prague
    • Fisticuffs in Stockholm
    • The Diamond to the Blueline
    • Little Rhody on the Reds
    • First Dominicans on Ice
    • Brown Finally Plays Harvard
    • Amateurs at the Auditorium
    • Can You Spare a Goalie?
    • In The Army Now
    • Mademoiselles Play Too
  • Did You Know? II
    • East Side Skating Club
    • USA versus RI
    • Down East Hockey
    • Olympic Tune-up
    • Title Quest
    • Anthony's Skating Rink
    • Scout's Honor
    • Putting on the Stripes
    • The Under Card
    • The Great Outdoors
    • Kid to the Rescue
    • The Pride of Chambly Basin
    • The Sharpshooter
  • Junior Hockey
    • Providence Jr Hockey League
    • Jr Amateur Hockey League
    • Jr AHA
  • College
    • Brown University
    • Providence College
    • Bryant College
    • Roger Williams College
  • All-American
  • USA
  • Sr. A.A.U./A.H.A.
  • Origins
  • RI In The Pros
    • NHL
    • AHL
    • IHL
    • EHL
    • CHL
  • Dick Ernst Articles
  • Contact