Windsor Swastikas
Encyclopedia
The Windsor Swastikas were a Canadian
ice hockey
team in Windsor
, Nova Scotia
, from 1905–1916. Not to be confused with the Fernie Swastikas
across the country in British Columbia
, the Swastikas chose their name as at the time the swastika
was a symbol associated with luck and success.
symbol as their logo. The swastika is an equilateral
cross
with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form or its mirrored left-facing form. Archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates from the Neolithic
period and the design is still widely used in many religions around the world. Though once commonly used all over much of the world without stigma, because of its iconic usage in Nazi Germany
the symbol has become stigmatized in the Western world
, notably even outlawed
in Germany.
has a long history of the sport. As such it was natural that the small town would have a touring team. When selecting logo's for their hockey team they chose a symbol that at the time was associated with power and good fortune, much like the four leafed clover
. The team formed in 1905 and toured the East coast of Canada travelling as far as St. John's, Newfoundland
to play other professional teams. At first they played in and won the Western Nova Scotia Amateur Hockey League championship. They also defeated other team to win the famous Halifax Herald and Mail Trophy. The team moved by train from town to town as was common in the era. For home games they played at the Stannus Street Rink
, the oldest rink in Canada. The team disbanded during World War I
when many players, like Blaine Sexton
, joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force
that fought on the Western Front.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team in Windsor
Windsor, Nova Scotia
Windsor is a town located in Hants County, Mainland Nova Scotia at the junction of the Avon and St. Croix Rivers. It is the largest community in western Hants County with a 2001 population of 3,779 and was at one time the shire town of the county. The region encompassing present day Windsor was...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, from 1905–1916. Not to be confused with the Fernie Swastikas
Fernie Swastikas
The Fernie Swastikas were a women's hockey team that was formed in 1922 in Fernie, British Columbia. Their uniform used as a symbol the swastika, which before World War II was a common religious symbol, and especially a sun sign. In 1923, the Swastikas won the Alpine Cup at the Banff Winter...
across the country in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, the Swastikas chose their name as at the time the swastika
Swastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
was a symbol associated with luck and success.
Team logo
The Windsor Swastikas used the ancient swastikaSwastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
symbol as their logo. The swastika is an equilateral
Equilateral
In geometry, an equilateral polygon is a polygon which has all sides of the same length.For instance, an equilateral triangle is a triangle of equal edge lengths...
cross
Cross
A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other, dividing one or two of the lines in half. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally; if they run obliquely, the design is technically termed a saltire, although the arms of a saltire need not meet...
with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form or its mirrored left-facing form. Archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates from the Neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
period and the design is still widely used in many religions around the world. Though once commonly used all over much of the world without stigma, because of its iconic usage in Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
the symbol has become stigmatized in the Western world
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
, notably even outlawed
Strafgesetzbuch § 86a
The German Strafgesetzbuch in § 86a outlaws "use of symbols of unconstitutional organisations". This concerns Nazi symbolism in particular and is part of the denazification efforts following the fall of the Third Reich....
in Germany.
History
Credited as the birthplace of hockey WindsorWindsor, Nova Scotia
Windsor is a town located in Hants County, Mainland Nova Scotia at the junction of the Avon and St. Croix Rivers. It is the largest community in western Hants County with a 2001 population of 3,779 and was at one time the shire town of the county. The region encompassing present day Windsor was...
has a long history of the sport. As such it was natural that the small town would have a touring team. When selecting logo's for their hockey team they chose a symbol that at the time was associated with power and good fortune, much like the four leafed clover
Four-leaf clover
The four-leaf clover is an uncommon variation of the common, three-leaved clover. According to tradition, such leaves bring good luck to their finders, especially if found accidentally...
. The team formed in 1905 and toured the East coast of Canada travelling as far as St. John's, Newfoundland
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
to play other professional teams. At first they played in and won the Western Nova Scotia Amateur Hockey League championship. They also defeated other team to win the famous Halifax Herald and Mail Trophy. The team moved by train from town to town as was common in the era. For home games they played at the Stannus Street Rink
Stannus Street Rink
The Stannus Street Rink, also known as the Windsor Rink, in Windsor, Nova Scotia is a former ice hockey arena. It is considered the oldest ice hockey arena in Canada, having been built in 1897.-History:...
, the oldest rink in Canada. The team disbanded during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
when many players, like Blaine Sexton
Blaine Sexton
Blaine Nathaniel Sexton was a British ice hockey player who competed in the 1924 Winter Olympics and in the 1928 Winter Olympics. In 1916 he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force and fought in the trenches of France on the Western Front during World War I...
, joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
that fought on the Western Front.
Notable players
- Blaine SextonBlaine SextonBlaine Nathaniel Sexton was a British ice hockey player who competed in the 1924 Winter Olympics and in the 1928 Winter Olympics. In 1916 he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force and fought in the trenches of France on the Western Front during World War I...
(May 3, 1892 – April 27, 1966) - Was a former Swastika player who went on to become a player on the BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
ice hockeyIce hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team that got a bronze medalBronze medalA bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
at the 1924 Winter Olympics1924 Winter OlympicsThe 1924 Winter Olympics, officially known as the I Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was held in 1924 in Chamonix, France...
. - Walter Regan - Coach of Swastikas. His son, Gerald ReganGerald ReganGerald Augustine Regan, PC is a Canadian politician, who served as the 19th Premier of Nova Scotia from 1970 to 1978....
, later became Premier of Nova ScotiaPremier of Nova ScotiaThe Premier of Nova Scotia is the first minister for the Canadian province of Nova Scotia who presides over the Executive Council of Nova Scotia. Following the Westminster system, the premier is normally the leader of the political party which has the most seats in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly...
. - Lew Shaw - Inductee of the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame for hockey.
- Charles "Charlie" Patterson - an accomplished rowing and speed skating champion from Dartmouth and inductee of the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame along with his brother Sandy.
See also
- History of hockey
- Fernie Swastikas
- Western use of the Swastika in the early 20th centuryWestern use of the Swastika in the early 20th centuryThe swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form or its mirrored left-facing form. Archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates from the Neolithic period and was first found in the Indus Valley Civilization of the Indian...