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Edmonton Grads 1915-1940
Regarding John Molina's work...."It is one of the finest collections on women's basketball," said Michael Brooslin, museum curator at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. Hartford Courant May 20, 2002.
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Shown above is the 1932 Grads team that would travel to Los Angeles Ca. Basketball was still considered an exhibition at the Olympics during this era, yet that didnt prevent the Grads from bringing teams with such captains as Winnie Martin (24 - Paris), Elsie Bennie (28 - Amsterdam), Margaret MacBurney (32 - Los Angeles), and Gladys Fry (36 - Berlin). During this span, the Grads would play 27 games in all. Their record was an amazing 27-0. They would outscore their opponents from other countries 1,863 to a mere 297 (for every 6 points the grads would score, their opposition would score 1. This would include beating Lille 61-1, Paris 109-20 and London 100-2. Even though this sport was still in an exhibition stage, countries would still send their best.
The Grads would go on to dominate up until 1940. Coach Page always remained in the background, but it was quite obvious, that while the ladies were the ones that took the court each time, his presence was a driving force. He always said they were to be "Ladies first, basketball players second". He did expect dedication as he would tell them "You must play basketball, think basketball and dream basketball". As the team became more successful the city gave the coach a brand new Chevrolet Coupe. Up until that point, he traveled by pedaling his bicycle around.
The Grads would end up playing the famous Des Moines A.I.B's for the Underwood Trophy (shown above in 1939). There were many famous AAU teams during this time and members from these AAU teams have gone on to the Womens basketball hof.
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The Grads were so popular that actual merchandise items were made and sold. This includes a offical Grads record book and a Christmas postcard from 1935 (as shown above).
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The AIB's would win the AAU championhip in 1942. However when they played the Grads in 1939 the famous ladies of Edmonton would sweep all 3 games against Des Moines by a total score of 171-78. This team was just that dominating. One of the All American Red Heads Purkey Mlaska would play on a Chicago team against the Grads before traveling the U.S. with "Ole" Olson.
The Grads disbanded in 1940. The Underwood series trophy would be retired and given to the Grads, in honor of their dominance over 2 decades of the series. Attendence had started dropping off a bit, as the Grads could not find good competition on a regular basis, and the only news they would generate was when they lost (sound familiar Geno and Pat?). World War II had begun and the Royal Canadian Air Force had taken over the Edmonton arena. Lack of financial support, because of their success, would have the Grads play their last games in 1940.
Some of the final stats for the grads: Leading all time scorer was Noel MacDonald with 1,874 points. Margaret MacBurney would play the longest with 12 years. The teams final record would be an outstanding 526-22 (Better then 96%). They would win a record 147 games in a row during one point that went across several seasons.
38 women would wear the Grads uniform. As of the beginning of 2004 I think only 5-6 of this special historic team are still with us. Percy Page, who would end up in Politics in Canada, passed away in 1973. In the History of Womens Basketball this is one of the most amazing stories.
A bit of an editorial note. I hope that someday Coach Page will end up in the Hall of Fame. If a whole team cannot be entered, at least Noel and probably Margaret MacBurney should go in with him.
Contact the Author, John Molina
Please visit other web sites listed below, developed by John Molina and dedicated to the history of women's basketball
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