Looking back: A decade of hockey

Published 11:13 am Wednesday, October 21, 2020

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John Luney attempts a rebound shot during a January 1957 game against Owatonna at Morin Park. The Albert Lea Packers won the contest, 4-2. - Photo courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum

John Luney joined the Packers during the 1950 season. He was team captain for many seasons. Later he served as president of the Albert Lea Hockey Association. - Photo courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum

One of the youngest teams to take the ice was the 1950-51 squad. Two Packers, Robert “Red” Johnson and John Luney were selected to the SMHL’s All-Star Team. - Photo courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum

The 1951-52 Packers ended their season, 5-1-1, in second place. Defensively, they were tops in the league, limiting opponents to seven goals for the entire season. - Photo courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum

The 1954-55 Packers finished with three wins and five losses in league play. A thrilling exhibition game, intended to prepare the league champions, North Mankato, for tournament competition, ended in a 7-6 victory for Albert Lea. - Photo courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum

The Packers skated into second place in league standings during 1956-57. Albert Lea’s center Ken Westrum and wings John Luney and Archie Nelson were chosen as the SMHL’s All-Star first line. - Photo courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum

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Looking back by Linda Evenson

The 1950s were a time of change for the Albert Lea hockey team. The adult team opened the decade skating on the ice at Abbott Field rink and closed it at Morin Park’s rink. Sponsored by Wilson & Co., a meat-packing industry, the team was known as the Packers. Near the end of the decade, the team began the season on Dec. 17, 1958, with a new name, the Albert Lea Rangers.

Albert Lea was a charter member of the Southern Minnesota Hockey League (SMHL), which was organized in 1934. Other charter members were Austin, North Mankato, Northfield and Owatonna. By 1959, Faribault, Rochester and Winona had joined the league.

In the Jan. 15, 1950, issue of the Albert Lea Tribune, Russell Voigt proclaimed, “The Packers have jumped from obscurity into the ice limelight.” In late January, a large crowd gathered at Abbott Field in anticipation of a home ice contest. Despite fan support, the Packers suffered a loss and dropped into a three-way tie for first place.

The 1958-59 season started with three straight victories. The Rangers took an 8-0 lead during the second period of a Jan. 8, 1959, meeting with Owatonna. It ended with an Albert Lea win, 12-5. A couple close contests at the end of the season put the Rangers in fourth place in league standings.