1948-49 Simcoe Lions Bantams -- Town League Champions
Left to right, back row: Don Ward, Bob Kendrick, Don Smith, manager Orville Kemp, Doug Richmond, Bob Sowden, George Pond, Ron Smith. Front row: Bob Norman, Coleman Keene, Stan Overbaugh, Howard Butcher, John Ward, Harvey Caswell, Ron Frances.
Absent: Dough Crandall.
Photo courtesy George Pond. (Larger Version)

In 1948-49, the Simcoe Lions Club organized and sponsored a town hockey league for boys aged 12-14, that was the forerunner of the Simcoe Minor Hockey Association.

From the 21 Apr 1949 Simcoe Reformer:
"N.H.L. Star is Guest of Honor at Hockey Event ... the boys who played in the Bantam Hockey League during the past winter had a grand time on Tuesday evening when they gathered in the arena lounge to close the season. Highlight of the evening was the presence of Leonard "Red" Kelly of the Detroit Red Wings, who presented crests to the championship Number 'Two' team."