Youngsters have been playing hockey in Trail since before the turn of the century, but youth hockey wasn't officially organized until the spring of 1934, when Fred Edmonds formed a Booster Club to provide members of the Senior Smoke Eaters with the opportunity to coach youngsters.

   For the 1934-35 season, Edmonds had over 100 young players organized into 11 teams. In those early years the Booster Club raised money for youth hockey through donations from local businesses and individuals and via raffles and the sale of souvenir hockey sticks. In 1938 the Booster Club gave way to the Trail Boys Booster Hockey Club and became an affiliate of the Trail Athletic Association. By 1950, with registration topping 500 for the first time, the Trail Boys Booster Hockey Club was officially reorganized as the Trail Minor Hockey Association.

   In 1955, the Trail Minor Hockey Association became one of the first in the province to form a division for female players, and interest was so great that four teams were formed: the Clubs, Diamonds, Aces and Hearts. The Clubs won the inaugural city championship by blanking the Diamonds 2 - 0.

   The most far-reaching achievement of the Trail Minor Hockey Association was realized in 1957, when Charlie McLean organized Canada's first Minor Hockey Week at Cominco Arena, promoting it with the slogan: "Don't SEND your boy to the rink -- TAKE him!"

   The following year, based on Trail's model, the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association officially declared that Minor Hockey Week would be celebrated across Canada every January. Over the decades, the event has become an international phenomenon, with youth hockey associations in Europe and the U.S. now taking part. And Charlie McLean's original 1957 slogan is still being used!

    Over the years some of the minor hockey grads from Trail, Rossland and the Beaver Valley who went on to play in the National Hockey League and the World Hockey Association included: Cesare Maniago; Butch Deadmarsh and his nephew Adam Deadmarsh; Steven McCarthy; Barrett Jackman; Mike Zanier; Dallas Drake; Ray Ferraro; Derek Hass; Tim Lenardon; Ed Cristofoli; Jim Smith; Richard Krom; Seth Martin; Derek Mayer; Don Mcleod; Tom McVie; Garth Rizzuto; Steve Tambellini and Joe Zanussi.

    The success of Trail Teams in provincial, national and international competition is reflected in the number of banners hanging from the rafters of the Cominco Arena. Senior teams from the Smelter City won six consecutive Savage Cups (provincial title) between 1926 / 27 and 1931 / 32, heralding in an era when Trail routinely produced B.C.'s best in junior, juvenile, midget, bantam and peewee clubs.

    To the executives, coaches and players over the decades: Congratulations on a job well done!