2025 INDUCTEE IN THE PLAYER CATEGORY: MIKE TYMCHYSHYN
Mike with his brother Bill, started playing pick up lacrosse when he was eleven years old in 1945 at the Kelvin Community Centre under the tutelage of Al and Doug Smallwood. During his two years of playing pick up lacrosse, Mike found his position- goal tender. In 1947, Mike played his only year of minor lacrosse, winning the Bantam B Championship for Kelvin. After the one year of minor lacrosse there was no team in his age group in Elmwood. Wanting to play the game, he showed up at Kelvin CC, waiting for a Senior team that needed goalie for the night. For two years, Mike (as a Midget aged player) played for all four senior team (Argonaughts, Wellingtons, Winnipegs, and Shamrocks (later know as the Drewerys) that were operating in the early '50's. The senior league was composed of senior aged players (many who played on Minto Cup teams) and the top-notch junior players. Playing for all four teams over two years, his development did not go unnoticed as Ernie O'Dowda asked Tymchysyn to join the Elmwood team.
In 1951, Les Swaffer, the coach of the Manitoba Junior All star, asked Mike to backup the four time Minto Cup player Clarke Hicks. In a rough three game series against the BC All Star, Manitoba captured the Western Canadian Junior Championship. In the series Hicks was outstanding out duelling the BC goaltender, leaving no opportunity for Mike to play. This changed in Brampton at the Minto Cup Final. In the first game of the series, Hicks was hit in the face and Mike was called into action. Playing two periods, Tymchysyn held the powerhouse Brampton Excelsiors to ten goals. That was the only action he saw in '51 Minto Cup. Manitoba lost the Cup in three games.
In 1952, Mike (Still Juvenile age) was passed over, as coach, Eric Abbott, decided to go with a duo of older goaltenders.
In 1953, Manitoba felt that the province could improve their performance by forming a junior all-star team that played in the Senior league, as opposed to picking a team two weeks before the play downs. Mike was selected to this team- sharing goal tending duties with Jack Campbell. In the western play downs for the Minto Cup Manitoba faced a star studded team from BC- the Salmonacs- the best of the New West Minister Salmon Bellies and the Coquitlam Adanacs. Mike played the first game, losing 20-15. The outstanding play of BC goal tender, Ron Delimonca, combined with Manitoba's erratic shooting lead to the defeat. With Jack Campbell in net for the second game, Manitoba fell 18-7.
In 1954, All Star coach, Johnny Arondus called upon Mike to carry the load in goal for the Manitoba All Stars in Minto Cup Competition. In the first game of Minot Cup series against the Long Branch Monarchs, stout goal tending by Mike Tymychysn and strong defence allowed Manitoba to close out the greatest victory in Manitoba lacrosse history. For the first time in Minto Cup history, a team from Manitoba beat the Ontario representative in Minto Cup play downs. In the second game of the series, Long Branch's goalie, Porky Russell, out duelled Tymychysn, who had to face 12 Long Branch power plays. The third game was also a goaltending duel, but sterling performance by "Little Mike" (Wpg. Free Press) made the difference in the game giving Manitoba the Eastern Canadian Championship. Manitoba went on the play BC champions, The PNE Indians, losing in three straight games. Winnipeg Free Press summarized the series that Manitoba' challenge was built upon timely goaltending by "Little Mike".
The 1955 Western Canadian Championship was a rematch with the PNE Indians. In the first game, Tymychysm lead Manitoba to a 9-8 victory- handing PNE their first loss in two years. PNE won the second game of the series 13-7. In the third game, Manitoba beat the BC champions 9-6 on the 56 save performance by "Mr. Mike" (Wpg Free Press). At the end of the game the 1000 fans carried Mr. Mike out on their shoulders. The short-handed, road weary Winnipeg squad were swept in thee games by the Long Branch Monarchs.
HIGHLIGHTS OF MIKE'S CAREER
? PLAYED SIX YEARS SENIOR LACROSSE AS A JUNIOR AGE PLAYER
? 1951 played in Minto Cup Championship
? 1953 Played in Western Minto Cup Championship
? 1954 EASTERN CANADIAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONS
? 1955 WESTERN CANADIAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONS
? Most wins by a Manitoba goalie in Minto Cup play
? "Unofficial" outstanding player of the 1955 Minto Cup finals
? Only member of all three Manitoba Minto Cup finals teams
? 2012 inducted to the Manitoba Lacrosse Hall of Fame as a member of the '51, '54, & '55 teams
? 2016 inducted to the Manitoba Sport Hall of Fame
Manitoba has produced a number of star goaltenders. Of all of these goaltenders Mike was the most successful goal tender in national competitions. Mike was a competitor noting he never lost a head to head match against Ken Williams- the dean of Manitoba goalies player over 25 years senior lacrosse.
