Legends on Ice looks back at some of the memorable hockey players to lace up the skates in Stratford.
“The Flanagans.”
Those were the first two words uttered by a former Stratford Culliton and National Hockey League player when asked what stood out with his time with the legendary Junior B franchise.
Nelson Emmerson played two seasons for the Cullitons, now called the Warriors, from 1984 to 1986 before moving on to Bowling Green University for four years. A brief stint in the International Hockey League led to a 12-season NHL career, notching 488 points in 771 games.
Emerson added other memories that stand out are the Allman Arena, his billets – Bert and Mary Ellen Clifford, and his teammates.
“I came from a midget program (U18) in Waterford. When I came to Stratford, I could not believe how organized and how professional everything was run. It was top-notch, and that starts with the coaches, the Flanagans, the billets, and it just felt different than any other place in junior hockey.”
At that time, Dennis Flanagan was the team’s head coach while his father, “Dinny” served as general manager. Dinny’s wife Joan, was also an integral part of the team behind the scenes.
Emerson played with some future professional players, including Seaforth native Pat Murray, Shawn Heaphy and Steve Scheifele.
“Murray was only 16, and then we had 20-year-old Warren Bullock, who scored 50 goals. Our three centremen, Heaphy, Bullock and I all scored 50 in a season. John Kastner tells a story of us playing in Streetsville in the (Sutherland Cup finals), and their coach was excited because he had a matchup line to play against us.”
He said Kastner, the former sports editor of the Stratford Beacon Herald, had to tell the coach the trio played on separate lines.
Following his retirement, Emerson has worked within the Los Angeles Kings organization since 2006 and has served as the team’s assistant general manager since 2022. He said the Cullitons teams he played on have helped him in his career as an executive.
“Just the depth we had, even from the local guys like Mike Pierce and our goalie, Gary Wray. We were a team. A team that when you get older and are trying to build something – centremen, defence, goaltending, size, toughness. We had everything. Scott Rex back on D, just an incredible player.”
The team not only led the league in scoring with 333 goals in 40 games, but they also amassed the most penalty minutes with 1,980, an average of nearly 50 per game. Eight Cullitons had more than 100 minutes in the box that season, something you don’t see in today’s junior game.
“We had a whole cast of characters, and it took everyone to win,” he added.
Emerson added the team’s captain, Stratford native Walt Morris, also played a huge role in the team’s success. That 1985-86 team lost just three regular-season games on the way to an Ontario title.
Emerson said he still keeps an eye on the league in his role with the Kings through several sources, including current Warriors coach Dave Williams.
“He’s been terrific in keeping some of the alumni updated on things. He reaches out to me, and every once in a while, I’ll send him a note to wish the team luck. I’m always interested in how they are doing.”
Wray and several former teammates have organized a Stratford reunion and golf tournament for July. Emerson said he is planning to be there.
“When you win, it doesn’t matter what level of hockey it is, you always have a connection for life. Gary started a group chat about four or five years ago to get everyone together. It’s going to be great to see everybody, and hopefully we get a bunch of the guys there.”
Emerson added the legendary Allman Arena and the Flanagans are aspects that have stuck with him, even 40 years later.
“Walking into that arena on a Friday night, the red seats and how shiny they were. I love the town, the people. Stratford was one of the best places for kids to play hockey, and it goes back to the Flanagans and how they ran the organization and how they recruited. I am very proud to have been a part of that legacy.”
Emerson, whose best NHL season came in 1983-84 when he scored 74 points for the Winnipeg Jets, spends his summers in Port Dover and has made a point of showing his family where his career took off.
“When I can, I drive through Stratford with the kids to show them the arena, the town, where my billet house used to be. I still get a special feeling in my gut. It just brings back such positive memories.”
