Walt Christianson says the decision was an easy one, and a unanimous one at that.
Looking to officially retire the organization鈥檚 first-ever number, he and members of the Victoria Shamrocks alumni looked no further than Fred (Whitey) Severson, whose No. 8 now hangs from the rafters at The Q Centre.
It all becomes official tonight when the man affectionately known as Whitey will be honoured during the first intermission of the Shamrocks versus New Westminster Salmonbellies regular-season contest.
鈥淲hen we started looking at it, we formed a committee and it was one of the things the alumni wanted to do. There are a lot of great players who have worn the green jersey, but when we started talking about actually retiring a jersey, there were only a select few,鈥� said Christianson, of the alumni association.
鈥淲e identified three and Whitey was the first one from the 1950s. It was an easy choice. I never personally got to see him play, but I've heard so much about him and it was pretty much a unanimous vote. The whole event is pretty special.
鈥淭he Montreal Canadiens and Boston have theirs and New Westminster has retired six of their own, I think. It鈥檚 been a long time coming for us and it鈥檚 pretty neat that Whitey鈥檚 still here, still with us.鈥�
And the 87-year-old is pleased as punch.
鈥淚鈥檓 completely flabbergasted and so honoured to be the first one. I didn鈥檛 know it was happening until Walt brought it up. I鈥檓 getting congratulations from everywhere and I鈥檓 so thrilled, truly thrilled, and to have my wife and daughter here will be special,鈥� Severson said of wife Betty-May and daughter Cherlynn.
The two were also there when he was recognized as the first player to reach 1,000 points in the Western senior lacrosse league, stopping the game for acknowledgments back in 1958.
鈥淚鈥檝e been blessed playing with great teammates and great people,鈥� added Severson, who finished with 1,202 points over his career, but that was back in the early days of lacrosse when second assists were not recognized. 鈥淚t was quite a sporting crowd in Victoria and I鈥檓 thrilled about this commemoration. It鈥檚 awesome.鈥�
Severson joined the Shamrocks in 1951, after playing for the New Westminster Adanacs and one season out East in Brampton, Ont. He made the move to Victoria along with Archie Browning and the two blond, fair-haired players were known as the Gold Dust Twins.
鈥淗e made me look good and I think I made him look good, too,鈥� Severson said with a chuckle. But over the years Severson played with many tremendous talents, including Jack Bionda and Arnold Ferguson.
鈥淚 look at some of these kids now and they鈥檙e awesome,鈥� said Severson. 鈥淭he game has changed. Ours was more of a defensive game.鈥�
Severson won three Mann Cups 鈥� in 1948 with the Adanacs and 1955 and 1957 with the Shamrocks, the last one as a player/coach.
鈥淭hat was an awesome team for us. I鈥檇 hate to say which was best, but I think the 1955 team was made up of guys who had been here quite a while. But we also had a nice young club in 1957.鈥�
After retiring from playing, Severson officiated and later was on Saanich council for eight years and Victoria city council for two.
鈥淭he highlight for me was getting the Commonwealth Games and travelling to earn other countries鈥� support,鈥� he said, of his time on council. 鈥淚鈥檓 very proud of all of it and my family is very proud.鈥�
As is the Shamrocks organization.
鈥淔our of his teammates from the 1950s will be coming,鈥� Christianson said of the evening. 鈥淗is family is also attending. It will be pretty emotional for him. It鈥檚 very deserving.鈥�
CLOVER POINTS: The 6-2 Shamrocks will remain without Rhys Duch tonight and Jesse King has returned back to Ohio State.
