New updates, identifications, corrections, May 2025

Taking some time and looking back to fill in some holes or close some things out.

DETAILS ADDED:

John Brunner, EPBL - Died April 23, 2025

Ken DePoe, EPBL - Died May 14, 2025

George Garber, ABL - added middle name, place of death, corrected birthdate

Don Keener, EPBL - Died March 5, 2025

Harry Platt, ABL - added place of birth

Burt Silverman, EPBL, ABL - added date of birth, died May 8, 2025

PROPERLY IDENTIFIED:

CORRECTED:

NEW LEADS UNRESOLVED:

Don Walsh, NBL - Other sites have this player listed as Donald Wilkinson Walsh, but I am not sold. An article in Berwyn Life from February 24, 1939 mentions a pair of basketball-playing brothers named Don and Lionel Walsh, playing for the local Cicero team. If this Don Walsh is the Kankakee Trojans Don Walsh, that means this player is Donald Thomas Walsh (1917-1996), not Donald Wilkinson Walsh.

1945-46 Clinton Legionnaires / Irish-Americans (NEBL)

1945-46 CLINTON LEGIONNAIRES / IRISH-AMERICANS

NEW ENGLAND BASKETBALL LEAGUE
7-8, .474, 4th place
First Round: Defeated Portland, 2-1

Semi-finals: Defeated Hartford 2-0

Finals: Lost to Fitchburg, 2-1

The Clinton Irish-Americans started the season with three losses before revamping the rosters. They added players like Frank Matris, Jack Stone and Mort McMurk who were in the U.S. Navy and serving nearby at Squantam Naval Base. After struggling for a few more games, pitting them with a 1-6 record, the team began to gel and won 6 of their last 8 games to earn a spot in the playoffs,

Their run didn't end there. After dropping the opening game in their first round series against Portland, they rebounded to win the series and moved on to face Hartford, who they swept in two game. Facing the powerhouse from Fitchburg in the finals, they stunned the league with a hard fought 38-35 win in the opening game. However, their run quickly ended as Fiitchburg routed Clinton 60-38 and 52-40 to give the PAMCO's the championship.

Head Coach:

• Bill Bornheimer (November 25, 1921 - July 2, 1989) Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

Ed Buckley

Lou Angler  

Frank Baylor 

Bob Bleir 

Bill Bornheimer (November 25, 1921 - July 2, 1989)

Ed Buckley (July 2, 1920 - September 15, 1993)

Ike Creeden (April 15, 1919 - July 12, 2003)

Fred Cruickshank (December 31, 1920 - January 6, 2020)

Ted Edelson (December 26, 1916 - September 15, 1995)

Frscher  

George Garber (February 26, 1918 - July 13, 1984)

Al Griffin

Jim Jeffrey (July 24, 1908 - May 13, 1987)

Roy Lund (September 28, 1923 - February 21, 2018)

Frank Matris 

Mort McMurk  (c.1922 - ????)

Walt Melanson 

Norm O'Brien 

Bob O'Malley (May 15, 1917 - January 10, 1998)

Russell

Jack Stone (Bornheimer) (November 25, 1921 - July 2, 1989)

Nick Sudac 

Joe Tolhurst (October 30, 1916 - January 24, 2016)

Ralph Wicks (July 2, 1921 - January 15, 2004)

1945-46 Boston Goodwins (NEBL)

1945-46 BOSTON GOODWINS
NEW ENGLAND BASKETBALL LEAGUE
9-10, .474, 3rd place
First Round: Lost to Fitchburg, 2-0

Vic Siegel

A popular and renown traveling squad, the Goodwins were expected to be one of the best teams in the New England League.  They roared off to a 4-0 start but their fortunes turned quickly. They would drop 6 of their next 7 and stumbled to a 9-10 finish. The Goodwins were swept from the playoffs in two games by the PAMCO's of Fitchburg.

Head Coach:

• Foxy Flumere (June 17, 1912 - September 20, 1990)
  

PLAYERS:

Ted Bokina (January 12, 1922 - December 5, 2011)

Bill Bornheimer (November 25, 1921 - July 2, 1989)

Paul Cloyd (June 13, 1920 - December 28, 2005)

DelRino  

Don Elser (August 4, 1913 - October 18, 1968)

Harry Fitzpatrick (May 22, 1913 - November 19, 1979)

Mike Genevrino (March 4, 1922 - June 17, 2002)

Leo Kane (November 16, 1918 - February 10, 2003)

Bob Luchsinger (July 21, 1921 - November 19, 2017)

Walt Perry (June 5, 1922 - January 19, 2008)

Frank Seybolt (August 8, 1917 - March 12, 2000)

Vic Siegel (August 24, 1920 - July 7, 2017)

Swensky 

Joe Tolhurst (October 30, 1916 - January 24, 2016)

Joe Tolhurst

Pat Walsh 

Walters 

Webster 

Mike Genevrino

Williams 

1945-46 New England Basketball League (NEBL)

The bolstered post-war interest in basketball not only brought back the Connecticut League from its hiatus, but also allowed for the creation of the New England Basketball League. Considered to possess players as good as the Connecticut or New York leagues, the New England league included a couple well-known touring teams: the Boston Goodwins, the Hartford Pros and the Fitchburg PAMCO's.

The seven-team circuit formed in late 1945 and started its season before Christmas. However, after some team shuffling it was decided to scrap  the coup[le games played to restart the season just a couple days prior to New Years Day 1946. The Goodwins got off to a good start but fell apart really quickly. No other team was able to challenge Fitchburg as they ran off the regular season title, winning by 6.5 games over Hartford. Fitchburg would sweep through the playoffs and won the inaugural season's championship.

• Boston Goodwins
• Clinton Legionnaires / Irish-Americans
• Fitchburg PAMCO's
• Hartford Pros
• Pawtucket Collegians
• Portland Millionaires
• Worcester Nortons / Lynn Americans

1945-46 New Haven Red Devils (CSL)

1945-46 NEW HAVEN RED DEVILS

CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
16-6, .727, 2nd place

Semi-Finals: Lost to Bristol, 2-0

Hull's Red Devils put together a great season, starting off winning 12 of fourteen league games. They had a short slump in mid-January, losing 3 of four before finishing the regular season with four straight wins and finishing in second place.  Facing first-place Bristol in the playoffs, the Red Devils were bounced in two games.

Head Coach:

• Herky Rubenstein (October 16, 1902 - October 4, 1975)
  

PLAYERS:

Steve Collins (May 2, 1915 - September 30, 1990)

Sal Concordino  

Freddie Ferrie (April 2, 1917 - April 14, 1995)

George Ferrie (March 2, 1928 - October 18, 2011)

Chet Gladchuk (April 10, 1917 - September 4, 1967)

Frank Iwanski (October 11, 1914 - October 29, 2003)

Chubby Malinconico (November 16, 1921 - March 14, 2007)

John McHugh 

Rocky Petrafessa (February 22, 1917 - February 6, 2003)

Herky Rubenstein (October 16, 1902 - October 4, 1975)

Joe St. John (February 14, 1920 - October 4, 2003)

Johnny Slab (May 1, 1920 - August 20, 1980)

1945-46 Naugatuck Zephyrs (CSL)

1945-46 NAUGATUCK ZEPHYRS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
1-18, .053, 7th place

It was a brutally difficult season for the hapless Zephyrs, only managing a single victory in 19 league games.

Head Coach:

• 
  

PLAYERS:

John Galeski

Adams  

Bill Dunn (July 4, 1926 - October 9, 2013)

Jack Dunn (July 29, 1921 - April 7, 1999)

Tom Edmonds (January 29, 1919 - October 2, 1970)

Frankie Furs (August 18, 1925 - July 15, 1953)

John Galeski (March 22, 1917 - July 19, 1995)

Lyon  

Carl Manti (May 23, 1915 - August 5, 2000)

Ace McDermott (June 13, 1921 - June 14, 2014)

Frank Neary (July 1, 1918 - September 28, 1994)

Eddie O'Connor (March 25, 1921 - December 4, 2010)

Dick Pistarelli (January 4, 1923 - December 19, 2006)

Rafferty  

Buck Reilly (August 9, 1924 - November 20, 1985)

Red Ryan (September 22, 1924 - July 10, 2005)

Chet Wojack (February 19, 1923 - September 4, 1999)

Wally Yackowski (March 24, 1922 - January 29, 2012)

Chet Wojack

1945-46 Middletown Speedboys (CSL)

1945-46 MIDDLETOWN SPEEDBOYS

Drade Bogacz

CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
3-12, .200, 5th place

Middletown lost their first 5 games and were 1-7 when they revamped the team. They brought in the New Britain Pros to take over the franchise on January 10 and after losing two more they rebounded to grab a pair of wins against Lenox and Hartford. Their good fortune ended there and the lost the remaining games.

Head Coach:

• 
  

PLAYERS:

Eddie Bloom  

Drade Bogacz (December 4, 1917 - May 26, 2010)

John Bransfield (October 12, 1922 - June 22, 1993)

Tommy Bryant  

Joe Burek (December 27, 1923 - March 20, 2013)

Bub Daniels

Bub Daniels (November 12, 1920 - July 20, 2003)

John Emmette (June 8, 1917 - February 11, 2016)

Jack French (July 30, 1924 - November 29, 2004)

Dick Jester (July 29, 1923 - August 9, 2005)

Don Kotter (December 29, 1920 - November 11, 1985)

Buzzy Levin (September 24, 1926 - June 2, 2017)

Chick Marino (November 8, 1923 - February 13, 2010)

Al Moschetti (January 1, 1920 - December 10, 2007)

Bill Nelson (July 2, 1916 - March 3, 1983)

Drade Nolan 

John Nolan (January 8, 1919 - December 8, 1994)

Bernie O'Rourke (November  24, 1918 - May 26, 1986)

Bill Salmonson (August 6, 1919 - July 4, 1968)

Irv Schneider (January 11, 1916 - February 22, 1988)

John Emmette

Joe Burek

1945-46 Hartford Atlantics (CSL)

Jack Wise

1945-46 HARTFORD ATLANTICS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
3-14, .176, 7th place

A long and suffering season for the Atlantics. They would only win one of the first 9 games and only the lowly Naugatuck team kept them from a secure place in the league cellar.

Head Coach:

• Jack Wise (Mar 17, 1916 - June 20, 1995) 3-12 Also played. See below
• Tony Crafa (May 19, 1920 - December 14, 1976) 0-2

PLAYERS:

Joe Bores (January 4, 1926 - March 10, 2018)

Moe Bower (September 5, 1922 - December 10, 1971)

Mike Diakon (March 12, 1917 - December 2, 2006)

Allan Dinnie (April 28, 1921 - April 21, 2015)

Wee Dinnie (March 17, 1923 - March 13, 2015)

Harry Dolinski (November 25, 1922 - May 27, 1996)

Frank Granato (b. September 23, 1924)

Joe Heavey (November 9, 1924 - November 27, 2016)

Sid Himmelstein (September 29, 1914 - January 15, 1982)

George Humphrey (May 20, 1923 - June 18, 1998)

Dick Kelly (September 25, 1922 - May 21, 2000)

Howy Krogh (October 16, 1921 - June 8, 1996)

Win Dinnie

Ed Lasko (Leszczynski)  (August 6, 1918 - January 22, 2013)

Frank Leonard (April 27, 1918 - February 13, 2013)

Red Meade (March 28, 1920 - February 11, 2004)

Al Nelson 

Joe Noce (August 30, 1920 - November 3, 2002)

Danny Norkun (Oct 4, 1917 - September 12, 1991)

Ossie Oswald (February 14, 1911 - August 6, 1960)

Pete Sevetz (September 8, 1919 - November 9, 2004)

Jigger Sitarz (November 24, 1919 - September 21, 2005)

Freddie Ware (March 15, 1915 - October 31, 1996)

Willie Ware (March 19, 1917 - September 14, 1991)

Williams 

Jack Wise (Mar 17, 1916 - June 20, 1995) 

Paul Worobel (July 2, 1919 - June 3, 2004)

Vince Wozniak (January 4, 1921 - February 7, 2003)

Earl Yost (August 14, 1921 - September 3, 2005)

Allan Dinnie

Joe Heavey

Joe Bores

Moe Bower

Harry Dolinski

Vince Wozniak

1945-46 Bristol Tramps (CSL)

1945-46 BRISTOL TRAMPS

Johnny Dobrutsky

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - CONNECTICUT
Finished: 17-3 .850, 1st place
Semi-Finals: Defeated New Haven, 2-0

Finals: Split with Bridgeport Lenox, 1-1 (deciding game not played)

Bristol was a powerhouse. Lead by Johnny Dobrutsky and Walt Kresge, they ran off a 17-3 record to capture the regular season crown. In the playoffs, they swept the Red Devils in the semi finals to earn a berth against Lenox in the finals. After splitting the first two games, the teams failed to meet in a deciding game 3 and neither team won the President's Cup. 

Head Coach: 

• Julie Larese (July 16, 1917 - May 17, 1998) 
• Wally Utke (August 11, 1914 - March 31, 1988)

PLAYERS:

Frank Bores (October 15, 1920 - January 7, 1982)
Johnny Dobrutsky (January 27, 1922 - March 1, 1996)

Hank Gerhardt 

Joe Joyce (March 19, 1915 - March 26, 2013)

Billy Kalosky (December 21, 1921 - December 11, 2008)

Eddie (Kolibczynski) Kobles (November 29, 1915 - October 5, 1971)

Ed Kobles

Walt Kresge (September 25, 1920 - August 14, 2000)

Clarence Lynch (May 1, 1920 - April 14, 2001)

Joe Lynch (March 20, 1922 - March 22, 1983)

Joe Masi (March 19, 1919 - May 16, 1998)

George Redman (October 15, 1924 - March 24, 2009)

Tony Rinaldi (January 3, 1913 - April 13, 1971)

John Utke (October 12, 1922 - November 24, 1986)

Wally Utke (August 11, 1914 - March 31, 1988)

Hank Gerhardt

1945-46 Bridgeport Springwoods (CSL)

1945-46 BRIDGEPORT SPRINGWOODS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
15-8 .652, 3rd place

Semi-finals: Lost to Bridgeport Lenox, 2-1

Slim Kurimsky averaged around 15 points as the Springwoods would finish 15-8 and in third place. They lost in the semifinals for the Presidents Trophy to their crosstown rivals at Lenox.

Head Coach:

• 
  

PLAYERS:

Johnny Barron (May 15, 1920 - November 28, 2017)

George Bilcheck (March 26, 1924 - July 30, 1988)

Marty Hutt

Davis  

Debish  

House  

Marty Hutt (September 26, 1915 - August 28, 2008)

Slim Kurimsky (February 1, 1919 - October 8, 2006)

John Mozzi (February 7, 1922 - December 20, 2019)

Johnny Norko (April 16, 1916 - March 28, 2010)

Johnny Pyrch (May 7, 1919 - March 31, 2018)

Rogers  

Steve Salata (August 25, 1923 - June 5, 2012)

Tony Santone (May 30, 1919 - November 15, 1986)

Irish Sheehy (December 26, 1915 - June 19, 1985)

Vic Swaller (September 13, 1922 - June 19, 2013)

1945-46 Bridgeport Lenox (CSL)

1945-46 BRIDGEPORT LENOX

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - CONNECTICUT
Finished: 13-7 .650, 4th place
Semi-Finals: Defeated Bridgeport Springwoods, 2-1

Finals: Split with Bristol, 1-1 (deciding game not played)

The Lenox Athletic Association of Bridgeport were lead by Norm Ritchel, Joe Oslai and Red Harding. After a sluggish 3-4 start, they started January with a four game winning streak and would win 10 of 13 to climb into fourth place and a spot in the playoffs. Their hot streak continued as the bounced the favored Springwoods from across town. Heading into the championship with the powerhouse Tramps of Bristol, they split the first two games but a third and deciding game was never able to be played. 

Head Coach: 

• 
  

PLAYERS:

Bones Hamilton

George Barney (February 20, 1921 - October 15, 2001)

Mal Baxter (November 10, 1921 - September 17, 2010)

Lenny Cocco (September 10, 1924 - June 14, 2008)

Chuck Cullen (June 7, 1919 - August 13, 1973)

Bones Hamilton (December 30, 1920 - April 28, 2000)

Red Harding (June 6, 1921 - May 26, 1998)

Mickey Homa (October 16, 1923 - April 9, 2014)

Kressti 

Marvin Loewith (March 10, 1919 - October 30, 2001)

Al Mansi (July 14, 1921 - January 3, 2013)

Jim Nilan (September 27, 1924 - September 26, 1990)

Joe Oslai (January 27, 1923 - March 10, 1976)

Norm Ritchel (January 28, 1919 - March 9, 1971)

Dave Roberts (March 18, 1921 - April 17, 1992)

Vin Roddy 

Tony Santone (May 30, 1919 - November 15, 1986)

Roddy Stachecin

John Wilson (March 23, 1924 - July 1, 1986)

1945-46 Connecticut State League (CSL)

Coming back after a hiatus for World War 2, the Connecticut League returned with seven teams and optimism as the game of basketball was increasing in popularity. Bristol would roll to a 17-3 finish and a regular season title, despite strong challenges from Hull's Red Devils and the Springwoods. Lenox would upset the Springwoods in the semi-finals as Bristol bounced the Devils, but in the finals Bristol and Lenox would split the first two games but a deciding game was not played, leaving no winner of the President's Cup.

• Bridgeport Lenox
• Bridgeport Springwoods
• Bristol Tramps
• Hartford Atlantics
• Middletown Speedboys
• Naugatuck Zephyrs
• New Haven Hull Red Devils