NHL Stars Instruct at Byrnell Manor Boys’ Hockey Camp, 1960s
Byrnell Manor began as a farm operated by Richard Byrnell Sr. and his wife Sarah. Richard Jr. began building cottages on the waterfront that became the Grove (i.e. Grove Road), then the property passed to Wilfred and Ella Havery (Ella was a Byrnell). While Richard Jr. had made his living by building cottages, the Haverys recognized that there was strong demand for short-term vacation rentals, so they built a lodge, Byrnell Manor, adjacent to the farm house. They opened the Byrnell Golf Course to coincide with the Monster Carnival in 1929.
When the Haverys retired to a bungalow next door, they sold Byrnell Manor to Frank and Anna Stukus. Frank was a retired fullback having played 18 regular season and 7 playoff games for the Toronto Argonauts. In 1938, he played defense alongside his brothers Annis and Bill, helping the boatmen win the Grey Cup. Though an injured knee cut his career short, he maintained his interest in sports, and went on to play rugby for the Toronto Indians, before buying that team in 1946.
When Frank moved to Fenelon Falls, he continued to operate Byrnell Manor as a tourist lodge, but it would become best known for its resident summer hockey camps. Many boys grew up listening to Hockey Night in Canada, or even watching on television (until 1968, regular season games were not telecasted in their entirety, the game began on the radio, and television picked up the feed part way through). With the help of his brother Bill, Frank put together many young boys’ dream summer vacation, a “Resident Summer Hockey Camp” where they could learn from their hockey idols.
At the Byrnell Manor Boys’ Camp in 1966, the coach was none other than Hall of Famer Milt Schmidt, who also stood behind the bench for the Boston Bruins. Aspiring young goalies could learn from Ed Chadwick, a former Leaf number one who was then playing for the Buffalo Bisons of the AHL. They had the chance to play with defenseman Pierre Pilote, a future hall of famer, who had won the Norris Trophy as the best defenseman in the NHL three seasons in a row from 1963-1965. He was accompanied by another future hall of famer, Allan Stanley, a rock-solid defender who helped the Toronto Maple Leafs to four Stanley Cups, including their last victory in 1967. Other instructors over the years included New York Rangers coach Alfie Pike, Red Sullivan and even MVP Bobby Hull came for one summer. Not only did the boys get to skate with hockey legends, they also got to enjoy all the amenities at Byrnell Manor—the golf course, water skiing, swimming in Cameron Lake and baseball. There was of course a football field, where Frank Stukus could show them a thing or two that he learned during his playing days.
For boys 7 to 17 who loved hockey, there was nothing quite like the Byrnell Manor hockey camp—at the cost of $100 per week. For those fortunate enough to attend, it was an unforgettable summer experience. In the mid 1970s, Frank took a job working for Etobicoke’s Parks and Recreation Department, and became an organizer for the Progressive Conservative Party. In 1977 a joint Bible College and Bible Camp purchased the property, where Rev. Winston and Joan Cross took up residence with their five children. Byrnell Manor was again transformed to accommodate the classes that Shiloh Bible College offered, attracting students from across Canada to pursue a three-year diploma.
