By Ed Stozek
For the Herald

There was a great deal of local hockey interest as Dauphin had lost 9-7 in the opening game of the best of seven series to the Canmore Legionnaires.

The game was played in front of 3,000 fans in the Wheat City arena in Brandon.

Mayor W. L. Bullmore issued a proclamation for “Dauphin Kings Day” requesting all businesses to close at noon to enable a motorcade to form on Fourth Avenue N.E. with a departure time at 2 p.m.

“Some 1,500 hockey fans are expected to invade Brandon this Thursday afternoon to cheer for their favourite Kings in their bid for western Canada intermediate hockey supremacy.” (April 10, 1952, Dauphin Herald)

A bus carrying the Dauphin boys’ and girls’ band and four majorettes from Fork River was scheduled to leave an hour prior to the motorcade in order to participate in a parade at Brandon.

Sponsored by the Dauphin Chamber of Commerce, booster ribbons and banners were provided to the fans with proceeds from the sales going towards defraying the cost of transporting the band and the majorettes.

Released in 1949, “Mule Train” became a fan favourite to sing along to at hockey games. In keeping with the theme, an added attraction, Franko, a 13-year old mule from Onanole, was slated to participate in the parade.

It was also noted in The Dauphin Herald that Franko, a 42nd hybrid cousin of Francis, Hollywood’s famous talking mule, had predicted that the Kings would even the series.

“Franko will be on hand in the Brandon arena to bray the Kings on to victory. Owned and ‘muleteered’ by Albert Minty, Franko will ride in regal state in Frank Lampard’s mule toting conveyance in order to be on hand for the mammoth parade through the streets of Brandon.”

It was anticipated that Franko would lead the parade followed by the band and the majorettes and a sound truck playing “Mule Train.”

After Franko predicted a Dauphin win, the Kings came up with an 8-4 victory. Franko didn’t make the trip for the next game, however, his inspirational influence was also present with Dauphin winning 4-1. It was highly improbable that Franko would make the trip to Calgary, however, Dauphin fans were hopeful that “Franko's magic spell” would continue for the rest of the series.

Plans were already being made for the team’s homecoming whether they won or lost in their attempt at winning the Western Canada Intermediate finals.

It was announced that a banquet accommodating 300 people would be held in the auditorium of the Town Hall on the day that the club returned from Calgary.

Ticket prices for the banquet were set at $1.75 per plate. Town Council passed a resolution to approve an expenditure of up to $300 for purchasing a gift for each of the players.

“In addition, a resolution was drafted whereby the Council also approved the arena committee spending up to $200 for a gift for the hockey players in conjunction with the funds already allocated. A committee was appointed to purchase the gifts and to arrange for the financing of the expenditures.” (April, 17, 1952, Dauphin Herald)

Dauphin's 29 game playoff run initially began with a 15-2 win over Neepawa in the Big Six semifinals, Feb. 4 and ended when the Kings won the Western Canada Intermediate Hockey Championship.

Playoff victories also included wins over Brandon, Carmen, Pine Falls and Poplar Point to win the Manitoba crown. For the finals, the CAHA permitted Dauphin to bolster their team with two players from Brandon.

At the Stampede Corral in Calgary, Canmore beat Dauphin 9-1 and 12-9.

Dauphin’s quest for the cup was not over as they picked up a 6-4 win at 2:54 in the overtime period to force a seventh game.

In game seven Jim Mosienko scored the winning goal midway through the second period and Dauphin became the first team from Manitoba to claim the coveted Edmonton Journal trophy, emblematic of intermediate hockey supremacy.

The Kings played a total of 53 games during the 1951-52 season.

It makes one wonder how much influence Franko’s magic spell had on the outcome of the final series.

“Mule train!”