Fr. Clem Kambeitz was the only member of the clergy to serve as the Crusaders head coach throughout the program's long history.
He served as the head coach in 1955 after assisting Joe Zaleski in 1954.
Transitioning to the Big Leagues
1949 Crusaders with Coach Eddie Meagher
Credit: St. Paul's High School Archive
The first teacher to coach the Crusaders was 1949/1950 Athletic Director, Eddie Meagher. This appointment upset the long line of Blue Bomber players to coach the team - as Warwick had in '44.
Under Meagher's guidance, the Crusaders won both the M.S.R.L. and provincial championships.
1953 Polio Outbreak
Credit: Winnipeg Evening Tribune September 11th, 1953 - Courtesy of University of Manitoba Digital Collection
The polio outbreak of 1953 was one of the worst in recent history. Winnipeg was one of the most affected cities in North America.
Children were the most susceptible to the disease. Many believed that fatigue left them vulnerable. All athletic leagues and intramural games were canceled to prevent additional cases. This season was the only year in the history of the Crusaders that there was no competition.
Crusaders Join the City League
Credit: St. Paul's High School Archive
The Crusaders played their first season as part of the City League in 1954. This pitted them against the strength of Daniel McIntyre, Gordon Bell, and St. John’s Tech, as well as many others. The competition of the City League (WHSFL) was too much for the Crusader teams of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. A championship was not won until 1982.
Crusaders of the 1950s
Credit: St. Paul's High School Archive
St. Paul's College discontinued Grade 12 classes in the 1950s. This decision left the Crusaders without the oldest and most experienced athletes eligible to play. The team was younger, smaller, and less experienced than their opponents. Many regarded this as the main reason for the Crusaders' poor record throughout the 1950s and 1960s.
The school reintroduced Grade 12 in 1965 at their new Tuxedo campus.
Organization of the Touchdown Club
Credit: The Crusader October 1951
The Touchdown Club was the first alumni organization founded for former Crusader athletes. The club was created in 1951 by Paul Herriot to connect all members of past Crusader teams. Herriot collected the contact information of all former players, but it's unknown if any events were planned.
The first Crusader reunion took place in 1962.
Coaches Profile
Dean Bandiera
1951-1952
Assisted by: Mo Jones (1951), Stan Pankow (1951-1952), Paul Cholakis (1952)
Credit: Winnipeg Evening Tribune September 25th, 1952 - Courtesy of University of Manitoba Digital Collections
Joe Zaleski
1954
Assisted by: Fr. Clem Kambeitz S.J.
Credit: Winnipeg Evening Tribune October 1st, 1953 - Courtesy of University of Winnipeg Digital Collections