Olive Wilcox, 2004

Olive (Myers) Wilcox was born on June 9, 1918 in Bay Roberts, Newfoundland, the daughter of Helena (Calpin) and Roy Myers, an employee with the Western Union Cable Company. She was educated at the Church of England School and was later employed with the Child Welfare Department of the Newfoundland Government. In 1939, she married Wilfred Wilcox. They had no children.

Olive was a founding member of the Bay Roberts Roverines, a women’s hockey team established in the 1930s. There were no formal try-outs for the teams; the coach simply asked the better players to join. Other players were always welcome to practice with the team. The Roverines wore red and black sweaters, short black skirts and knitted leggings. Their uniform colours were the same as the Bay Roberts Rovers.

The Roverines played in the town’s covered arena, on natural ice. They were part of an organized league, playing teams from Carbonear, Brigus, Harbour Grace, St. John’s and Bell Island. Although the communities of Carbonear and Harbour Grace were situated close to Bay Roberts, games between these teams were played in St. John’s. Winter travel was difficult between the towns, so the teams would all travel by train to St. John’s.

In 1937, the Roverines won their first championship. Hockey didn’t necessarily end for the Roverines once the players left school or were married; Olive herself played after she was married, alongside her two sisters-in-law. The Bay Roberts community was very supportive of the women’s team. Olive also enjoyed playing tennis on the Bay Roberts clay court after school. Matches also involved teams from St. John’s, Carbonear and Harbour Grace. Harbour Grace was an especially popular venue for tennis, hosting large summer tournaments.

Interviews

"That's a Man on the Ice" (Olive's Version)

| Read The Story

"Uniforms"

"Playing Tennis "

"Summer Tournaments"

"Everybody Played"

"Hockey's Next Generation"