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This was the season that the young players really started to shine, leading the team to the B division championship in the Chesapeake Hockey League. Stu Hyatt, Sam Mattingly and Earl Gourley, who now admitted that he was 57 years old, were now the only remaining true veteran players still playing with the team. The National Brewing Co provided the club with a set of new jerseys that arrived early in the season and many of the players switched to a different number. They had the famous National Beer ‘chevron’ on the front of a high quality red jersey. Some of the jerseys had a large chevron stitched on the front and other jerseys had a small chevron. The supplier had a temporary shortage of large chevron crests. Rather than hold up the delivery of the needed new jerseys, a small National Beer chevron was sewn on the front of many jerseys.
Stu Hyatt…”Chesapeake Sporting Goods was a major source in providing the Brewers with players who were new to the area. They would stop in for a skate sharpening, I would interrogate them, and if their hockey credentials sounded good, they would be invited to a Brewers’ practice.” The cool down after a practice was spiced with plenty of ice cold National Bohemian Beer, which Stu would pick up at the brewery as the team allocation.
The club opened the season with two wins and then played arch rival Gallaudet College to a tough 2-2 tie at the Washington Coliseum. The Brewers then reeled off 13 consecutive wins before end of season losses to Gallaudet and Brother’s Furniture. Prior to these two late season losses, the club had given up 3 goals in a game only once during the year. The beer men scored a total of 113 goals allowed a mere 36. The final record stood at 15-2-1 and was 2 points ahead of Gallaudet who ended at 14-3-1. Third place went to Brother’s followed by Miller’s Restaurant, University of Maryland, Sholl’s Cafeteria and the Washington Olympics. Randy Mattingly’s brother Dave and Graham Miller’s brother Russ were among new players added to the club. Left wing Larry Schultz suffered a badly broken nose from a puck in a late season game against Sholl’s at the Baltimore Civic Center. Facial protection was non existent in this era of hockey and there were still players playing without helmets. Although Gallaudet had the top 4 scorers, the Brewers maintained a balanced scoring attack with John Cotter, Tom Purdum, Russ Miller, Stu Hyatt, Dave Mattingly, Mike Anderson, Randy Mattingly and Sam Mattingly all producing a point per game or more. The CHL named all star teams for each division after the season. Gerry Horak led the B division goalies and was named to the CHL first all star team along with John Cotter. Second team B division all star Brewers were Mike Anderson and Randy Mattingly. Player/coach Sam Mattingly received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the league for his long time hockey service. Key newcomers with the team included Jeff Heck and Tim Thalheimer, who was the uncle of the Brewers Mark Thalheimer. The club was unable to add a possible playoff title to the regular season championship, as the CHL again finished without playoff games. The National Brewing Co provided with team’ players with ‘National Brewers Hockey Club’ windbreaker style jackets featuring the legendary Mr. Boh logo for the outstanding season
  
  
  
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