The Windsor Spitfires were a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) from 1946 to 1953. The team was based in Windsor, Ontario. The Spitfires played home games at the Windsor Arena built in 1924, and twice played in the J. Ross Robertson Cup final.
History The Windsor Spitfires were founded in 1946 as part of a four-year plan enacted by Lloyd Pollock, the secretary-treasurer of the Windsor City Hockey League. He established a junior league for the 1942–43 season in Windsor, competing at the Junior B-level in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA). The ultimate goal of Junior A-level team was realized in 1946, for the 1946–47 OHA season. Pollock and business partner Jack Dent obtained franchise rights from the OHA for C$500, and purchased uniform for another $100.
The Spitfires lost its first game 15–0 to the Toronto St. Michael's Majors, but attracted a crowd of 4,062 spectators at the Windsor Arena. Pollock served as the team's general manager, and worked with the Detroit Red Wings to develop players. Pollock convinced the Detroit Red Wings to relocate prospect players from the Galt Red Wings to Windsor in 1947.
The Spitfires were coached by Jimmy Skinner from 1947 to 1953. He led the Spitfires to the J. Ross Robertson Cup final during the 1947–48 OHA season, and 1949–50 OHA season. The team produced several future star players for the Red Wings, including Glenn Hall, Marcel Pronovost, Earl Reibel, Johnny Wilson, and Glen Skov.
In 1953, the Spitfires were sold and relocated becoming the Hamilton Tiger Cubs.
Players Award winners 1948–49: Bert Giesebrecht, Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy (OHA scoring champion) 1949–50: Earl Reibel, Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy (OHA scoring champion) 1950–51: Glenn Hall, Red Tilson Trophy (OHA most outstanding player)
Notable alumni Notable Spitfires who played in the National Hockey League or World Hockey Association:
Jim Anderson Al Arbour Bob Bailey Cummy Burton Don Cherry Gordon Haidy Glenn Hall Jim Hay Larry Hillman Vic Howe Earl Johnson Tom McGrattan Doug McKay Marcel Pronovost Max Quackenbush Dutch Reibel Dennis Riggin Terry Sawchuk Glen Skov Ed Stankiewicz Johnny Wilson Larry Wilson
Season-by-season results Regular season and playoffs results:
Legend: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Memorial Cup championsOHA championsOHA finalists
Season Regular season Playoffs Finish1946–47361024 2220.306 751257th OHADid not qualify1947–483629 6 1590.8192311241st OHAWon semifinal (Oshawa Generals) 4–2Lost OHA final (Barrie Flyers) 4–21948–49483413 1690.7192721841st OHALost semifinal (Barrie Flyers) 4–01949–50483413 1690.7193071692nd OHAWon semifinal (Toronto Marlboros) 4–1Lost OHA final (Guelph Biltmores) 4–21950–51543218 4680.6302091674th OHAWon quarterfinal (Oshawa Generals) 3–2Lost semifinal (Barrie Flyers) 3–01951–5254 942 3210.1941723559th OHADid not qualify1952–53561635 5370.3301271868th OHADid not qualify
See also List of ice hockey teams in Ontario
References