The Kingston Canadians were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League from 1973 to 1988. The team played home games at the Kingston Memorial Centre in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
History The Kingston Canadians arrival in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) for the 1973–74 OHL season, was a result of the Montreal Junior Canadiens switch to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in 1972. During the summer of 1972, the QMJHL had threatened a lawsuit against the OHA to force the Junior Canadiens to return to the Quebec-based league. The OHA granted the Junior Canadiens franchise a "one-year suspension" of operations, while team ownership transferred the team and players into the QMJHL, renaming themselves the Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge.
The OHA reactivated the suspended franchise after a one-year hiatus, under new ownership and with new players, calling the team the Kingston Canadians. A group of Kingston business and professionals including J. Douglas Cunningham, purchased the rights from the Montreal Arena Corporation. The new Kingston team was an expansion franchise promoted from the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League. The Kingston Canadians used the same colours and uniforms as the NHL's Montreal Canadiens and Junior Canadiens. The Kingston logo replaced the "H" with the letter "K" for Kingston.
The team played from 1973 to 1980 in the OHA, then from 1980 to 1988 in the OHL. In 1981, Kingston hosted the annual OHL All-Star game. In 1985–1986 season, Chris Clifford was the OHL first goalie to score a goal. Following a 28-game losing streak to end the 1987–88 season, the Canadians franchise was sold and renamed the team Kingston Raiders.
Coaches Jim Morrison coached the Canadians for almost half the team's tenure in the OHA & OHL. He was an NHL veteran defenceman of 704 games, as well as being a player coach with the AHL Baltimore Clippers.
Four other Canadians coaches also played in the NHL. They are, Jack Bownass, Rod Graham, Fred O'Donnell & Jim Dorey.
Jack Bownass was the recipient of the Matt Leyden Trophy as OHA Coach of the Year in 1973-1974.
List of Coaches (Multiple years in parentheses)
1973–1975 Jack Bownass (2) 1975–1982 Jim Morrison (7) 1982–1983 Rod Graham 1983–1985 Rick Cornacchia (2) 1985–1985 Jim Dorey (2) 1985–1987 Fred O'Donnell (2) 1987–1988 Jacques Tremblay 1988–1988 Jim Dorey (2)
Players
Award winners
Eddie Powers Memorial TrophyScoring Champion. 1983–84 Tim Salmon
Max Kaminsky TrophyMost Outstanding Defenceman. 1974–75 Mike O'Connell
Jack Ferguson AwardFirst overall draft pick. 1985 Bryan Fogarty
William Hanley TrophyMost Sportsmanlike OHL Player. 1983–84 Kevin Conway
Bobby Smith TrophyScholastic player of the year. 1985–86 Chris Clifford
Retired numbers NONE. Five numbers have been "honoured" from the Kingston Canadians, although not retired and still in circulation. (#5 Mike O'Connell, #7 Tony McKegney, #10 Brad Rhiness, #14 Ken Linseman and #29 Chris Clifford).
Notable alumni Sean Simpson played for the Canadians during the 1976–77 season, later coached Switzerland and Hungary at the Ice Hockey World Championships, and had a lengthy career coaching professional European hockey. Paul Coffey played for the Canadians during the 1977–78 season, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004. Jim Aldred played for the Canadians from 1979 to 1981, and became coach of the Portugal men's national team in 2017. Kevin Conway played for the Canadians during the 1983–84 season, was inducted into the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005. Rick Fera played for the Canadians during the 1984–85 season, and had a lengthy British Hockey League career.
List of Canadians that also played in the National Hockey League or World Hockey Association:
Perry Anderson Scott Arniel Roger Belanger Neil Belland Phil Bourque Gord Buynak Jeff Chychrun Chris Clifford Paul Coffey Mike Crombeen Peter Dineen Brian Dobbin Peter Driscoll Richie Dunn Todd Elik Bryan Fogarty Mike Forbes Alex Forsyth Mike Gillis Ron Handy Greg Holst Greg Hotham Scott Howson Tim Kerr Marc Laforge Ken Linseman Darren Lowe Tom McCarthy Tony McKegney Scott Metcalfe Mike Moffat Kirk Muller Craig Muni Bernie Nicholls Mike O'Connell Scott Pearson Rob Plumb Walt Poddubny Paul Pooley Herb Raglan Brad Rhiness Moe Robinson Howard Scruton Steve Seftel Steve Seguin Mike Siltala Dennis Smith Mike Stothers Mark Suzor Jay Wells Behn Wilson Rik Wilson
Season-by-season results Regular season and playoffs results:
Season Games Won Lost Tied Points Pct % Goalsfor Goals StandingPlayoffs 1973–74 70 20 43 7 47 0.336 256 378 10th in OHADid not qualify 1974–75 70 25 35 10 60 0.429 297 345 8th in OHALost to Toronto Marlboros in quarterfinals 9 points to 7 1975–76 66 33 24 9 75 0.568 357 316 3rd in LeydenLost to Ottawa 67's in quarterfinals 9 points to 5 1976–77 66 32 24 10 74 0.561 295 259 3rd in LeydenDefeated Sudbury Wolves in quarterfinals 9 points to 3 Lost to Ottawa 67's in semifinals 9 points to 7 1977–78 68 27 32 9 63 0.463 288 323 4th in LeydenLost to S.S.Marie Greyhounds in first round 6 points to 4 1978–79 68 26 38 4 56 0.412 265 306 5th in LeydenDefeated Ottawa 67's in first round 6 points to 2 Lost to Peterborough Petes in quarterfinals 9 points to 5 1979–80 68 35 26 7 77 0.566 320 298 4th in LeydenLost to Sudbury Wolves in first round 3 games to 01980–816839263810.5963342733rd in LeydenDefeated Ottawa 67's in division semifinals 9 points to 5 Lost to S.S. Marie Greyhounds in division finals 9 points to 51981–826829345630.4633023165th in LeydenLost to Peterborough Petes in first round 6 points to 21982–837024451490.3503514257th in LeydenDid not qualify1983–847025450500.3573133787th in LeydenDid not qualify1984–856618471370.2802393807th in LeydenDid not qualify1985–866635283730.5532972574th in LeydenDefeated Oshawa Generals in first round 8 points to 4 Finished 3rd place in round-robin versus Peterborough Petes and Belleville Bulls1986–876626391530.4022873164th in LeydenDefeated Belleville Bulls in first round 4 games to 2Lost to Oshawa Generals in quarterfinals 4 games to 21987–886614520280.2122464327th in LeydenDid not qualify
Kingston Memorial Centre The home arena of the Canadians was the Kingston Memorial Centre with a seating capacity 3,079 seated, and 3,300 including standing room.
References