The Hamilton Red Wings were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) from 1960 to 1974. The team was based at the Barton Street Arena in Hamilton, Ontario. The Red Wings won the OHA junior championship in 1962, and won the 1962 Memorial Cup as national champions.

History The Hamilton Tiger Cubs became the Hamilton Red Wings as of the 1960–61 OHA season, were coached by Eddie Bush, and affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Jimmy Skinner was the team's scout and general manager, which was based at the Barton Street Arena.

In the 1961–62 OHA season, the Red Wings placed second overall. In the playoffs, Hamilton defeated the St. Catharines Teepees in six games, the Niagara Falls Flyers in four games, and the Metro Jr. A. champs Toronto St. Michael's Majors in five games to win the J. Ross Robertson Cup. The Red Wings then swept the series against the Quebec Citadelles for the George Richardson Memorial Trophy as the Eastern Canadian champions.

The Red Wings played the Edmonton Oil Kings for the 1962 Memorial Cup championship. Originally scheduled at Maple Leaf Gardens, the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association relocated the games due to disagreements on television broadcast rights. Playing the first game at Barton Street Arena, Hamilton won by a 5–2 score. Playing the next three games at Guelph Memorial Gardens, Hamilton won twice to lead the series three games to one. Playing the fifth game at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, the Red Wings defeated the Oil Kings by a 7–4 score to win the national championship series.

Five years later the Red Wings lost the OHA finals in 1967, in four consecutive games to the Toronto Marlboros.

The direct NHL sponsorship of junior teams ended in 1967. The Red Wings were purchased by Nick Durbano in 1970. Durbano sold the team in 1974, which became the Hamilton Fincups in the next season.

Award winners SeasonPlayerAward(s)RecognitionSource 1960–61 Bud Blom Dave Pinkney Trophy Lowest team goals against average 1961–62 Pit Martin Red Tilson Trophy Most outstanding player Lowell MacDonald Max Kaminsky Trophy Most sportsmanlike player 1962–63 Paul Henderson Max Kaminsky Trophy Most sportsmanlike player 1964–65 Jimmy Peters Jr. Max Kaminsky Trophy Most sportsmanlike player 1967–68 Jim Rutherford / Gerry Gray Dave Pinkney Trophy Lowest team goals against average

Notable players Notable Red Wings alumni who also played in the National Hockey League or World Hockey Association:

Gerry Abel Jim Adair Ron Anderson Cam Botting Gord Brooks Jerry Butler Bryan Campbell Ron Climie Gary Coalter Bart Crashley Bob Dillabough Gary Doak Mike Fedorko Marty Gateman Gary Geldart Brian Gibbons Ed Gilbert Dave Gilmour Larry Gould Gerry Gray Ron Harris Buster Harvey Ed Hatoum Earl Heiskala Paul Henderson Greg Hickey Pat Hickey Mike Hobin Paul Hoganson Bill Hughes Larry Jeffrey Rick Jodzio Rick Kehoe Roger Lafreniere Danny Lawson Rene Leclerc Réal Lemieux Nick Libett Ted Long Lowell MacDonald Alan MacKenzie Pete Mahovlich Jim Mair Randy Manery Ken Mann Bob Manno Gary Marsh Pit Martin Dale McCourt Howie Menard John Miszuk Rick Morris Jim Moxey Bob Neely Jim Niekamp Randy Osburn Jimmy Peters Jr. Greg Redquest Glen Richardson Wayne Rivers Jim Rutherford Terry Ryan Jim Schoenfeld Ron Sedlbauer Rick Smith Sandy Snow Fred Speck Dave Syvret Tom Trevelyan Mike Veisor Bob Wall Jim Watson Brian Watts Tom Williams Ron Wilson

Kevin Pettit played for the Red Wings from 1964 to 1967, and was later an All-American for Cornell Big Red. Lee Carpenter played for the Red Wings from 1965 to 1966, and was chosen by the Detroit Red Wings in the third round of 1966 NHL amateur draft, but never played in the NHL. Jim McInally played for the Red Wings from 1966 to 1968, and was chosen by the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of 1968 NHL amateur draft, but never played in the NHL. Jim Koleff played for the Red Wings from 1971 to 1973, and later coached in European professional leagues.;

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 Finish1960–61482219 7510.5311921483rd OHAWon quarterfinal (Peterborough Petes) 4–1Lost semifinal (Toronto St. Michael's Majors) 4–2–11961–62503212 6700.7002201622nd OHAWon semifinal (St. Catharines Teepees) 4–1–1Won OHA final (Niagara Falls Flyers) 4–0Won Ontario Junior A final (Toronto St. Michael's Majors) 4–1Won Eastern Canada final (Quebec Citadelles) 4–0Won 1962 Memorial Cup final (Edmonton Oil Kings) 4–11962–63502121 8500.5002021844th OHALost semifinal (Niagara Falls Flyers) 4–11963–6456113510320.2861932857th OHADid not qualify1964–6556143111390.3482202878th OHADid not qualify1965–66482220 6500.5212032175th OHALost quarterfinal (Montreal Junior Canadiens) 3–0–21966–67482221 5490.5101721614th OHAWon quarterfinal (Peterborough Petes) 8–4Won semifinal (Niagara Falls Flyers) 3–2–2Lost OHA final (Toronto Marlboros) 4–01967–6854311310720.6672531623rd OHAWon quarterfinal (London Nationals) 4–1Lost semifinal (Kitchener Rangers) 3–1–21968–69542724 3570.5282071905th OHALost quarterfinal (Montreal Junior Canadiens) 3–0–21969–7054162612440.4072072389th OHADid not qualify1970–71622235 5490.3952243287th OHALost quarterfinal (Ottawa 67's) 4–21971–72631146 6280.22220033410th OHADid not qualify1972–73631541 7370.2942443749th OHADid not qualify1973–74701649 5370.26422137611th OHADid not qualify

References