The Calgary Centennials were a junior ice hockey team that played in the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL) from 1966–1977. They played in Calgary, Alberta, Canada at the Stampede Corral.
History A charter member of the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League in 1966, the franchise was known in its first season as the Calgary Buffaloes before becoming the Centennials (marking the Canadian Centennial that year) in the renamed WCHL for the 1967–68 season.
The franchise had a string of successful regular seasons in the early 1970s, winning three West division titles, however playoff success never followed. The Centennials only reached the WCHL finals once, falling in four straight to the Regina Pats in 1974.
Following the 1976–77 season, the Centennials were sold and relocated to Billings, Montana and became the Billings Bighorns. Calgarians would not have to wait long for another team, as the Winnipeg Monarchs were sold and relocated to Calgary to become the Calgary Wranglers for the 1978–78 season.
The Centennials franchise today is known as the Tri-City Americans, settling in Kennewick, Washington, after stops as the Billings Bighorns, Nanaimo Islanders, and New Westminster Bruins.
Season-by-season record Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Season GP W L T GF GA Points Finish Playoffs 1966–67 56 4 47 5 178 426 13 7th Overall Out of playoffs 1967–68 60 14 40 5 218 318 35 10th Overall Out of playoffs 1968–69 60 31 28 1 253 236 63 2nd West Lost semi-final 1969–70 60 37 22 1 249 197 75 1st West Lost semi-final 1970–71 66 37 22 7 244 175 81 2nd West Lost semi-final 1971–72 68 49 16 3 296 169 101 1st West Lost semi-final 1972–73 68 35 22 11 302 224 81 3rd West Lost quarter-final 1973–74 68 41 18 9 328 236 91 1st West Lost final 1974–75 70 11 51 8 236 399 30 6th West Out of playoffs 1975–76 72 22 45 5 284 381 49 6th West Out of playoffs 1976–77 72 22 34 15 329 397 59 4th Central Lost quarter-final
NHL alumni
Don Ashby Jeff Bandura Wayne Bianchin Brian Carlin Glen Cochrane John Davidson Ed Dyck Len Frig Danny Gare Rick Hodgson Jerry Holland Ron Homenuke Doug Horbul Kevin Krook Doug Lecuyer Craig Levie Bob Liddington Darryl Maggs Lanny McDonald Grant Mulvey Bob Nystrom Harvie Pocza Gary Rissling Mike Rogers Randy Rota Rick Shinske Roy Sommer Brian Spencer Mike Toal Perry Turnbull Jimmy Watson
See also List of ice hockey teams in Alberta Ice hockey in Calgary
References whl.ca logoserver.com 2005–06 WHL Guide