Guelph Royals (hockey)

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Guelph Royals
City: Guelph, Ontario
League: Ontario Hockey Assocation
Operated: 1960-1963
Home Arena: Guelph Memorial Gardens
Parent club(s): New York Rangers
Franchise history
1947-60: Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters
1960-63: Guelph Royals
1963-Present: Kitchener Rangers

The Guelph Royals were a junior ice hockey in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1960 to 1963. The team was based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada and played home games at the Guelph Memorial Gardens. They were affiliated with the NHL New York Rangers. This team has no connection with the similarly-named OHL team that would later exist in Cornwall.

[edit] History

The Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters were sold in 1960, and the new ownership renamed the team the Guelph Royals after the hometown's nickname as the "Royal City". Guelph won the Hamilton Spectator Trophy during the 1960-61 season, finishing 1st overall in the OHA. The Royals lost in the league finals to the St. Michael's Majors, 4 games to 2 with a tie.

The Royals' Rod Gilbert was the OHA scoring champion that year, winning the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy with 54 goals and 49 assists, totalling 103 points. Gilbert was also awarded the Red Tilson Trophy as the most outstanding player.

The Royals had many players graduate from junior hockey after that season, and did not manage to recover their previous form. After two declining seasons the franchise was in financial trouble again. The team moved to nearby Kitchener, Ontario, becoming the Kitchener Rangers, taking the name of the NHL parent club.

Some of the Guelph Royals players who graduated from the junior ranks stayed in Guelph to play on the newly formed Senior OHA team, the Guelph Regals, which existed from 1963 to 1967.

[edit] NHL Alumni

  • Paul Andrea
  • Leo Bourgeault
  • Andy Brown
  • Harry Connor
  • Bob Cunningham
  • Marc Dufour
  • Gord Kannegiesser
  • Al LeBrun
  • Randy Legge
  • Mike McMahon Jr.
  • Tom Miller
Rod Gilbert and Jean Ratelle are the former Royals in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

[edit] Yearly Results

Regular Season

Season Games Won Lost Tied Points Pct % Goals
For
Goals
Against
Standing
1960-61 48 30 9 9 69 0.719 255 165 1st OHA
1961-62 50 18 26 6 42 0.420 194 236 5th OHA
1962-63 50 9 35 6 24 0.240 158 257 6th OHA

Playoffs

  • 1960-61 Defeated Niagara Falls Flyers 10 points to 4 in quarter-finals.
    Received second-round bye.
    Lost to St. Michael's Majors 9 points to 5 in finals.
  • 1961-62 Out of playoffs.
  • 1962-63 Out of playoffs.
Defunct OHA / OMJHL Teams
Brantford Alexanders | Barrie Flyers | Brantford Lions | Galt Black Hawks | Galt Canadians | Galt Red Wings | Galt Rockets | Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters | Guelph Indians | Guelph Royals | Hamilton Fincups | Hamilton Lloyds | Hamilton Majors | Hamilton Red Wings | Hamilton Szabos | Hamilton Tiger Cubs | Hamilton Whizzers | Kitchener Canucks | Kitchener Greenshirts |Kingston Canadians | London Nationals | Montreal Junior Canadiens | Niagara Falls Flyers | Oshawa Generals* | Owen Sound Greys | Port Colborne Recreationists | St. Catharines Black Hawks | St. Catharines Falcons | St. Catharines Fincups | St. Catharines Teepees | Stratford Kroehlers | Toronto Lions | Toronto Marlboros | Toronto Native Sons | Toronto St. Michael's Majors* | Toronto Young Rangers | Varsity Blues | Waterloo Hurricanes | West Toronto Nationals | Windsor Spitfires
Metro Junior A League teams (1961-1963):
Brampton 7Ups | Oshawa Generals* | Toronto Knob Hill Farms | Toronto Marlboros* | Toronto Neil McNeil Maroons | Toronto St. Michael's Majors* | Unionville Seaforths | Whitby Dunlops | Whitby Mohawks
CHL | Memorial Cup | WHL | QMJHL | OHL | J. Ross Robertson Cup
OHA/OMJHL History | OHA Standings | OMJHL Standings