Orangeville Crushers

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Orangeville Crushers
Orangeville Crushers
Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
City Orangeville, Ontario
Founded 1975
Division North
Franchise history 1975-1987: Orangeville Stone Crushers
1987-2001: Orangeville Crushers
2001-2004: Orangeville Thunder
2004-Pres: Orangeville Crushers
Head Coach Dale Hawerchuk
General Manager Robin Inscoe
Arena Alder Street Recreation Facility
Team Colors Orange, Black, and White
Affiliate Team(s) Barrie Colts
Schomberg Cougars
Royal Bank Cups none
Dudley Hewitt Cups none
Buckland Trophies none
Schmalz Cups 1990

The Orangeville Crushers are a Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey team based out of Orangeville, Ontario. They play out of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League.

Contents

[edit] History

The team originated in the Central Ontario Junior C Hockey League, after one season in the league it became the Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League. In the late 80's and early 90's, the Crushers played in the Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League and won two straight league championships. They won the Clarence Schmalz Cup in 1990 as All-Ontario Champions. In the Clarence Schmalz Cup Finals, the Crushers came back from a 3-0 deficit in games to defeat the Belle River Canadiens of the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League 4-3. The 1991 Clarence Schmalz Cup Final pitted the Crushers against a bound and determined Hanover Barons of the Western Junior C Hockey League. The Crushers again went down 3-0 in games and again forced a seventh and deciding contest but came out on the losing end, dropping the final game and the series 4-3.

In the mid-90's, the Crushers were accepted into the Midwestern Junior B Hockey League and stayed there until 2006. Orangeville had been accepted to play in the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League for the start of the 2006-07 Season. A vote was concocted by the OPJHL teams, where the Crushers were voted in by a 33-3 vote. The Crushers would play out of the North Division. The team's head coach for the beginning of 2006-07 would be Steve Chelios, brother of National Hockey League great Chris Chelios [1]. Chelios was let go in late October. The President of the team is another former NHLer, Dale Hawerchuk.

[edit] 2006-07

The Crushers' first Junior "A" game took place on September 15, 2006 against Vaughan Vipers in Orangeville. The game resulted in a 6-3 loss. The Crushers' first ever Junior "A" goal was scored by Trevor Branning at 1:17 into the first period. Anthony Ferrante started the game in net.

The Crushers' first ever Junior "A" win was against the Stouffville Spirit on September 28, 2006 in Stouffville, Ontario. The final score was 3-2, with goaltender Michael Hutchinson picking up the win in net. Hutchinson stopped 35 of 37 shots, as the Crushers were badly outshot. Hutchinson also held the Spirit scoreless for the first 48:13 of the game, coming within less than 12 minutes of the shutout. The Crushers' Wil Munson of Corona, California scored the eventual game winner.

The Crushers finished the season one point out of the final playoff spot. With three games to go in the season, Orangeville either had to win or tie to clinch a spot or the Buffalo Jr. Sabres had to tie or lose -- neither happened.

[edit] 2007-08

Team owner and National Hockey League Hockey Hall of Famer Dale Hawerchuk has taken over the reigns as head coach of the franchise for 2007-08.

[edit] Season-by-Season Results

Season GP W L T OTL GF GA P Results Playoffs
1994-95 48 26 19 3 - 190 168 55 5th MWJBHL Lost Quarter-final
1995-96 48 29 17 2 - 219 171 60 4th MWJBHL Lost Quarter-final
1996-97 48 17 25 6 - 162 189 40 7th MWJBHL Lost Quarter-final
1997-98 48 29 18 1 - 202 152 59 5th MWJBHL Lost Semi-final
1998-99 48 24 21 3 - 214 203 51 5th MWJBHL Lost Semi-final
1999-00 48 17 29 2 - 169 215 36 7th MWJBHL Lost Quarter-final
2000-01 48 8 40 0 - 159 299 16 10th MWJBHL DNQ
2001-02 48 8 38 2 - 131 280 18 9th MWJBHL DNQ
2002-03 48 3 44 1 0 101 351 7 10th MWJBHL DNQ
2003-04 48 2 44 0 2 84 282 6 10th MWJBHL DNQ
2004-05 48 4 43 1 0 89 346 9 10th MWJBHL DNQ
2005-06 48 5 42 1 - 104 303 11 10th MWJBHL DNQ
2006-07 49 9 36 3 1 131 213 22 33rd OPJHL DNQ
2007-08 49 17 29 - 3 138 197 37 25th OPJHL

[edit] Clarence Schmalz Cup Appearances

1990: Orangeville Crushers defeated Belle River Canadiens 4-games-to-3
1991: Hanover Barons defeated Orangeville Crushers 4-games-to-3

[edit] Notable Alumni

[edit] External links