Sports in Hamilton, Ontario
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Below is the expanded version of the Sports section from the Hamilton, Ontario Wikipedia page.
- See also: 1930 British Empire Games, Category:Sport in Hamilton, Ontario, and Sports venues in Hamilton, Ontario
Contents |
[edit] Amateur & pro sports teams
- Professional sports teams
| Club | League | Venue | Established | Championships |
| Hamilton Tiger-Cats | Canadian Football League | Ivor Wynne Stadium | 1950 | 8 |
| Hamilton Bulldogs | American Hockey League | Copps Coliseum | 1996 | 1 |
- Amateur and junior clubs
| Club | League | Venue | Established | Championships |
| Hamilton Avalanche | W-League of the United Soccer Leagues | Brian Timmis Stadium | 2006 | ? |
| Hamilton Croatia | South Region of the Ontario Soccer League | ? | 1957 | ? |
| Hamilton Hornets R.F.C. | Niagara Rugby Union | Mohawk Sports Park | 1954 | ? |
| Hamilton Red Wings | Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey | Dave Andreychuk Mountain Arena | 1973 | 1 |
| Hamilton Serbians | Provincial West of the Ontario Soccer League | ? | 1958 | ? |
| Hamilton Thunderbirds | Inter County Baseball League | Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium | 2005 | 0 |
| Hamilton Wildcats | Australian Rules Football League | Mohawk Sports Park | 1997 | 0 |
[edit] Football
Hamilton is also home to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame museum.[1] The museum hosts an annual induction event in a week-long celebration that includes school visits, a golf tournament, a formal induction dinner and concludes with the Hall of Fame game involving the local CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Ivor Wynne Stadium.[2][3]
On Wednesday, November 3, 1869, in a room above George Lee's Fruit Store, the Hamilton Football Club was formed. Hamilton Football Clubs have captured the Grey Cup in every decade of the 20th century, a feat matched in Canadian pro sport by only one other franchise, the Montreal Canadiens. In 1908, the Tigers won the Dominion Championship, a year before the Grey Cup was presented. Prior to World War II, the football team of the City of Hamilton was known as the Tigers. The only time that football was interrupted in Hamilton as a spectator sport was during the First and Second World Wars. After World War II the Tiger Football Team started competition once again. At the same time a new group in the City was formed and they became known as the Hamilton Wildcats. The competition for fan participation was so great that both teams were unable to operate on a sound financial basis. it was decided that the two Clubs should amalgamate and form one representative team for Hamilton. The present name, TIGER-CATS, and what is known as the modern era of football started in 1950. [4]
Hamilton based football teams have captured the Grey Cup a total of 15-times, which is second best among Canadian cities (Toronto teams have won 21-times). Hamilton Tiger-Cats-8, Hamilton Tigers-5, Hamilton Flying Wildcats-1 and the Hamilton Alerts-1. The Hamilton Alerts were the first team from Hamilton to win the Grey Cup back in 1912 against the Toronto Argonauts in Hamilton at the old A.A.A. Grounds.[5] The city of Hamilton has hosted the Grey Cup Finals a total of 10-times, the last one being in 1996 (84th Grey Cup) in the "Snow Bowl" where the Toronto Argonauts defeated the Edmonton Eskimos by a score of 43-37.[6]
Ivor Wynne Stadium is the home of the CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The stadium originally known as Civic Stadium was constructed in 1930 to host the 1930 British Empire Games; Canada's first major international athletic event, held in Hamilton from August 16 to 23, 1930.[7] Notable residents and former players include "King Kong" Angelo Mosca.
The CFL's annual Eastern Division Labour Day Classic pits the Hamilton Tiger-Cats against perennial rivals the Toronto Argonauts. This particular weekend, typically the tenth or eleventh week in the season, is known for its fixtures that do not change from year to year. Oddly, for many years before his death, Harold Ballard owned both the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Toronto Maple Leafs, the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise in rival city Toronto. The team's prowess has fallen dramatically from its glory days in the 1960s and early 1970s, when it was a powerhouse. [8]
The Hamilton region has produced a number of star football players over the years and some of these include; Steve Christie ex-placekicker in the NFL, who holds a Super Bowl record for longest field goal kicked at 54 yards, Bernie Faloney, Tony Gabriel, Russ Jackson and the 1946 Lou Marsh trophy winner as Canada's top athlete Joe Krol. [9]
[edit] Hockey
Copps Coliseum Arena has been the home ice for the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League since 1996. When the Edmonton Oilers announced plans to suspend operations of the previous Hamilton Bulldogs franchise, local interests in conjunction with the Oilers, Montreal Canadians and the AHL secured ownership of the Quebec Citadelles and relocated them to Hamilton assuring the continuation of the Bulldogs franchise. The team's primary affiliate is the Montreal Canadiens The Bulldogs have had well over 2 Million fans to date (December 2006), and are currently the longest serving Canadian franchise in the American Hockey League. The Bulldogs reached the final of the Calder Cup Championship in 1997 and 2003 only to lose in the finals on both occasions and then finally winning it all, their third attempt, in 2007 defeating the Hershey Bears. [10][11]
The Hamilton Tigers played in the NHL during the early 1920s but then the team folded after a player's strike. Tigers owner Percy Thompson of the Abso Pure Ice Company of Hamilton then sold the players rights to New York City bootleggers and the new team was then named the New York Americans and became the first pro sports team to play out of the newly built Madison Square Garden in downtown Manhattan, New York. Hockey Hall-of-Famer Joe Malone was a player/manager for the Tigers hockey club in the 1921-22 season. The team's home rink was the Barton Street Arena.[12]
A number of NHL hockey players have come from the Hamilton region over the years. Some of these include:[13]
Dave Andreychuk, Syl Apps, Allan Bester, Frank Caprice, Joe Cirella, Dave Dryden, Ken Dryden, Blake Dunlop, Babe Dye, Don Edwards, Nelson Emerson, Ray Emery, Todd Harvey, Red Horner, Harry Howell, Willie Huber, Dick Irvin, Al Jensen, Derek King, Jamie Macoun, Adam Mair, Brian McGrattan, Marty McSorley, Ron Murphy, Ric Nattress, Murray Oliver, George Owen, Keith Primeau, Pat Quinn, Leo Reise Jr., Rick Smith, Steve Staios, John Tonelli and Marvin Wentworth.
There are 30 hockey Arenas in the Greater Hamilton area including Copps Coliseum, Dave Andreychuk Mountain Arena & Skating Centre ,Pat Quinn Parkdale Arena, and the newest being Chedoke Twin Pad Arena, (2-rinks), on the West mountain.[14]
[edit] 1992 Expansion
In recent decades, Hamilton has yearned and applied for an NHL franchise. It has been continually disappointed, and voted against by nearby Buffalo and Toronto who would lose revenue if Hamilton had an NHL franchise. 1990 was the Year Hamilton came closest to landing an NHL franchise when 14,000 Hamilton hockey fans made Non-refundable downpayments for season's tickets in less than 24-hours but was blocked by Seymour Knox III (then owner of the Buffalo Sabres) and the Toronto Maple Leafs organizations, this according to Phil Esposito who at the time was with the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey club.[15] [16] The Hamilton bid became the only group to meet all the necessary criteria established by the NHL. Here is a list of what the NHL wanted and what Hamilton’s bid had:[17]
- A building (Copps Coliseum, check)
- 20 year lease in place (check)
- Local owner (Ron Joyce, check)
- Owner with deep pockets (Owner of Tim Hortons, check)
- Minimum of 10,000 season tickets sold (14,000 sold in 24 hours, check)
- Market that would support hockey team (50 mile radius, 5 million people, check)
- Corporate support (70 corporate companies committed to purchasing 70 corporate boxes for a minimum of 5 years, check)[17]
Neither Ottawa nor Tampa Bay had a building, local owner, or a market comparable to Hamilton’s. At the time, no other bid came close to Hamilton’s—the media began talking about Hamilton as being the favourite. The NHL awarded the city of Ottawa, Ontario and the Tampa Bay area in Florida with new expansion teams.[17]
The world class arena Victor K. Copps Coliseum was built downtown on Bay Street North. [18] The sports and entertainment arena, named for a former mayor and father of Sheila Copps, has hosted the 1986 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship Games which saw the Soviets capture gold against Team Canada with a top scoring line that consisted of Sergei Fedorov, Alexander Mogilny and Pavel Bure. It's also hosted the 1987 Canada Cup (ice hockey) which featured dynamic duo Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux combine forces to defeat the Russians and hosted the Canada Cup (ice hockey) again in 1991 with Canada winning the tournament once more, this time against Brett Hull and the Americans. In 1990 Copps Coliseum hosted the Memorial Cup tournament that featured a young Eric Lindros playing on the eventual winners; Oshawa Generals who defeated the Kitchener Rangers in an All-Ontario Finals. With each of these hockey tournaments Hamilton set Attendance records at the time of hosting them.[16]
Hamilton based hockey teams have captured the Memorial Cup twice. The Hamilton Red Wings in 1962 which featured Pit Martin & the 1972 Summit Series hero Paul Henderson and in 1976 the Hamilton Fincups captured the trophy which featured future NHL stars Willie Huber, Al Jensen, Dale McCourt, Al Secord and Ric Seiling.[9]
[edit] Other Sports
Hamilton were the hosts of the first Commonwealth Games; then called British Empire Games in 1930 (see: 1930 British Empire Games); Canada's first major international athletic event, and bid unsuccessfully for the Commonwealth Games in 2010, losing out to New Delhi in India.[9]
The [1] Around the Bay Road Race circumnavigates Hamilton Harbour or Burlington Bay. Although it is not a proper marathon, it is the longest continuously held long distance foot race in North America.[9] The local newspaper also hosts the amateur Spectator Indoor Games.[9]
The Hamilton Golf Club hosted the 2003 Canadian Open golf championship in which Bob Tway won. The traditional course layout, designed by famed course architect Hary Colt, proved very popular with touring pros. Hamilton also hosted the Canadian Open again in 2006 Jim Furyk won the title.[9]
Hamilton successfully hosted the World Cycling Championships in 2003. It was only the fourth time the World Cycling Championships was staged in North America, and the second time ever in Canada (Montreal 1974.) Igor Astarloa of Spain was the winner.[9]
Hamilton has hosted the Brier a total of 3-times. 1949, 1991 and the 2007 Tim Hortons Brier, March 3-11. [19]
Hamilton is also home of two auto race tracks. The first one is the Cayuga International Speedway a 5/8-mile oval auto racing track which is under new ownership and currently under major renovations. The last major event there was on September 2-3 (2006); The Canadian Association for Stock Car Racing (CASCAR) Labour Day Classic which featured the Super and Sportsman series. Rogers Sportsnet televised the Super Series race. The touring CASCAR series has been staging races since 1981. Cayuga International Speedway was considered one of Canada's top racing venues and attracted some of racing's top drivers, including Richard Petty, Al Unser, Kale Yarborough, Dale Earnhardt, the Allisons (Bobby, Davey, Donnie and Kenny) and Benny Parsons.[20] The second auto race track in Hamilton is the Flamboro Speedway, 1/3-mile semi banked asphalt oval auto racing track. Established in 1961 and has provided excellent grass roots stock car racing action every year since - Making it one of Canada's longest running stock car tracks.[21]
Hamilton is also home of Flamboro Downs; Canada's fastest half-mile harness horse racing track. Set on 220 acres (89 ha) on Highway #5 west, between highways 6 and 8, flamboro downs has grown substantially since its April 1975 opening. Races are held five days a week. A typical flamboro downs live race card will include at least 10 or 11 races, and often more. In addition to the live flamboro downs harness racing, both thoroughbred and standardbred racing from other tracks across North America are simulcast daily from 12 noon. An off-track betting network offers racing from teletheatres in Hamilton, Brantford, Burlington and Stoney Creek.[22]
Hamilton is twinned with Flint, Michigan, and its amateur athletes compete in the CANUSA Games, held alternatively there and here since 1958. [9] Flint and Hamilton hold the distinction of having the oldest continuous sister-city relationship between a U.S. and Canadian city, since 1957.[23] 2007 marks the Games 50th-anniversary and Hamilton plays hosts on August 10-12.[24] Special events being planned include the 30th annual golf tournament June 14 at King's Forest. The tournamnet is being dedicated to the memory of well-known Hamilton broadcaster and longtime CANUSA volunteer Bill Sturrup. [25]
Two new sports venues are expected in 2007, both of which are on the McMaster University grounds. The first is the Ronald V. Joyce Stadium,[26] and the second is the David Braley Athletic Centre.[27] New facilities will become part of the City's facility inventory prior to 2018 as Hamilton prepares to bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. In 1930 Hamilton was the site of the very first Commonwealth Games, then known as the British Empire Games. The Games came to Hamilton as a result of the efforts of Melville Marks Robinson. [9]
[edit] References
- ^ Canadian Football Hall of Fame & Museum. Retrieved on 2006-12-31.
- ^ Five more walk into Canadian Football's hallowed shrine. Hamilton Scores!. Retrieved on 2007-01-01.
- ^ Ivor Wynne Stadium Information. Retrieved on 2007-01-16.
- ^ Canuck, Johnny. Hamilton Tiger Cats Fan Site- HISTORY. Retrieved on 2006-12-31.
- ^ A.A.A. Grounds: Canadian Football Timelines; Canadian Football web site. Retrieved on 2007-01-16.
- ^ History of the Grey Cup. Retrieved on 2007-01-06.
- ^ Wilson, Paul. Ivor Wynne Stadium. Retrieved on 2006-12-31.
- ^ Beddoes, Dick (1989). Pal Hal: An uninhibited, no-holds-barred account of the life and times of Harold Ballard. Macmillan of Canada. ISBN 1572433906.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i The Hamilton Spectator-Memory Project (Souvenir Edition) page MP56 (2006-06-10). ""Tigertown Triumphs"". Press release. Retrieved on 2006-12-30.
- ^ Hamilton Bulldogs (Official web site). Retrieved on 2006-12-30.
- ^ Hamilton Bulldogs Crowned 2007 Calder Cup Champions (www.sportsdomain.com). Retrieved on 2007-06-29.
- ^ Wesley, Sam, David (2005). Hamilton's Hockey Tigers. James Lorimer & Company Ltd.. ISBN 1550288873.
- ^ Cole, Stephen (2006). The Canadian Hockey Atlas. Doubleday Canada. ISBN 978-0-385-66093-8 (0-385-66093-6).
- ^ Hamilton Arenas Listing. Retrieved on 2006-12-23.
- ^ Humphreys, Adrian. "Hamilton hopes for move (NHL)", Canada Post, 2006-08-06. Retrieved on 2006-12-30.
- ^ a b Joyce, Gary. ""The Puck Stopped Where?"", Hamilton This Month (magazine) Pg:40-47, 1991-04-13. Retrieved on 2006-12-30.
- ^ a b c Hamilton Tigers (c. 1920; 20??). Retrieved on 2006-12-31.
- ^ Copps Coliseum Arena information. Retrieved on 2007-01-16.
- ^ Hamilton hosting Brier in 2007. (www.curling.ca). Retrieved on 2006-12-30.
- ^ New owners give Cayuga International Speedway its old name. Hamilton Scores!. Retrieved on 2007-01-01.
- ^ Flamboro Speedway Race Track. Official web site. Retrieved on 2007-01-16.
- ^ Flamboro Downs. Official web site. Retrieved on 2007-01-01.
- ^ About Sister Cities of Flint Michigan. Retrieved on 2007-01-18.
- ^ CANUSA Games. Official web site. Retrieved on 2007-01-31.
- ^ Mountain News (Hamilton) page 23 (2007-04-20). "Calling for all CANUSA alumni". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-04-21.
- ^ Ron V. Joyce Stadium announcement photo gallery. Retrieved on 2007-02-16.
- ^ Brown, Dana. "Fitnes buffs pumped up by new Mac centre.", The Hamilton Spectator, 2007-02-08, pp. A10. Retrieved on 2007-01-16.
[edit] External links
- Around the Bay Road Race
- Commonwealth Games Official Site
- 1930 British Empire Games at the official Guernsey site
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