Burford Bulldogs

The Burford Bulldogs are Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Burford, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League.

History

The Burford Bulldogs were founded in 1988 after a long layoff of junior hockey in the town of Burford. The previous team to play in Burford was the Burford Knights in the mid to late 1970s.

As members of the new Southern Ontario merger Western Junior D Hockey League, the Bulldogs found themselves sandwiched in with 17 other teams. In only their second season, 1989-90, the Bulldogs celebrated their first winning season with 19 wins and 12 losses with 4 ties. A season later they did the same with 22 wins, 15, losses, and 3 extra points. In 1991-92 they had their best season ever with 25 wins and 10 losses, finishing 4th overall.

In 1991, the Western League became the Ontario Hockey Association Junior Development League. The Bulldogs began to struggle come 1992. They had winning season in 1994-95 and 1995-96, only to manage 11 wins in 1996-97.

The 2005-06 season had the Bulldogs finish 15th overall in the OHA Junior Development League. Finishing 4th in their own division, they had to play the division leading Delhi Travellers in the first round of the playoffs. The Travellers won the series 4-games-to-2.

In 2006-07, the OHA Junior Development League was disbanded and the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League was created in its stead. That season the Bulldogs turned around their fortunes with an 8th place finish and a record of 22 wins, 17 losses, and 3 extra points. With much optimism going into the playoffs, the Bulldogs gained home ice advantage over the Hagersville Hawks in the first round of the playoffs. The Hawks upset the Bulldogs, defeating them 4-games-to-2.

The 2007-08 season was another improvement, as Burford finished 7th place overall in the league and 2nd place in their own division. The Bulldogs finished the season with 24 wins, 14 losses, and 4 extra point overtime losses. In the first round of the playoffs they played the Wellesley Applejacks. Despite a hard fought series, for the first time in years, Burford defeated their opponents in the opening playoff round 4-games-to-3. In the league quarter-final, the Bulldogs played division leading Delhi but fell 4-games-to-none to exit the playoffs.Burford finished the previous season in 11th place in the SOJHL.

Season-by-season standings

Notable alumni

• Jay Wells

External links

• Burford Bulldogs OHA webpage