Guelph Platers

Guelph Platers
City Guelph, Ontario
League Southern Ontario Junior A/
Ontario Provincial Junior A/
Ontario Hockey League
Founded 1975 (1975) (Tier II)
1982 (Tier I)
Home arena Guelph Memorial Gardens
Colours Red, yellow, and white
Franchise history
1956–1975 Guelph CMC's
1975–1989 Guelph Platers
1989–2000 Owen Sound Platers
2000–present Owen Sound Attack

The Guelph Platers were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1975 to 1982, and the Ontario Hockey League from 1982 to 1989, based in Guelph, Ontario.

Contents

History

In 1975, the Guelph CMC's of the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League (SOJHL) were bought by Guelph, Ontario's wealthy Holody family, the owners of a local electroplating company. The Holodys changed the team name to the Guelph Holody Platers. The team remained in the SOJHL for the next two years, finishing first both times.

OHA Junior 'A' years

The SOJHL folded in 1977. Two of its four teams, Guelph and the Hamilton Mountain A's, became part of the Ontario Hockey Association Junior "A" League. The Platers, featuring future Montreal Canadiens goaltender Brian Hayward, won the 1977–78 Manitoba Centennial Trophy as national Junior 'A' champions. It was the second national title for the franchise, which had also won the Centennial Cup in 1972 as the CMC's.

In 1978–79, the Platers became the first team to win the Dudley Hewitt Cup as provincial champions. In the 1980–81 season, the Platers reached the Tier II championship for southern Ontario, but were defeated by another future OHL team, the Belleville Bulls. The 1981–82 season proved to be the last season for the Platers in the OHA-A. As they won their second Dudley Hewitt Cup, they were announced as the latest expansion team of the Ontario Hockey League.

OHL Major Junior years

After being turned down as an OHL expansion team in 1981, Guelph was approved the next year for the 1982–83 season. Guelph's first season in the OHL was dismal. The team set OHL records at the time for losing 63 of their 70 games, for most home and away losses, and most goals against in one season with 555. All of these records have since been surpassed by other teams in the Canadian Hockey League.

In 1986, the Guelph Platers caught the entire Canadian Hockey League off-guard. Led by coach Jacques Martin, the team reached the playoffs for the first time in franchise history by finishing second in the Emms Division (Western Conference). The Platers continued their hard work through the playoffs, winning the J. Ross Robertson Cup by defeating the Belleville Bulls 8 points to 4 in the final. Guelph travelled to the Memorial Cup that year, bringing home the national championship to complete their Cinderella season.

Memorial Cup 1986

The Memorial Cup championship of 1986 was hosted by the Western Hockey League, with games originally scheduled for New Westminster, British Columbia, but were switched to Portland, Oregon due to a hotel shortage caused by Expo '86. Their opponents would be the Portland Winter Hawks (hosts), Kamloops Blazers (WHL Champs) and the Hull Olympiques (QMJHL Champs.

Guelph finished first in the round-robin and took a bye to the finals, where they would play the Hull Olympiques of the QMJHL for the championship. The surprise season ended with two pairs of surprise goals 11 and 13 seconds apart respectively. The Platers won the game 5-2 to capture the Memorial Cup.

Game 1      Hull Olympiques       7 vs. Portland Winter Hawks 5
Game 2      Guelph Platers        5 vs. Kamloops Blazers      3
Game 3      Portland Winter Hawks 6 vs. Guelph Platers        4
Game 4      Hull Olympiques       5 vs. Kamloops Blazers      4 (OT)
Game 5      Guelph Platers        3 vs. Hull Olympiques       1
Game 6      Kamloops Blazers      6 vs. Portland Winter Hawks 5
Tie-breaker Kamloops Blazers      8 vs. Portland Winter Hawks 1
Semi-final  Hull Olympiques       9 vs. Kamloops Blazers      3
Final       Guelph Platers        5 vs. Hull Olympiques       2

Fame was short-lived for the Platers however. The team suffered through more losing seasons with poor attendance. After the 1988–89 season, the Holodys moved the team to Owen Sound, Ontario, retaining the name "Platers". Alec Campagnaro was given the Bill Long Award for distinguished service to the OHL in 1989.

Championships

SOJAHL Jack Oakes Trophy final appearances: 1976 (won), 1977 (won)
OPJHL Frank L. Buckland Trophy final appearances: 1978 (won), 1979 (won), 1982 (won)
Ontario Hockey Association Tier II All-Ontario final appearances: 1976 (won), 1977 (lost), 1978 (won), 1979 (won), 1982 (won)
CJAHL Dudley Hewitt Cup final appearances: 1976 (lost), 1978 (won), 1979 (won), 1982 (won)
CJAHL Centennial Cup final appearances: 1978 (won), 1982 (lost)
J. Ross Robertson Cup final appearances: 1986 (won)
Memorial Cup final appearances: 1986 (won)

Coaches

Jacques Martin was a former NCAA goalie turned coach. In his one year in Guelph, he completely turned around the franchise making them into national champions. He was awarded the Matt Leyden Trophy as OHL Coach of the year in 1986. The following year he was hired as the head coach of the NHL St. Louis Blues.

Players

Award winners

Retired numbers

18 - Paul Fendley, a former member of the Guelph CMC's who died in an on-ice accident at Guelph Memorial Gardens in 1972. His number has not been issued to a player since, by the Guelph CMC's, Guelph Platers, or Guelph Storm. Paul Fendley's number will officially be retired on Nov 15, 2008.

NHL alumni

Yearly results

Regular season

Season Games Won Lost Tied Points Pct % Goals
for		 Goals
against		 Standing
1975–76 60 41 9 10 92 0.767 400 238 1st SOJAHL
1976–77 35 23 5 7 53 0.757 243 118 1st SOJAHL
1977-78 50 38 8 4 80 0.800 360 197 1st OPJHL
1978-79 50 33 12 5 71 0.710 294 186 1st OPJHL
1979-80 44 21 17 6 48 0.545 215 175 7th OPJHL
1980-81 44 32 10 2 66 0.750 269 187 2nd OPJHL
1981-82 50 40 4 6 86 0.860 328 152 1st OJHL
1982–83 70 7 63 0 14 0.100 246 555 8th Emms
1983–84 70 20 46 4 44 0.314 252 366 7th Emms
1984–85 66 21 40 5 47 0.356 230 332 7th Emms
1985–86 66 41 23 2 84 0.636 297 235 2nd Emms
1986–87 66 29 35 2 60 0.455 275 281 6th Emms
1987–88 66 21 40 5 47 0.356 249 318 7th Emms
1988–89 66 26 32 8 60 0.455 257 288 4th Emms

Playoffs

SOJHL Years

Guelph Platers defeated Welland Sabres 4-games-to-1
Guelph Platers defeated Chatham Maroons 4-games-to-none SOJHL CHAMPIONS
Guelph Platers defeated North Bay Trappers (OPJHL) 4-games-to-1 BUCKLAND CUP CHAMPIONS
Guelph Platers defeated Thunder Bay Eagles (TBJHL) 4-games-to-1
Rockland Nationals (CJHL) defeated Guelph Platers 4-games-to-3
Guelph Platers defeated Owen Sound Greys 4-games-to-2 with 1 tie
Guelph Platers defeated Collingwood Blues 4-games-to-none SOJHL CHAMPIONS
North York Rangers (OPJHL) defeated Guelph Platers 4-games-to-3

OPJHL Years

Guelph Platers defeated Wexford Raiders 4-games-to-none
Guelph Platers defeated North Bay Trappers 4-games-to-2
Guelph Platers defeated Royal York Royals 4-games-to-1 OPJHL CHAMPIONS
Guelph Platers defeated Degagne Hurricanes (TBJHL) 4-games-to-none
Guelph Platers defeated Pembroke Lumber Kings (CJHL) 4-games-to-1
Guelph Platers defeated Charlottetown Eagles (IJHL) 4-games-to-2 HDM TROPHY CHAMPIONS
Guelph Platers defeated Prince Albert Raiders (SJHL) 4-games-to-none CENTENNIAL CUP CHAMPIONS
Guelph Platers defeated Markham Waxers 4-games-to-none
Guelph Platers defeated North York Rangers 4-games-to-none
Guelph Platers defeated Dixie Beehives 4-games-to-1 OPJHL CHAMPIONS
Guelph Platers defeated Nickel Centre Native Sons 2-games-to-none BUCKLAND CUP CHAMPIONS
Guelph Platers defeated Thunder Bay North Stars (TBJHL) 4-games-to-none
Guelph Platers defeated Hawkesbury Hawks (CJHL) 4-games-to-2 DUDLEY HEWITT CUP CHAMPIONS
Third and eliminated in 1979 Centennial Cup round robin (1-3)
North York Rangers defeated Guelph Platers 4-games-to-3
Guelph Platers defeated Brampton Warriors 4-games-to-none
Guelph Platers defeated North York Rangers 4-games-to-3
Belleville Bulls defeated Guelph Platers 4-games-to-1
Guelph Platers defeated North York Rangers 4-games-to-none
Guelph Platers defeated Richmond Hill Rams 4-games-to-none
Guelph Platers defeated Markham Waxers 4-games-to-1 OJHL CHAMPIONS
Guelph Platers defeated Onaping Falls Huskies (NOJHL) 3-games-to-none BUCKLAND CUP CHAMPIONS
Guelph Platers defeated Thunder Bay Kings (TBJHL) 3-games-to-none
Guelph Platers defeated Pembroke Lumber Kings (CJHL) 4-games-to-none DUDLEY HEWITT CUP CHAMPIONS
Guelph Platers defeated Moncton Hawks (NBJHL) 4-games-to-1 EASTERN CANADA CHAMPIONS
Prince Albert Raiders (SJHL) defeated Guelph Platers 4-games-to-none
Platers transfer to Ontario Hockey League.

Arena

The Guelph Platers played at the Guelph Memorial Gardens located in downtown Guelph. The team and the arena played host to the OHL All-Star game in 1984. Demolition of the Gardens began in 2006.

Preceded by
Prince Albert Raiders		 Centennial Cup Champions
1978		 Succeeded by
Prince Albert Raiders
East Division
Central Division
Midwest Division
West Division
Defunct teams
Ontario Hockey Association Junior A Hockey
CJHL: Dudley Hewitt Cup  · Royal Bank Cup