Cranbrook Colts

Cranbrook Colts
City	Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada
League	Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League
Operated	1971 (1971)-1998
Colours	Black and White

The Cranbrook Colts were a Junior "B" and a Junior "A" team in Cranbrook, British Columbia. They were formed in 1971 as a Junior "B" team in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. They were immediately successful, winning the league title in their first four years. The Colts jumped to the Junior "A" Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League in 1991, winning three league titles in their seven years in the league.

The Colts folded in 1998 because of the forming of the Kootenay Ice in Cranbrook, British Columbia, a major junior team in the Western Hockey League.

Championships

• Kootenay International Junior Hockey League: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987.
• Cyclone Taylor Cup: 1974, 1975, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987.
• Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League: 1995, 1997, 1998.

History

In 1971, the Cranbrook Colts joined the KIJHL with a partial schedule. After going undefeated in nineteen games, Colts went on to win the league playoff title. For much of the 1970s, the Colts were the elite of the KIJHL and amongst the best British Columbia Junior B hockey had to offer. The Colts went on to win KIJHL playoff titles in 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, and 1976, topping this off with Cyclone Taylor Cups as Provincial Champions in 1974 and 1975.

In the early 1980s, the Colts came back to their winning ways, taking league titles in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1987. They finished this dynasty off with four consecutive Cyclone Taylor Cups in 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1987 as BC champions.

In 1991, the Colts joined the Peace-Cariboo Junior Hockey League with a group of other KIJHL teams to form the Kootenay Division of what was to now be known as the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League. The PCJHL had been a tiny Junior "A" league bridging the British Columbia-Alberta North-Central border since 1980. The Southern expansion into the Kootenays was an effort to increase the talent pool and to venture into an area that British Columbia Junior Hockey League had yet to claim. The Colts would continue to dominate, even as a Junior "A" team, winning league championships in 1995, 1997, and 1998.

In 1998, the Western Hockey League's Edmonton Ice was failing and was sold and moved to Cranbrook. The Colts folded to make way for the Major Junior team.

Season-by-season standings

Playoffs

• 1992 Lost Semi-final

Cranbrook Colts defeated Fernie Ghostriders 4-games-to-none

Trail Smoke Eaters defeated Cranbrook Colts 4-games-to-3

• 1993 Lost Final

Cranbrook Colts defeated Kimberley Dynamiters 4-games-to-2

Cranbrook Colts defeated Trail Smoke Eaters 4-games-to-2

Williams Lake Mustangs defeated Cranbrook Colts 3-games-to-2

• 1994 Lost Semi-final

Cranbrook Colts defeated Creston Valley Thunder 4-games-to-1

Kimberley Dynamiters defeated Cranbrook Colts 4-games-to-1

• 1995 Won League, Lost Mowat Cup

Cranbrook Colts defeated Kimberley Dynamiters 4-games-to-none

Cranbrook Colts defeated Creston Valley Thunder 4-games-to-none

Cranbrook Colts defeated Prince George Spruce Kings 4-games-to-2 RMJHL CHAMPIONS

Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL) defeated Cranbrook Colts 3-games-to-none

• 1996 Lost Quarter-final

Kimberley Dynamiters defeated Cranbrook Colts 4-games-to-2

• 1997 Won League, Lost Mowat Cup

Kimberley Dynamiters defeated Cranbrook Colts 4-games-to-3

Cranbrook Colts defeated Nelson Leafs 4-games-to-none

Cranbrook Colts defeated Fernie Ghostriders 4-games-to-none RMJHL CHAMPIONS

South Surrey Eagles (BCHL) defeated Cranbrook Colts 3-games-to-none

• 1998 Won League, Lost Mowat Cup

Cranbrook Colts defeated Fernie Ghostriders 4-games-to-1

Cranbrook Colts defeated Kimberley Dynamiters 4-games-to-3 RMJHL CHAMPIONS

South Surrey Eagles (BCHL) defeated Cranbrook Colts 3-games-to-none

Notable alumni

• Jon Klemm
• Brad Lukowich
• Bob Murdoch

External links

• BC Hockey