Brantford 99ers

Brantford 99ers
City Brantford, Ontario, Canada
League Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League
Division Mid-Western
Founded 2013
Home arena Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre
Colors Black, Red, and White
              
Owner(s) Mike Spadafora, Scott Rex, Paul Polillo, Ken Lindsay and Darren DeDobbelaer
General manager Mike Spadafora
Head coach Scott Rex

The Brantford 99ers are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Mid-Western Conference of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.

History

99ers goalie during 2013-14 season.

For years, the Brantford Eagles franchise were not very successful. From 1992 until 2002, the Eagles were only able to surpass ten wins once. Most of that time, the team had been transplanted to Ohsweken, Ontario.[1] In 2002, the team moved back to Brantford and began winning more consistently. By the 2005-06 season, the Eagles made the Mid-Western League final. In 2007, the three Ontario Hockey Association Junior B Leagues merged into the GOJHL. From that point on, the Eagles would win three Mid-Western regular season championships, three Mid-Western Conference playoff championships, and the 2009 Sutherland Cup as Ontario Champions. But the fans did not come. On May 23, 2012, the Eagles were official moved to Caledonia, Ontario and became the Caledonia Corvairs.[2]

In 2012, the GOJHL announced it was recruiting new teams for a new Toronto-based fourth conference for the league. In Spring 2013, the plan would unceremoniously die, but a Brantford group that had decided to apply for entry transferred their request to the Mid-Western Conference.[3] Their request was accepted[4] and the ownership group named themselves the 99'ers in honour of Wayne Gretzky and the Brantford Minor Hockey Association.[5]

99ers player during 2013-14 season.

On September 6, 2013, the 99ers played their first ever game, on the road, against the Brampton Bombers. Luc Hartholt scored the first goal in franchise history at 2:29 of the first period in a 4-3 win. Andre Keire made 20 saves to pick up the first ever win in net.[6]

Season-by-season results

Season GP W L T OTL GF GA P Results Playoffs
2013-14 49 7 38 - 4 118 251 18 9th GOJHL-MW DNQ
2013-14 49 9 39 - 1 128 258 19 9th GOJHL-MW did not qualify

External links

References

  1. ↑ http://officialgamepuck.com/TownIndex/Canadian/OntarioTowns/OhswekenGoldenEagles.htm
  2. ↑ http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2012/05/24/golden-eagles-wing-off-for-Caledonia
  3. ↑ http://thejuniorhockeynews.com/?p=2588
  4. ↑ http://www.therecord.com/sports/article/906776--brantford-returns-to-gojhl
  5. ↑ http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2013/04/03/brantford-jr-b-team-adopts-99ers-moniker
  6. ↑ http://gojhlcms.stats.pointstreak.com/gamesheet_full.html?gameid=2240956