Burford Bulldogs

Burford Bulldogs
Midwestern Junior C Hockey League
City Burford, Ontario
Founded 1988
Division West
Head Coach Gary Money
General Manager Todd Francis
Arena Burford Arena & Community Centre
Affiliate(s) none
Team Colors Orange, Black, White
League Champions None
OHA Cups None

The Burford Bulldogs are Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Burford, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Midwestern Junior C 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.

After much shuffling in the Summer of 2013, the Bulldogs found themselves in the Midwestern Junior C Hockey League.

Season-by-season standings

Season GP W L T OTL GF GA P Results Playoffs
1988-89 35 14 20 1 - 184 208 29 13th WJDHL
1989-90 35 19 12 4 - 217 177 42 9th WJDHL
1990-91 40 22 15 2 1 248 226 47 6th WJDHL
1991-92 35 25 10 0 0 262 166 50 4th OHAJDL
1992-93 40 15 20 4 1 160 181 35 11th OHAJDL
1993-94 40 14 24 2 - 188 240 30 11th OHAJDL
1994-95 40 19 19 1 1 176 208 40 11th OHAJDL
1995-96 40 19 17 1 3 202 200 42 9th OHAJDL
1996-97 39 11 25 0 3 177 270 25 15th OHAJDL
1997-98 37 21 14 2 0 198 167 44 8th OHAJDL
1998-99 38 14 24 0 0 148 192 28 15th OHAJDL
1999-00 38 16 15 2 5 181 172 39 10th OHAJDL
2000-01 40 25 12 2 1 -- -- 53 6th OHAJDL
2001-02 40 19 16 3 2 160 147 43 9th OHAJDL
2002-03 40 16 20 2 2 141 172 36 12th OHAJDL
2003-04 40 16 18 5 1 133 159 38 12th OHAJDL
2004-05 40 11 21 4 4 126 147 30 15th OHAJDL
2005-06 38 10 22 4 2 150 182 26 15th OHAJDL
2006-07 42 22 17 0 3 193 199 47 8th SOJHL
2007-08 42 24 14 - 4 187 152 52 7th SOJHL
2008-09 40 12 21 - 7 152 182 31 11th SOJHL
2009-10 36 13 21 - 2 131 170 28 11th SOJHL
2010-11 35 12 21 - 2 123 161 26 13th SOJHL
2011-12 35 11 21 - 3 125 171 27 11th SOJHL
2012-13 38 19 16 - 3 180 162 41 4th SOJHL-Mc
2013-14 40 13 26 - 1 130 219 27 7th MWJCHL Lost Quarter - 0-4 - (Centennials)
2014-15 40 20 20 0 - 133 158 40 6th MWJCHL Lost Quarter - 2-4 - (Merchants)

Notable alumni

External links