Westshore Stingers

Westshore Stingers
City Victoria, British Columbia
League Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League
Division South
Founded 2005 (2005)–06
Home arena Bear Mountain Arena
Colours Black, gold, silver, white
                   
Owner(s) Canada TBD
General manager Canada TBD
Head coach Canada TBD

Website
eteamz.com/westshorestingers

Franchise history
2005-08 Sooke Stingers
2008-2011 Westshore Stingers

The Westshore Stingers were a junior "B" ice hockey team based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. They were members of the South Division of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL). The Stingers played their home games at Bear Mountain Arena. John Butler-Smith was the team's last president and general manager; and Bryan Grant was the last coach.

The team was founded in 2005 in Sooke, British Columbia as the Sooke Stingers until relocating to Victoria in 2008.

Legacy

In the 2008-9 season, the Stingers completed the season without earning a single point, losing all 48 regular season and 4 playoff games in regulation time. Despite multiple losses in overtime in the following season, the losing streak would extend 91 games until the dangerous combination of Colin Weiss, Travis Oickle, and Brandon Krupa led the stingers to their first win since relocating to Bear Mountain Arena. The Westshore stingers are arguably the worst franchise in the history of organized hockey.

Controversy

On November 22, 2010 before the game vs the Victoria Cougars. The Stingers took the ice for warm up only to change back into "Civilian Clothing"[1] to protest the lack of practice time (from 1 practices to 2 practices a week (most teams have 3-5 a week)) and other issues with management.after an hour delay of the game only the threat of suspension coxed the team on to the ice where they were beaten 16-0. 2 days later on November 24 as Punishment for the protest Captain Jacob Nixon, Assistant Captain Colin Weiss and Starting Goaltender Johnny Webb were released by the club. Stingers GM John Butler-Smith Defended the move saying the club "dealing in shenanigans and working to be part of the problem, not working to be part of the solution."[2] Colin Weiss disagreed saying "We are the players who spoke out for the team and all three of us have been let go. I believe we are being used as scapegoats. Hopefully, the league will step in. I just want to play hockey."[3] This move also left the club with too few players to compete. As a result, the team missed the next 4 games. On December 4, 2010 the League's board of directors met to discuss the situation and the team was given a 1-year leave of absence from the league. The Players were drafted away in a dispersal draft On December 10th 2010. The Team has been suspended for 2011-2012 season Owner and GM John Butler Smith has relinquished ownership of the team this also allowed the Kerry Park Islanders to be moved to the South Division. A Unnamed Person has reportedly put in an ownership bid for the team but details about money have not been released."[4]

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Season GP W L OTL Pts GF GA Finish Playoffs
2005-06 42 2 40 0 4 73 348 4th, North Lost in Division Semifinals, 0-4 (Storm)
2006-07 48 4 40 3 11 120 329 4th, South
2007-08 48 3 42 3 9 124 330 4th, South
2008-09 48 0 48 0 0 82 348 4th, South Lost in Quarterfinals, 0-4
2009–10 48 1 45 1 4 81 330 4th, South Lost in Quarterfinals, 0-4
2010-11 14 0 14 0 0 15 98 4th, South Suspended during Regular Season

References

External links

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