List of CHL franchise post-season droughts
This is a list of current Canadian Hockey League (CHL) franchise post season droughts for playoffs, playoff series win, league championships and Memorial Cup wins. Those teams which have never won in franchise history are listed by the playoff date for the season they entered the league.
Memorial Cup
Shows the last year each of the 60 current CHL franchises won a Memorial Cup - or the year they entered competition if they have never won a Memorial Cup (marked with a *). Shows the playoff timing of a season, such as 1960 for the 1959-60 season.
- 1960: Saginaw Spirit (as the St. Catharines Teepees)
- 1967: Saskatoon Blades*
- 1967: Tri-City Americans*
- 1968: Lethbridge Hurricanes*
- 1968: Sudbury Wolves (as the Niagara Falls Flyers)
- 1968: Brandon Wheat Kings*
- 1970: Rouyn-Noranda Huskies* (as the Montreal Junior Canadiens)
- 1970: Acadie-Bathurst Titan* (as the Rosemont National)
- 1972: Prince George Cougars*
- 1972: Seattle Thunderbirds*
- 1974: Regina Pats
- 1974: Kingston Frontenacs* (as the Kingston Canadians)
- 1974: Chicoutimi Saguenéens*
- 1975: Guelph Storm (as the Toronto Marlboros)
- 1976: Erie Otters (as the Hamilton Fincups)
- 1979: Peterborough Petes
- 1981: Sarnia Sting (as the Cornwall Royals)
- 1981: Moose Jaw Warriors* (as the Winnipeg Warriors)
- 1982: Hamilton Bulldogs* (as the Belleville Bulls)
- 1983: Victoriaville Tigres* (as the Longueuil Chevaliers)
- 1983: Drummondville Voltigeurs*
- 1985: Prince Albert Raiders
- 1986: Owen Sound Attack (as the Guelph Platers)
- 1988: Medicine Hat Tigers
- 1989: Swift Current Broncos
- 1991: Flint Firebirds* (as the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors)
- 1993: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
- 1994: Val-d'Or Foreurs*
- 1995: Kamloops Blazers
- 1996: Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (as the Granby Prédateurs)
- 1996: Barrie Colts*
- 1996: Calgary Hitmen*
- 1997: Gatineau Olympiques (as the Hull Olympiques)
- 1996: Moncton Wildcats* (as the Moncton Alpines)
- 1998: Portland Winterhawks
- 1998: Baie-Comeau Drakkar*
- 1998: Mississauga Steelheads* (as the Toronto St. Michael's Majors)
- 1999: North Bay Battalion* (as the Brampton Battalion)
- 1999: Niagara IceDogs* (as the Mississauga IceDogs)
- 1999: Ottawa 67's
- 2000: Rimouski Océanic
- 2000: Charlottetown Islanders* (as the Montreal Rocket)
- 2001: Red Deer Rebels
- 2002: Kootenay Ice
- 2003: Kitchener Rangers
- 2004: Kelowna Rockets
- 2004: Everett Silvertips*
- 2006: Quebec Remparts
- 2006: Blainville-Boisbriand Armada* (as the St. John's Fog Devils)
- 2007: Vancouver Giants
- 2007: Victoria Royals* (as the Chilliwack Bruins)
- 2008: Spokane Chiefs
- 2011: Saint John Sea Dogs
- 2012: Shawinigan Cataractes
- 2013: Sherbrooke Phoenix*
- 2013: Halifax Mooseheads
- 2014: Edmonton Oil Kings
- 2015: Oshawa Generals
- 2016: London Knights
- 2017: Windsor Spitfires
League Championships
Shows the last year each of the 60 current CHL franchises won a J. Ross Robertson Cup (OHL), the Ed Chynoweth Cup (WHL) or the President's Cup (QMJHL) - or the year they entered competition if they have never won a league championship (marked with a *). Shows the playoff timing of a season, such as 1967 for the 1966-67 season.
- 1967: Saskatoon Blades*
- 1967: Tri-City Americans* (as the Calgary Buffaloes, moved to Tri-City in 1988)
- 1968: Sudbury Wolves* (as the Niagara Falls Flyers, moved to Sudbury in 1972)
- 1970: Shawinigan Cataractes*
- 1974: Kingston Frontenacs*
- 1980: Regina Pats
- 1981: Sarnia Sting* (won QMJHL Championship as the Cornwall Royals before joining the OHL, moved to Sarnia in 1994)
- 1981: Prince George Cougars (as the Victoria Cougars, moved to Prince George in 1994)
- 1981: Moose Jaw Warriors* (as the Winnipeg Warriors, moved to Moose Jaw in 1984)
- 1985: Prince Albert Raiders
- 1991: Quebec Remparts* (as the Beauport Harfangs)
- 1992: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
- 1993: Swift Current Broncos
- 1994: Chicoutimi Saguenéens
- 1994: Saginaw Spirit (as the North Bay Centennials, moved to Saginaw in 2002)
- 1995: Kamloops Blazers
- 1996: Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (as the Granby Prédateurs, moved to Cape Breton in 1997)
- 1997: Lethbridge Hurricanes
- 1998: Baie-Comeau Drakkar*
- 1998: Mississauga Steelheads* (as the Toronto St. Michael's Majors, moved to Mississauga in 2007)
- 1999: North Bay Battalion* (as the Brampton Battalion, moved to North Bay in 2013)
- 1999: Niagara IceDogs* (as the Mississauga IceDogs, moved to Niagara in 2007)
- 1999: Acadie-Bathurst Titan
- 1999: Hamilton Bulldogs (as the Belleville Bulls, moved to Hamilton in 2015)
- 2000: Charlottetown Islanders* (as the Montreal Rocket, moved to Charlottetown in 2003)
- 2000: Barrie Colts
- 2001: Ottawa 67's
- 2001: Red Deer Rebels
- 2002: Victoriaville Tigres
- 2004: Everett Silvertips*
- 2006: Blainville-Boisbriand Armada* (as the St. John's Fog Devils, moved to Blainville in 2011)
- 2006: Peterborough Petes
- 2006: Vancouver Giants
- 2007: Victoria Royals* (as the Chilliwack Bruins, moved to Victoria in 2011)
- 2007: Medicine Hat Tigers
- 2007: Plymouth Whalers
- 2008: Gatineau Olympiques
- 2008: Kitchener Rangers
- 2008: Spokane Chiefs
- 2009: Drummondville Voltigeurs
- 2010: Calgary Hitmen
- 2010: Moncton Wildcats
- 2010: Windsor Spitfires
- 2011: Owen Sound Attack
- 2011: Kootenay Ice
- 2013: Portland Winterhawks
- 2013: Sherbrooke Phoenix*
- 2013: Halifax Mooseheads
- 2014: Guelph Storm
- 2014: Edmonton Oil Kings
- 2014: Val-d'Or Foreurs
- 2015: Oshawa Generals
- 2015: Kelowna Rockets
- 2015: Rimouski Oceanic
- 2016: London Knights
- 2016: Brandon Wheat Kings
- 2016: Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
- 2017: Saint John Sea Dogs
- 2017: Erie Otters
- 2017: Seattle Thunderbirds
League Finals
Date each CHL teams last qualified for it's respective league finals (WHL, OHL, QMJHL). If they have never qualified for a league championship series, they're marked with a * and the date shows the team's inception into the league. Shows the playoff timing of a season, such as 1967 for the 1966-67 season.
- 1974: Kingston Frontenacs*
- 1985: Prince Albert Raiders
- 1993: Swift Current Broncos
- 1993: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
- 1994: Saskatoon Blades
- 1995: Prince George Cougars*
- 1995: Sarnia Sting*
- 1997: Chicoutimi Saguenéens
- 1998: Cape Breton Screaming Eagles*
- 1999: Kamloops Blazers
- 2002: Acadie-Bathurst Titan
- 2002: Victoriaville Tigres
- 2003: Red Deer Rebels
- 2003: Saginaw Spirit*
- 2004: Charlottetown Islanders*
- 2004: Everett Silvertips
- 2005: Ottawa 67's
- 2006: Moose Jaw Warriors
- 2006: Peterborough Petes
- 2007: Vancouver Giants
- 2007: Medicine Hat Tigers
- 2007: Sudbury Wolves
- 2008: Lethbridge Hurricanes
- 2008: Spokane Chiefs
- 2008: Kitchener Rangers
- 2009: Drummondville Voltigeurs
- 2010: Tri-City Americans
- 2010: Calgary Hitmen
- 2010: Moncton Wildcats
- 2010: Windsor Spitfires
- 2011: Kootenay Ice
- 2011: Gatineau Olympiques
- 2011: Owen Sound Attack
- 2012: Victoria Royals*
- 2013: Sherbrooke Phoenix*
- 2013: Halifax Mooseheads
- 2013: Barrie Colts
- 2014: Portland Winterhawks
- 2014: Edmonton Oil Kings
- 2014: Baie-Comeau Drakkar
- 2014: Val d'Or Foreurs
- 2014: North Bay Battalion
- 2014: Guelph Storm
- 2015: Oshawa Generals
- 2015: Rimouski Oceanic
- 2015: Quebec Remparts
- 2015: Kelowna Rockets
- 2016: Brandon Wheat Kings
- 2016: Niagara IceDogs
- 2016: London Knights
- 2016: Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
- 2016: Shawinigan Cataractes
- 2016: Flint Firebirds*
- 2016: Hamilton Bulldogs*
- 2017: Seattle Thunderbirds
- 2017: Regina Pats
- 2017: Erie Otters
- 2017: Mississauga Steelheads
- 2017: Saint John Sea Dogs
- 2017: Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
Conference Finals Appearance
For any franchise that did not appear in the conference finals in the 2015-16 season, shows the last year that they appeared in the conference finals or equivalent. Teams that have never appeared in a conference finals are denoted with a (*) and the year in which they entered the leagues is used.
Playoff Series Win
For any franchise that did not win a playoff series in the 20116-17 season, shows the last year that they won a playoff series.
- 1 the Sherbrooke Phoenix have never won a playoff series. The season listed is the season they began play.
- 2 the Flint Firebirds last won a playoff series as the Plymouth Whalers.
- 3 the Hamilton Bulldogs last won a playoff series as the Belleville Bulls.
Playoffs
For any franchise that did not enter post-season play for the current 2016-17 season, shows the last year that franchise did play in the post season. A significant number of teams in each league do enter post season play (80% of the CHL played in the 2017 playoffs), so playoff droughts are not as pronounced as championship droughts. Shows the playoff timing of a season, such as 2014 for the 2013-14 season.
Team | Last appearance in post-season | Post-season drought |
---|---|---|
Saskatoon Blades | 2012-13 | 4 seasons |
Vancouver Giants | 2013-14 | 3 seasons |
Kootenay Ice | 2014-15 | 2 seasons |
Guelph Storm | 2014-15 | 2 seasons |
North Bay Battalion | 2015-16 | 1 season |
Barrie Colts | 2015-16 | 1 season |
Saginaw Spirit | 2015-16 | 1 season |
Spokane Chiefs | 2015-16 | 1 season |
Edmonton Oil Kings | 2015-16 | 1 season |
Prince Albert Raiders | 2015-16 | 1 season |
Sherbrooke Phoenix | 2015-16 | 1 season |
Moncton Wildcats | 2015-16 | 1 season |
Notes
The longest championship drought in CHL history is shared by the Saskatoon Blades and the Tri-City Americans, who have never won the WHL title nor a Memorial Cup since their founding in 1966. The Blades hold the record for longest drought for a franchise during their time in one city/team name, as the Americans have changed names and cities a few times since 1966.
The longest Memorial Cup drought among teams who have won their league title but never the Memorial Cup belongs to the Brandon Wheat Kings. The team has won three WHL titles but never the Memorial Cup since their founding in 1968.
There are only two CHL teams that have won the Memorial Cup but never their own league - the second edition of the Quebec Remparts (which joined the QMJHL in 1990 as the Beauport Harfangs) won the 2006 Memorial Cup as QMJHL runners-up to champion and tournament host Moncton and the Shawinigan Cataractes who won the 2012 Memorial Cup as hosts.
The longest league championship drought amongst previous winning franchises belongs to the Sudbury Wolves, who have not won since its previous incarnation, the Niagara Falls Flyers, won its third J. Ross Robertson Cup in 1968 (seventh franchise win, including previous incarnation as Barrie Flyers). The longest league championship drought amongst previous winning franchises during their time in one city/team name belongs to the Regina Pats, who have not won the WHL title since their win in 1980.
The longest Memorial Cup winning drought amongst previous winning franchises also belongs to the Sudbury Wolves, who have not won since its previous incarnation, the Niagara Falls Flyers, won its second Memorial Cup in 1968 (fourth franchise win, including previous incarnation as Barrie Flyers). The longest Memorial Cup drought amongst previous winning franchises during their time in one city/team name belongs to the Peterborough Petes, whose only Memorial Cup title came in 1979.
Provenance of the current CHL franchises:
- Acadie-Bathurst Titan totals include Rosemont National, Laval National, Laval Voisins, Laval Titan and Laval Titan du Collège-Français
- Blainville-Boisbriand Armada totals include St. John's Fog Devils and Montreal Junior
- Cape Breton Screaming Eagles totals include Sorel Éperviers, Verdun Éperviers, Granby Bisons and Granby Prédateurs
- Charlottetown Islanders totals include Montreal Rocket and PEI Rocket
- Erie Otters totals include Hamilton Fincups, Brantford Alexanders, Hamilton Steelhawks and Niagara Falls Thunder
- Flint Firebirds totals include Detroit Compuware Ambassadors, Detroit Junior Red Wings, Detroit Whalers, and Plymouth Whalers
- Gatineau Olympiques totals include Hull Festivals and Hull Olympiques
- Guelph Storm totals include Toronto Marlboros and Dukes of Hamilton
- Hamilton Bulldogs totals include Belleville Bulls
- Kingston Frontenacs totals include Kingston Canadians and Kingston Raiders
- Mississauga Steelheads totals include Toronto St. Michael's Majors (1996-2007) and Mississauga St. Michael's Majors (2008-2012)
- Moncton Wildcats totals include Moncton Alpines
- Moose Jaw Warriors totals include Winnipeg Warriors
- Niagara IceDogs totals include Mississauga IceDogs
- North Bay Battalion totals include Brampton Battalion
- Owen Sound Attack totals include Guelph Platers and Owen Sound Platers
- Prince George Cougars totals include Victoria Cougars
- Quebec Remparts totals include Beauport Harfangs
- Rimouski Océanic totals include Sherbrooke Castors, St-Jean Castors and St-Jean Lynx
- Rouyn-Noranda Huskies totals include Montreal Junior Canadiens, Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge, Montreal Juniors, Verdun Juniors, Verdun Junior Canadiens, and Saint-Hyacinthe Laser
- Saginaw Spirit totals include St. Catharines Teepees, St. Catharines Black Hawks, Niagara Falls Flyers (1976-1982) and North Bay Centennials
- Sarnia Sting totals include Cornwall Royals and Newmarket Royals
- Seattle Thunderbirds totals include Vancouver Nats, Kamloops Chiefs and Seattle Breakers
- Shawinigan Cataractes totals include Shawinigan Bruins and Shawinigan Dynamos
- Sudbury Wolves totals include Niagara Falls Flyers (1960-1972)
- Tri-City Americans totals include Calgary Buffaloes, Calgary Centennials, Billings Bighorns, Nanaimo Islanders and New Westminster Bruins (1983-1988)
- Victoria Royals totals include Chilliwack Bruins (2006-2011)
- Victoriaville Tigres totals include Longueuil Chevaliers
See also
- List of National Hockey League franchise post-season droughts
- List of Major League Baseball franchise post-season droughts
- List of National Basketball Association franchise post-season droughts
- List of Current NFL franchise post-season droughts