Arthur Tigers
Encyclopedia
The Arthur Tigers were a Canadian
senior
hockey
team based in Arthur
, Ontario
, Canada
. They played in the Western Ontario Athletic Association Senior Hockey League
.
Some stars over the years included: Ken Riley, Al Bell, Garnett Rooney, Bob McCulloch, Bryan Richardson, Paul Epoch, Scott McCulloch, Tom O'Donnell, Marty Groulx, Bruce Richardson, Ray Hutchison, Mike Brooks, Glenn Watt, Darryl Rooney...
Some of the "Honourary Tigers" include: Bert Coffey, John Walsh, Clive Williams, Bill Smellie, Norbert Heffernan...
The club held Reunions in 1993 & again in 1998. These events attracted some 250-300 former players, coaches & friends of the Tigers.
to become the WOAA Grand Champions. The Tigers captured the WOAA Senior B Championship eliminating Wiarton & Drayton. Posting a 9-1 post-season record, the Tigers issued a challenge to the Senior A champion Durham Thundercats
for a Grand Championship series. Many of the players of the Thundercats had left on vacation at the end of the Senior A series, not expecting a Grand Championship, and had to return from Jamaica to play. The series went a full five games. Durham won game 1 10-2. Arthur won game two 10-1. Game three in Durham saw the T-Cats edge the Tigers 5-4. Coming back to Arthur, the Tigers needed to win to force a fifth and deciding game. Game four in Arthur, on a Sunday evening, was canceled at game time, with the fans already in the Arena, due to a compressor break down. Rescheduled to the following Tuesday evening, Arthur won 8-3 to force the fifth and deciding game. In Durham on Friday, April 3, 1991, a full house turned out. Tied heading into the 3rd period 3-3, the Tigers pulled ahead 6-3. Things appeared well in hand for Arthur. Tenacious Durham winger Scott Betts had other things in mind scoring two goals in the final two minutes to bring the homeside within a goal. Arthur held on for the 6-5 victory. Tigers winger John McCabe led all WOAA playoff scorers with 28 points. Netminder Marty Groulx sparkled for Arthur. Other players included: Scott McCulloch, Tom O'Donnell, Ray Hutchison, Eck Palmer Jr., Brian Ward, Jim "The Champ" Holmes, Paul Epoch, Fred Locking, Matt Coffey, John Bell, Don Jackson, Doug Bell, Rob McCulloch, Mike Raftis, Grant Rundle, Brad Smith, Frank Goetz, Jeff Bauman, Mark Goetz III, Walt Lesenke Jr. Coach Don Tremble, Assistant Coach Cal MacDonald, Manager/President Jeff McKee, Trainer Walt Lesenke Sr.
Other highly successful seasons included: 1971 - WOAA Grand Championship Finalists, 1952 Pritchard Trophy Champions & 1938 OHA Division Champions.
, through the late 1980s and early 1990s. The two towns are located 30 kilometers apart, and the clubs met four times in the playoffs - 1989, 1990, 1991 & 1992. Each club won two series'. In 1990 Drayton defeated the Tigers to advance to the WOAA Grand Championship Final. In 1991, Arthur defeated Drayton en route to the WOAA Grand Championship.
Through the 1950s, 1960s and1970s strong rivalries were formed with Harriston, Palmerston, Mt. Forest & Milverton.
One of the most famous games was played in the mid-1950s in Arthur. A packed house became embroiled in brawl which spilled out onto the ice. Fans leaned against the boards when defenceman Ken Elliott became involved in a fight. The boards slipped off their hooks, and the fans spilled onto the ice resulting in the melee. Mt. Forest eventually managed to retreat to their dressing room. Police assisted in helping the visitors leave the arena!
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
senior
Senior ice hockey
Senior hockey refers to amateur or semi-professional ice hockey competition for players too old to play junior ice hockey. The top senior amateur teams in Canadian leagues compete annually for the Allan Cup....
hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team based in Arthur
Arthur, Ontario
Arthur is a community located just north of Hwy 6 and Wellington Road 109 in the township of Wellington North, Ontario, Canada. Formerly an independent village, Arthur was amalgamated into Wellington North on January 1, 1999.-History:...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. They played in the Western Ontario Athletic Association Senior Hockey League
Western Ontario Athletic Association Senior Hockey League
The WOAA Senior AA Hockey League is an amateur senior ice hockey league governed by the Western Ontario Athletic Association.-Format:The league uses Hockey Canada playing rules but is not operated under the jurisdictions of the Ontario Hockey Association or Hockey Canada. The league is based in...
.
History
Arthur has had numerous hockey teams nicknamed the Tigers since 1904, with the most recent team playing in the WOAA from 1985-1999. The team folded at the conclusion of the 1998-99 season. Along with the 1991 Grand Championship, the Tigers were also WOAA Intermediate B champions in 1989 & 1990.Some stars over the years included: Ken Riley, Al Bell, Garnett Rooney, Bob McCulloch, Bryan Richardson, Paul Epoch, Scott McCulloch, Tom O'Donnell, Marty Groulx, Bruce Richardson, Ray Hutchison, Mike Brooks, Glenn Watt, Darryl Rooney...
Some of the "Honourary Tigers" include: Bert Coffey, John Walsh, Clive Williams, Bill Smellie, Norbert Heffernan...
The club held Reunions in 1993 & again in 1998. These events attracted some 250-300 former players, coaches & friends of the Tigers.
1991 Grand Championship
The club had their most successful season in 1990-91 season, defeating the heavily favoured Durham ThundercatsDurham Thundercats
The Durham Thundercats, originally the Durham 72's, are a senior hockey team based out of Durham, Ontario, Canada. The Thundercats date back to the towns Centennial, 1972, and have been an extremely successful team in all loops of the Western Ontario Athletic Association Senior "AA" Hockey...
to become the WOAA Grand Champions. The Tigers captured the WOAA Senior B Championship eliminating Wiarton & Drayton. Posting a 9-1 post-season record, the Tigers issued a challenge to the Senior A champion Durham Thundercats
Durham Thundercats
The Durham Thundercats, originally the Durham 72's, are a senior hockey team based out of Durham, Ontario, Canada. The Thundercats date back to the towns Centennial, 1972, and have been an extremely successful team in all loops of the Western Ontario Athletic Association Senior "AA" Hockey...
for a Grand Championship series. Many of the players of the Thundercats had left on vacation at the end of the Senior A series, not expecting a Grand Championship, and had to return from Jamaica to play. The series went a full five games. Durham won game 1 10-2. Arthur won game two 10-1. Game three in Durham saw the T-Cats edge the Tigers 5-4. Coming back to Arthur, the Tigers needed to win to force a fifth and deciding game. Game four in Arthur, on a Sunday evening, was canceled at game time, with the fans already in the Arena, due to a compressor break down. Rescheduled to the following Tuesday evening, Arthur won 8-3 to force the fifth and deciding game. In Durham on Friday, April 3, 1991, a full house turned out. Tied heading into the 3rd period 3-3, the Tigers pulled ahead 6-3. Things appeared well in hand for Arthur. Tenacious Durham winger Scott Betts had other things in mind scoring two goals in the final two minutes to bring the homeside within a goal. Arthur held on for the 6-5 victory. Tigers winger John McCabe led all WOAA playoff scorers with 28 points. Netminder Marty Groulx sparkled for Arthur. Other players included: Scott McCulloch, Tom O'Donnell, Ray Hutchison, Eck Palmer Jr., Brian Ward, Jim "The Champ" Holmes, Paul Epoch, Fred Locking, Matt Coffey, John Bell, Don Jackson, Doug Bell, Rob McCulloch, Mike Raftis, Grant Rundle, Brad Smith, Frank Goetz, Jeff Bauman, Mark Goetz III, Walt Lesenke Jr. Coach Don Tremble, Assistant Coach Cal MacDonald, Manager/President Jeff McKee, Trainer Walt Lesenke Sr.
Other highly successful seasons included: 1971 - WOAA Grand Championship Finalists, 1952 Pritchard Trophy Champions & 1938 OHA Division Champions.
The Road Team
In 1977 the Arthur Tigers were a mens hockey club without an arena. Winning was not the highlight of the season, rather the fact that they played all their games on the road was! It was at about this time that the Tigers folded until a rebirth in the fall of 1984. They competed for one season in the OHA before rejoining the WOAA. Pete O'Donnell was the teams captain and Steve Baker was named the clubs Most Valuable Player.Rivalries
The Tigers had a big rivalry with the Drayton CometsDrayton Icemen
The Drayton Icemen are a senior hockey team based out of Drayton, Ontario, Canada. They played six seasons in the WOAA Senior Hockey League.-The Comets:Drayton previously had a WOAA Sr. Hockey Team, the Drayton Comets, who folded after the 1997-98 season...
, through the late 1980s and early 1990s. The two towns are located 30 kilometers apart, and the clubs met four times in the playoffs - 1989, 1990, 1991 & 1992. Each club won two series'. In 1990 Drayton defeated the Tigers to advance to the WOAA Grand Championship Final. In 1991, Arthur defeated Drayton en route to the WOAA Grand Championship.
Through the 1950s, 1960s and1970s strong rivalries were formed with Harriston, Palmerston, Mt. Forest & Milverton.
One of the most famous games was played in the mid-1950s in Arthur. A packed house became embroiled in brawl which spilled out onto the ice. Fans leaned against the boards when defenceman Ken Elliott became involved in a fight. The boards slipped off their hooks, and the fans spilled onto the ice resulting in the melee. Mt. Forest eventually managed to retreat to their dressing room. Police assisted in helping the visitors leave the arena!
Related links
- Arthur, OntarioArthur, OntarioArthur is a community located just north of Hwy 6 and Wellington Road 109 in the township of Wellington North, Ontario, Canada. Formerly an independent village, Arthur was amalgamated into Wellington North on January 1, 1999.-History:...
- Western Ontario Athletic AssociationWestern Ontario Athletic AssociationThe Western Ontario Athletic Association, abbreviated as WOAA, is the governing body of minor and senior sports in a region encompassing Grey County, Bruce County, Perth County, Huron County, northern Middlesex County, and northern Wellington County...
- WOAA Senior Hockey League