Brantford Alexanders
Encyclopedia
The Brantford Alexanders were a junior ice hockey
team in the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League
from 1978 to 1984. The team was based in Brantford, Ontario
.
were relocated in 1978 becoming the Brantford Alexanders. The OMJHL junior team took the name of the OHA senior team which had played for two years prior, which in themselves were named for Brantford's most famous former resident, telephone pioneer Alexander Graham Bell
. After two years in the OMJHL, the league changed names to the OHL and the Alexanders played four more seasons in Brantford, before moving back to Hamilton
as the Steelhawks.
The Alexanders made the playoffs for five straight years after missing out its first year in Brantford. The team narrowly missed out on winning its division in 1980–81 by a single point.
Brantford developed close rivalries with the London Knights
and the Niagara Falls Flyers
. Their playoff nemeses were Windsor
and Sault Ste. Marie
. Two years in a row they were eliminated by the Spitfires, followed by three years in a row at the hands of the Greyhounds.
The Brantford Alexanders also had an official theme song recorded by County Line, called "Cowboys Of The Ice".
There have been 29 alumni of the Alexanders to play in the NHL. In 1982–83, Dave Gagner was awarded the Bobby Smith Trophy
for the OHA's Scholastic Player of the Year.
from 1978 to 1984. The OHL All-Star game was hosted here in 1982.
Junior ice hockey
Junior hockey is a catch-all term used to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between 16 and 20 years of age...
team in the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
from 1978 to 1984. The team was based in Brantford, 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....
.
History
The Hamilton FincupsHamilton Fincups
The Fincups were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League for 4 years, from 1974 to 1978. The team played in Hamilton, Ontario for three years, and in St. Catharines, Ontario for one.-History:...
were relocated in 1978 becoming the Brantford Alexanders. The OMJHL junior team took the name of the OHA senior team which had played for two years prior, which in themselves were named for Brantford's most famous former resident, telephone pioneer Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell was an eminent scientist, inventor, engineer and innovator who is credited with inventing the first practical telephone....
. After two years in the OMJHL, the league changed names to the OHL and the Alexanders played four more seasons in Brantford, before moving back to Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
as the Steelhawks.
The Alexanders made the playoffs for five straight years after missing out its first year in Brantford. The team narrowly missed out on winning its division in 1980–81 by a single point.
Brantford developed close rivalries with the London Knights
London Knights
The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League.-Early days–1968:...
and the Niagara Falls Flyers
Niagara Falls Flyers
----The Niagara Falls Flyers were two junior ice hockey franchises that played in the top tier in the Ontario Hockey Association. The first, a Junior "A" team existed from 1960 until 1972, and the second in Tier I Junior "A" from 1976 until 1982....
. Their playoff nemeses were Windsor
Windsor Spitfires
The Windsor Spitfires are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The franchise was granted for the 1975–76 season and revived a previous OHA Jr. A Spitfires team which moved to become the Hamilton Tiger Cubs in 1953.-History:The...
and Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The Greyhounds play home games at the Essar Centre. The present team was founded in 1962 as a team in the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. The Greyhounds name has been used by several ice hockey...
. Two years in a row they were eliminated by the Spitfires, followed by three years in a row at the hands of the Greyhounds.
The Brantford Alexanders also had an official theme song recorded by County Line, called "Cowboys Of The Ice".
There have been 29 alumni of the Alexanders to play in the NHL. In 1982–83, Dave Gagner was awarded the Bobby Smith Trophy
Bobby Smith Trophy
The Bobby Smith Trophy is awarded annually to the OHL Scholastic Player of the Year who best combines high standards of play and academic excellence....
for the OHA's Scholastic Player of the Year.
Coaches
|
Bep Guidolin Armand "Bep" Guidolin was a Canadian National Hockey League player. He was born in Thorold, Ontario. He and Eleanor, his wife of 62 years, had four children.... , D. Draper |
NHL alumni
|
Daryl Evans Daryl Thomas Evans is a retired Canadian ice hockey player.Drafted in 1980 by the Los Angeles Kings, Evans also played for the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs.... Dave Gagner David R. Gagner is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player and current Director of Player Development for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:... Len Hachborn Leonard Hachborn is a retired professional ice hockey player. He played in the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings. Len grew up playing hockey with his childhood friend Wayne Gretzkey... Dave Hannan David Patrick Hannan is a Canadian former professional hockey left winger who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, Colorado Avalanche and Ottawa Senators... Mike Hoffman This article is about the ice hockey player born in 1980. For other persons named Mike Hoffman, see Mike Hoffman .Mike Hoffman is an American professional hockey right wing... |
Randy Ladouceur Randall Ladouceur . Ladouceur is a current assistant coach of the Montreal Canadiens. He is a former assistant coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs and former assistant coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs... Jason Lafreniere Jason Lafreniere is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 146 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers, and Quebec Nordiques.... Rick LaFerriere Rick LaFerriere is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. His only NHL appearance came on February 23, 1982 when he was called in to relieve Chico Resch of goaltending duties at start of the third period in a game against the Detroit Red Wings.LaFerriere was member of the Tulsa... Mike Lalor John Michael Lalor is an American former professional ice hockey defenceman. Although a U.S. citizen by birth, Mike Lalor spent his growing years in Fort Erie, Ontario. Mike played in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens, St... Kevin LaVallee Kevin A. LaVallee is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played eight seasons in the National Hockey League.-NHL:... Paul Marshall (ice hockey) Paul Marshall is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger.Marshall was drafted 31st overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft and spent two seasons with the team... Mike Millar Michael Millar is a retired Canadian ice hockey right wingerMillar was selected 110th overall by the Hartford Whalers in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft... |
Ric Nattress Eric James Nattress is a former National Hockey League defenceman. He was drafted in the second round, 27th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft.... Mark Plantery Mark P. Plantery is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 25 games in the National Hockey League for the Winnipeg Jets.-External links:... Bob Probert Robert Alan Probert was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward. Probert played for the National Hockey League's Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks... Chris Pusey Chris Pusey was an NHL one game goaltender. He is notable, for returning after retiring from professional ice hockey, with the Dundas Real McCoys, an OHA senior team, and the club made the final four in the Allan Cup tournament. Chris, however, was playing not as a goaltender, but as a defenceman... James Stephen Smith James Stephen Smith , better known as Steve Smith, is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and current assistant coach of the Edmonton Oilers. He played in the National Hockey League from 1984–85 to 2000–01... Greg Terrion Greg Terrion is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 561 games in the National Hockey League. His jersey number was 7 and he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Los Angeles Kings.- External links :... Rick Wamsley Richard James Wamsley is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs... |
Regular season
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Games | Won | Lost | Tied | Points | Pct % | Goals for |
Goals against |
Standing |
| 1978–79 | 68 | 23 | 42 | 3 | 49 | 0.360 | 281 | 349 | 6th Emms |
| 1979–80 | 68 | 31 | 35 | 2 | 64 | 0.471 | 412 | 398 | 3rd Emms |
| 1980–81 | 68 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 68 | 0.500 | 350 | 354 | 2nd Emms |
| 1981–82 | 68 | 25 | 41 | 2 | 52 | 0.382 | 293 | 313 | 5th Emms |
| 1982–83 | 70 | 34 | 33 | 3 | 71 | 0.507 | 275 | 282 | 4th Emms |
| 1983–84 | 70 | 39 | 28 | 3 | 81 | 0.579 | 303 | 235 | 2nd Emms |
Playoffs
- 1978–1979 Out of playoffs.
- 1979–1980 Defeated Toronto Marlboros 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
Lost to Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 3 in semi-finals. - 1980–1981 Lost to Windsor Spitfires 8 points to 4 in division semi-finals
- 1981–1982 Defeated London Knights 6 points to 2 in first round.
Lost to S.S. Marie Greyhounds 8 points to 6 in quarter-finals. - 1982–1983 Defeated London Knights 6 points to 0 in first round.
Lost to S.S. Marie Greyhounds 8 points to 2 in quarter-finals. - 1983–1984 Earned first round bye.
Lost to S.S. Marie Greyhounds 8 points to 4 in quarter-finals.
Arena
The Brantford Alexanders played home games at the Brantford Civic CentreBrantford Civic Centre
The Brantford Civic Centre is a 2,981 seat arena in Brantford, Ontario. It was built as a Canadian Centennial project in 1967. It is home to the Brantford Golden Eagles of the Ontario Hockey Association, and the Brantford Blast of Major Hockey League...
from 1978 to 1984. The OHL All-Star game was hosted here in 1982.
- Brantford Civic Centre - The OHL Arena & Travel Guide