Brantford Blast
Encyclopedia
Brantford Blast are a Canadian
senior
ice hockey
teams in the Ontario Hockey Association
's Allan Cup Hockey, from Brantford, Ontario
. The team was established in 2000, and play their games at the Brantford Civic Centre
.
allowed for the expansion of the first Brantford team since 1987 into Ontario's top tier of Senior hockey. The Brantford Prowl competed during the 2000-01 Southwestern Senior A Hockey League season and finished in fifth place with a record of 12 wins, 17 losses, and a tie. The team took 2001-02 off, but then re-emerged in 2002 as the Blast.
In 2002, Brantford rejoined the top tier of Ontario senior hockey this time known as the Brantford Blast. At the time, the city had the Brantford Golden Eagles in the Ontario Hockey Association
, but had also lost teams, like the Brantford Alexanders
of the Ontario Hockey League
, who left in 1984 and the Brantford Smoke
of the Colonial Hockey League, who left in 1998. The Blast would play their home games at the Brantford Civic Centre as well. The Blast have made it to the post season twice. In the 2005-06 season, when they won the league, but lost in the first round to the Dundas Real McCoys
4 games to 2. In the 2006-07 season, they placed third, defeating the Petrolia Squires
4 games to 3, and the Windsor St. Clair Saints
4 games to none to capture their first MLH Championship after a 4-3 win Monday March 12 in front of the home town crowd in Brantford.
4-games-to-none in the Major League Hockey
semi-final, but were defeated 4-games-to-2 to the Dundas Real McCoys
.
The Brantford Blast were the host team of the 2008 Allan Cup
, which was held in Brantford from April 14-April 19, 2008. This was also the 100th anniversary for the event, one of the reasons that the Blast wanted to host it.
The Brantford Blast became the first Ontario Hockey Association
team since the Brantford Motts Clamatos
, in 1987, to win the Allan Cup
. As hosts of the 2008 Allan Cup
, the Blast failed to win their league and were allowed to bypass the OHA Final against the Whitby Dunlops
and the Renwick Cup
against the Thunder Bay Hawks. After almost a months rest, the Blast competed at home for the Allan Cup and won the entire thing. After suffering their only loss of the tournament to the Shawinigan Xtreme 3-2 in the first game, the Blast defeated the Bentley Generals
5-3 to clinch second in their division. They defeated the Robertson Cup and EOSHL champion Whitby Dunlops
in the quarter-final handily, 7-2. They then knocked off the Major League Hockey
and Renwick Cup
champion Dundas Real McCoys
in the semi-final 3-2 in overtime. They met Bentley again in the final, who defeated the 2007 champions Lloydminster Border Kings
and the Shawinigan Xtreme, and defeated them 3-1 to win the Canadian National Senior "AAA" crown.
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....
ice 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...
teams in the Ontario Hockey Association
Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
's Allan Cup Hockey, from 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....
. The team was established in 2000, and play their games at the Brantford Civic Centre
Brantford 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...
.
Competitive hockey back in Brantford
In 2000, the Ontario Hockey AssociationOntario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
allowed for the expansion of the first Brantford team since 1987 into Ontario's top tier of Senior hockey. The Brantford Prowl competed during the 2000-01 Southwestern Senior A Hockey League season and finished in fifth place with a record of 12 wins, 17 losses, and a tie. The team took 2001-02 off, but then re-emerged in 2002 as the Blast.
Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
, but had also lost teams, like the Brantford Alexanders
Brantford Alexanders
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.-History:...
of the 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....
, who left in 1984 and the Brantford Smoke
Brantford Smoke
The Brantford Smoke were a professional ice hockey team in the Colonial Hockey League, later the United Hockey League, now known as the International Hockey League. They played in Brantford, Ontario from 1991-92 until 1997-98, playing home games at the Brantford Civic Centre.They won the Colonial...
of the Colonial Hockey League, who left in 1998. The Blast would play their home games at the Brantford Civic Centre as well. The Blast have made it to the post season twice. In the 2005-06 season, when they won the league, but lost in the first round to the Dundas Real McCoys
Dundas Real McCoys
The Dundas Real McCoys are a Senior "AAA" ice hockey team based out of Dundas, Ontario. They play in the Ontario Hockey Association's Major League Hockey.-History:...
4 games to 2. In the 2006-07 season, they placed third, defeating the Petrolia Squires
Petrolia Squires
The Petrolia Squires are a Canadian Senior ice hockey team based in Petrolia, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Western Ontario Athletic Association Senior Hockey League and are two-time Allan Cup National Champions.-History:...
4 games to 3, and the Windsor St. Clair Saints
Windsor St. Clair Saints
The Windsor St. Clair Saints were a Senior "AAA" ice hockey team based in St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. They joined the Ontario Hockey Association's Major League Hockey in 2006, only to leave in 2008.-History:The St...
4 games to none to capture their first MLH Championship after a 4-3 win Monday March 12 in front of the home town crowd in Brantford.
2008 Allan Cup
The Blast finished the 2007-08 season just barely out of first place. They swept the Windsor St. Clair SaintsWindsor St. Clair Saints
The Windsor St. Clair Saints were a Senior "AAA" ice hockey team based in St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. They joined the Ontario Hockey Association's Major League Hockey in 2006, only to leave in 2008.-History:The St...
4-games-to-none in the Major League Hockey
Major League Hockey
Allan Cup Hockey is the top tier Canadian Senior ice hockey league in the province of Ontario. As a member of the Ontario Hockey Association and Hockey Canada, the league contends for the famed Allan Cup. The league came to its latest incarnation when it lost several teams leaving it with two...
semi-final, but were defeated 4-games-to-2 to the Dundas Real McCoys
Dundas Real McCoys
The Dundas Real McCoys are a Senior "AAA" ice hockey team based out of Dundas, Ontario. They play in the Ontario Hockey Association's Major League Hockey.-History:...
.
The Brantford Blast were the host team of the 2008 Allan Cup
2008 Allan Cup
The 2008 Allan Cup was the 2008 edition of the Canadian National Championship of Senior ice hockey, and the tournament marked the 100th year that the Allan Cup has been awarded. The 2008 tournament was hosted by the City of Brantford, Ontario, and the Brantford Blast of the Ontario Hockey...
, which was held in Brantford from April 14-April 19, 2008. This was also the 100th anniversary for the event, one of the reasons that the Blast wanted to host it.
The Brantford Blast became the first Ontario Hockey Association
Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
team since the Brantford Motts Clamatos
Brantford Motts Clamatos
The Brantford Motts Clamatos were a senior team in Brantford, Ontario. They played in the Ontario Hockey Association in the 1980's.They won the Allan Cup in 1987.The team was sponsored by the Motts company, which produced a drink called Clamato.Players...
, in 1987, to win the Allan Cup
Allan Cup
The Allan Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the national senior amateur men’s ice hockey champions of Canada. It has been competed for since 1909. The current champion is the Clarenville Caribous hockey club of Newfoundland and Labrador.-History:...
. As hosts of the 2008 Allan Cup
2008 Allan Cup
The 2008 Allan Cup was the 2008 edition of the Canadian National Championship of Senior ice hockey, and the tournament marked the 100th year that the Allan Cup has been awarded. The 2008 tournament was hosted by the City of Brantford, Ontario, and the Brantford Blast of the Ontario Hockey...
, the Blast failed to win their league and were allowed to bypass the OHA Final against the Whitby Dunlops
Whitby Dunlops
The Whitby Dunlops are a team in Major League Hockey. Two previous teams have also played as the Whitby Dunlops. The first was an OHA Senior team from 1954 to 1960. The second was a junior team from 1962 to 1963....
and the Renwick Cup
Renwick Cup
The Gordon Renwick Cup is the Senior "AAA" Central Canada ice hockey championship. The winning of this trophy earns the champion the right to compete in the Allan Cup, the National Senior Championship. The winner of Ontario would play the winner of Quebec for this trophy...
against the Thunder Bay Hawks. After almost a months rest, the Blast competed at home for the Allan Cup and won the entire thing. After suffering their only loss of the tournament to the Shawinigan Xtreme 3-2 in the first game, the Blast defeated the Bentley Generals
Bentley Generals
The Bentley Generals are a senior AAA ice hockey team from Bentley, Alberta, Canada that plays in the Chinook Hockey League. They are the current senior AAA champions of Alberta, as well as the holders of the McKenzie Cup, emblematic of the championship of Western Canada...
5-3 to clinch second in their division. They defeated the Robertson Cup and EOSHL champion Whitby Dunlops
Whitby Dunlops
The Whitby Dunlops are a team in Major League Hockey. Two previous teams have also played as the Whitby Dunlops. The first was an OHA Senior team from 1954 to 1960. The second was a junior team from 1962 to 1963....
in the quarter-final handily, 7-2. They then knocked off the Major League Hockey
Major League Hockey
Allan Cup Hockey is the top tier Canadian Senior ice hockey league in the province of Ontario. As a member of the Ontario Hockey Association and Hockey Canada, the league contends for the famed Allan Cup. The league came to its latest incarnation when it lost several teams leaving it with two...
and Renwick Cup
Renwick Cup
The Gordon Renwick Cup is the Senior "AAA" Central Canada ice hockey championship. The winning of this trophy earns the champion the right to compete in the Allan Cup, the National Senior Championship. The winner of Ontario would play the winner of Quebec for this trophy...
champion Dundas Real McCoys
Dundas Real McCoys
The Dundas Real McCoys are a Senior "AAA" ice hockey team based out of Dundas, Ontario. They play in the Ontario Hockey Association's Major League Hockey.-History:...
in the semi-final 3-2 in overtime. They met Bentley again in the final, who defeated the 2007 champions Lloydminster Border Kings
Lloydminster Border Kings
The Lloydminster Border Kings are a Senior AAA ice hockey team based in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, Canada. They play in the Chinook Hockey League, as the once prominent Wild Goose Hockey League is on hiatus for 2008-09. The Border Kings captured the Allan Cup, Canada's national senior...
and the Shawinigan Xtreme, and defeated them 3-1 to win the Canadian National Senior "AAA" crown.
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 | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | ||
| 2000-01 | 30 | 12 | 17 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| 25 | 5th SWSHL | ||||||||||
| 2001-02 | Did Not Participate | ||||||||||
| 2002-03 | 31 | 9 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 130 | 189 | 5th OHA Sr. A | ||
| 2003-04 | 32 | 16 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 37 | 162 | 141 | 5th OHA Sr. A | ||
| 2004-05 | 34 | 8 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 136 | 195 | 6th MLH | ||
| 2005-06 | 32 | 18 | 9 | - | 5 | 41 | 161 | 137 | 1st MLH | ||
| 2006-07 | 30 | 15 | 13 | - | 2 | 32 | 156 | 142 | 3rd MLH | ||
| 2007-08 | 30 | 21 | 9 | ||||||||
| 0 | 131 | 100 | 42 | 2nd MLH | |||||||
| 2008-09 | 28 | 13 | 15 | ||||||||
| 0 | 127 | 120 | 26 | 5th MLH | |||||||
| 2009-10 | Did Not Participate | ||||||||||
| 2010-11 | 24 | 13 | 11 | ||||||||
| 0 | 133 | 127 | 26 | 2nd MLH | |||||||
Awards
- 2004/2005 - All Star Centre - Paul Polillo
- 2004/2005 - Most Sportsmanlike - Tyler Pelton
- November 2005 - Player of the Month - Adriano Fiacconi
- December 2005 - Player of the Month - Tyler Pelton
- 2005-06 - League All-Star Game players - Tyler Pelton, Adriano Fiacconi, Brett Leggat
- 2005-06 - Season Champions
- 2005-06 - Best Team Goaltending
- 2006-07 - Major League Hockey Champions
- 2007-08 - Allan Cup ChampionsAllan CupThe Allan Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the national senior amateur men’s ice hockey champions of Canada. It has been competed for since 1909. The current champion is the Clarenville Caribous hockey club of Newfoundland and Labrador.-History:...
Notable alumni
- Brent GretzkyBrent GretzkyBrent Gretzky is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player, and the brother of Wayne and Keith Gretzky. He briefly played in the National Hockey League for the Tampa Bay Lightning....
- Grant LedyardGrant LedyardGrant Stuart Ledyard is a former National Hockey League defenceman. He was never drafted in the NHL Entry Draft.Ledyard made his NHL debut in the 1984–85 season with the New York Rangers. A journeyman, he played with nine NHL teams during his career. He spent the most time with the Buffalo...
- Steven RiceSteven RiceSteven Rice is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger who played eight seasons in the National Hockey League in the 1990s.Rice was drafted 20th overall by the New York Rangers in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft...
- Chad Spurr
- Tyrone GarnerTyrone GarnerFor Tyron Garner, plaintiff in Lawrence v. Texas, see that article.Tyrone "Ty" Garner is a Canadian professional ice hockey player...
- Brett Leggat