Detroit Jr. Red Wings (SOJHL)
Encyclopedia
The Detroit Jr. Red Wings are a defunct Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey
team that was based out of Detroit, Michigan
. They played out of the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League
and were the feeder team for the National Hockey League
's Detroit Red Wings
.
After the last great schism of Canadian junior hockey in 1970, the Detroit Jr. Red Wings became the first team to ever be crowned Tier II Junior "A" Central Canadian Champions, winners of the very first Dudley Hewitt Cup
. The Championship allowed them entry into the 1971 Centennial Cup Playdowns. The team was led by league Most Valuable Player and Scoring Leader Mark Howe
, son of hockey legend Gordie Howe
.
In the 1974-75 season the Junior Wings defeated the Minnesota Junior Stars in the finals to capture the American Junior A National Championship. The Junior Wings were headed up by Tom Wilson (General Manager) who had put together a team that included such norables as Ken Morrow of New York Islander fame (4 Stanley Cups and an Olympic Gold Medal (1980) and Mark Wells (1980 Olympic Team).
Through the 1975-76 season, the team played out of Olympia Stadium with a facilities next to the Red Wings. They entered the newly formed North American Hockey League
in 1976. In the 1976-77 season Wilson was named Coach of the Year. They played there until 1983, when they went on hiatus. They seem to have come back a year later as the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors.
(*) During the 1958-59 Season, the Jr. Red Wings played three 4-point games.
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 that was based out of Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. They played out of the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League
Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League
----The Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League was a Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey that lasted from the late 1960s until 1977 in Southern Ontario, Canada. The league was swallowed by what is now called the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League in 1977....
and were the feeder team for the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
's Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
.
History
The Jr. Red Wings started out in 1958 as a member of the Border Cities Junior B Hockey League. When the league folded in 1964, the team went back to the United States to play in the Michigan Junior Hockey League. During this time, 1964–1970, the team was known as the Detroit Olympia.After the last great schism of Canadian junior hockey in 1970, the Detroit Jr. Red Wings became the first team to ever be crowned Tier II Junior "A" Central Canadian Champions, winners of the very first Dudley Hewitt Cup
Dudley Hewitt Cup
The Dudley Hewitt Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy, won by tournaments conducted by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The trophy was first awarded in 1979. The winner of the Dudley Hewitt Cup competes at the 2011 Royal Bank Cup.-History:...
. The Championship allowed them entry into the 1971 Centennial Cup Playdowns. The team was led by league Most Valuable Player and Scoring Leader Mark Howe
Mark Howe
Mark Steven Howe is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League and 6 seasons in the World Hockey Association . He is the son of Colleen and Gordie Howe, and early in his career was a teammate of his father...
, son of hockey legend Gordie Howe
Gordie Howe
Gordon "Gordie" Howe, OC is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League , and the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association . Howe is often referred to as Mr...
.
In the 1974-75 season the Junior Wings defeated the Minnesota Junior Stars in the finals to capture the American Junior A National Championship. The Junior Wings were headed up by Tom Wilson (General Manager) who had put together a team that included such norables as Ken Morrow of New York Islander fame (4 Stanley Cups and an Olympic Gold Medal (1980) and Mark Wells (1980 Olympic Team).
Through the 1975-76 season, the team played out of Olympia Stadium with a facilities next to the Red Wings. They entered the newly formed North American Hockey League
North American Hockey League
The North American Hockey League is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is enterting its 36th season in 2011-12. It is currently the only Junior A Tier II league, sanctioned by USA Hockey. The NAHL currently acts as an alternative to the United States Hockey League...
in 1976. In the 1976-77 season Wilson was named Coach of the Year. They played there until 1983, when they went on hiatus. They seem to have come back a year later as the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors.
Notable alumni
- Ken MorrowKen MorrowKenneth Arlington Morrow is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman and currently serves as the New York Islanders' director of pro scouting...
- 1980Miracle on IceThe "Miracle on Ice" is the name in American popular culture for a medal-round men's ice hockey game during the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York, on Friday, February 22...
U.S. Olympic TeamUnited States national men's hockey teamThe United States men's national ice hockey team is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado with its U18 and U17 development program in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The team is controlled by USA Hockey...
/New York IslandersNew York IslandersThe New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... - Mark WellsMark WellsMark Ronald Wells is a retired American ice hockey forward. He is best known for being a member of the Miracle on Ice 1980 U.S...
- 1980Miracle on IceThe "Miracle on Ice" is the name in American popular culture for a medal-round men's ice hockey game during the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York, on Friday, February 22...
U.S. Olympic TeamUnited States national men's hockey teamThe United States men's national ice hockey team is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado with its U18 and U17 development program in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The team is controlled by USA Hockey... - Mark HoweMark HoweMark Steven Howe is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League and 6 seasons in the World Hockey Association . He is the son of Colleen and Gordie Howe, and early in his career was a teammate of his father...
- Philadelphia FlyersPhiladelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... - Gordie RobertsGordie RobertsGordon Douglas Roberts is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman who played 1,097 NHL regular season games from 1979 to 1994. He is a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame...
- Hartford WhalersHartford WhalersThe Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97... - Ron SerafiniRon SerafiniRonald William Serafini is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman who played only two games in the National Hockey League for the California Golden Seals and 16 games for the Cincinnati Stingers of the World Hockey Association. He is currently a realtor in Clarkston, Michigan.-Playing...
- Oakland Seals - Gordie Buynak - St. Louis Blues
- Marty HoweMarty HoweMarty Gordon Howe is a former professional ice hockey defenseman. Howe was drafted in the third round, 51st overall in the 1974 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens. From 2001 to 2006, he was an assistant coach for the Chicago Wolves of the AHL...
- Boston BruinsBoston BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the... - Dave FeamsterDave FeamsterDavid Allan Feamster is a retired American ice hockey player who played for the Chicago Black Hawks. He was picked in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft, after coming through Colorado College and made his debut in 1982...
- Chicago BlackhawksChicago BlackhawksThe Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10... - Tom Wilson - Coach/General Manager
- Pat PeakePat PeakePatrick Michael Peake is a retired American ice hockey center.Peake was drafted 14th overall by the Washington Capitals in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. Peake played 134 career NHL games, scoring 28 goals and 41 assists for 69 points.-Juniors:Peake was an up-and-coming star during his juniors career...
- Washington CapitalsWashington CapitalsThe Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
Season-by-Season results
| Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | P | Results | Playoffs | ||
| 1958-59 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 46 | 64 | 18* | 3rd BCJBHL | |||
| 1959-60 | 30 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 149 | 93 | 45 | 1st BCJBHL | |||
| 1960-61 | 32 | 27 | 5 | 0 | 176 | 85 | 54 | 1st BCJBHL | |||
| 1961-62 | 30 | 19 | 11 | 0 | 155 | 111 | 38 | 2nd BCJBHL | |||
| 1962-63 | 35 | 23 | 11 | 1 | 157 | 116 | 47 | 2nd BCJBHL | |||
| 1963-64 | 30 | 14 | 16 | 0 | 148 | 134 | 28 | 4th BCJBHL | |||
| 1964-68 | Statistics Not Available | ||||||||||
| 1968-69 | 32 | 9 | 21 | 2 | 76 | 105 | 20 | 7th BCJHL | |||
| 1969-70 | 34 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 279 | 55 | 64 | 1st MJHL | |||
| 1970-71 | 44 | 26 | 12 | 6 | 279 | 197 | 58 | 2nd SOJAHL | Won League, Won DHC Dudley Hewitt Cup The Dudley Hewitt Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy, won by tournaments conducted by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The trophy was first awarded in 1979. The winner of the Dudley Hewitt Cup competes at the 2011 Royal Bank Cup.-History:... |
||
| 1971-72 | 56 | 35 | 16 | 5 | 333 | 225 | 75 | 2nd SOJAHL | Lost Final | ||
| 1972-73 | 60 | 19 | 37 | 4 | 237 | 318 | 42 | 6th SOJAHL | |||
| 1973-74 | 62 | 31 | 25 | 6 | 293 | 278 | 68 | 5th SOJAHL | |||
| 1974-75 | 61 | 15 | 37 | 9 | 202 | 276 | 39 | 6th SOJAHL | |||
| 1975-76 | NAHL Standings Not Available | ||||||||||
| 1976-77 | 48 | 30 | 12 | 6 | 287 | 197 | 66 | 2nd NAHL | |||
| 1977-78 | 49 | 33 | 12 | 4 | 320 | 212 | 70 | 2nd NAHL | |||
| 1978-79 | 50 | 27 | 17 | 6 | 317 | 242 | 60 | 2nd NAHL | |||
| 1979-80 | 46 | 22 | 21 | 3 | 226 | 229 | 47 | 4th NAHL | |||
| 1980-81 | 54 | 35 | 16 | 3 | 395 | 244 | 73 | 3rd NAHL | |||
| 1981-82 | 46 | 25 | 18 | 3 | 259 | 232 | 53 | 3rd NAHL | |||
| 1982-83 | 45 | 15 | 24 | 6 | 212 | 246 | 36 | 4th NAHL | |||
(*) During the 1958-59 Season, the Jr. Red Wings played three 4-point games.
Playoffs
- 1971 Won League, Lost Hewitt-Dudley Memorial Trophy final
- Detroit Jr. Red Wings defeated Welland SabresWelland SabresThe Welland Sabres are a defunct Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey team that were based out of Welland, Ontario. The team was a part of the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League.-Season-by-season results:-Playoffs:...
3-games-to-none with 2 ties - Detroit Jr. Red Wings defeated Guelph CMC'sGuelph CMC'sThe Guelph CMC's or sometimes known as the Guelph CMC's Biltmore Mad Hatters were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association as a Junior 'B' team in the Central League from 1956 to 1970, and merged with the Western A League's Guelph Beef Kings to become a Junior 'A' team from 1970...
3-games-to-2 with 2 ties SOJHL CHAMPIONS - Detroit Jr. Red Wings defeated Ottawa M&W Rangers (CJHL) 4-games-to-2
- Charlottetown Islanders (MJAHLMaritime Junior A Hockey League (1968–1971)The original Maritime Junior A Hockey League was a Canadian Junior ice hockey league from 1968 until 1971 in the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island...
) defeated Detroit Jr. Red Wings 4-games-to-3- 1972 Lost Final
- Detroit Jr. Red Wings defeated Welland SabresWelland SabresThe Welland Sabres are a defunct Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey team that were based out of Welland, Ontario. The team was a part of the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League.-Season-by-season results:-Playoffs:...
4-games-to-1 - Detroit Jr. Red Wings defeated Chatham MaroonsChatham Maroons----The Chatham Maroons are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
4-games-to-3 - Guelph CMC'sGuelph CMC'sThe Guelph CMC's or sometimes known as the Guelph CMC's Biltmore Mad Hatters were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association as a Junior 'B' team in the Central League from 1956 to 1970, and merged with the Western A League's Guelph Beef Kings to become a Junior 'A' team from 1970...
defeated Detroit Jr. Red Wings 4-games-to-1- 1973 Lost Quarter-final
- Guelph CMC'sGuelph CMC'sThe Guelph CMC's or sometimes known as the Guelph CMC's Biltmore Mad Hatters were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association as a Junior 'B' team in the Central League from 1956 to 1970, and merged with the Western A League's Guelph Beef Kings to become a Junior 'A' team from 1970...
defeated Detroit Jr. Red Wings 4-games-to-none- 1974 Lost Semi-final
- Windsor SpitfiresWindsor SpitfiresThe 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...
defeated Detroit Jr. Red Wings 4-games-to-none- 1975 Lost Semi-final
- Windsor SpitfiresWindsor SpitfiresThe 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...
defeated Detroit Jr. Red Wings 4-games-to-1