Manitoulin Islanders
Encyclopedia
The Kirkland Lake Blue Devils are a Junior "A" ice hockey
team from Kirkland Lake
, Ontario
, Canada
. They are a part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
.
and the team started to split its time between Little Current, Ontario and the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve
's Arena. Win total dwindles, debts added up, and by 2011 the team was set to move from the Island.
, the team would either be on the move or fold. In Mid-May 2011, the NOJHL conditionally approved the move of the Manitoulin Islanders to Kirkland Lake, Ontario
to become the Kirkland Lake Blue Devils. In their final four seasons in Little Current, the Islanders managed 17 wins in 200 games played.
The Blue Devils moniker is a long used traditional team name in Kirkland Lake, the most notable team to use the name was the Kirkland Lake Blue Devils who defeated the Calgary Stampeders 3-games-to-none to win the 1940 Allan Cup
.
On September 9, 2011, the Blue Devils played their first ever home game and regulation game in their history. The Blue Devils dropped a 9-2 decision to the North Bay Trappers. On October 12, 2011, the Blue Devils won their first game since relocation 3-2 in a shootout against the Sudbury Cubs. Two nights later, the Blue Devils scored their first ever home win, 5-4 in a shootout, against the Blind River Beavers
.
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 from Kirkland Lake
Kirkland Lake, Ontario
Kirkland Lake is a town and municipality located in Timiskaming District in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. The 2006 population, according to Statistics Canada, was 8,248....
, 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 are a part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under the supervision of the Canadian Junior Hockey League, the Northern Ontario Hockey Association, and Hockey Canada. The winner of the NOJHL playoffs competes for the Dudley Hewitt Cup with the winners of the Ontario...
.
Wild/Islanders
Founded in 2003, the Manitoulin Wild had its best seasons early on. By 2005, the team changed its name to the Manitoulin Islanders. They were eventually taken over by former NHLer Reggie LeachReggie Leach
Reginald Joseph Leach is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins, California Golden Seals, Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings. He is best known for his time in Philadelphia, winning a Stanley Cup with...
and the team started to split its time between Little Current, Ontario and the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve
Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve
Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve is an Indian reserve in the north-eastern section of Manitoulin Island in Manitoulin District, Ontario, Canada...
's Arena. Win total dwindles, debts added up, and by 2011 the team was set to move from the Island.
Blue Devils
After eight years of futility on Manitoulin IslandManitoulin Island
Manitoulin Island is a Canadian island in Lake Huron, in the province of Ontario. It is the largest island in a freshwater lake in the world. In addition to the historic Anishinaabe and European settlement of the island, archeological discoveries at Sheguiandah have demonstrated Paleo-Indian and...
, the team would either be on the move or fold. In Mid-May 2011, the NOJHL conditionally approved the move of the Manitoulin Islanders to Kirkland Lake, Ontario
Kirkland Lake, Ontario
Kirkland Lake is a town and municipality located in Timiskaming District in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. The 2006 population, according to Statistics Canada, was 8,248....
to become the Kirkland Lake Blue Devils. In their final four seasons in Little Current, the Islanders managed 17 wins in 200 games played.
The Blue Devils moniker is a long used traditional team name in Kirkland Lake, the most notable team to use the name was the Kirkland Lake Blue Devils who defeated the Calgary Stampeders 3-games-to-none to win the 1940 Allan Cup
1940 Allan Cup
The 1940 Allan Cup was the Canadian national senior ice hockey championship for the 1939-40 Senior season.-Final:Best of 5*Kirkland Lake 8 Calgary 5*Kirkland Lake 9 Calgary 1*Kirkland Lake 7 Calgary 1...
.
On September 9, 2011, the Blue Devils played their first ever home game and regulation game in their history. The Blue Devils dropped a 9-2 decision to the North Bay Trappers. On October 12, 2011, the Blue Devils won their first game since relocation 3-2 in a shootout against the Sudbury Cubs. Two nights later, the Blue Devils scored their first ever home win, 5-4 in a shootout, against the Blind River Beavers
Blind River Beavers
The Blind River Beavers are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Blind River, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
.
Season-by-season results
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | Playoffs |
| 2003-04 | 48 | 15 | 32 | 0 | 1 | 179 | 245 | 31 | 6th NOJHL | Lost Quarter-final |
| 2004-05 | 48 | 14 | 30 | 1 | 3 | 164 | 266 | 32 | 6th NOJHL | Lost Quarter-final |
| 2005-06 | 48 | 8 | 36 | 3 | 1 | 114 | 229 | 20 | 7th NOJHL | Lost Quarter-final |
| 2006-07 | 48 | 11 | 30 | 0 | 7 | 138 | 232 | 29 | 7th NOJHL | Lost Quarter-final |
| 2007-08 | 50 | 2 | 47 | |||||||
| 1 | 109 | 311 | 6 | 6th NOJHL | Lost Quarter-final | |||||
| 2008-09 | 50 | 7 | 40 | |||||||
| 3 | 141 | 322 | 17 | 8th NOJHL | Lost Quarter-final | |||||
| 2009-10 | 50 | 4 | 45 | |||||||
| 1 | 131 | 359 | 9 | 8th NOJHL | Lost Quarter-final | |||||
| 2010-11 | 50 | 4 | 46 | |||||||
| 0 | 133 | 347 | 8 | 8th NOJHL | Lost Quarter-final |