Owen Sound Greys
Encyclopedia
The Owen Sound Greys are a Canadian
junior
ice hockey
team based in Owen Sound
, Ontario
, Canada
. They play in the Mid-Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League
. The Greys in their early years won the 1924 and 1927 Memorial Cup
s as Dominion Junior Hockey Champions.
. The team reformed after the end of the war and immediately came to prominence, winning the local playoff title in 1920 and thumping the Toronto champion 14-0. A year later, the Greys advanced to the Northern Hockey League playoff final.
Many early members of the team had attended Victoria Public School in Owen Sound, where principal Henry Kelso (for whom the city's Kelso Beach was named) had established a very strong school hockey program. Two of those Victoria graduates were forward Melville "Butch" Keeling, who later went on to star with the New York Rangers
of the National Hockey League
, and goaltender Hedley Smith. In the fall of 1923 they earned places in the Greys lineup; soon they and their team would also earn a permanent place in the history of Canadian hockey.
. Two others who later made the NHL, team captain James "Dutch" Cain and future Hockey Hall of Fame
r Ralph "Cooney" Weiland
, were among the three imports on the nine-player squad. The 1923-24 season began in December and would end less than four months later with the Greys crowned "Dominion Junior Hockey Champions," winners of what was then called the OHA Memorial Cup
.
Owen Sound first captured the J. Ross Robertson Cup
as Ontario Hockey Association titlists by defeating the Kitchener Greenshirts
12-7 in a two-game, total-goals series. That followed earlier playoff series wins over Collingwood, Midland and Toronto Varsity in which the Greys were not seriously challenged. Owen Sound's next hurdles were single-game playoffs against North Bay of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association
and Montreal Westmount. The club was then pitted against the Kenora Thistles
in the Eastern Canadian final, a two-game, total-goals series won 15-12 by the Greys.
The Greys had journeyed to Winnipeg for the first game against the Thistles (Game 2 was in Kenora) and they returned to the Manitoba capital to face the Calgary Canadians
in the two-game, total-goals national final. Keeling and Weiland each scored twice and Fred Elliott
scored once in the first game, won 5-3 by Owen Sound. Weiland and Elliott both scored again two days later, on March 28, 1924, but the real hero was 16-year-old netminder Hedley Smith. Calgary peppered him with 23 third-period shots but he stopped every one of them and held Calgary to a 2-2 tie. The Greys won the series 7-5 and, with it, the Dominion title.
At the time, the wire service provided the only method of transmitting the results back to Owen Sound. Bulletins were posted outside the office of the city's newspaper, which estimated that more than 5,000 fans were there during the last game. It's believed that about 8,000 people turned out to welcome the champions home four days later, a remarkable number considering Owen Sound's population was only about 12,000 at the time.
The Greys went 22-2-2 during that magical season, scoring 204 goals and allowing only 69. Weiland led the club with a whopping 68 goals in 26 games while Keeling added an incredible 37 goals and 46 points in 15 playoff games, which may very well be a Canadian junior hockey record.
A repeat was not to be, as Owen Sound fell to Toronto Aura Lee
in the 1925 OHA final. The Greys also lost the next year to Queen's University
, although both Toronto and Queen's fell in their respective national final series. It remained to the Greys to bring the Memorial Cup back to Ontario; in 1927 they reclaimed it as well as the OHA, all-Ontario and Eastern Canadian crowns.
Their opponents included the Newmarket Redmen, who fell 7-3 in a two-game, total-goals series to decide the OHA title. That set up a best-of-three national final in Toronto against the Port Arthur West End club. The Game 1 hero was Martin Lauder, a native of nearby Durham, Ontario
and a future NHLer who scored a natural hat trick as Owen Sound won 5-4. Game 2 was tied 2-2 after regulation time, which was followed by a 10-minute, non-sudden death overtime. The Greys outscored Port Arthur 3-1 in the extra frame, won the game 5-3 and became the first team to win the Memorial Cup a second time. It happened on March 28, 1927—the third anniversary of the 1924 championship. Hedley Smith, who never went on to pro hockey, was the only holdover from that first title and thus became the first double Memorial Cup winner.
The OHA divided junior hockey into separate Junior A and Junior B ranks in 1933. The Greys were placed in Junior B, where they spent the next 42 years.
Artifacts from the 1924 championship have surfaced in recent years. Cufflinks presented to Cooney Weiland are part of a junior hockey exhibit at the Hockey Hall of Fame
in Toronto. A gold watch given to Greys captain Dutch Cain on the team's return to Owen Sound is currently being auctioned online. The watch, which reportedly still keeps perfect time, is inscribed "Presented to L.J. Cain By The City of Owen Sound April 2nd 1924." The outer case has crossed hockey sticks and a puck, with "Dominion Champions" inscribed above and "Junior Hockey" below.
final in 1940. Owen Sound's opponent was the Waterloo Siskins
, who won the best-of-five series 3-1 and claimed the first of their 11 OHA titles.
It was 21 years before the Greys again made it as far in the playoffs. In 1960-61, they finished first in the Central Junior B Hockey League and rolled to the championship by defeating the Hamilton Bees
and the Siskins, avenging the 1940 loss. Owen Sound then eliminated the St. Marys Lincolns
in a semifinal series but ran out of gas in the Sutherland Cup final against the St. Michael's Buzzers
, losing in four straight games. To this day, the Greys have never made it back to the Sutherland Cup final.
The Greys were part of the Central Junior B league throughout the 1960s. They failed to make the playoffs between 1966 and 1968 but turned things around and finished first in 1969-70. They lost a semifinal playoff series to the Collingwood Blues
, who went on to win the final over the Guelph CMC's
, and thus began a great hockey rivalry that lasted into the 1980s and spanned four different leagues.
Owen Sound and Collingwood met up again in the Central league final in 1971 and the Blues, having already disposed of the Preston Raiders
in a semifinal series, again prevailed. The Greys finished first for the second straight year and beat the Kitchener Ranger B's
4-3 in the other semifinal before falling to Collingwood in five games.
In 1971-72, the Greys and Blues were placed in the new Mid-Ontario Junior B Hockey League
, along with the Orillia Travelways
, the Barrie Colts
, the Newmarket Redmen
and the Bolton Bruins. Orillia finished first in schedule play but once again Owen Sound and Collingwood met in the championship round and once again the Blues came out on top, winning 4-3.
The 1972-73 season saw the Greys finish in second place but they swept the league playoffs, knocking off the Midland Flyers
in four straight games and finally getting past Collingwood, also in the minimum four games. This Greys team featured future NHLer Jim Roberts
. Owen Sound then beat the Burlington Mohawks
of the Central league 4-2 and advanced to the OHA semifinals against the Toronto Nationals
. The Metro Junior B Hockey League
champions won a hard-fought series 4-3.
Owen Sound's best season in this stretch was 1973-74. The team finished first, just ahead of Collingwood, but a fifth straight playoff meeting between the rivals was not in store. The Greys instead dumped Barrie 4-1 and Midland 4-1 to claim their second straight Mid-Ontario league title, then needed six games to get past the Elmira Sugar Kings
of the Southwestern Junior B Hockey League
. Owen Sound was back in the Sutherland Cup semifinals against the Metro league champs but once again lost out in the seventh and deciding game, falling this time to the Bramalea Blues
.
That didn't mean Owen Sound was necessarily out of the picture, though. Bramalea and the Hamilton Red Wings
of the Niagara District
faced off for the Ontario championship and the Blues won the first game, but the contest was marred by a donnybrook that involved players, officials and fans and resulted in 14 police officers being called to the arena. The Blues immediately forfeited the series and incoming OHA president Cliffe Phillips decided to allow the Greys to return to action and take Bramalea's place in the final against Hamilton. Phillips soon found that his notion was not a popular one and he dropped it at once; the Greys missed out on a trip to the OHA final after a 13-year absence and the Sutherland Cup was awarded to the Red Wings as Ontario champs.
The Greys wrapped up their third straight Mid-Ontario crown in 1974-75, beating first-place Collingwood 4-1 in the final. But the road ended in the OHA quarter-finals, where the Waterloo Siskins
swept Owen Sound to the side. Bramalea, back in the mix a year after its forfeit, went on to win the Sutherland Cup. More than 30 years later, the Greys are still searching for their next Junior B league championship.
, but they were disappointing seasons. Owen Sound finished fifth and out of the playoffs in 1975-76, then placed fourth and last in 1976-77. All four teams advanced to the post-season that year but the Greys didn't last long, brushed aside in four straight games by the Guelph Platers
.
When the SOJAHL folded in 1977, the Greys were left high and dry. They couldn't return to the Mid-Ontario Junior B league, as they had been replaced by another Owen Sound team which was called Owen Sound Grey-Bruce Salvage, popularly known as the Salvagemen. They took a one-year leave of absence, then returned to the ice in 1978-79 as a founding member of the new Georgian Bay Intermediate A Hockey League
.
They again failed to recapture their previous glory, never finishing higher than third place and advancing to the playoff final only once. The Greys went on another hiatus in 1982, one year before the league itself disappeared.
but were separated from that group come playoff time. Owen Sound endured a five-week layoff between the end of the regular season and the start of what were called the "Super C" playoffs. The "Super C" Champion would be awarded the George S. Dudley Trophy. The Salvagemen finally met the Woodstock Navy-Vets but were swept 4-0.
The next season saw the Salvagemen in a true Junior C group, the Central Junior C Hockey League
. They finished sixth and last in the regular season, then began the Super C playoffs, which appear to have been established for teams with larger population bases. Owen Sound was in an eight-game round-robin with London and the Brantford Gunners; the Salvagemen and the Gunners advanced. Owen Sound met Woodstock in the final once again but fared no better, falling in four straight.
When the Junior B Greys jumped to Junior A, the Salvagemen took their place in the Mid-Ontario Junior B league but couldn't pick up where the Greys had left off. They finished sixth in 1975-76 and were swept by Orillia in the first playoff round. They placed fifth and out of the playoffs the next year. A name change to the Kings didn't help, as they again wound up fifth and on the sidelines in 1977-78. The Mid-Ontario loop was wound down at this time and the Kings were placed in the Midwestern Junior B Hockey League
. The other four teams (Orillia, Barrie, the Oak Ridges Dynes
and the Thornhill Thunderbirds
went to the new Central league.
The Owen Sound Kings changed names again in 1980, becoming the Owen Sound Rutherford Mercurys, known simply as the Mercurys. This lasted until 1983.
The Greys made another move out of Junior B, stepping up to the Ontario Junior Hockey League
in 1985. They affiliated with the Guelph Platers
of the Ontario Hockey League
and performed very well in their new surroundings, finishing in third place in their first season and topping the standings in their second. They also won the Frank L. Buckland Trophy as playoff champions in 1986-87, their first title since 1974-75, and advanced to the all-Ontario championship against the Nickel Centre Power Trains
of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
.
The OHA and NOJHL had been meeting annually since 1978-79 to determine the winner of the Dudley Hewitt Cup
and the provincial representative for the Centennial Cup
national Tier II Junior A championship. Every year previously, the OHA champion had prevailed. But Nickel Centre ended the streak, upsetting the Greys 4-2 in a best-of-seven series.
The OJHL folded after the season; for the second time in a decade, Owen Sound was left hanging by the collapse of its Tier II Junior A league. This time, though, the Greys were able to return to the Junior B level.
It wasn't until 1995-96 that the Greys finally advanced to a final series. They finished a lowly sixth but eliminated the Kitchener Dutchmen
in overtime of the seventh and deciding game of their semifinal series. They met the powerful Stratford Cullitons
in the final and lost 4-1.
Owen Sound could not build on that success and it wasn't until 1999-2000 that the Greys returned to the playoff final. Coincidentally, it also marked the return of an Owen Sound player to the top of the league scoring parade, as Ryan Dudgeon put up 59 goals and 104 points to tie Mike Carter of the Cambridge Winterhawks
. The Greys reeled off series wins over Kitchener and Stratford—marking the first time the Cullitons had been swept from the playoffs since 1983—but fell short against Cambridge, losing 4-2. The Winterhawks did not lose again that year, rolling to their first Sutherland Cup championship.
This time the Greys were able to use a final appearance as a bit of a stepping stone. In 2000-01 they earned a first-place finish for the first time since 1987 and blew past the Guelph Dominators
in the quarter-finals, earning a rematch with Cambridge. The Winterhawks had finished four places and 17 points behind the Greys. That didn't stop them from dumping Owen Sound 4-2, a bitter disappointment for the favoured Greys.
They had to wait five years for their next final appearance, which they earned in 2004-05 despite finishing fifth in the 10-team league. Surprisingly, they were considered the favourite in the final as their opponents, the Listowel Cyclones, had only finished seventh, 12 points behind Owen Sound. Again, that didn't matter as Listowel rolled to a 4-2 series win and a berth in the Sutherland Cup final. In a sad coincidence, the sixth and final game had been played on March 28, 2005—the anniversary of the Greys' two Memorial Cup wins.
Since then, there's been little for Greys fans to cheer about. The team finished ninth out of 10 teams in 2005-06 and missed the Junior B playoffs for the first time since 1978-79. It appears Owen Sound will be on the sidelines again this spring as the club is headed for a finish of ninth and last. Its record as of January 11, 2007 was 3-27-2-1.
The Owen Sound Sun Times
newspaper reported on January 11, 2007 that leading scorer Greg Virgo has been traded to Cambridge and teammate Mark England has been sent to Stratford. General manager Kevin Emke said both players had reportedly asked to be dealt to playoff-bound clubs, requests that had caused friction in the dressing room. Team captain Sean Dinsmore was also on the way out, reportedly bound for the Collingwood Blues
.
Sporting a good contingent of players from the Port Elgin
area, the Greys decided to stage a handful of home games at the new Saugeen Shores Community Complex in that town during the 1999-2000 season. The games were very well attended, with average crowds of about 800 people, far more than were coming to games at the Bayshore Community Centre
in Owen Sound.
Starting with the 2000-01 season, the Greys played half of their home games at "The Plex," as the building is known. The team's name was also changed, first to the Owen Sound-Saugeen Greys in 2000 and then to the Owen Sound-Saugeen Shores Greys in 2001.
As the number of Port Elgin-based players dwindled, however, so did attendance. The Greys decided in 2006 to abandon Port Elgin and return to Owen Sound on a full-time basis. The name was also changed back to the traditional Owen Sound Greys. Since the Greys had such a rough time in the past seasons they decided to take a year off for the 2009-2010 season
Fast forwarding to July'11, the Greys applied to the OHA to have their local drawing area expanded to include Simcoe County. The request was approved just in time for the teams summer camp.
moved into Owen Sound in 1989, the Greys have enjoyed an almost continuous affiliation with the big club (originally the Owen Sound Platers
, now known as the Owen Sound Attack
).
A disagreement in 1999 led the Platers to cancel the arrangement and affiliate instead with the OPJHL's
ill-fated Durham Huskies
. Although that ended after one season and the Platers again latched on to the Greys, there was enough animosity between the Greys and Huskies to fuel two heated exhibition games one week apart prior to the 2000-01 season. Owen Sound won 5-1 in the first game and 5-0 in the second game, which was marred by a line brawl toward the end.
The Greys had another affiliation with the Kincardine Bulldogs
of the Western Junior C Hockey League
. This affiliation ended when the Greys took a leave of absence in 2009.
In 2010 it was announced that the Greys would return as affiliates to the Villanova Knights
of the Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Fergus Devils
of the Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League
.
Getting back to hometown roots for the 2011 season, the Greys announced their affiliation with the Hanover Barons
of the Western Ontario Junior C Hockey League
.http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayersByTeam.jsp?team=Owen+Sound+Jr.+Greys
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...
junior
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...
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...
team based in Owen Sound
Owen Sound, Ontario
Owen Sound , the county seat of Grey County, is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada...
, 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 play in the Mid-Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League
Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League
The Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Canadian junior ice hockey league based in Southern Ontario, Canada. The league is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association, Ontario Hockey Federation, and Hockey Canada...
. The Greys in their early years won the 1924 and 1927 Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
s as Dominion Junior Hockey Champions.
History
The Greys have gone through numerous incarnations and leagues in the nearly 100 years since they were founded, although their initial history was cut short due to World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The team reformed after the end of the war and immediately came to prominence, winning the local playoff title in 1920 and thumping the Toronto champion 14-0. A year later, the Greys advanced to the Northern Hockey League playoff final.
Many early members of the team had attended Victoria Public School in Owen Sound, where principal Henry Kelso (for whom the city's Kelso Beach was named) had established a very strong school hockey program. Two of those Victoria graduates were forward Melville "Butch" Keeling, who later went on to star with the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
of 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...
, and goaltender Hedley Smith. In the fall of 1923 they earned places in the Greys lineup; soon they and their team would also earn a permanent place in the history of Canadian hockey.
Memorial Cup glory
Keeling and Smith were joined by four other Owen Sound boys, including another soon-to-be NHLer named Edward "Teddy" GrahamTed Graham
Ted Edward Dixon "Teddy" Graham was a professional ice hockey defenceman who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks, Montreal Maroons, Detroit Red Wings, St...
. Two others who later made the NHL, team captain James "Dutch" Cain and future Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
r Ralph "Cooney" Weiland
Cooney Weiland
Ralph "Cooney" Weiland was an NHL forward who played for the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, and Detroit Red Wings....
, were among the three imports on the nine-player squad. The 1923-24 season began in December and would end less than four months later with the Greys crowned "Dominion Junior Hockey Champions," winners of what was then called the OHA Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
.
Owen Sound first captured the J. Ross Robertson Cup
J. Ross Robertson Cup
The J. Ross Robertson Cup is an ice hockey trophy awarded annually to the winner of the Ontario Hockey League playoff championship. It was presented by and named for John Ross Robertson, the president of the Ontario Hockey Association who served from 1899 to 1905.Originally it was awarded to the...
as Ontario Hockey Association titlists by defeating the Kitchener Greenshirts
Kitchener Greenshirts
The Kitchener Greenshirts name has been used by five separate ice hockey teams playing in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. These include one 'Senior A' level hockey team, two 'Junior A' level teams, and two 'Junior B' level teams...
12-7 in a two-game, total-goals series. That followed earlier playoff series wins over Collingwood, Midland and Toronto Varsity in which the Greys were not seriously challenged. Owen Sound's next hurdles were single-game playoffs against North Bay of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association
Northern Ontario Hockey Association
The Northern Ontario Hockey Association is minor and junior level ice hockey governing body. The NOHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation and Hockey Canada. The major league run by the NOHA is the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Canadian Junior A Hockey League...
and Montreal Westmount. The club was then pitted against the Kenora Thistles
Kenora Thistles
The Kenora Thistles were an early amateur men's ice hockey team based in Kenora, Ontario, Canada, formed in 1885 as a senior team by a group of Lake of the Woods lumbermen. The club is notable for winning the Stanley Cup as an amateur team in 1907. The town is the smallest in population to have...
in the Eastern Canadian final, a two-game, total-goals series won 15-12 by the Greys.
The Greys had journeyed to Winnipeg for the first game against the Thistles (Game 2 was in Kenora) and they returned to the Manitoba capital to face the Calgary Canadians
Calgary Canadians
The Calgary Canadians were a junior ice hockey team that played in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In 1924, they became the first team from Alberta to play for the Memorial Cup, and in 1926, the first to win it....
in the two-game, total-goals national final. Keeling and Weiland each scored twice and Fred Elliott
Fred Elliott (ice hockey)
Frederick H. Elliott was a professional ice hockey player who played 43 games in the National Hockey League. Born in Clinton, Ontario, he would play with the Ottawa Senators.- External links :*...
scored once in the first game, won 5-3 by Owen Sound. Weiland and Elliott both scored again two days later, on March 28, 1924, but the real hero was 16-year-old netminder Hedley Smith. Calgary peppered him with 23 third-period shots but he stopped every one of them and held Calgary to a 2-2 tie. The Greys won the series 7-5 and, with it, the Dominion title.
At the time, the wire service provided the only method of transmitting the results back to Owen Sound. Bulletins were posted outside the office of the city's newspaper, which estimated that more than 5,000 fans were there during the last game. It's believed that about 8,000 people turned out to welcome the champions home four days later, a remarkable number considering Owen Sound's population was only about 12,000 at the time.
The Greys went 22-2-2 during that magical season, scoring 204 goals and allowing only 69. Weiland led the club with a whopping 68 goals in 26 games while Keeling added an incredible 37 goals and 46 points in 15 playoff games, which may very well be a Canadian junior hockey record.
Toronto Aura Lee
The Toronto Aura Lee Hockey Club operated a pair of junior ice hockey and senior ice hockey teams in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1916 to 1926. They played at Arena Gardens in Toronto...
in the 1925 OHA final. The Greys also lost the next year to Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
, although both Toronto and Queen's fell in their respective national final series. It remained to the Greys to bring the Memorial Cup back to Ontario; in 1927 they reclaimed it as well as the OHA, all-Ontario and Eastern Canadian crowns.
Their opponents included the Newmarket Redmen, who fell 7-3 in a two-game, total-goals series to decide the OHA title. That set up a best-of-three national final in Toronto against the Port Arthur West End club. The Game 1 hero was Martin Lauder, a native of nearby Durham, Ontario
Durham, Ontario
Durham is a community in the municipality of West Grey, Grey County, Ontario, Canada. Durham is located near the base of the Bruce Peninsula.-Location:...
and a future NHLer who scored a natural hat trick as Owen Sound won 5-4. Game 2 was tied 2-2 after regulation time, which was followed by a 10-minute, non-sudden death overtime. The Greys outscored Port Arthur 3-1 in the extra frame, won the game 5-3 and became the first team to win the Memorial Cup a second time. It happened on March 28, 1927—the third anniversary of the 1924 championship. Hedley Smith, who never went on to pro hockey, was the only holdover from that first title and thus became the first double Memorial Cup winner.
The OHA divided junior hockey into separate Junior A and Junior B ranks in 1933. The Greys were placed in Junior B, where they spent the next 42 years.
Artifacts from the 1924 championship have surfaced in recent years. Cufflinks presented to Cooney Weiland are part of a junior hockey exhibit at the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
in Toronto. A gold watch given to Greys captain Dutch Cain on the team's return to Owen Sound is currently being auctioned online. The watch, which reportedly still keeps perfect time, is inscribed "Presented to L.J. Cain By The City of Owen Sound April 2nd 1924." The outer case has crossed hockey sticks and a puck, with "Dominion Champions" inscribed above and "Junior Hockey" below.
The Junior B years (1933-1975)
The Greys served as the farm team for the Owen Sound Trappers, who competed in the OHA's Intermediate A league in the late 1930s and early 1940s. This coincided with the team's next notable championship run, which went all the way to the OHA Junior B Sutherland CupSutherland Cup
The Sutherland Cup is the ice hockey Ontario Junior "B" Provincial Championship trophy. The Sutherland Cup is now the championship trophy of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. Until 2007, the Cup served as an interleague provincial championship...
final in 1940. Owen Sound's opponent was the Waterloo Siskins
Waterloo Siskins
The Waterloo Siskins are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Mid-Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
, who won the best-of-five series 3-1 and claimed the first of their 11 OHA titles.
It was 21 years before the Greys again made it as far in the playoffs. In 1960-61, they finished first in the Central Junior B Hockey League and rolled to the championship by defeating the Hamilton Bees
Hamilton Red Wings Jr. A
The Hamilton Red Wings are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League...
and the Siskins, avenging the 1940 loss. Owen Sound then eliminated the St. Marys Lincolns
St. Marys Lincolns
The St. Marys Lincolns are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in St. Marys, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
in a semifinal series but ran out of gas in the Sutherland Cup final against the St. Michael's Buzzers
St. Michael's Buzzers
The St. Michael's Buzzers are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of Central Canadian Hockey League.-History:...
, losing in four straight games. To this day, the Greys have never made it back to the Sutherland Cup final.
The Greys were part of the Central Junior B league throughout the 1960s. They failed to make the playoffs between 1966 and 1968 but turned things around and finished first in 1969-70. They lost a semifinal playoff series to the Collingwood Blues
Collingwood Blues
The Collingwood Blues were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Collingwood, Ontario, Canada. They were a part of the Ontario Junior A Hockey League and earlier the Central Junior B Hockey League.-History:...
, who went on to win the final over the Guelph CMC's
Guelph CMC's
The 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...
, and thus began a great hockey rivalry that lasted into the 1980s and spanned four different leagues.
Owen Sound and Collingwood met up again in the Central league final in 1971 and the Blues, having already disposed of the Preston Raiders
Preston Raiders
The Preston Raiders were a Canadian Junior "B" ice hockey team from the town of Preston, Ontario which later became Cambridge, Ontario.-History:...
in a semifinal series, again prevailed. The Greys finished first for the second straight year and beat the Kitchener Ranger B's
Kitchener Dutchmen
The Kitchener Dutchmen are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Mid-Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
4-3 in the other semifinal before falling to Collingwood in five games.
In 1971-72, the Greys and Blues were placed in the new Mid-Ontario Junior B Hockey League
Mid-Ontario Junior B Hockey League
The Mid-Ontario Junior B Hockey League was a Junior "B" ice hockey league based in Southern Ontario. They were sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association and Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, and competed for the All-Ontario Junior "B" title, the Sutherland Cup.-History:The league was formed...
, along with the Orillia Travelways
Couchiching Terriers
The Couchiching Terriers were a Junior A ice hockey team from Rama, Ontario, Canada from Lake Couchiching. They originated in neighbouring Orillia, Ontario. They were a part of the Ontario Junior A Hockey League. They were 1985 Centennial Cup National Champions and three time Dudley Hewitt Cup...
, the Barrie Colts
Barrie Colts
The Barrie Colts are a junior ice hockey team in Ontario Hockey League, based in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. There were two previous Barrie Colts team which played Junior A & B hockey in the Ontario Hockey Association, one from 1907 until 1910 and another from the 1920s to 1940s.-Original Colts:The...
, the Newmarket Redmen
Newmarket Hurricanes
The Newmarket Hurricanes are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of Central Division Hockey and are currently the 2009-10 CCHL champions.-History:...
and the Bolton Bruins. Orillia finished first in schedule play but once again Owen Sound and Collingwood met in the championship round and once again the Blues came out on top, winning 4-3.
The 1972-73 season saw the Greys finish in second place but they swept the league playoffs, knocking off the Midland Flyers
Midland Flyers
The Midland Flyers are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Midland, Ontario. They play in the Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League.-History:...
in four straight games and finally getting past Collingwood, also in the minimum four games. This Greys team featured future NHLer Jim Roberts
Jim Roberts (ice hockey b. 1956)
James Drew Roberts is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player.-Career:Born in Toronto, Roberts grew up in Proton Station, Ontario near Flesherton, Ontario...
. Owen Sound then beat the Burlington Mohawks
Burlington Cougars
The Burlington Cougars are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Burlington, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of Central Division Hockey.-History:Founded in the early 1950s, the Burlington Mohawks found their footing in the Central Junior B Hockey League...
of the Central league 4-2 and advanced to the OHA semifinals against the Toronto Nationals
Toronto Nationals
The Hamilton Nationals are a Major League Lacrosse professional men's field lacrosse team based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They began play in the 2009 season from Toronto, Ontario as the Toronto Nationals, becoming the first-ever Canadian team in MLL history...
. The Metro Junior B Hockey League
Metro Junior A Hockey League
----The Metro Junior "A" Hockey League was a junior level ice hockey league based out of Southern Ontario. The league originated in 1956 as the Metro Junior "B" Hockey League, which lasted until 1991, when it changed its designation from Junior B to Junior A. It remained a Jr...
champions won a hard-fought series 4-3.
Owen Sound's best season in this stretch was 1973-74. The team finished first, just ahead of Collingwood, but a fifth straight playoff meeting between the rivals was not in store. The Greys instead dumped Barrie 4-1 and Midland 4-1 to claim their second straight Mid-Ontario league title, then needed six games to get past the Elmira Sugar Kings
Elmira Sugar Kings
The Elmira Sugar Kings are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Elmira, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Mid-Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
of the Southwestern Junior B Hockey League
Midwestern Junior B Hockey League
The Mid-Western Junior Hockey League was a junior ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association from 1973 until 2007. As of 2007, the league has become a division of the newly formed Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League...
. Owen Sound was back in the Sutherland Cup semifinals against the Metro league champs but once again lost out in the seventh and deciding game, falling this time to the Bramalea Blues
Bramalea Blues
The Bramalea Blues were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Bramalea, Ontario, Canada. Their final two seasons were played in Brampton, Ontario at the Powerade Centre. They were a part of the Ontario Junior A Hockey League but also used to be a part of the Metro Junior A Hockey League. They joined...
.
That didn't mean Owen Sound was necessarily out of the picture, though. Bramalea and the Hamilton Red Wings
Hamilton Red Wings Jr. A
The Hamilton Red Wings are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League...
of the Niagara District
Golden Horseshoe Junior B Hockey League
The Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League was a junior ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association from 1974 until 2007. As of 2007, the league has become a division of the newly formed Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League...
faced off for the Ontario championship and the Blues won the first game, but the contest was marred by a donnybrook that involved players, officials and fans and resulted in 14 police officers being called to the arena. The Blues immediately forfeited the series and incoming OHA president Cliffe Phillips decided to allow the Greys to return to action and take Bramalea's place in the final against Hamilton. Phillips soon found that his notion was not a popular one and he dropped it at once; the Greys missed out on a trip to the OHA final after a 13-year absence and the Sutherland Cup was awarded to the Red Wings as Ontario champs.
The Greys wrapped up their third straight Mid-Ontario crown in 1974-75, beating first-place Collingwood 4-1 in the final. But the road ended in the OHA quarter-finals, where the Waterloo Siskins
Waterloo Siskins
The Waterloo Siskins are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Mid-Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
swept Owen Sound to the side. Bramalea, back in the mix a year after its forfeit, went on to win the Sutherland Cup. More than 30 years later, the Greys are still searching for their next Junior B league championship.
Tier II and Intermediate (1975-1982)
The club spent the next two years in the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey LeagueSouthern 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....
, but they were disappointing seasons. Owen Sound finished fifth and out of the playoffs in 1975-76, then placed fourth and last in 1976-77. All four teams advanced to the post-season that year but the Greys didn't last long, brushed aside in four straight games by the Guelph Platers
Guelph Platers
The Guelph Platers were a junior ice hockey team in theOntario Hockey Association from 1975 to 1982, and the Ontario Hockey League from 1982 to 1989, based in Guelph, Ontario.-History:...
.
When the SOJAHL folded in 1977, the Greys were left high and dry. They couldn't return to the Mid-Ontario Junior B league, as they had been replaced by another Owen Sound team which was called Owen Sound Grey-Bruce Salvage, popularly known as the Salvagemen. They took a one-year leave of absence, then returned to the ice in 1978-79 as a founding member of the new Georgian Bay Intermediate A Hockey League
Major Intermediate A Hockey League
The Major Intermediate A Hockey League was an ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association. It existed from 1978 to 1983. Its champion was eligible to compete for the W.G. Hardy Trophy, emblematic of Canadian Intermediate A hockey supremacy.The Georgian Bay...
.
They again failed to recapture their previous glory, never finishing higher than third place and advancing to the playoff final only once. The Greys went on another hiatus in 1982, one year before the league itself disappeared.
The Farm Team (1973-1983)
The Salvagemen had been formed in 1973 as a Junior C team. Initially they were members of the Northern Junior D Hockey LeagueSouthern Ontario Junior Hockey League
The Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Junior level ice hockey league sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association based out of Southwestern Ontario....
but were separated from that group come playoff time. Owen Sound endured a five-week layoff between the end of the regular season and the start of what were called the "Super C" playoffs. The "Super C" Champion would be awarded the George S. Dudley Trophy. The Salvagemen finally met the Woodstock Navy-Vets but were swept 4-0.
The next season saw the Salvagemen in a true Junior C group, the Central Junior C Hockey League
Western Junior C Hockey League
The Western Ontario Junior C Hockey League is a Junior "C" ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association. The Champion of the Western will compete for the All-Ontario Championship and the Clarence Schmalz Cup....
. They finished sixth and last in the regular season, then began the Super C playoffs, which appear to have been established for teams with larger population bases. Owen Sound was in an eight-game round-robin with London and the Brantford Gunners; the Salvagemen and the Gunners advanced. Owen Sound met Woodstock in the final once again but fared no better, falling in four straight.
When the Junior B Greys jumped to Junior A, the Salvagemen took their place in the Mid-Ontario Junior B league but couldn't pick up where the Greys had left off. They finished sixth in 1975-76 and were swept by Orillia in the first playoff round. They placed fifth and out of the playoffs the next year. A name change to the Kings didn't help, as they again wound up fifth and on the sidelines in 1977-78. The Mid-Ontario loop was wound down at this time and the Kings were placed in the Midwestern Junior B Hockey League
Midwestern Junior B Hockey League
The Mid-Western Junior Hockey League was a junior ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association from 1973 until 2007. As of 2007, the league has become a division of the newly formed Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League...
. The other four teams (Orillia, Barrie, the Oak Ridges Dynes
Oak Ridges Dynes
The Oak Ridges Dynes are a defunct Junior "B" ice hockey team from Oak Ridges, Ontario, Canada. They started in the Mid-Ontario Jr.B league, then moved to the Central Junior B Hockey League in 1978 when the Mid-Ontario league folded. The Dynes only lasted 4 more seasons, in two different...
and the Thornhill Thunderbirds
Mississauga Chargers
The Mississauga Chargers are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Ontario Junior A Hockey League. They are the product of a 1990 merger of two former Metro Junior B franchises, the Thornhill Thunderbirds and the Markham Connection...
went to the new Central league.
The Owen Sound Kings changed names again in 1980, becoming the Owen Sound Rutherford Mercurys, known simply as the Mercurys. This lasted until 1983.
The Greys Return (1983-1987)
The Mercurys organization merged with that of the Greys in 1983, leaving one top-level hockey team in Owen Sound for the first time in 15 years (see the Owen Sound Crescents). The new entity retained the name "Greys" and played two more seasons in the Midwestern league.The Greys made another move out of Junior B, stepping up to the Ontario Junior Hockey League
Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
The Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under the supervision of the Ontario Hockey Association and the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The league dates back to 1954 as the Central Junior B Hockey League. In 1993, the Central Junior B Hockey League was promoted to the...
in 1985. They affiliated with the Guelph Platers
Guelph Platers
The Guelph Platers were a junior ice hockey team in theOntario Hockey Association from 1975 to 1982, and the Ontario Hockey League from 1982 to 1989, based in Guelph, 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....
and performed very well in their new surroundings, finishing in third place in their first season and topping the standings in their second. They also won the Frank L. Buckland Trophy as playoff champions in 1986-87, their first title since 1974-75, and advanced to the all-Ontario championship against the Nickel Centre Power Trains
Nickel Centre Native Sons
The Nickel Centre Native Sons were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Garson, Ontario, Canada. This defunct hockey team was a part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
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...
.
The OHA and NOJHL had been meeting annually since 1978-79 to determine the winner of the 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:...
and the provincial representative for the Centennial Cup
Royal Bank Cup
The Royal Bank Cup is an annual ice hockey tournament held to determine the Canadian Junior A champion. The winner of the tournament wins the Royal Bank Cup...
national Tier II Junior A championship. Every year previously, the OHA champion had prevailed. But Nickel Centre ended the streak, upsetting the Greys 4-2 in a best-of-seven series.
The OJHL folded after the season; for the second time in a decade, Owen Sound was left hanging by the collapse of its Tier II Junior A league. This time, though, the Greys were able to return to the Junior B level.
Back in "B" (1987-Present)
The team has remained in the Midwestern league ever since, by far its longest continuous stretch in any one circuit, but have only had middling success. One of the most disappointing seasons was 1992-93 when the Greys put together a powerful lineup that finished second in the standings, the first time they had ever placed so high in the Midwest. They were led by league scoring champion Bob McAskill, who had 36 goals, 69 assists and 105 points, but failed to advance beyond the semifinal playoff round.It wasn't until 1995-96 that the Greys finally advanced to a final series. They finished a lowly sixth but eliminated the Kitchener Dutchmen
Kitchener Dutchmen
The Kitchener Dutchmen are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Mid-Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
in overtime of the seventh and deciding game of their semifinal series. They met the powerful Stratford Cullitons
Stratford Cullitons
The Stratford Cullitons are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Mid-Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League...
in the final and lost 4-1.
Owen Sound could not build on that success and it wasn't until 1999-2000 that the Greys returned to the playoff final. Coincidentally, it also marked the return of an Owen Sound player to the top of the league scoring parade, as Ryan Dudgeon put up 59 goals and 104 points to tie Mike Carter of the Cambridge Winterhawks
Cambridge Winterhawks
The Cambridge Winterhawks are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Mid-Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
. The Greys reeled off series wins over Kitchener and Stratford—marking the first time the Cullitons had been swept from the playoffs since 1983—but fell short against Cambridge, losing 4-2. The Winterhawks did not lose again that year, rolling to their first Sutherland Cup championship.
This time the Greys were able to use a final appearance as a bit of a stepping stone. In 2000-01 they earned a first-place finish for the first time since 1987 and blew past the Guelph Dominators
Guelph Dominators
The Guelph Hurricanes are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Mid-Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
in the quarter-finals, earning a rematch with Cambridge. The Winterhawks had finished four places and 17 points behind the Greys. That didn't stop them from dumping Owen Sound 4-2, a bitter disappointment for the favoured Greys.
They had to wait five years for their next final appearance, which they earned in 2004-05 despite finishing fifth in the 10-team league. Surprisingly, they were considered the favourite in the final as their opponents, the Listowel Cyclones, had only finished seventh, 12 points behind Owen Sound. Again, that didn't matter as Listowel rolled to a 4-2 series win and a berth in the Sutherland Cup final. In a sad coincidence, the sixth and final game had been played on March 28, 2005—the anniversary of the Greys' two Memorial Cup wins.
Since then, there's been little for Greys fans to cheer about. The team finished ninth out of 10 teams in 2005-06 and missed the Junior B playoffs for the first time since 1978-79. It appears Owen Sound will be on the sidelines again this spring as the club is headed for a finish of ninth and last. Its record as of January 11, 2007 was 3-27-2-1.
The Owen Sound Sun Times
Owen Sound Sun Times
The Sun Times is a local newspaper which services the Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound area in the Canadian province of Ontario. Its headquarters are in Owen Sound.The newspaper is owned and operated by Osprey Media....
newspaper reported on January 11, 2007 that leading scorer Greg Virgo has been traded to Cambridge and teammate Mark England has been sent to Stratford. General manager Kevin Emke said both players had reportedly asked to be dealt to playoff-bound clubs, requests that had caused friction in the dressing room. Team captain Sean Dinsmore was also on the way out, reportedly bound for the Collingwood Blues
Collingwood Blues
The Collingwood Blues were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Collingwood, Ontario, Canada. They were a part of the Ontario Junior A Hockey League and earlier the Central Junior B Hockey League.-History:...
.
Part-time in Port Elgin (2000-2006)
Port Elgin, Ontario
Port Elgin is a community in the Ontario municipality of Saugeen Shores. Close to MacGregor Point Provincial Park in Bruce County, the community has several beaches on Lake Huron....
area, the Greys decided to stage a handful of home games at the new Saugeen Shores Community Complex in that town during the 1999-2000 season. The games were very well attended, with average crowds of about 800 people, far more than were coming to games at the Bayshore Community Centre
Bayshore Community Centre
The Bayshore Community Centre contains the J.D. McArthur Arena, a 4,300-seat multi-purpose arena in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. The facility was opened in 1983 on the east shore of Owen Sound Bay and replaced the city's old downtown arena.Known locally as "Bayshore Arena," it is home to the Owen...
in Owen Sound.
Starting with the 2000-01 season, the Greys played half of their home games at "The Plex," as the building is known. The team's name was also changed, first to the Owen Sound-Saugeen Greys in 2000 and then to the Owen Sound-Saugeen Shores Greys in 2001.
As the number of Port Elgin-based players dwindled, however, so did attendance. The Greys decided in 2006 to abandon Port Elgin and return to Owen Sound on a full-time basis. The name was also changed back to the traditional Owen Sound Greys. Since the Greys had such a rough time in the past seasons they decided to take a year off for the 2009-2010 season
2009-2010 Season
The Greys have folded their team for the 2009-2010 season, citing financial restructuring.2010-11 Season
After a year hiatis, the Greys returned with a short bench and started the rebuilding process. Not much hope of a competitive season was ever tossed Owen Sound's way. But what makes the return a success, isnt the season record- It was the lack of a mass exodus of players at the Christmas Break. Players bought into the rebuilding process and stuck it out which earned a tremendous amount of respect from around the league and left the Greys in a good position with a solid nucleus to build on for next season.2011-12 Season
The Rebuilding continues and major headway has been made under the direction of new Leadership. Lacking last season was the absence of a Jr affiliate for the Greys to call upon when needed. That was looked after in early spring when the Hanover Barons signed on as Owen Sound's Jr C affiliate.Fast forwarding to July'11, the Greys applied to the OHA to have their local drawing area expanded to include Simcoe County. The request was approved just in time for the teams summer camp.
The Current Franchise (1973-Present)
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | Playoffs |
| 1973-74 | 28 | 20 | 5 | 3 | - | 168 | 98 | 43 | 1st NJDHL | Lost Super C Final |
| 1974-75 | 29 | 2 | 26 | 1 | ||||||
| 86 | 233 | 5 | 6th CJCHL West | Lost Super C Final | ||||||
| 1975-76 | 36 | 10 | 18 | 8 | - | 152 | 197 | 28 | 6th MOJBHL | Lost Quarter-final |
| 1976-77 | 40 | 14 | 23 | 3 | - | 163 | 195 | 31 | 5th MOJBHL | DNQ |
| 1977-78 | 32 | 9 | 23 | 3 | - | 164 | 208 | 21 | 5th MOJBHL | DNQ |
| 1978-79 | 42 | 16 | 23 | 3 | - | 229 | 271 | 35 | 5th MWJBHL | DNQ |
| 1979-80 | 42 | 13 | 22 | 7 | - | 203 | 209 | 33 | 6th MWJBHL | Lost Quarter-final |
| 1980-81 | 42 | 26 | 16 | 0 | - | 210 | 186 | 52 | 3rd MWJBHL | Lost Quarter-final |
| 1981-82 | 42 | 12 | 29 | 1 | - | 197 | 249 | 25 | 6th MWJBHL | Lost Quarter-final |
| 1982-83 | 42 | 15 | 27 | 0 | - | 190 | 265 | 30 | 6th MWJBHL | Lost Quarter-final |
| 1983-84 | 42 | 20 | 22 | 0 | - | 212 | 235 | 40 | 4th MWJBHL | Lost Semifinal |
| 1984-85 | 42 | 22 | 17 | 3 | - | 266 | 189 | 47 | 4th MWJBHL | Lost Semifinal |
| 1985-86 1985–86 OJHL season The 1985–86 OJHL season is the 14th season of the Ontario Junior Hockey League . The six teams of the league played a 50-game season. The top four teams made the playoffs.... |
50 | 25 | 20 | 5 | - | 254 | 232 | 55 | 3rd OJHL | Lost Final |
| 1986-87 1986–87 OJHL season The 1986–87 OJHL season is the 15th and final season of the Ontario Junior Hockey League . The four teams of the league played an interlocking 44-game season with the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. All four teams made the playoffs.... |
42 | 26 | 12 | 4 | - | 263 | 211 | 56 | 1st OJHL | Won League |
| 1987-88 | 48 | 24 | 24 | 0 | - | 260 | 246 | 48 | 4th MWJBHL | Lost Semifinal |
| 1988-89 | 48 | 20 | 23 | 5 | - | 249 | 256 | 45 | 4th MWJBHL | Lost Semifinal |
| 1989-90 | 48 | 34 | 13 | 1 | - | 334 | 208 | 69 | 2nd MWJBHL | Lost Semifinal |
| 1990-91 | 48 | 25 | 22 | 1 | - | 250 | 227 | 51 | 5th MWJBHL | Lost Quarter-final |
| 1991-92 | 48 | 28 | 15 | 5 | - | 258 | 195 | 61 | 4th MWJBHL | Lost Semifinal |
| 1992-93 | 48 | 33 | 14 | 1 | - | 311 | 217 | 67 | 2nd MWJBHL | Lost Semifinal |
| 1993-94 | 48 | 21 | 26 | 1 | - | 198 | 201 | 43 | 6th MWJBHL | Lost Quarter-final |
| 1994-95 | 48 | 20 | 24 | 4 | - | 237 | 236 | 44 | 7th MWJBHL | Lost Quarter-final |
| 1995-96 | 48 | 28 | 16 | 4 | - | 261 | 196 | 60 | 6th MWJBHL | Lost Final |
| 1996-97 | 48 | 15 | 31 | 2 | - | 183 | 252 | 32 | 8th MWJBHL | Lost Quarter-final |
| 1997-98 | 48 | 27 | 19 | 2 | - | 248 | 179 | 56 | 6th MWJBHL | Lost Quarter-final |
| 1998-99 | 48 | 19 | 22 | 7 | - | 207 | 203 | 45 | 7th MWJBHL | Lost Quarter-final |
| 1999-00 | 48 | 32 | 14 | 2 | - | 236 | 176 | 66 | 4th MWJBHL | Lost Final |
| 2000-01 | 48 | 36 | 11 | 1 | - | 232 | 141 | 73 | 1st MWJBHL | Lost Semifinal |
| 2001-02 | 48 | 29 | 14 | 5 | - | 195 | 164 | 63 | 4th MWJBHL | Lost Semifinal |
| 2002-03 | 48 | 24 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 199 | 185 | 52 | 5th MWJBHL | Lost Semifinal |
| 2003-04 | 48 | 28 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 190 | 136 | 60 | 3rd MWJBHL | Lost Quarter-final |
| 2004-05 | 48 | 29 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 179 | 130 | 62 | 5th MWJBHL | Lost Final |
| 2005-06 | 48 | 14 | 32 | 2 | - | 146 | 198 | 30 | 9th MWJBHL | DNQ |
| 2006-07 | 48 | 3 | 39 | 4 | 2 | 124 | 291 | 12 | 9th MWJBHL | DNQ |
| 2007-08 | 48 | 8 | 37 | 2 | 1 | 116 | 219 | 19 | 9th GOJHL-MW | DNQ |
| 2008-09 | 52 | 6 | 44 | |||||||
| 2 | 107 | 326 | 14 | 9th GOJHL-MW | DNQ | |||||
| 2009-10 | Did Not Participate | |||||||||
| 2010-11 | 51 | 4 | 44 | |||||||
| 3 | 134 | 400 | 11 | 9th GOJHL-MW | DNQ | |||||
Playoffs
- 1986 Lost Semi-final
- Markham WaxersMarkham WaxersThe Markham Waxers are an Ontario Junior Hockey League Junior "A" ice hockey team. The Waxer organizations are from Markham, Ontario, Canada.-History:...
defeated Owen Sound Greys 4-games-to-1- 1987 Won League, Lost OHA Buckland Cup
- Owen Sound Greys defeated Markham WaxersMarkham WaxersThe Markham Waxers are an Ontario Junior Hockey League Junior "A" ice hockey team. The Waxer organizations are from Markham, Ontario, Canada.-History:...
4-games-to-1 - Owen Sound Greys defeated Aurora Eagles 4-games-to-none OJHL CHAMPIONS
- Nickel Centre Power Trains (NOJHL) defeated Owen Sound Greys 4-games-to-2
The Original Franchise
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | Playoffs |
| 1953-54 | 30 | 9 | 18 | 3 | ||||||
| 121 | 178 | 21 | 7th OHA Gr. | |||||||
| 1954-55 | 30 | 12 | 15 | 3 | ||||||
| 155 | 116 | 27 | 4th CJBHL | |||||||
| 1955-56 | 27 | 18 | 9 | 0 | ||||||
| 178 | 113 | 36 | 2nd CJBHL | |||||||
| 1956-57 | 27 | 19 | 7 | 1 | ||||||
| 193 | 101 | 39 | 2nd CJBHL | |||||||
| 1957-58 | 29 | 15 | 13 | 1 | ||||||
| 160 | 134 | 31 | 4th CJBHL | |||||||
| 1958-59 | 30 | 20 | 9 | 1 | ||||||
| 203 | 124 | 41 | 2nd CJBHL | |||||||
| 1959-60 | 30 | 21 | 9 | 0 | ||||||
| 44 | 1st CJBHL | |||||||||
| 1960-61 | 29 | 22 | 5 | 2 | ||||||
| 186 | 117 | 48 | 1st CJBHL | Won League | ||||||
| 1961-62 | 29 | 11 | 18 | 0 | ||||||
| 137 | 154 | 24 | 3rd CJBHL | |||||||
| 1962-63 | 36 | 22 | 12 | 2 | ||||||
| 216 | 162 | 46 | 1st CJBHL | |||||||
| 1963-64 | 36 | 19 | 17 | 0 | ||||||
| 196 | 168 | 38 | 3rd CJBHL | |||||||
| 1964-65 | 42 | 18 | 23 | 1 | ||||||
| 188 | 183 | 37 | 5th CJBHL | |||||||
| 1965-66 | 39 | 6 | 33 | 0 | ||||||
| 143 | 304 | 12 | 6th CJBHL | |||||||
| 1966-67 | 32 | 3 | 28 | 1 | ||||||
| 120 | 279 | 7 | 5th CJBHL | |||||||
| 1967-68 | 39 | 7 | 26 | 6 | ||||||
| 158 | 251 | 20 | 6th CJBHL | |||||||
| 1968-69 | 36 | 16 | 14 | 6 | ||||||
| 157 | 161 | 38 | 4th CJBHL | |||||||
| 1969-70 | 40 | 30 | 6 | 4 | ||||||
| 270 | 158 | 64 | 1st CJBHL | |||||||
| 1970-71 | 41 | 28 | 11 | 2 | ||||||
| 171 | 108 | 58 | 1st CJBHL | Lost Final | ||||||
| 1971-72 | 40 | 26 | 12 | 2 | - | 255 | 177 | 54 | 2nd CJBHL | Lost Final |
| 1972-73 | 40 | 24 | 13 | 3 | ||||||
| 222 | 157 | 51 | 2nd MOJBHL | Won League | ||||||
| 1973-74 | 40 | 30 | 6 | 4 | ||||||
| 274 | 147 | 64 | 1st MOJBHL | Won League | ||||||
| 1974-75 | 40 | 23 | 11 | 6 | ||||||
| 229 | 157 | 52 | 2nd MOJBHL | Won League | ||||||
| 1975-76 | 60 | 23 | 32 | 5 | - | 272 | 339 | 51 | 5th SOJAHL | DNQ |
| 1976-77 | 37 | 10 | 22 | 5 | - | 167 | 246 | 25 | 4th SOJAHL | Lost Semi-final |
Playoffs
- 1976 DNQ
- 1977 Lost Semi-final
- Guelph PlatersGuelph PlatersThe Guelph Platers were a junior ice hockey team in theOntario Hockey Association from 1975 to 1982, and the Ontario Hockey League from 1982 to 1989, based in Guelph, Ontario.-History:...
defeated Owen Sound Greys 4-games-to-2 with 1 tie
Intermediate A
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | Playoffs |
| 1978-79 | 36 | 14 | 22 | 1 | - | n/a | n/a | 29 | 3rd GBIAHL | Lost Semifinal |
| 1979-80 | 36 | 10 | 24 | 2 | - | n/a | n/a | 22 | 7th GBIAHL | DNQ |
| 1980-81 | 36 | 20 | 15 | 1 | - | 214 | 168 | 41 | 3rd OHA Int. A | Lost Final |
| 1981-82 | 36 | 11 | 23 | 2 | - | 200 | 263 | 24 | 6th OHA Int. A | Lost Semifinal |
Championships
- Memorial CupMemorial CupThe Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
Dominion Junior Hockey Champions: 1924, 1927 - Eastern Canadian Junior Hockey Champions: 1924, 1927
- J. Ross Robertson CupJ. Ross Robertson CupThe J. Ross Robertson Cup is an ice hockey trophy awarded annually to the winner of the Ontario Hockey League playoff championship. It was presented by and named for John Ross Robertson, the president of the Ontario Hockey Association who served from 1899 to 1905.Originally it was awarded to the...
OHA Junior Hockey Champions: 1924, 1927 - Frank L. Buckland Trophy OHA Junior A Hockey League Champions: 1987
- Mid-Ontario Junior B Hockey LeagueMid-Ontario Junior B Hockey LeagueThe Mid-Ontario Junior B Hockey League was a Junior "B" ice hockey league based in Southern Ontario. They were sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association and Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, and competed for the All-Ontario Junior "B" title, the Sutherland Cup.-History:The league was formed...
Champions: 1973, 1974, 1975 - Central Junior B Hockey League Champions: 1961
Sutherland Cup Appearances
- 1961: St. Michael's BuzzersSt. Michael's BuzzersThe St. Michael's Buzzers are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of Central Canadian Hockey League.-History:...
defeated Owen Sound Greys 4-games-to-none
George S. Dudley Trophy Super "C" Appearances
- 1974: Woodstock Navy-Vets defeated Owen Sound Salvagemen 4-games-to-none
- 1975: Woodstock Navy-Vets defeated Owen Sound Salvagemen 3-games-to-none
Arenas
- Riverside Arena, 1st Avenue A West, Owen Sound (unknown-1938)
- Owen Sound Arena, 2nd Avenue East, Owen Sound (1938-1982)
- Owen Sound Coliseum, 1400 7th Avenue East, Owen Sound (1982-1983)
- J.D. McArthur Arena, Harry Lumley Bayshore Community CentreBayshore Community CentreThe Bayshore Community Centre contains the J.D. McArthur Arena, a 4,300-seat multi-purpose arena in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. The facility was opened in 1983 on the east shore of Owen Sound Bay and replaced the city's old downtown arena.Known locally as "Bayshore Arena," it is home to the Owen...
, 1900 3rd Avenue East, Owen Sound (1983-Present) - Saugeen Shores Community Complex, 600 Tomlinson Drive, Port Elgin (2000-2006)
Affiliations
Since the Ontario Hockey LeagueOntario 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....
moved into Owen Sound in 1989, the Greys have enjoyed an almost continuous affiliation with the big club (originally the Owen Sound Platers
Owen Sound Platers
Owen Sound Platers was a name used for a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League from 1989 to 2000, in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. In 2000, after the team was sold, new ownership renamed the team the Owen Sound Attack.-History:...
, now known as the Owen Sound Attack
Owen Sound Attack
The Owen Sound Attack are a junior ice hockey in the Ontario Hockey League since the year 2000. The Attack are based in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada.-History:...
).
A disagreement in 1999 led the Platers to cancel the arrangement and affiliate instead with the OPJHL's
Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
The Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under the supervision of the Ontario Hockey Association and the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The league dates back to 1954 as the Central Junior B Hockey League. In 1993, the Central Junior B Hockey League was promoted to the...
ill-fated Durham Huskies
Durham Huskies Jr. A
----The Durham Huskies were a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey team from the town of Durham, Ontario, Canada. The Huskies played in the Metro Junior A Hockey League for two seasons and the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League for three season...
. Although that ended after one season and the Platers again latched on to the Greys, there was enough animosity between the Greys and Huskies to fuel two heated exhibition games one week apart prior to the 2000-01 season. Owen Sound won 5-1 in the first game and 5-0 in the second game, which was marred by a line brawl toward the end.
The Greys had another affiliation with the Kincardine Bulldogs
Kincardine Bulldogs
The Kincardine Bulldogs are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Kincardine, Ontario. They play in the Western Junior C Hockey League.-History:...
of the Western Junior C Hockey League
Western Junior C Hockey League
The Western Ontario Junior C Hockey League is a Junior "C" ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association. The Champion of the Western will compete for the All-Ontario Championship and the Clarence Schmalz Cup....
. This affiliation ended when the Greys took a leave of absence in 2009.
In 2010 it was announced that the Greys would return as affiliates to the Villanova Knights
Villanova Knights
The Orangeville Flyers are a Junior 'A' ice hockey team based in Orangeville, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.-Henry Carr:...
of the Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Fergus Devils
Fergus Devils
The Fergus Devils are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Fergus, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League.-History:...
of the Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League
Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League
The Georgian Mid Ontario Junior C Hockey League is a Junior "C" ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association...
.
Getting back to hometown roots for the 2011 season, the Greys announced their affiliation with the Hanover Barons
Hanover Barons
The Hanover Barons are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Hanover, Ontario, Canada. They play out in the Western Junior C Hockey League. The Barons spent the 2009-10 season in the neighbouring town of Durham, Ontario while their new arena was being built in Hanover.-History:The Hanover...
of the Western Ontario Junior C Hockey League
In Memory
The Greys have recently mourned the deaths of their two longest-serving club presidents.Carl Fairman
Mr. Fairman was with the Greys for 25 years, the last 20 as president, until his death on January 12, 2004 at age 68. Fundraising was his strong point and he was a regular and tireless fixture at the club's weekly bingo games.Howard Hindman
Mr. Hindman died on January 10, 2007 at age 90. A prominent city businessman, sportsman and benefactor who served at various times as chair of the local hospital board, school board and police board and as honorary chair of the hospital foundation, he still found time for heavy involvement with numerous sporting organizations, including the Greys. Mr. Hindman held the post of team president and/or manager continuously between 1946 and 1986. A team jersey with his name on it was presented to him at a home game approximately four months before his death..gif){kind=link}
NHL alumni
Numerous members of the Owen Sound Greys have gone on to play in the National Hockey LeagueNational 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...
.http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayersByTeam.jsp?team=Owen+Sound+Jr.+Greys
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