Spruce Grove Saints
Encyclopedia
The Spruce Grove Saints are an ice hockey
team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League
. They play in Spruce Grove, Alberta
, Canada
at the Grant Fuhr Arena, capacity 2,000.
in 1963, the team began as the Edmonton Movers, and a season following a merger with the Edmonton Maple Leafs in 1972, the franchise first relocated to Spruce Grove
as the Spruce Grove Mets. After three years in Spruce Grove, the franchise relocated again to nearby St. Albert
to become the St. Albert Saints
for the 1977-78 season. After 27 years in St. Albert, arena issues allowed the franchise to return for its second stint in Spruce Grove in 2004-05.
Over 50 former players have gone on to play in the NHL
, including Mark Messier
, Stu Barnes
, Mike Comrie
and Steve Reinprecht
.
During its first stint in Spruce Grove, the Mets won the Centennial Cup 1975
as Canadian Jr. A national champions. The franchise also captured four more AJHL championships during its time in St. Albert.
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 in the Alberta Junior Hockey League
Alberta Junior Hockey League
The Alberta Junior Hockey League is an Alberta-based Junior A hockey league that belongs to the Canadian Junior Hockey League . It was formed as a five-team league in 1964. There are currently 16 teams in the league. The regular season league champions receive the Dave Duchak Trophy...
. They play in Spruce Grove, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, 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...
at the Grant Fuhr Arena, capacity 2,000.
- Founded: 1963-64
- Division titles won: None
- League Championships won: 2009-2010
- Doyle CupDoyle CupThe Doyle Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy, won through a best-of-7 series, conducted by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The series is played between the Fred Page Cup champions of the British Columbia Hockey League and the Enerflex Cup champions of the Alberta Junior Hockey League...
Titles: None - Royal Bank CupRoyal Bank CupThe 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...
Titles: None
History
The Saints franchise is perhaps the most storied in the history of Canadian Junior A hockey. The only franchise remaining from the inception of the AJHLAlberta Junior Hockey League
The Alberta Junior Hockey League is an Alberta-based Junior A hockey league that belongs to the Canadian Junior Hockey League . It was formed as a five-team league in 1964. There are currently 16 teams in the league. The regular season league champions receive the Dave Duchak Trophy...
in 1963, the team began as the Edmonton Movers, and a season following a merger with the Edmonton Maple Leafs in 1972, the franchise first relocated to Spruce Grove
Spruce Grove, Alberta
Spruce Grove is a city in the vicinity of Edmonton, Alberta. Like nearby Stony Plain it is surrounded by Parkland County.With a population of 24,646, Spruce Grove is the 11th largest city in Alberta. The Horizon Stage Performing Arts Centre is the local theatre, and its TransAlta Tri Leisure Centre...
as the Spruce Grove Mets. After three years in Spruce Grove, the franchise relocated again to nearby St. Albert
St. Albert, Alberta
St. Albert is a suburban city in Alberta, located northwest of Edmonton, on the Sturgeon River. It was originally settled as a Métis community, and is now the second largest city in the Edmonton area. St...
to become the St. Albert Saints
St. Albert Saints
The St. Albert Saints were a junior ice hockey franchise based in St. Albert, Alberta, for twenty-seven seasons from 1977 to 2004. Before 1977, the team played in nearby Spruce Grove as the Spruce Grove Mets, and in 2004 the team again moved to Spruce Grove where they now play as the Spruce Grove...
for the 1977-78 season. After 27 years in St. Albert, arena issues allowed the franchise to return for its second stint in Spruce Grove in 2004-05.
Over 50 former players have gone on to play in the NHL
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...
, including Mark Messier
Mark Messier
Mark Douglas Messier is a former Canadian professional ice hockey centre of the National Hockey League and current special assistant to the president and general manager of the New York Rangers. He spent a quarter of a century in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, and Vancouver...
, Stu Barnes
Stu Barnes
Stuart Barnes is an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League . He played 16 seasons at centre in the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets, Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres, and Dallas Stars....
, Mike Comrie
Mike Comrie
Michael William "Mike" Comrie is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre.He is married to Hilary Duff.-Playing career:Mike Comrie was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta and attended Jasper Place High School...
and Steve Reinprecht
Steven Reinprecht
Steven Edward "Steve" Reinprecht is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing in the Vancouver Canucks organization. He most recently played on loan for Adler Mannheim of the German Deutsche Eishockey Liga ....
.
During its first stint in Spruce Grove, the Mets won the Centennial Cup 1975
Centennial Cup 1975
The Centennial Cup 1975 is the Tier II Junior "A" 1975 ice hockey National Championship for the Canadian Junior A Hockey League.The Centennial Cup was competed for by the winners of the Western Canadian Champions and the Eastern Canadian Champions....
as Canadian Jr. A national champions. The franchise also captured four more AJHL championships during its time in St. Albert.
Season-by-season record
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T/OTL = Ties/Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against| Season | GP | W | L | T/OTL | Points | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2004-05 | 64 | 42 | 16 | 6 | 90 | 208 | 147 | 2nd North | Lost in second round |
| 2005-06 | 60 | 39 | 18 | 3 | 81 | 197 | 160 | 3rd North | Lost in third round |
| 2006-07 | 60 | 32 | 20 | 8 | 72 | 213 | 186 | 3rd North | Lost in second round |
| 2007-08 | 62 | 34 | 16 | 12 | 80 | 248 | 203 | 3rd North | Lost in third round |
| 2008-09 | 62 | 46 | 7 | 9 | 101 | 274 | 139 | 1st North | Lost final |
| 2009-10 | 60 | 52 | 4 | 4 | 108 | 252 | 99 | 1st North | Won championship |
| 2010-11 | 60 | 48 | 8 | 4 | 100 | 233 | 106 | 1st North | Won championship |
Playoffs
- 2005 Lost Quarter-final
- Spruce Grove Saints defeated Lloydminster Blazers 3-games-to-none
- Drayton Valley ThunderDrayton Valley ThunderThe Drayton Valley Thunder is an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Drayton Valley, Alberta, Canada at the Drayton Valley Omni-Plex, capacity 1450....
defeated Spruce Grove Saints 4-games-to-2- 2006 Lost Semi-final
- Spruce Grove Saints defeated Fort Saskatchewan TradersFort Saskatchewan TradersThe Fort Saskatchewan Traders were an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They played in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada at the Jubilee Recreation Centre, capacity 2000....
3-games-to-none - Spruce Grove Saints defeated Drayton Valley ThunderDrayton Valley ThunderThe Drayton Valley Thunder is an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Drayton Valley, Alberta, Canada at the Drayton Valley Omni-Plex, capacity 1450....
4-games-to-3 - Camrose KodiaksCamrose KodiaksThe Camrose Kodiaks are a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Camrose, Alberta, Canada at the Edgeworth Centre's Encana Arena, capacity 2500+....
defeated Spruce Grove Saints 4-games-to-2- 2007 Lost Quarter-final
- Spruce Grove Saints defeated Bonnyville PontiacsBonnyville PontiacsThe Bonnyville Pontiacs are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Bonnyville, Alberta, Canada at the R. J. Lalonde Arena, capacity 2700....
3-games-to-2 - Grande Prairie StormGrande Prairie StormThe Grande Prairie Storm are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada at the Canada Games Arena, capacity 3228, also known as the Crystal Centre....
defeated Spruce Grove Saints 4-games-to-1- 2008 Lost Semi-final
- Spruce Grove Saints defeated Lloydminster BobcatsLloydminster BobcatsThe Lloydminster Bobcats are a Canadian ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in the Lloydminster Centennial Civic Centre, capacity 3000, on the Saskatchewan side of the biprovincial city of Lloydminster, which straddles that province's border with...
3-games-to-none - Spruce Grove Saints defeated Grande Prairie StormGrande Prairie StormThe Grande Prairie Storm are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada at the Canada Games Arena, capacity 3228, also known as the Crystal Centre....
4-games-to-3 - Fort McMurray Oil BaronsFort McMurray Oil BaronsThe Fort McMurray Oil Barons are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada at the Thickwood Heights Arena, capacity 2300....
defeated Spruce Grove Saints 4-games-to-1- 2009 Lost Final
- Spruce Grove Saints defeated Fort McMurray Oil BaronsFort McMurray Oil BaronsThe Fort McMurray Oil Barons are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada at the Thickwood Heights Arena, capacity 2300....
4-games-to-1 - Spruce Grove Saints defeated Olds GrizzlysOlds GrizzlysThe Olds Grizzlys are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Olds, Alberta, Canada at the Olds & District Sports Complex, capacity 2200.The Grizzlys enjoyed a dynasty in the mid 1990s that culminated in a Centennial Cup title as national champions, won on home ice, in...
4-games-to-none - Grande Prairie StormGrande Prairie StormThe Grande Prairie Storm are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada at the Canada Games Arena, capacity 3228, also known as the Crystal Centre....
defeated Spruce Grove Saints 4-games-to-none- 2010 Won League, Lost Doyle CupDoyle CupThe Doyle Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy, won through a best-of-7 series, conducted by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The series is played between the Fred Page Cup champions of the British Columbia Hockey League and the Enerflex Cup champions of the Alberta Junior Hockey League...
- 2010 Won League, Lost Doyle Cup
- Spruce Grove Saints defeated Bonnyville PontiacsBonnyville PontiacsThe Bonnyville Pontiacs are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Bonnyville, Alberta, Canada at the R. J. Lalonde Arena, capacity 2700....
4-games-to-none - Spruce Grove Saints defeated Camrose KodiaksCamrose KodiaksThe Camrose Kodiaks are a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Camrose, Alberta, Canada at the Edgeworth Centre's Encana Arena, capacity 2500+....
4-games-to-1 - Spruce Grove Saints defeated Fort McMurray Oil BaronsFort McMurray Oil BaronsThe Fort McMurray Oil Barons are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada at the Thickwood Heights Arena, capacity 2300....
4-games-to-3 AJHL CHAMPIONS - Vernon VipersVernon VipersThe Vernon Vipers are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Interior Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League . They play their home games at Wesbild Centre.-History:...
(BCHL) defeated Spruce Grove Saints 4-games-to-3- 2011 Won League, Lost Doyle CupDoyle CupThe Doyle Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy, won through a best-of-7 series, conducted by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The series is played between the Fred Page Cup champions of the British Columbia Hockey League and the Enerflex Cup champions of the Alberta Junior Hockey League...
- 2011 Won League, Lost Doyle Cup
- Spruce Grove Saints defeated Lloydminster BobcatsLloydminster BobcatsThe Lloydminster Bobcats are a Canadian ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in the Lloydminster Centennial Civic Centre, capacity 3000, on the Saskatchewan side of the biprovincial city of Lloydminster, which straddles that province's border with...
4-games-to-none - Spruce Grove Saints defeated Fort McMurray Oil BaronsFort McMurray Oil BaronsThe Fort McMurray Oil Barons are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada at the Thickwood Heights Arena, capacity 2300....
4-games-to-none - Spruce Grove Saints defeated Camrose KodiaksCamrose KodiaksThe Camrose Kodiaks are a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Camrose, Alberta, Canada at the Edgeworth Centre's Encana Arena, capacity 2500+....
4-games-to-1 AJHL CHAMPIONS - Vernon VipersVernon VipersThe Vernon Vipers are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Interior Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League . They play their home games at Wesbild Centre.-History:...
(BCHL) defeated Spruce Grove Saints 4-games-to-3