Thorold Blackhawks
Encyclopedia
The Thorold Blackhawks are a Canadian
junior ice hockey
team based in Thorold
, Ontario
, Canada
. They play in the Golden Horseshoe division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League
.
as the best Jr. B team in Ontario
. Many players that started their careers in Thorold went on to play in the Ontario Hockey League
, American Hockey League
, and the National Hockey League
. The most notable of these NHLers are Nathan Horton
of the Boston Bruins
, Dwayne Roloson
of the New York Islanders
and Owen Nolan
, currently in free agency.
The Blackhawks played the longest game in club history on March 26, 2006 in a quadruple-overtime thriller of game 6 of their GHL Semi-final series against their arch-rival, the St. Catharines Falcons
. The Blackhawks moved onto the GHL finals with this victory. The final score of this contest was 2-1 after Steve Zmudcynski beat St. Catharines' netminder Sean Hall with 5:06 left in the 4th overtime period. Zmudczynski was criticized for much of the overtime session for not getting back on defense but was rewarded for doing so when he received a long pass from Steve Chappell that set up the winning marker. The game lasted a little over four and a half hours and ended after midnight. An interesting side note from this game is that if there would have been a game seven it would have been played on March 27, the same day Game 6 ended.
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 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 Thorold
Thorold
Thorold may refer to:Places* Thorold, Ontario* Thorold Tunnel, OntarioSport* Thorold Blackhawks, Canadian junior ice hockey teamAnimals*Thorold's deerPeople...
, 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 Golden Horseshoe 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...
.
History
The team consists of mostly local players between the ages of 16 and 21. The Blackhawks were League Champions in 2001, 2003, 2004, and 2005. In 2005, the team went on to capture the 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...
as the best Jr. B team in 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....
. Many players that started their careers in Thorold went on to play in 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....
, American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
, and 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...
. The most notable of these NHLers are Nathan Horton
Nathan Horton
Nathan Horton is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger who currently plays for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League...
of the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The 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...
, Dwayne Roloson
Dwayne Roloson
Albert Dwayne Roloson is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the National Hockey League . He has previously played for the Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers, and New York Islanders during his professional career...
of the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The 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...
and Owen Nolan
Owen Nolan
Owen Liam Nolan is a Canadian professional ice hockey player, who is currently a free agent. He has played in the National Hockey League for the Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Phoenix Coyotes, Calgary Flames and the Minnesota Wild before signing with...
, currently in free agency.
The Blackhawks played the longest game in club history on March 26, 2006 in a quadruple-overtime thriller of game 6 of their GHL Semi-final series against their arch-rival, the St. Catharines Falcons
St. Catharines Falcons Jr. B
The St. Catharines Falcons are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Golden Horseshoe division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. The Falcons play their home games inside Jack Gatecliff Arena in downtown St. Catharines.-History:The...
. The Blackhawks moved onto the GHL finals with this victory. The final score of this contest was 2-1 after Steve Zmudcynski beat St. Catharines' netminder Sean Hall with 5:06 left in the 4th overtime period. Zmudczynski was criticized for much of the overtime session for not getting back on defense but was rewarded for doing so when he received a long pass from Steve Chappell that set up the winning marker. The game lasted a little over four and a half hours and ended after midnight. An interesting side note from this game is that if there would have been a game seven it would have been played on March 27, the same day Game 6 ended.
Season-by-Season results
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | Playoffs |
| 1982-83 | 42 | 13 | 26 | 3 | ||||||
| 241 | 293 | 29 | 7th GHJHL | |||||||
| 1983-84 | 42 | 9 | 28 | 5 | ||||||
| 178 | 252 | 23 | 8th GHJHL | |||||||
| 1984-85 | 42 | 2 | 39 | 1 | ||||||
| 150 | 381 | 5 | 8th GHJHL | |||||||
| 1985-86 | 40 | 19 | 18 | 3 | ||||||
| 184 | 215 | 41 | 6th GHJHL | |||||||
| 1986-87 | 42 | 15 | 18 | 9 | ||||||
| 202 | 233 | 39 | 5th GHJHL | |||||||
| 1987-88 | 42 | 17 | 21 | 4 | ||||||
| 209 | 270 | 38 | 5th GHJHL | |||||||
| 1988-89 | 42 | 25 | 10 | 7 | ||||||
| 197 | 148 | 57 | 2nd GHJHL | Lost Final | ||||||
| 1989-90 | 48 | 31 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 246 | 200 | 65 | 2nd GHJHL | Lost Final |
| 1990-91 | 42 | 26 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 236 | 182 | 54 | 4th GHJHL | |
| 1991-92 | 42 | 15 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 189 | 219 | 31 | 6th GHJHL | |
| 1992-93 | 42 | 22 | 16 | 1 | 3 | 239 | 219 | 48 | 4th GHJHL | |
| 1993-94 | 40 | 25 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 270 | 178 | 53 | 2nd GHJHL | Lost Final |
| 1994-95 | 42 | 19 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 188 | 220 | 41 | 4th GHJHL | |
| 1995-96 | 42 | 10 | 26 | 3 | 3 | 190 | 235 | 26 | 7th GHJHL | |
| 1996-97 | 42 | 14 | 22 | 5 | 1 | 181 | 181 | 34 | 6th GHJHL | |
| 1997-98 | 49 | 26 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 255 | 213 | 59 | 4th GHJHL | |
| 1998-99 | 47 | 17 | 24 | 5 | 1 | 167 | 180 | 40 | 5th GHJHL | |
| 1999-00 | 48 | 32 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 237 | 155 | 67 | 1st GHJHL | Lost Final |
| 2000-01 | 48 | 31 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 220 | 126 | 69 | 2nd GHJHL | Won League |
| 2001-02 | 48 | 31 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 216 | 138 | 67 | 3rd GHJHL | Lost Final |
| 2002-03 | 48 | 41 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 282 | 100 | 85 | 1st GHJHL | Won League |
| 2003-04 | 48 | 34 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 179 | 84 | 75 | 2nd GHJHL | Won League |
| 2004-05 | 48 | 37 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 185 | 85 | 79 | 1st GHJHL | Won League, Won Sutherland Cup Sutherland 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... |
| 2005-06 | 49 | 29 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 192 | 125 | 60 | 3rd GHJHL | Lost Final |
| 2006-07 | 49 | 30 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 226 | 169 | 63 | 4th GHJHL | Lost Semi-final |
| 2007-08 | 49 | 30 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 227 | 144 | 67 | 1st GOJHL-GH | Won Conf. |
| 2008-09 | 52 | 31 | 18 | |||||||
| 3 | 217 | 197 | 65 | 3rd GOJHL-GH | ||||||
| 2009-10 | 51 | 35 | 12 | |||||||
| 4 | 211 | 164 | 74 | 3rd GOJHL-GH | Lost Conf. SF | |||||
| 2010-11 | 51 | 38 | 11 | |||||||
| 2 | 251 | 135 | 78 | 2nd GOJHL-GH | Lost Conf. Final |
Sutherland Cup Appearances
- 2001: Elmira Sugar KingsElmira Sugar KingsThe 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:...
defeated Thorold Blackhawks 4-games-to-2 - 2003: Stratford CullitonsStratford CullitonsThe 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...
defeated Thorold Blackhawks 4-games-to-3 - 2004: Stratford CullitonsStratford CullitonsThe 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...
defeated Thorold Blackhawks 4-games-to-none - 2005: Thorold Blackhawks 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-1