Durham Huskies Jr. A
Encyclopedia
----
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. The Huskies were a continuance of the Traditional Durham Huskies
Senior/Intermediate team that existed from 1920 until 1992.
, Durham decided to pursue a Junior hockey team. From the early days the team was dubbed the Huskies as well, all they had to do was find a league to play in. The Huskies had no chance to play in Junior Development
as it was a league that depended on close locale and the closest team to Durham was Seaforth
, over 80 kilometers away. They tried Jr. "C"
and were turned down for political reasons involving the player drawing availability of potential rival teams: the Hanover Barons
and Mount Forest Patriots
. Midwestern Junior B and Provincial Jr. "A"
did not work out either. As a last resort, the Huskies attempted to join the on-again off-again renegade Metro Junior A Hockey League
.
with teams in the States of New York and Pennsylvania
. Although the Jr. "A" Huskies never did obtain a winning season, the highlight of their junior hockey stint may have been their 1998 playoff run. The Huskies entered the playoffs in second place in the Central Division and drew the always potent Markham Waxers
. The series was penalty and fight filled, but ultimately the Huskies walked away with a 3-games-to-1 series win. In the divisional final, the Huskies drew the Caledon Canadians
and were swept by one of the best Junior A teams of the 1990s 3-games-to-none. Although they did not advance further, the desire and skill shown by the Huskies directly resulted in 9 members of the team being drafted into the Ontario Hockey League
that summer. Sadly, as many made their respective OHL teams or moved on to college, from this point on the Huskie roster would never reach to those heights again. After 2 seasons in the "Metro", the league folded and the team was allowed into the super-competitive Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
..jpg)
On a sidenote, the Huskies, while in the Metro, notoriously became the first team in hockey history to have two goals scored on them by a goaltender in one hockey game. This event occurred in a game against the Muskoka Bears
on February 21, 1997. Goaltender Ryan Venturelli scored the empty net goals at 8:55 and 10:34 of the third period. The Bears defeated the Huskies that night by a score of 11-6.
, Newmarket Hurricanes
, Brampton Capitals
, and the Georgetown Raiders
, by the end of the Huskies three year stint in Provincial Jr. "A"
League it became obvious that the team could no longer competitively compete. In 2001, the Huskies officially left the OPJHL. Some of the reasons revolved around poor attendance, poor results at such a high level, and lack of resources to pay expensive league and travelling fees. The team also was developing a notoriety around the league for being a "bush league" team. Their last season in the OPJHL was not memorable to say the least. This assessment could easily reflected by their exhibition results before the season even started: a pair of losses to the Owen Sound Greys
of the Midwestern Junior B Hockey League
and a loss to a Juvenile "AAA" team from the Eastern AAA Hockey League
. The Huskies went into hiatus just before the start of the next season, all the players' rights were released, the Huskies were inert again.
where he played for the Miami Red Hawks
of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association
. Bob Crummer went on to the Guelph Storm
of the Ontario Hockey League
and had a brief ECHL
semi-pro career. Tyler Murray later played in the Central Junior A Hockey League
for the Brockville Braves
and the Ottawa Jr. Senators
before a brief semi-pro career. David Bilik, who came to the Huskies from the disbanded Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins
, went on to play for the Pensacola Ice Pilots
of the ECHL
. Steve Howard eventually became a Semi-Pro journeyman, spending time in the ECHL
and the Colonial Hockey League. Andy Peters spent four years playing NCAA
with Bentley College
. Enforcer Kevin Shanahan played a season of semi-pro with the Motor City Snipers of the International Independent Hockey League
. Bradley Bartlett, who came to the Huskies in 2000 after his past team the Thunder Bay Flyers
folded, moved on to play two seasons of Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Hockey with Lakehead University
. Andrej Blasko found his way up to the semi-pro ranks as well. Anthony Child, a Husky of British
descent, was traded to the Collingwood Blues
after two seasons with Durham. He spent his Christmas
seasons in his Husky years playing in Pool B of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
as a member of the British national ice hockey team
. He later moved on to play a brief professional career with the Romford Raiders
of the English Premier Ice Hockey League
. Josh Ciocco played for the Huskies in 1999-00, but moved on to the British Columbia Hockey League
the next year. From 2003 until 2007, Ciocco played hockey for the University of New Hampshire
. He played his first professional hockey in the 2006-07 season with the Wheeling Nailers
of the ECHL
. Travis Clock ended up playing in both the OHL
and QMJHL, then semi-pro with the Orlando Seals, and Senior AAA in 2006-07 with the Windsor St. Clair Saints
.
Despite not winning any championships, what the team did do was provide a forum for local talent to compete at high levels, gaining the town and its hometown boys like Mike Nixon, Scott Baines, Jim MacGillvray, Dave Galbraith, Kyle Phillips, Andy Aitken, Paul Brown, Devan Mighton, Sandy Mackenzie, Jesse Rycroft (who currently plays semi-pro for the United Hockey League
's Kalamazoo Wings
), and Will Hill recognition in the local hockey world.
The Huskies went on hiatus in 2001 to attempt to join the local Western Junior C league to better fit in with competition, but again the team was thwarted by the league's political landscape. Little is known about the future of the franchise, if there is to be one.
. As of right now, there is no known effort to return the Huskies back to a higher level of hockey. It is doubtful that this is the last the town of Durham
will see of the Husky franchise, but the team seems to be dead in the water for the time being. As of 2006-07, the OPJHL's Oshawa Legionnaires became the Durham Fury
, which will play out of the Campus Ice Center in Oshawa, Ontario
. Although it was unlikely that the Huskies would have ever re-entered the OPJHL, as their recent efforts were to join the Western Junior "C" League, the creation of the Fury would definitely be a rumour-killer for an OPJHL comeback.
Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
The Durham Huskies were a Canadian
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 "A" 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 from the town of 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:...
, 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...
. The Huskies played in the Metro Junior A 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...
for two seasons and the Ontario Provincial Junior A 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...
for three season. The Huskies were a continuance of the Traditional Durham Huskies
Durham Huskies
----The Durham Huskies are an ice hockey franchise based in the town of Durham, Ontario, Canada. The team is actually a series of teams that have spanned nine decades and through an uncountable series of leagues. The Huskies have existed under of couple short lived monikers before finding their...
Senior/Intermediate team that existed from 1920 until 1992.
A Junior Hockey Revival
Preface
After the demise of the Sr. HuskiesDurham Huskies
----The Durham Huskies are an ice hockey franchise based in the town of Durham, Ontario, Canada. The team is actually a series of teams that have spanned nine decades and through an uncountable series of leagues. The Huskies have existed under of couple short lived monikers before finding their...
, Durham decided to pursue a Junior hockey team. From the early days the team was dubbed the Huskies as well, all they had to do was find a league to play in. The Huskies had no chance to play in Junior Development
Southern 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....
as it was a league that depended on close locale and the closest team to Durham was Seaforth
Seaforth, Ontario
Seaforth is a Southern Ontario community in the municipality of Huron East, in Huron County, Ontario, Canada.-History:...
, over 80 kilometers away. They tried Jr. "C"
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....
and were turned down for political reasons involving the player drawing availability of potential rival teams: 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...
and Mount Forest Patriots
Mount Forest Patriots
The Mount Forest Patriots are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Mount Forest, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Western Junior C Hockey League .-History:...
. Midwestern Junior B and Provincial Jr. "A"
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...
did not work out either. As a last resort, the Huskies attempted to join the on-again off-again renegade Metro Junior A 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...
.
Metro Junior "A"
In 1996 they were successful, and they joined a league spanning the entire Province of OntarioOntario
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....
with teams in the States of New York and Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Although the Jr. "A" Huskies never did obtain a winning season, the highlight of their junior hockey stint may have been their 1998 playoff run. The Huskies entered the playoffs in second place in the Central Division and drew the always potent Markham Waxers
Markham Waxers
The Markham Waxers are an Ontario Junior Hockey League Junior "A" ice hockey team. The Waxer organizations are from Markham, Ontario, Canada.-History:...
. The series was penalty and fight filled, but ultimately the Huskies walked away with a 3-games-to-1 series win. In the divisional final, the Huskies drew the Caledon Canadians
Caledon Canadians
The Caledon Canadians are a defunct Junior "A" ice hockey team from Caledon, Ontario, Canada. They were a part of the Metro Junior A Hockey League and were the only team in the "Metro" to win an Ontario Hockey Association Junior "A" Championship.-History:...
and were swept by one of the best Junior A teams of the 1990s 3-games-to-none. Although they did not advance further, the desire and skill shown by the Huskies directly resulted in 9 members of the team being drafted into 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....
that summer. Sadly, as many made their respective OHL teams or moved on to college, from this point on the Huskie roster would never reach to those heights again. After 2 seasons in the "Metro", the league folded and the team was allowed into the super-competitive Ontario Provincial Junior A 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...
.
Huntsville-Muskoka Otters
The Huntsville Otters are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Huntsville, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Ontario Junior A Hockey League.-History:Joining the ranks of Junior hockey in 1990, the Bears were a member of the Metro Junior A Hockey League...
on February 21, 1997. Goaltender Ryan Venturelli scored the empty net goals at 8:55 and 10:34 of the third period. The Bears defeated the Huskies that night by a score of 11-6.
The OPJHL
Playing against a stronger calibre of teams like the Collingwood BluesCollingwood 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:...
, Newmarket Hurricanes
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:...
, Brampton Capitals
Brampton Capitals
The Brampton Capitals are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Brampton, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Ontario Junior A Hockey League.-History:Since moving to Brampton in 1989, the Capitals have been one of the more dominant teams in the OPJHL...
, and the Georgetown Raiders
Georgetown Raiders
----The Georgetown Raiders are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Georgetown, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Ontario Junior A Hockey League. In Junior "B", the team was known as the "Georgetown Gemini" until 1989...
, by the end of the Huskies three year stint in Provincial Jr. "A"
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...
League it became obvious that the team could no longer competitively compete. In 2001, the Huskies officially left the OPJHL. Some of the reasons revolved around poor attendance, poor results at such a high level, and lack of resources to pay expensive league and travelling fees. The team also was developing a notoriety around the league for being a "bush league" team. Their last season in the OPJHL was not memorable to say the least. This assessment could easily reflected by their exhibition results before the season even started: a pair of losses to the Owen Sound Greys
Owen Sound Greys
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...
of 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...
and a loss to a Juvenile "AAA" team from the Eastern AAA Hockey League
Eastern AAA Hockey League
The Eastern AAA Hockey League is a minor level ice hockey governing body. The league is a sub-division of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association in the Canadian Province of Ontario.-Teams:...
. The Huskies went into hiatus just before the start of the next season, all the players' rights were released, the Huskies were inert again.
Aftermath
Many former Huskies went on to prosper in other leagues. Anthony Donskov reached the NCAANational Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
where he played for the Miami Red Hawks
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association
Central Collegiate Hockey Association
The Central Collegiate Hockey Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey college athletic conference that operates mostly in Michigan and Ohio, although it also has members in Alaska and Indiana. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. It holds its championship...
. Bob Crummer went on to the Guelph Storm
Guelph Storm
The Guelph Storm is a major junior ice hockey team based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. They have played in the OHL since the 1991–92 season. The team plays home games at the Sleeman Centre.-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 had a brief ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
semi-pro career. Tyler Murray later played in the Central Junior A Hockey League
Central Junior A Hockey League
The Central Canada Hockey League is a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey league operating in eastern Ontario, Canada. The league is sanctioned by the Ottawa District Hockey Association and Hockey Canada and is a member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League...
for the Brockville Braves
Brockville Braves
The Brockville Braves are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Brockville, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Central Junior A Hockey League...
and the Ottawa Jr. Senators
Ottawa Jr. Senators
The Ottawa Jr. Senators are a junior-age men's ice hockey team from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Their home arena is the Jim Durrell Recreation Centre in south Ottawa. The club is in the Robinson Division of the Central Canada Hockey League, a Junior "A" league. The team is not affiliated with the NHL...
before a brief semi-pro career. David Bilik, who came to the Huskies from the disbanded Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins
Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins
The Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins are a Tier III Junior A ice hockey team from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania The team plays in the North American 3 Hockey League beginning in the 2009-2010 season. The team plays home games at the Bladerunners Ice Complex in Harmarville, Pennsylvania. In addition to the Jr. A...
, went on to play for the Pensacola Ice Pilots
Pensacola Ice Pilots
The Pensacola Ice Pilots were a minor league ice hockey team located in Pensacola, Florida. The team was previously affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders , and the Chicago Blackhawks. They have also had a working agreement with the Houston Aeros of the...
of the ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
. Steve Howard eventually became a Semi-Pro journeyman, spending time in the ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
and the Colonial Hockey League. Andy Peters spent four years playing NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
with Bentley College
Bentley College
Bentley University is a private co-educational university in Waltham, Massachusetts, west of Boston. Founded in 1917 as a school of accounting and finance in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood, Bentley moved to Waltham in 1968...
. Enforcer Kevin Shanahan played a season of semi-pro with the Motor City Snipers of the International Independent Hockey League
International Independent Hockey League
The International Independent Hockey League was an independent low-level professional hockey league that played in the Great Lakes Region of the US in late 2003 before falling apart in 2004...
. Bradley Bartlett, who came to the Huskies in 2000 after his past team the Thunder Bay Flyers
Thunder Bay Flyers
The Thunder Bay Flyers were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.-History:On July 6, 1980, the Degagne Buccaneers and Thunder Bay North Stars were informed by the TBAHA that they would not be permitted to field teams in the 1980-81 City League...
folded, moved on to play two seasons of Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada, comprising the majority of degree granting universities in the country. Its equivalent body for organized sports at colleges in Canada is The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association...
Hockey with Lakehead University
Lakehead University
Lakehead University is a public research university in Thunder Bay, and Orillia, Ontario, Canada.Lakehead University, shortened to 'Lakehead U', or 'LU', is non-denominational and provincially supported. It has undergraduate and graduate programs and a medical school.The school has more than 45,000...
. Andrej Blasko found his way up to the semi-pro ranks as well. Anthony Child, a Husky of British
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
descent, was traded 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:...
after two seasons with Durham. He spent his Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
seasons in his Husky years playing in Pool B of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The International Ice Hockey Federation World Under 20 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world...
as a member of the British national ice hockey team
British national ice hockey team
The British men's national ice hockey team is the name of the national ice hockey Team for the United Kingdom...
. He later moved on to play a brief professional career with the Romford Raiders
Romford Raiders
The Romford Raiders are an ice hockey team based at the 1,500 seat Romford Ice Arena in Romford, Havering, east London. They were founder members of the EPIHL but now compete in the ENIHL. Their development team was the Romford Spitfires who played in Division 2 of the ENIHL before being succeeded...
of the English Premier Ice Hockey League
English Premier Ice Hockey League
The English Premier Ice Hockey League commonly abbreviated to EPIHL, or simply EPL, is a senior ice hockey league in England, and is run and administered by the English Ice Hockey Association...
. Josh Ciocco played for the Huskies in 1999-00, but moved on to the British Columbia Hockey League
British Columbia Hockey League
The British Columbia Hockey League is a Junior "A" ice hockey league from British Columbia under Hockey Canada, a subsection of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. Founded in Vernon in 1961, the BCHL now includes 16 teams. These teams play in two conferences, known as the Coastal and the Interior...
the next year. From 2003 until 2007, Ciocco played hockey for the University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
. He played his first professional hockey in the 2006-07 season with the Wheeling Nailers
Wheeling Nailers
The Wheeling Nailers are an ECHL ice hockey team based in Wheeling, West Virginia. They are the ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL....
of the ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
. Travis Clock ended up playing in both the OHL
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 QMJHL, then semi-pro with the Orlando Seals, and Senior AAA in 2006-07 with the Windsor St. Clair Saints
Windsor St. Clair Saints
The Windsor St. Clair Saints were a Senior "AAA" ice hockey team based in St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. They joined the Ontario Hockey Association's Major League Hockey in 2006, only to leave in 2008.-History:The St...
.
Despite not winning any championships, what the team did do was provide a forum for local talent to compete at high levels, gaining the town and its hometown boys like Mike Nixon, Scott Baines, Jim MacGillvray, Dave Galbraith, Kyle Phillips, Andy Aitken, Paul Brown, Devan Mighton, Sandy Mackenzie, Jesse Rycroft (who currently plays semi-pro for the United Hockey League
United Hockey League
The United Hockey League was a low-level professional ice hockey league , with teams in the United States...
's Kalamazoo Wings
Kalamazoo Wings
The Kalamazoo Wings, nicknamed the K-Wings, are a mid-level professional ice hockey team in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A member of the ECHL's Eastern Conference, North Division, they play in the 5,113-seat Wings Stadium....
), and Will Hill recognition in the local hockey world.
The Huskies went on hiatus in 2001 to attempt to join the local Western Junior C league to better fit in with competition, but again the team was thwarted by the league's political landscape. Little is known about the future of the franchise, if there is to be one.
The End of the Huskies?
The Husky moniker has been adopted for the 2005-06 season by the town's local Juvenile Minor Hockey Team in the WOAAWestern Ontario Athletic Association
The Western Ontario Athletic Association, abbreviated as WOAA, is the governing body of minor and senior sports in a region encompassing Grey County, Bruce County, Perth County, Huron County, northern Middlesex County, and northern Wellington County...
. As of right now, there is no known effort to return the Huskies back to a higher level of hockey. It is doubtful that this is the last the town of Durham
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:...
will see of the Husky franchise, but the team seems to be dead in the water for the time being. As of 2006-07, the OPJHL's Oshawa Legionnaires became the Durham Fury
Durham Fury
The Whitby Fury are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Whitby, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of Central Division Hockey.-History:This franchise was founded in 1965 as a member of the Eastern Junior B Hockey League...
, which will play out of the Campus Ice Center in Oshawa, Ontario
Oshawa, Ontario
Oshawa is a city in Ontario, Canada, on the Lake Ontario shoreline. It lies in Southern Ontario approximately 60 kilometres east of downtown Toronto. It is commonly viewed as the eastern anchor of both the Greater Toronto Area and the Golden Horseshoe. It is now commonly referred to as the most...
. Although it was unlikely that the Huskies would have ever re-entered the OPJHL, as their recent efforts were to join the Western Junior "C" League, the creation of the Fury would definitely be a rumour-killer for an OPJHL comeback.
Season-by-season record
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1996-97 | 50 | 13 | 37 | 0 | - | 201 | 317 | 26 | 14th Metro A | Lost in First Round |
| 1997-98 | 50 | 19 | 29 | 2 | - | 194 | 232 | 40 | 11th Metro A | Lost in Second Round |
| 1998-99 1998–99 OPJHL season The 1998–99 OPJHL season is the 6th season of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League . The thirty-seven teams of the Central, East, and West divisions competed in a 51-game schedule... |
51 | 9 | 35 | 3 | 4 | 156 | 292 | 25 | 11th OPJHL-C | Out of Playoffs |
| 1999-00 1999–2000 OPJHL season The 1999–2000 OPJHL season is the 7th season of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League . The thirty-five teams of the North, South, East, and West divisions competed in a 49-game schedule.... |
49 | 5 | 39 | 3 | 2 | 132 | 338 | 15 | 8th OPJHL-N | Out of Playoffs |
| 2000-01 2000–01 OPJHL season The 2000–01 OPJHL season is the 8th season of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League . The thirty-seven teams of the North, South, East, and West divisions competed in a 49-game schedule.... |
49 | 7 | 35 | 5 | 2 | 137 | 288 | 21 | 8th OPJHL-N | Lost in First Round |
| Totals | 249 | 53 | 175 | 13 | 8 | 820 | 1467 | -- | 0.255 | -- |
Playoffs
- 1997 Lost Preliminary
- Aurora TigersAurora TigersThe Aurora Tigers are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Aurora, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Ontario Junior A Hockey League but also used to be a part of the Metro Junior A Hockey League, Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League, and the Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:The Aurora...
defeated Durham Huskies 4-games-to-none- 1998 Lost Quarter-final
- Durham Huskies 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:...
3-games-to-1 - Caledon CanadiansCaledon CanadiansThe Caledon Canadians are a defunct Junior "A" ice hockey team from Caledon, Ontario, Canada. They were a part of the Metro Junior A Hockey League and were the only team in the "Metro" to win an Ontario Hockey Association Junior "A" Championship.-History:...
defeated Durham Huskies 3-games-to-none