The Hamilton Tiger Cubs were a junior ice hockey

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...

 team in the Ontario Hockey Association

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....

 from 1953 to 1960. The team was based in Hamilton, Ontario

Hamilton, Ontario

Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...

.

History

The Hamilton Tiger Cubs were named after the Hamilton Tigers NHL team that played in the 1920s. The Tiger Cubs played from 1953 to 1960, after which the team was renamed the Red Wings when affiliated with the NHL Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...

.

The best season for the Tiger Cubs was 1958. The team reached the OHA finals for 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...

. They were defeated by the Toronto Marlboros

Toronto Marlboros

The Toronto Marlborough Athletic Club, commonly known as the Toronto Marlboros, was founded in 1903. It operated a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association and Ontario Hockey League from 1904 to 1989...

 4 wins to 1, with 1 tie game.

There were also previous OHA Jr. teams in Hamilton. The Hamilton Szabos

Hamilton Szabos

The Hamilton Szabos were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association for one season in 1946-1947. The team was based in Hamilton, Ontario, playing home games at the Barton Street Arena, also known as the Hamilton Forum. The Szabos finished ninth place, and second last in the league....

 played from the early 1940s to 1947. In the 1930s Hamilton had an OHA Jr. team known as the Bengal Cubs. In the 1920s there was a Junior Tigers team at the same time as the NHL Tigers team. Prior to that, an OHA Senior team named the Tigers played in the 1910s.

The Tiger Cubs played home games at the Barton Street Arena

Barton Street Arena

Barton Street Arena, also known as the Hamilton Forum, was the main sports arena located in downtown Hamilton, Ontario, on Barton Street between Sanford Street and Wentworth Street...

, also known as the Hamilton Forum.

Players

Award Winners

• 1957-1958 - Murray Oliver
  Murray Oliver
  Murray Clifford Oliver is a retired Canadian ice hockey centre.Oliver began his National Hockey League career with the Detroit Red Wings. He would also play with the Boston Bruins, While in Boston, Oliver centered the B.O.W. line with wingers John Bucyk & Tommy Williams, where he starred as a...
  
  , Red Tilson Trophy
  Red Tilson Trophy
  The Red Tilson Trophy is an annual award given to the most outstanding player in the Ontario Hockey League. The award is voted on by OHL writers and broadcasters, and is named for Red Tilson, a former played for the Oshawa Generals who was killed in service in the Second World War...
  
  , Most valuable player
• 1953-1954 - Dennis Riggin, Dave Pinkney Trophy
  Dave Pinkney Trophy
  The Dave Pinkney Trophy is awarded to the goaltenders of the team that has the best team goals-against-average in the Ontario Hockey League.-Winners:*2009–10 J.P. Anderson & Mickael Audette, Mississauga St. Michael's Majors...
  
  , Lowest team goals against average.

NHL alumni

Alumnus Brian Kilrea

Brian Kilrea

Brian Blair "Killer" Kilrea is an ice hockey head coach, general manager and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame in the builders' category, most notably with the Ottawa 67's of the Ontario Hockey League, with whom Kilrea has been associated for over 35 years...

 became one of the most notable names ever in Canadian junior hockey, and was inducted into 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...

 as a coach. Fellow alumnus Pat Quinn

Pat Quinn (ice hockey)

John Brian Patrick Quinn , is a former head coach in the National Hockey League , most recently with the Edmonton Oilers. Known by the nickname "The Big Irishman",...

 coached in the NHL, most recently with the Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

, as well as the Canadian national men's hockey team

Canadian national men's hockey team

The Canadian national ice hockey team is the ice hockey team representing Canada. The team is overseen by Hockey Canada, a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation, and participates in international competitions. From 1920 until 1963, Canada's international representation was by senior...

.

Dave Amadio Dave Amadio David A. Amadio was a professional ice hockey player who played 125 games in the National Hockey League... Don Blackburn Don Blackburn John Donald Blackburn is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers, New York Islanders and Minnesota North Stars. He also played in the World Hockey Association with the New... Cummy Burton Cummy Burton Cumming Scott Burton was a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played three seasons in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings.... Bob Dillabough Bob Dillabough Robert Wellington Dillabough was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 283 games in the National Hockey League and 72 games in the World Hockey Association. Born in Belleville, Ontario he played for the Detroit Red Wings, California Golden Seals, Pittsburgh Penguins, Cleveland... Lloyd Haddon Lloyd Haddon Lloyd Ward Haddon is a professional hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League.-External links:... Jack Hendrickson Jack Hendrickson John Gunnard "Jack" Hendrickson is a retired professional hockey player. In 2004, Hendrickson was inducted into the Midland, Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.- Career :...

Larry Hillman Larry Hillman Lawrence Morley Hillman is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and coach. He is one of the most traveled players in hockey history, having played for 15 different teams in his 22 professional seasons.-Playing career:Hillman started his career by playing one season for the Windsor... Larry Jeffrey Larry Jeffrey Lawrence Joseph Jeffrey is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward.Jeffrey began his National Hockey League career with the Detroit Red Wings in 1961. He also played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers. He retired after the 1969 season. He won the Stanley Cup in 1967 with the Toronto... Brian Kilrea Brian Kilrea Brian Blair "Killer" Kilrea is an ice hockey head coach, general manager and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame in the builders' category, most notably with the Ottawa 67's of the Ontario Hockey League, with whom Kilrea has been associated for over 35 years... Lowell MacDonald Lowell MacDonald Lowell Wilson MacDonald was a National Hockey League right winger during the 1960s and 1970s. MacDonald broke into the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings after being promoted from the AHL's Pittsburgh Hornets... Pit Martin Pit Martin Hubert Jacques "Pit" Martin was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who served as captain for the Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League from 1975 to 1977... Billy McNeill Billy McNeill (ice hockey) William Ronald McNeill was a professional ice hockey player in the NHL, WHL and AHL.- Early life :McNeill broke in with the local junior team, the Edmonton Oil Kings in 1951... Stu McNeill Stu McNeill Stu McNeill was a professional ice hockey player who played ten games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Detroit Red Wings.- References :...

Hillary Menard Hillary Menard Hillary Gilbert "Minnie" Menard is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played in one National Hockey League game for the Chicago Black Hawks during the 1953–54 NHL season.-External links:... John Miszuk John Miszuk John Stanley Miszuk is a retired American professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Black Hawks, Philadelphia Flyers and Minnesota North Stars. He also played in the World Hockey Association for the Michigan Stags, Baltimore... Dan Olesevich Dan Olesevich Daniel John Olesevich was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played in one National Hockey League game for the New York Rangers during the 1961–62 NHL season.-External links:... Murray Oliver Murray Oliver Murray Clifford Oliver is a retired Canadian ice hockey centre.Oliver began his National Hockey League career with the Detroit Red Wings. He would also play with the Boston Bruins, While in Boston, Oliver centered the B.O.W. line with wingers John Bucyk & Tommy Williams, where he starred as a... Pat Quinn Pat Quinn (ice hockey) John Brian Patrick Quinn , is a former head coach in the National Hockey League , most recently with the Edmonton Oilers. Known by the nickname "The Big Irishman",... George Ranieri George Ranieri George Dominic Ranieri was a professional ice hockey player who played two games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Boston Bruins.- References :...

Dennis Riggin Dennis Riggin Dennis Melville Riggin is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 18 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Detroit Red Wings.- References :... Wayne Rivers Wayne Rivers Wayne Rivers is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 108 games in the National Hockey League and 357 games in the World Hockey Association. He would play with the St... Len Ronson Len Ronson Leonard Keith Ronson is a retired professional ice hockey winger who played in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers and Oakland Seals.-Playing career:-External links:... Brian Smith Brian Smith (ice hockey b. 1937) Brian Smith was a professional ice hockey player who played 61 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Detroit Red Wings.- References :... Bob Wall Carl Wetzel Carl Wetzel Carl David Wetzel is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender who made 7 game appearances in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota North Stars between 1964 and 1968... Howie Young Howie Young Howard John Edward "Wild Thing" Young was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and actor, best known for his time in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings in the 1960s...

Yearly results

Season	Games	Won	Lost	Tied	Points	Pct %	Goals For	Goals Against	Standing
1953-54	58	31	24	3	65	0.560	222	208	3rd OHA
1954-55	49	21	23	5	47	0.480	181	173	5th OHA
1955-56	48	13	30	5	31	0.323	171	250	7th OHA
1956-57	52	24	26	2	50	0.481	170	191	5th OHA
1957-58	52	27	18	7	61	0.587	200	176	2nd OHA
1958-59	54	11	35	8	30	0.278	167	229	7th OHA
1959-60	48	10	34	4	24	0.250	158	251	7th OHA