Lucan Irish
Encyclopedia
The Lucan Irish are a Junior
ice hockey
team based in Lucan Biddulph, Ontario
. They play in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League
of the Ontario Hockey Association
.
.
In 1982, the Irish won the Western Ontario Junior D Hockey League's championship. They went on to defeat the Langton Thunderbirds of the Southern Counties Junior D Hockey League 4-games-to-1 to win the OHA Cup as provincial champions.
In 1987, the Irish again won the Western Junior D's playoff title. They defeated the Tavistock Braves
of the Southern Counties Junior D league 4-games-to-3 to win the OHA Cup for the second time as provincial champions.
In 1988, all remaining Junior D leagues were consolidated into the Western Junior league. In 1991, the league dropped the Junior D label and became the OHA Junior Development League. Starting in 1988, the Irish set out to prove they were the "cream of the crop" in this new league. After the 1988-89 season, the Irish made it all the way to the league finals, but were thwarted by the Lambeth Lancers
. In 1990, 1991, and 1992, the same scenario repeated over and over again. The Irish would finish highly ranked in their league, would make it all the way to the finals and three years in a row they would meet the Thamesford Trojans
who beat them each time.
In 1999, after finishing second overall in the league standings the Irish fought all the way back to the league final. The Irish defeated the Wellesley Applejacks
4-games-to-3 to win their third ever OHA Cup.
In 2006, the Irish twelfth overall in the OHAJDL standings. As low seed in the standings, the Irish were figured to lose out in the early rounds of the league playoffs. The entered the conference quarter-final against the Exeter Hawks
and walked right through them with a 4-game-sweep. The conference semi-final had the same result against the North Middlesex Stars
. The conference final was against their rivals, the Thamesford Trojans
, whom they defeated in five games to enter into the league finals for the first time in seven seasons. In the final, they met the Delhi Travellers
. A tight series, the Irish were not to be denied as the defeated the Travellers 4-games-to-2 to win their fourth OHA Cup.
After the 2006-07 season, the OHAJDL was disbanded and the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League
was formed. The 2006-07 season had a decent showing from the Irish as they finished seventh overall in the league. In the league's conference quarter-finals, the Irish met their match in the Thamesford Trojans
who defeated them 4-games-to-1.
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 Lucan Biddulph, Ontario
Lucan Biddulph, Ontario
Lucan Biddulph is an incorporated township in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was formed on January 1, 1999 by amalgamating the Village of Lucan with Biddulph Township...
. They play in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League
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....
of the Ontario Hockey Association
Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
.
History
The Irish were founded in 1968 as the Lucan Irish Six, named after the Black DonnellysBlack Donnellys
The Black Donnellys is the common nickname of the Donnelly family who emigrated from County Tipperary, Ireland, to Canada in about 1845–1846, and who participated in a notorious feud in Biddulph Township in Middlesex County, Ontario, which culminated in a massacre in which five family members were...
.
In 1982, the Irish won the Western Ontario Junior D Hockey League's championship. They went on to defeat the Langton Thunderbirds of the Southern Counties Junior D Hockey League 4-games-to-1 to win the OHA Cup as provincial champions.
In 1987, the Irish again won the Western Junior D's playoff title. They defeated the Tavistock Braves
Tavistock Braves
The Tavistock Braves are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Tavistock, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.-History:...
of the Southern Counties Junior D league 4-games-to-3 to win the OHA Cup for the second time as provincial champions.
In 1988, all remaining Junior D leagues were consolidated into the Western Junior league. In 1991, the league dropped the Junior D label and became the OHA Junior Development League. Starting in 1988, the Irish set out to prove they were the "cream of the crop" in this new league. After the 1988-89 season, the Irish made it all the way to the league finals, but were thwarted by the Lambeth Lancers
Lambeth Lancers
The Lambeth Lancers are a Junior ice hockey team based in Lambeth, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.-History:...
. In 1990, 1991, and 1992, the same scenario repeated over and over again. The Irish would finish highly ranked in their league, would make it all the way to the finals and three years in a row they would meet the Thamesford Trojans
Thamesford Trojans
The Thamesford Trojans are a Junior ice hockey team based in Thamesford, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.-History:...
who beat them each time.
In 1999, after finishing second overall in the league standings the Irish fought all the way back to the league final. The Irish defeated the Wellesley Applejacks
Wellesley Applejacks
The Wellesley Applejacks are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Wellesley, Ontario. They play in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.-History:...
4-games-to-3 to win their third ever OHA Cup.
In 2006, the Irish twelfth overall in the OHAJDL standings. As low seed in the standings, the Irish were figured to lose out in the early rounds of the league playoffs. The entered the conference quarter-final against the Exeter Hawks
Exeter Hawks
The Exeter Hawks are a Junior ice hockey team based in Exeter, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.-History:...
and walked right through them with a 4-game-sweep. The conference semi-final had the same result against the North Middlesex Stars
North Middlesex Stars
The North Middlesex Stars are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Parkhill, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.-History:...
. The conference final was against their rivals, the Thamesford Trojans
Thamesford Trojans
The Thamesford Trojans are a Junior ice hockey team based in Thamesford, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.-History:...
, whom they defeated in five games to enter into the league finals for the first time in seven seasons. In the final, they met the Delhi Travellers
Delhi Travellers
The Delhi Travellers are a Canadian junior hockey team based in Delhi, Ontario, Canada. The Travellers play in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.-History:...
. A tight series, the Irish were not to be denied as the defeated the Travellers 4-games-to-2 to win their fourth OHA Cup.
After the 2006-07 season, the OHAJDL was disbanded and the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League
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....
was formed. The 2006-07 season had a decent showing from the Irish as they finished seventh overall in the league. In the league's conference quarter-finals, the Irish met their match in the Thamesford Trojans
Thamesford Trojans
The Thamesford Trojans are a Junior ice hockey team based in Thamesford, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.-History:...
who defeated them 4-games-to-1.
Season-by-season standings
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results |
| 1969-70 | 30 | 16 | 12 | 2 | |||||
| 171 | 141 | 34 | 3rd WJDHL | ||||||
| 1970-71 | 34 | 18 | 15 | 1 | |||||
| 184 | 177 | 37 | 3rd WJDHL | ||||||
| 1971-72 | 30 | 11 | 18 | 1 | |||||
| 155 | 184 | 23 | 6th WJDHL | ||||||
| 1972-73 | 34 | 11 | 17 | 6 | |||||
| 169 | 202 | 28 | 6th WJDHL | ||||||
| 1973-74 | 34 | 15 | 16 | 3 | |||||
| 211 | 210 | 33 | 5th WJDHL | ||||||
| 1974-75 | 32 | 17 | 14 | 1 | |||||
| 184 | 163 | 35 | 3rd WJDHL | ||||||
| 1975-76 | 27 | 17 | 7 | 3 | |||||
| 149 | 98 | 37 | 2nd WJDHL | ||||||
| 1976-77 | 32 | 9 | 19 | 4 | |||||
| 141 | 181 | 22 | 7th WJDHL | ||||||
| 1977-78 | 34 | 22 | 7 | 5 | |||||
| 161 | 123 | 49 | 3rd WJDHL | ||||||
| 1978-79 | 33 | 12 | 13 | 8 | |||||
| 185 | 160 | 32 | 6th WJDHL | ||||||
| 1979-80 | 34 | 23 | 9 | 2 | |||||
| 198 | 132 | 48 | 3rd WJDHL | ||||||
| 1980-81 | 34 | 21 | 10 | 3 | |||||
| 212 | 132 | 45 | 2nd WJDHL | ||||||
| 1981-82 | 40 | 21 | 17 | 2 | |||||
| 205 | 171 | 44 | 6th WJDHL | ||||||
| 1982-83 | 38 | 21 | 14 | 3 | |||||
| 200 | 155 | 45 | 3rd WJDHL | ||||||
| 1983-84 | 34 | 16 | 15 | 3 | |||||
| 176 | 170 | 35 | 3rd WJDHL | ||||||
| 1984-85 | 34 | 16 | 13 | 5 | |||||
| 184 | 168 | 37 | 5th WJDHL | ||||||
| 1985-86 | 42 | 31 | 6 | 5 | |||||
| 281 | 132 | 67 | 1st WJDHL | ||||||
| 1986-87 | 42 | 28 | 7 | 7 | |||||
| 274 | 168 | 63 | 1st WJDHL | ||||||
| 1987-88 | 40 | 16 | 16 | 8 | |||||
| 207 | 175 | 40 | 7th WJDHL | ||||||
| 1988-89 | 36 | 30 | 6 | 0 | |||||
| 248 | 146 | 60 | 1st WJDHL | ||||||
| 1989-90 | 35 | 25 | 4 | 6 | |||||
| 218 | 129 | 56 | 1st WJDHL | ||||||
| 1990-91 | 40 | 30 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 222 | 108 | 66 | 2nd WJDHL |
| 1991-92 | 40 | 27 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 208 | 147 | 59 | 2nd OHAJDL |
| 1992-93 | 39 | 33 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 252 | 110 | 69 | 1st OHAJDL |
| 1993-94 | 40 | 27 | 11 | 2 | |||||
| 225 | 147 | 56 | 3rd OHAJDL | ||||||
| 1994-95 | 40 | 21 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 190 | 173 | 44 | 9th OHAJDL |
| 1995-96 | 38 | 23 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 179 | 133 | 49 | 4th OHAJDL |
| 1996-97 | 38 | 19 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 168 | 145 | 42 | 8th OHAJDL |
| 1997-98 | 40 | 25 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 182 | 133 | 54 | 3rd OHAJDL |
| 1998-99 | 40 | 28 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 177 | 126 | 57 | 2nd OHAJDL |
| 1999-00 | 40 | 27 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 185 | 129 | 56 | 6th OHAJDL |
| 2000-01 | 40 | 19 | 16 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 43 | 9th OHAJDL | ||||||||
| 2001-02 | 40 | 15 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 151 | 175 | 34 | 13th OHAJDL |
| 2002-03 | 40 | 21 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 182 | 152 | 45 | 7th OHAJDL |
| 2003-04 | 40 | 26 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 187 | 132 | 58 | 4th OHAJDL |
| 2004-05 | 40 | 26 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 178 | 139 | 54 | 4th OHAJDL |
| 2005-06 | 38 | 16 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 160 | 145 | 38 | 12th OHAJDL |
| 2006-07 | 40 | 24 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 175 | 152 | 49 | 7th SOJHL |
| 2007-08 | 40 | 17 | 22 | ||||||
| 1 | 151 | 174 | 35 | 12th SOJHL | |||||
| 2008-09 | 40 | 18 | 19 | ||||||
| 3 | 140 | 140 | 39 | 8th SOJHL | |||||
| 2009-10 | 36 | 10 | 22 | ||||||
| 4 | 132 | 194 | 24 | 13th SOJHL | |||||
| 2010-11 | 36 | 15 | 16 | ||||||
| 5 | 128 | 157 | 35 | 12th SOJHL |
Playoffs
- 1982 Won league, Won OHA championship
- Lucan Irish defeated Langton Thunderbirds 4-games-to-1 in OHA championship
- 1987 Won league, Won OHA championship
- Lucan Irish defeated Tavistock BravesTavistock BravesThe Tavistock Braves are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Tavistock, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.-History:...
4-games-to-3 in OHA championship- 1989 Lost final
- Lambeth LancersLambeth LancersThe Lambeth Lancers are a Junior ice hockey team based in Lambeth, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.-History:...
defeated Lucan Irish 4-games-to-1 in final- 1990 Lost final
- Thamesford TrojansThamesford TrojansThe Thamesford Trojans are a Junior ice hockey team based in Thamesford, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.-History:...
defeated Lucan Irish 4-games-to-2 in final- 1991 Lost final
- Thamesford TrojansThamesford TrojansThe Thamesford Trojans are a Junior ice hockey team based in Thamesford, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.-History:...
defeated Lucan Irish 4-games-to-1 in final- 1992 Lost final
- Thamesford TrojansThamesford TrojansThe Thamesford Trojans are a Junior ice hockey team based in Thamesford, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.-History:...
defeated Lucan Irish 4-games-to-0 in final- 1999 Won League
- Lucan Irish defeated Wellesley ApplejacksWellesley ApplejacksThe Wellesley Applejacks are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Wellesley, Ontario. They play in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.-History:...
4-games-to-3 in final- 2006 Won League
- Lucan Irish defeated Exeter HawksExeter HawksThe Exeter Hawks are a Junior ice hockey team based in Exeter, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.-History:...
4-games-to-none in conf. quarter-final - Lucan Irish defeated North Middlesex StarsNorth Middlesex StarsThe North Middlesex Stars are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Parkhill, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.-History:...
4-games-to-none in conf. semi-final - Lucan Irish defeated Thamesford TrojansThamesford TrojansThe Thamesford Trojans are a Junior ice hockey team based in Thamesford, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.-History:...
4-games-to-1 in conf. final - Lucan Irish defeated Delhi TravellersDelhi TravellersThe Delhi Travellers are a Canadian junior hockey team based in Delhi, Ontario, Canada. The Travellers play in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.-History:...
4-games-to-2 in final- 2007 Lost Conference quarter-final
- Thamesford TrojansThamesford TrojansThe Thamesford Trojans are a Junior ice hockey team based in Thamesford, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.-History:...
defeated Lucan Irish 4-games-to-1 in conf. quarter-final- 2008 Lost Conference quarter-final
- Thamesford TrojansThamesford TrojansThe Thamesford Trojans are a Junior ice hockey team based in Thamesford, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.-History:...
defeated Lucan Irish 4-games-to-3 in conf. quarter-final