Orangeville Crushers
Encyclopedia
The Orangeville Crushers were a Canadian
Junior "A" ice hockey
team from Orangeville, Ontario
. They played in the Ontario Junior Hockey League, Midwestern Junior B Hockey League
, and Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League.
and won two straight league championships. They won the Clarence Schmalz Cup
in 1990 as All-Ontario Champions. In the Clarence Schmalz Cup Finals, the Crushers came back from a 3-0 deficit in games to defeat the Belle River Canadiens
of the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League
4-3. The 1991 Clarence Schmalz Cup Final pitted the Crushers against a bound and determined Hanover Barons
of the Western Junior C Hockey League
. The Crushers again went down 3-0 in games and again forced a seventh and deciding contest but came out on the losing end, dropping the final game and the series 4-3.
In the mid-90's, the Crushers were accepted into the Midwestern Junior B Hockey League
and stayed there until 2006. Orangeville had been accepted to play in the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
for the start of the 2006-07 Season. A vote was concocted by the OPJHL teams, where the Crushers were voted in by a 33-3 vote. The Crushers would play out of the North Division. The team's head coach for the beginning of 2006-07 would be Steve Chelios, brother of National Hockey League
great Chris Chelios
http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2006/0427/Sports/051.html. Chelios was let go in late October. The President of the team is another former NHLer, Dale Hawerchuk
.
in Orangeville. The game resulted in a 6-3 loss. The Crushers' first ever Junior "A" goal was scored by Trevor Branning at 1:17 into the first period. Anthony Ferrante started the game in net.
The Crushers' first ever Junior "A" win was against the Stouffville Spirit
on September 28, 2006 in Stouffville, Ontario. The final score was 3-2, with goaltender Michael Hutchinson picking up the win in net. Hutchinson stopped 35 of 37 shots, as the Crushers were badly outshot. Hutchinson also held the Spirit scoreless for the first 48:13 of the game, coming within less than 12 minutes of the shutout. The Crushers' Wil Munson of Corona, California
scored the eventual game winner.
The Crushers finished the season one point out of the final playoff spot. With three games to go in the season, Orangeville either had to win or tie to clinch a spot or the Buffalo Jr. Sabres
had to tie or lose—neither happened.
Team owner and National Hockey League
Hockey Hall of Fame
r Dale Hawerchuk
took over as head coach. In 2010, the changed its name to the Flyers.
On April 3, 2011, despite three consecutive .500 or more seasons, the franchise ceased operations.
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 Orangeville, Ontario
Orangeville, Ontario
Orangeville is a town in south-central Ontario, Canada, and the seat of Dufferin County.-History:Before European settlers, Orangeville was thought to be a native hunting ground...
. They played in the Ontario Junior Hockey League, 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 Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League.
History
The team originated in the Central Ontario Junior C Hockey League, after one season in the league it became the Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League. In the late 80's and early 90's, the Crushers played in the Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey LeagueGeorgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League
The Georgian Mid Ontario Junior C Hockey League is a Junior "C" ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association...
and won two straight league championships. They won the Clarence Schmalz Cup
Clarence Schmalz Cup
The Clarence Schmalz Cup is the Ontario Hockey Association's Junior "C" ice hockey championship and championship trophy. The tournament to determine the winner of the Cup is commonly called the All-Ontario Championships...
in 1990 as All-Ontario Champions. In the Clarence Schmalz Cup Finals, the Crushers came back from a 3-0 deficit in games to defeat the Belle River Canadiens
Belle River Canadiens
The Belle River Canadiens are a Junior "C" team based out of Belle River, Ontario. They play out of the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League.-History:From 1985 until 2001, the Canadiens were one of the most feared teams in all of Ontario Junior "C" hockey...
of the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League
Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League
The Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League is a Junior "C" ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association. The Champion of the Great Lakes will compete for the All-Ontario Championship and the Clarence Schmalz Cup....
4-3. The 1991 Clarence Schmalz Cup Final pitted the Crushers against a bound and determined 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...
of the Western Junior C Hockey League
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....
. The Crushers again went down 3-0 in games and again forced a seventh and deciding contest but came out on the losing end, dropping the final game and the series 4-3.
In the mid-90's, the Crushers were accepted into 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 stayed there until 2006. Orangeville had been accepted to play in 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 the start of the 2006-07 Season. A vote was concocted by the OPJHL teams, where the Crushers were voted in by a 33-3 vote. The Crushers would play out of the North Division. The team's head coach for the beginning of 2006-07 would be Steve Chelios, brother of 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...
great Chris Chelios
Chris Chelios
Christos Kostas Tselios is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman. He is currently the Executive Advisor to Ken Holland, the general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, a role that Steve Yzerman held before leaving to become general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning.Chelios played...
http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2006/0427/Sports/051.html. Chelios was let go in late October. The President of the team is another former NHLer, Dale Hawerchuk
Dale Hawerchuk
Dale Hawerchuk is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League for 16 seasons. He won the NHL's Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's Rookie of the Year in 1982 and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in his second year of eligibility in 2001...
.
Junior A
The Crushers' first Junior "A" game took place on September 15, 2006 against Vaughan VipersVaughan Vipers
----The Vaughan Vipers are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Ontario Junior A Hockey League.-History:...
in Orangeville. The game resulted in a 6-3 loss. The Crushers' first ever Junior "A" goal was scored by Trevor Branning at 1:17 into the first period. Anthony Ferrante started the game in net.
The Crushers' first ever Junior "A" win was against the Stouffville Spirit
Stouffville Spirit
The Stouffville Spirit are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Stouffville, Ontario, Canada. The Stouffville Spirit are members of the Central Canadian Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.-History:...
on September 28, 2006 in Stouffville, Ontario. The final score was 3-2, with goaltender Michael Hutchinson picking up the win in net. Hutchinson stopped 35 of 37 shots, as the Crushers were badly outshot. Hutchinson also held the Spirit scoreless for the first 48:13 of the game, coming within less than 12 minutes of the shutout. The Crushers' Wil Munson of Corona, California
Corona, California
Corona is a city in Riverside County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 152,374, up from 124,966 at the 2000 census...
scored the eventual game winner.
The Crushers finished the season one point out of the final playoff spot. With three games to go in the season, Orangeville either had to win or tie to clinch a spot or the Buffalo Jr. Sabres
Buffalo Jr. Sabres
The Buffalo Jr. Sabres are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Amherst, New York. They are a part of the Ontario Junior A Hockey League.-History:...
had to tie or lose—neither happened.
Team owner and 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...
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...
r Dale Hawerchuk
Dale Hawerchuk
Dale Hawerchuk is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League for 16 seasons. He won the NHL's Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's Rookie of the Year in 1982 and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in his second year of eligibility in 2001...
took over as head coach. In 2010, the changed its name to the Flyers.
On April 3, 2011, despite three consecutive .500 or more seasons, the franchise ceased operations.
Season-by-Season results
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | Playoffs |
| 1994-95 | 48 | 26 | 19 | 3 | ||||||
| 190 | 168 | 55 | 5th MWJBHL | Lost Quarter-final | ||||||
| 1995-96 | 48 | 29 | 17 | 2 | ||||||
| 219 | 171 | 60 | 4th MWJBHL | Lost Quarter-final | ||||||
| 1996-97 | 48 | 17 | 25 | 6 | ||||||
| 162 | 189 | 40 | 7th MWJBHL | Lost Quarter-final | ||||||
| 1997-98 | 48 | 29 | 18 | 1 | ||||||
| 202 | 152 | 59 | 5th MWJBHL | Lost Semi-final | ||||||
| 1998-99 | 48 | 24 | 21 | 3 | ||||||
| 214 | 203 | 51 | 5th MWJBHL | Lost Semi-final | ||||||
| 1999-00 | 48 | 17 | 29 | 2 | ||||||
| 169 | 215 | 36 | 7th MWJBHL | Lost Quarter-final | ||||||
| 2000-01 | 48 | 8 | 40 | 0 | ||||||
| 159 | 299 | 16 | 10th MWJBHL | DNQ | ||||||
| 2001-02 | 48 | 8 | 38 | 2 | ||||||
| 131 | 280 | 18 | 9th MWJBHL | DNQ | ||||||
| 2002-03 | 48 | 3 | 44 | 1 | 0 | 101 | 351 | 7 | 10th MWJBHL | DNQ |
| 2003-04 | 48 | 2 | 44 | 0 | 2 | 84 | 282 | 6 | 10th MWJBHL | DNQ |
| 2004-05 | 48 | 4 | 43 | 1 | 0 | 89 | 346 | 9 | 10th MWJBHL | DNQ |
| 2005-06 | 48 | 5 | 42 | 1 | ||||||
| 104 | 303 | 11 | 10th MWJBHL | DNQ | ||||||
| 2006-07 2006–07 OPJHL season -East/South:-West/North:Note: E is East, S is South, W is West, N is North, WC is Wild Card.Playoff results are listed by Pointstreak on the official league website .-Dudley Hewitt Cup Championship:... |
49 | 9 | 36 | 3 | 1 | 131 | 213 | 22 | 7th OPJHL-N | DNQ |
| 2007-08 | 49 | 17 | 29 | |||||||
| 3 | 138 | 197 | 37 | 6th OPJHL-N | Lost Division QF | |||||
| 2008-09 | 49 | 33 | 15 | |||||||
| 1 | 212 | 159 | 67 | 4th OJHL-P | Lost Division F | |||||
| 2009-10 | 50 | 29 | 16 | |||||||
| 5 | 215 | 184 | 63 | 4th CCHL-W | Lost Preliminary | |||||
| 2010-11 | 50 | 24 | 24 | |||||||
| 2 | 173 | 176 | 50 | 5th OJHL-N | Lost Round of 16 |
Clarence Schmalz Cup Appearances
- 1990: Orangeville Crushers defeated Belle River CanadiensBelle River CanadiensThe Belle River Canadiens are a Junior "C" team based out of Belle River, Ontario. They play out of the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League.-History:From 1985 until 2001, the Canadiens were one of the most feared teams in all of Ontario Junior "C" hockey...
4-games-to-3 - 1991: Hanover BaronsHanover BaronsThe 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...
defeated Orangeville Crushers 4-games-to-3