Orleans Blues
Encyclopedia
The Gloucester Rangers are a Junior "A" ice hockey
team from Gloucester
, Ontario
, Canada
. They are a part of the Central Canada Hockey League.
led the team to their only playoff appearance. After a disastrous 2007-08 season, the Blues were no more and returned to the traditional Gloucester Rangers.
. Former Ottawa 67's assistant coach Vince Milette was hired as the Rangers coach. The Rangers requested permission to play four regular season games in Rockland, Ontario
. But, the decision was denied by the league. On October 10, 2008 the Gloucester Rangers played a game at the nearby Orleans Recreation Centre against the Cumberland Grads
for a special game to commemorate the rivalry between the Rangers and Grads. At the time of the game, the Orleans Arena was re-named the Roger Senecal Arena in memory of Roger Senecal, who died in 2002. Senecal was a big part of the Gloucester Rangers Hockey Association. On March 6, 2009, the Rangers qualified for the 8th and final playoff spot defeating Brockville 4-1. The Rangers bowed out of the quarter-finals losing the series 4 games to 0 to the Nepean Raiders. Former Belleville Bulls and Ottawa 67's forward Stephan Blunden now plays for the Gloucester Rangers going into the 2009-10 season.
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 Gloucester
Gloucester, Ontario
Gloucester is a suburb of and within the City of Ottawa. Gloucester Township was established in 1792 and originally included lands east of the Rideau River from the Ottawa River south to Manotick. It was incorporated as a township in 1850 and became a city in 1981...
, 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 are a part of the Central Canada Hockey League.
History
The franchise dates back to the 1968 expansion Ottawa M.&.W (MacIntosh & Watts) Rangers and made their home in Leitrim in south Ottawa. In 1972, the M&W Rangers became the Gloucester Rangers and played out of the Earl Armstrong Arena. The Rangers won their first Art Bogart Cup as league champions in 1981 by defeating the Pembroke Lumber Kings. The 1995 Centennial Cup (now Royal Bank Cup) was awarded to the City of Gloucester and the Gloucester Rangers. The Rangers, who were up by a goal in the championship game against the Calgary Canucks of the AJHL. The Canucks tied the game in the dying seconds and won the Centennial Cup in overtime. After their last playoff appearance of the 20th century, the Rangers fell on hard times missing the playoffs multiple times. After a 10th place performance after the 2001-02 season, the Gloucester Rangers Jr. A Hockey Club was sold, and the colours and uniforms were changed to black, purple, and silver, which gave the Rangers a new reputation for the 2002-03 season. The Rangers also landed the best players that were acquired in blockbuster trades with their cross-town rivals Ottawa Jr. Senators. The changes paid off. In December 2002, the Gloucester Rangers traded for Mitch O'Keefe, who would then go on to record 6 regular season shutouts in 2003-04. Despite losing the 2004 Art Bogart Cuo finals, the Gloucester Rangers were predicted to be a championship contender the next season. In October 2004, with the sudden resignition of coaches Justin Nistico and Wayne Hughes, the championship-bound team lost its wheels to players demanding trades before January and the Rangers dropped mid-way in the overall standings and lost the Hawkesbury Hawks in the first round of the playoffs.Orleans Blues
Days after the Gloucester Rangers lost the first-round to the Hawkesbury Hawks, the team was sold to a group of Orleans businessmen, who re-named the team - Orleans Blues, and the newly-created team remained at the Earl Armstrong Arena instead of playing out of the Orleans Arena of the Orleans Recreation Complex (now Bob McQuarrie Recreation Centre). The change results in lost tickets sales and a drop in attendance. The Blues best season was in 2006-07, when goaltender Adam CourchaineAdam Courchaine (ice hockey)
Adam Courchaine is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender. He is currently playing with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League ....
led the team to their only playoff appearance. After a disastrous 2007-08 season, the Blues were no more and returned to the traditional Gloucester Rangers.
Gloucester Rangers return
The owners of the Orleans Blues decided to return as the Gloucester Rangers because the Central Canada Hockey League board of governors denied permission for the team to move to Orleans, OntarioOrléans, Ontario
Orleans , also written Orléans, is a suburban area within the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the eastern part of the city along the Ottawa River, about from downtown Ottawa. The Canada 2006 Census gave Orleans a population of 95,491. It became a ward of the City of Ottawa in 2001...
. Former Ottawa 67's assistant coach Vince Milette was hired as the Rangers coach. The Rangers requested permission to play four regular season games in Rockland, Ontario
Rockland, Ontario
Rockland is a bilingual community located about east of downtown Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, part of the city of Clarence–Rockland. Rockland has a population of 9,210.-History:...
. But, the decision was denied by the league. On October 10, 2008 the Gloucester Rangers played a game at the nearby Orleans Recreation Centre against the Cumberland Grads
Cumberland Grads
The Cumberland Grads are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Navan, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Central Canada Hockey League.-History:...
for a special game to commemorate the rivalry between the Rangers and Grads. At the time of the game, the Orleans Arena was re-named the Roger Senecal Arena in memory of Roger Senecal, who died in 2002. Senecal was a big part of the Gloucester Rangers Hockey Association. On March 6, 2009, the Rangers qualified for the 8th and final playoff spot defeating Brockville 4-1. The Rangers bowed out of the quarter-finals losing the series 4 games to 0 to the Nepean Raiders. Former Belleville Bulls and Ottawa 67's forward Stephan Blunden now plays for the Gloucester Rangers going into the 2009-10 season.
Season-by-season record
Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1968-69 | 40 | 11 | 22 | 7 | ||||||
| 145 | 202 | 29 | 5th CJHL | |||||||
| 1969-70 | 40 | 30 | 6 | 4 | ||||||
| 198 | 108 | 64 | 1st CJHL | Won League | ||||||
| 1970-71 | 48 | 26 | 12 | 10 | ||||||
| 235 | 158 | 62 | 2nd CJHL | Won League | ||||||
| 1971-72 | 48 | 27 | 20 | 1 | ||||||
| 234 | 188 | 55 | 2nd CJHL | |||||||
| 1972-73 | 55 | 30 | 20 | 5 | ||||||
| 293 | 233 | 65 | 2nd CJHL | |||||||
| 1973-74 | 50 | 25 | 19 | 6 | ||||||
| 297 | 252 | 56 | 4th CJHL | |||||||
| 1974-75 | 50 | 14 | 27 | 9 | ||||||
| 241 | 289 | 37 | 5th CJHL | |||||||
| 1975-76 | 50 | 26 | 21 | 3 | ||||||
| 271 | 203 | 55 | 2nd CJHL | |||||||
| 1976-77 | 50 | 24 | 21 | 5 | ||||||
| 241 | 231 | 53 | 3rd CJHL | |||||||
| 1977-78 | 48 | 30 | 13 | 5 | ||||||
| 261 | 204 | 65 | 2nd CJHL | |||||||
| 1978-79 | 48 | 23 | 23 | 2 | ||||||
| 210 | 235 | 48 | 3rd CJHL | |||||||
| 1979-80 | 50 | 33 | 12 | 5 | ||||||
| 284 | 187 | 71 | 2nd CJHL | |||||||
| 1980-81 | 50 | 28 | 15 | 7 | ||||||
| 248 | 191 | 63 | 3rd CJHL | Won League | ||||||
| 1981-82 | 50 | 11 | 36 | 3 | ||||||
| 191 | 266 | 25 | 6th CJHL | |||||||
| 1982-83 | 48 | 15 | 28 | 5 | ||||||
| 189 | 241 | 35 | 6th CJHL | |||||||
| 1983-84 | 53 | 21 | 16 | 6 | ||||||
| 233 | 235 | 48 | 6th CJHL | |||||||
| 1984-85 | 54 | 18 | 33 | 1 | 2 | 234 | 328 | 39 | 6th CJHL | |
| 1985-86 | 60 | 35 | 21 | 1 | 3 | 311 | 247 | 74 | 4th CJHL | |
| 1986-87 | 54 | 28 | 21 | 2 | 3 | 260 | 248 | 61 | 3rd CJHL | |
| 1987-88 | 56 | 25 | 27 | 1 | 3 | 275 | 271 | 54 | 6th CJHL | |
| 1988-89 | 55 | 10 | 39 | 1 | 5 | 203 | 316 | 26 | 9th CJHL | |
| 1989-90 | 56 | 34 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 325 | 281 | 72 | 4th CJHL | |
| 1990-91 | 54 | 32 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 347 | 276 | 71 | 3rd CJHL | |
| 1991-92 | 57 | 40 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 360 | 233 | 85 | 3rd CJHL | |
| 1992-93 | 56 | 30 | 18 | 3 | 5 | 308 | 261 | 68 | 5th CJHL | |
| 1993-94 | 57 | 37 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 324 | 245 | 78 | 1st CJHL | Won League |
| 1994-95 | 55 | 32 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 263 | 219 | 69 | 3rd CJHL | |
| 1995-96 | 54 | 35 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 249 | 177 | 71 | 3rd in Robinson | |
| 1996-97 | 54 | 26 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 209 | 221 | 56 | 3rd in Yzerman | |
| 1997-98 | 56 | 26 | 21 | 9 | 3 | 223 | 217 | 64 | 2nd in Robinson | |
| 1998-99 | 54 | 7 | 43 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 149 | 287 | 5th in Robinson | Out of Playoffs |
| 1999-00 | 55 | 11 | 41 | 4 | 0 | 26 | 177 | 307 | 5th in Robinson | Out of Playoffs |
| 2000-01 | 55 | 14 | 35 | 6 | 0 | 37 | 192 | 278 | 4th in Robinson | Lost quarter-final 4-1 to Cornwall |
| 2001-02 | 55 | 6 | 43 | 7 | 0 | 19 | 162 | 331 | 5th in Robinson | Out of Playoffs |
| 2002-03 | 55 | 27 | 17 | 11 | 2 | 67 | 246 | 210 | 3rd in Robinson | Lost semi-final 4-3 to Nepean |
| 2003-04 | 55 | 30 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 188 | 167 | 64 | 4th | Lost final 4-3 to Nepean |
| 2004-05 | 57 | 24 | 26 | 1 | 6 | 194 | 204 | 55 | 3rd in Robinson | Lost quarter-final 4-3 to Hawkesbury |
| 2005-06 | 57 | 16 | 37 | 1 | 3 | 172 | 262 | 36 | 5th in Robinson | Out of Playoffs |
| 2006-07 | 55 | 26 | 21 | 6 | 2 | 184 | 190 | 60 | 2nd in Robinson | Lost quarter-final 4-2 to Nepean |
| 2007-08 | 60 | 14 | 38 | 4 | 4 | 188 | 301 | 36 | 10th CJHL | Out of Playoffs |
| 2008-09 | 60 | 26 | 26 | |||||||
| 8 | 198 | 247 | 60 | 8th CJHL | Lost quarter-final 4-0 to Nepean | |||||
| 2009-10 | 62 | 35 | 21 | |||||||
| 6 | 277 | 225 | 76 | 4th CJHL | Lost Quarter-final | |||||
| 2010-11 | 62 | 35 | 25 | |||||||
| 2 | 263 | 244 | 72 | 4th CCHL | Lost Semi-final |
Championships
- CJHL Bogart Cup Championships: 1970, 1971, 1981, 1994
- Eastern Canadian Fred Page CupFred Page CupThe Fred Page Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy, won by tournament, conducted by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The award is given to the winner of a round robin and playoff between the Bogart Cup champions of the Central Junior Hockey League, the Kent Cup champions of the Maritime...
Championships: None - CJAHL Royal Bank CupRoyal Bank CupThe Royal Bank Cup is an annual ice hockey tournament held to determine the Canadian Junior A champion. The winner of the tournament wins the Royal Bank Cup...
Championships: None
Notable alumni
- John BarrettJohn BarrettJohn Barrett is the name of:* John Barrett , Irish track and field athlete who represented Great Britain at the 1908 Summer Olympics* John Barrett , Australian Senator...
- Dan BoyleDan BoyleDaniel Boyle may refer to:*Daniel Boyle , MP for North Mayo, 1910–1918*Dan Boyle , Canadian ice hockey player*Dan Boyle , Irish Green Party politician...
- Todd CharlesworthTodd CharlesworthTodd Charlesworth is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenceman. He played in the NHL for the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers.-External links:...
- Mathieu DandenaultMathieu DandenaultMathieu Dandenault is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He played for the Detroit Red Wings and the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
- P.C. Drouin
- Blake DunlopBlake DunlopBlake Robert Dunlop was a National Hockey League forward during the 1970s and early 1980s. He grew up in Ottawa and played four seasons for the OHA's Ottawa 67's...
- Jerome Dupont
- Robert EscheRobert EscheRobert L. Esche is an American professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for SCL Tigers of National League A.-Playing career:...
- Todd FlichelTodd FlichelTodd A. Flichel is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenceman. He played in the NHL for the Winnipeg Jets.-External links:...
- Mark FraserMark FraserMark Fraser may refer to:* Mark Fraser , Australian rules footballer* Mark Fraser , Canadian ice hockey player...
- Garry GalleyGarry GalleyGarry Michael Galley is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League from 1984 to 2001...
- Steve GuenetteSteve GuenetteSteven Guenette is a retired former professional ice hockey goaltender who played 35 games in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Calgary Flames.-Playing career:...
- Mitch Lamoureux
- Gary LaskoskiGary LaskoskiGary Laskoski is a professional hockey player who played for the Los Angeles Kings in the National Hockey League. He played 59 games for the Kings over two seasons after playing for the St. Lawrence University Saints of the ECAC for four years...
- Claude LoiselleClaude LoiselleClaude Loiselle is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward who played 13 seasons in the NHL from 1981-82 to 1993-94. In 616 career games spent with the Red Wings, Devils, Nordiques, Maple Leafs and Islanders he recorded 92 goals, 117 assists and 1,149 minutes in penalties...
- Larry RobinsonLarry RobinsonLarry Clark Robinson is a former ice hockey player and coach in the National Hockey League. Robinson was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1995 and is currently the defensive coach for the New Jersey Devils...
- Moe RobinsonMoe RobinsonMorris Robinson is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played in one National Hockey League game for the Montreal Canadiens during the 1979–80 NHL season. During that game he played defence alongside his older brother, Hall of Famer Larry Robinson.-External links:...
- Andre SavageAndre SavageAndre Ronald Savage is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who last played for the Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga .-Playing career:...
- Larry TraderLarry TraderLarry J. Trader is a retired ice hockey defenceman. He played a handful of games at the NHL level, but is mostly known for his high scoring in the American Hockey League and overseas. He last played for Varese Hockey Club in Italy...
- Bob Warner
- Steve WashburnSteve WashburnSteven Robert Washburn is a professional ice hockey player who spent parts of 6 seasons in the National Hockey League between 1995 and 2001.-Playing career:...
- Sean WhyteSean WhyteSean Whyte is a former professional ice hockey player who briefly played for the Los Angeles Kings in the NHL.He now is the Director of Hockey Operations/Coach In Chief for DYHA Sean Whyte (born May 4, 1970 in Sudbury, Ontario) is a former professional ice hockey player who briefly played for...