St. Catharines Teepees
Encyclopedia
The St. Catharines Teepees were a junior ice hockey
team in the Ontario Hockey Association
from 1947 to 1962. The team was based in St. Catharines, Ontario
, Canada
.
and named the team after the company's initials.
During the fifteen years the Teepees played, they developed into a powerhouse in the OHA. St. Catharines finished in first place 5 years in a 6 year span, and won the league championship twice. The team also produced 5 league leading scorers and 3 MVPs in the same period. The Teepees won the Memorial Cup
in 1954 and 1960.
In 1961-62 the Teepees, no longer owned by Thompson Products, were in financial trouble and the Chicago Black Hawks
came to their rescue. In 1962-63, the Teepees became the St. Catharines Black Hawks
and would remain so until the team moved to Niagara Falls in 1976.
in seven games for the OHA championship, and the Quebec Frontenacs to win the Richardson Trophy as eastern Canadian representatives. The Teepees won the Memorial Cup
in 1954 played at Maple Leaf Gardens
. They defeated the Edmonton Oil Kings 4 games to 0 with one tie game, in a best-of-seven series.
Game 1 St. Catharines 8 vs. Edmonton 2
Game 2 St. Catharines 5 vs. Edmonton 3
Game 3 St. Catharines 4 vs. Edmonton 1
Game 4 St. Catharines 3 vs. Edmonton 3
Game 5 St. Catharines 6 vs. Edmonton 2
and Rudy Pilous was the team manager for the 1960 Memorial Cup rematch versus the Edmonton Oil Kings. On the road to the Cup, the Teepees defeated the Toronto St. Michael's Majors
for the OHA championship, and the Brockville Canadiens to win the Richardson Trophy as eastern Canadian representatives. The series against Brockville was decided in the 8th game after each team had won three games each with a tie game.
The 1960 Memorial Cup
opened up at the Garden City Arena with remaining games played at Maple Leaf Gardens
. The Teepees defeated the Edmonton Oil Kings for the second time in the Memorial Cup, 4 games to 2 in a best-of-seven series.
Game 1 St. Catharines 3 vs. Edmonton 5
Game 2 St. Catharines 6 vs. Edmonton 2
Game 3 St. Catharines 9 vs. Edmonton 1
Game 4 St. Catharines 3 vs. Edmonton 9
Game 5 St. Catharines 9 vs. Edmonton 6
Game 6 St. Catharines 7 vs. Edmonton 3
championships. In total the Teepees won the Memorial Cup, the George Richardson Memorial Trophy
, the J. Ross Robertson Cup
and the Hamilton Spectator Trophy
twice each.
Playoffs
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 1947 to 1962. The team was based in St. Catharines, Ontario
St. Catharines, Ontario
St. Catharines is the largest city in Canada's Niagara Region and the sixth largest urban area in Ontario, Canada, with 97.11 square kilometres of land...
, 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...
.
History
The St. Catharines Teepees were born in 1947 when local businessman George Stauffer, president and GM of Thompson Products Ltd., purchased the St. Catharines Falcons team for $2500 from Rudy PilousRudy Pilous
Rudy Pilous was a Canadian ice hockey player and coach, born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Pilous won a Stanley Cup coaching the Chicago Black Hawks in 1960–61, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985 in the builder category.-Playing career:Pilous played junior ice hockey in the Manitoba...
and named the team after the company's initials.
During the fifteen years the Teepees played, they developed into a powerhouse in the OHA. St. Catharines finished in first place 5 years in a 6 year span, and won the league championship twice. The team also produced 5 league leading scorers and 3 MVPs in the same period. The Teepees won the Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
in 1954 and 1960.
In 1961-62 the Teepees, no longer owned by Thompson Products, were in financial trouble and the Chicago Black Hawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
came to their rescue. In 1962-63, the Teepees became the St. Catharines Black Hawks
St. Catharines Black Hawks
The St. Catharines Black Hawks were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1962 to 1976. The team was based in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.-History:...
and would remain so until the team moved to Niagara Falls in 1976.
1954 Memorial Cup
St. Catharines, still coached by Rudy Pilous, won the right to play for the Cup by defeating the Toronto MarlborosToronto 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...
in seven games for the OHA championship, and the Quebec Frontenacs to win the Richardson Trophy as eastern Canadian representatives. The Teepees won the Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
in 1954 played at Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens is an indoor arena that was converted into a Loblawssupermarket and Ryerson University athletic centre in Toronto, on the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto's Garden District.One of the temples of hockey, it was home to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the...
. They defeated the Edmonton Oil Kings 4 games to 0 with one tie game, in a best-of-seven series.
Game 1 St. Catharines 8 vs. Edmonton 2
Game 2 St. Catharines 5 vs. Edmonton 3
Game 3 St. Catharines 4 vs. Edmonton 1
Game 4 St. Catharines 3 vs. Edmonton 3
Game 5 St. Catharines 6 vs. Edmonton 2
1960 Memorial Cup
St. Catharines was now coached by Max KaminskyMax Kaminsky Trophy
The Max Kaminsky Trophy is awarded each year to the most outstanding defenceman in the Ontario Hockey League. Prior to 1969, the same trophy was awarded to the most sportsmanlike player in the league; since then, that player has been awarded the William Hanley Trophy.The award is named in honour of...
and Rudy Pilous was the team manager for the 1960 Memorial Cup rematch versus the Edmonton Oil Kings. On the road to the Cup, the Teepees defeated the Toronto St. Michael's Majors
Toronto St. Michael's Majors
The Toronto St. Michael's Majors, was a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The hockey program was founded and operated by St. Michael's College School in 1906, and adopted the name "Majors" in 1934, and was commonly referred to as St. Mike's...
for the OHA championship, and the Brockville Canadiens to win the Richardson Trophy as eastern Canadian representatives. The series against Brockville was decided in the 8th game after each team had won three games each with a tie game.
The 1960 Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
opened up at the Garden City Arena with remaining games played at Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens is an indoor arena that was converted into a Loblawssupermarket and Ryerson University athletic centre in Toronto, on the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto's Garden District.One of the temples of hockey, it was home to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the...
. The Teepees defeated the Edmonton Oil Kings for the second time in the Memorial Cup, 4 games to 2 in a best-of-seven series.
Game 1 St. Catharines 3 vs. Edmonton 5
Game 2 St. Catharines 6 vs. Edmonton 2
Game 3 St. Catharines 9 vs. Edmonton 1
Game 4 St. Catharines 3 vs. Edmonton 9
Game 5 St. Catharines 9 vs. Edmonton 6
Game 6 St. Catharines 7 vs. Edmonton 3
Championships
The St. Catharines Teepees are one of a few clubs to win multiple Memorial CupMemorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
championships. In total the Teepees won the Memorial Cup, the George Richardson Memorial Trophy
George Richardson Memorial Trophy
The George T. Richardson Memorial Trophy was presented annually from 1932 until 1972 by the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association to the Eastern Canadian Junior "A" Champions. The trophy is named in honour of George T. Richardson, an Allan Cup winner with Queen’s University in 1909...
, 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...
and the Hamilton Spectator Trophy
Hamilton Spectator Trophy
The Hamilton Spectator Trophy is an award given to the Ontario Hockey League team who finishes the season with the best record. It was first presented to the Ontario Hockey Association by The Hamilton Spectator. The trophy was first presented in 1957–58....
twice each.
|
|
Players
There have been 54 Teepees alumni play in the NHL. Four of those would be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. St. Catharines also had three MVPs and five scoring champions with a six year span.Award winners
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 Outstanding Player)
| Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy The Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the top scorer in the Ontario Hockey League. The trophy was donated by the Toronto Marlboro Athletic Club in memory of Edward Powers, and was first awarded to Tod Sloan of St... (Scoring Champion)
|
Hall of Famers
|
|
NHL alumni
|
|
|
|
Yearly results
Regular Season| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | Points | Pct % | Goals For |
Goals Against |
Standing |
| 1947-48 | 36 | 19 | 17 | 0 | 38 | 0.528 | 137 | 155 | 6th OHA |
| 1948-49 | 48 | 25 | 20 | 3 | 53 | 0.552 | 191 | 198 | 4th OHA |
| 1949-50 | 48 | 27 | 17 | 4 | 58 | 0.604 | 269 | 211 | 3rd OHA |
| 1950-51 | 54 | 23 | 24 | 7 | 53 | 0.491 | 200 | 192 | 6th OHA |
| 1951-52 | 54 | 30 | 23 | 1 | 61 | 0.565 | 249 | 229 | 5th OHA |
| 1952-53 | 56 | 31 | 20 | 5 | 67 | 0.598 | 219 | 234 | 4th OHA |
| 1953-54 | 59 | 42 | 15 | 2 | 86 | 0.729 | 308 | 211 | 1st OHA |
| 1954-55 | 49 | 32 | 15 | 2 | 66 | 0.673 | 260 | 176 | 1st OHA |
| 1955-56 | 48 | 28 | 17 | 3 | 59 | 0.615 | 219 | 197 | 1st OHA |
| 1956-57 | 52 | 25 | 25 | 2 | 52 | 0.500 | 184 | 193 | 3rd OHA |
| 1957-58 | 52 | 32 | 14 | 6 | 70 | 0.673 | 246 | 174 | 1st OHA |
| 1958-59 | 54 | 40 | 11 | 3 | 84 | 0.769 | 257 | 175 | 1st OHA |
| 1959-60 | 48 | 25 | 19 | 4 | 54 | 0.562 | 209 | 191 | 2nd OHA |
| 1960-61 | 48 | 18 | 24 | 6 | 42 | 0.438 | 167 | 204 | 5th OHA |
| 1961-62 | 50 | 19 | 23 | 8 | 46 | 0.460 | 194 | 206 | 3rd OHA |
Playoffs
- Complete results prior to 1960 are currently unavailable.
- 1960-61 Lost to St. Michael's Majors 8 points to 4 in quarter-finals.
- 1961-62 Lost to Hamilton Red Wings 9 points to 3 in OHA semi-finals.
Arena
The St. Catharines Teepees played in the Garden City Arena in downtown St. Catharines, Ontario from 1947-1962, as did their predecessors the Falcons.- Garden City Arena - OHL Arena & Travel Guide