// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhy did the Brantford Alexanders go to the doctor? They were feeling a little "off-center".
| Brantford Alexanders | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Brantford, Ontario |
| League | Ontario Hockey League |
| Operated | 1978–1984 |
| Home arena | Brantford Civic Centre |
| Colours | Red and white |
| Franchise history | |
| 1946–1953 | Windsor Spitfires |
| 1953–1960 | Hamilton Tiger Cubs |
| 1960–1974 | Hamilton Red Wings |
| 1974–1978 | Hamilton/St. Catharines Fincups |
| 1978–1984 | Brantford Alexanders |
| 1984–1988 | Hamilton Steelhawks |
| 1988–1996 | Niagara Falls Thunder |
| 1996–present | Erie Otters |
The Brantford Alexanders were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League from 1978 to 1984. The team was based in Brantford, Ontario, Canada.
History
[edit]The Hamilton Fincups were relocated in 1978 becoming the Brantford Alexanders. The OMJHL junior team took the name of the OHA senior team which had played for two years prior, which in themselves were named for Brantford's most famous former resident, telephone pioneer Alexander Graham Bell. After two years in the OMJHL, the league changed names to the OHL and the Alexanders played four more seasons in Brantford, before moving back to Hamilton as the Steelhawks.
The Alexanders made the playoffs for five straight years after missing out its first year in Brantford. The team narrowly missed out on winning its division in 1980–81 by a single point. Their playoff nemeses were the Windsor Spitfires and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Two years in a row they were eliminated by the Spitfires, followed by three years in a row at the hands of the Greyhounds.
In 1981, the Alexanders implemented country music into their image, when they began using the theme song, "Cowboys of the Ice" recorded by the band County Line.[1][2]
In 1982–83 OHL season, forward Dave Gagner who graduated from North Park Collegiate and Vocational School, was awarded the Bobby Smith Trophy as the league's scholastic player of the year.[3]
Coaches
[edit]List of coaches:[4]
- 1978–79: Dave Draper
- 1979–80: Ron Carroll
- 1980–81: Ron Carroll, Dave Draper, Ken Gratton
- 1981–82: Bep Guidolin, Dave Draper
- 1982–83: Dave Draper
- 1983–84: Dave Draper
NHL alumni
[edit]There have been 29 alumni of the Alexanders to play in the National Hockey League (NHL):[5]
- Perry Anderson
- Bruce Bell
- Allan Bester
- Mark Botell
- Mike Bullard
- Shayne Corson
- Tony Curtale
- Dean De Fazio
- Daryl Evans
- Dave Gagner
- Len Hachborn
- Dave Hannan
- Mike Hoffman
- Mark Hunter
- Jeff Jackson
- Randy Ladouceur
- Jason Lafreniere
- Rick LaFerriere
- Mike Lalor
- Kevin LaVallee
- Paul Marshall
- Mike Millar
- Ric Nattress
- Mark Plantery
- Bob Probert
- Chris Pusey
- Steve Smith
- Greg Terrion
- Rick Wamsley
Season-by-season results
[edit]Regular season and playoffs results:[4]
Legend: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Memorial Cup champions | OHL champions | OHL finalists |
| Season | Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | W | L | T | Pts | Pct | GF | GA | Finish | ||
| 1978–79 | 68 | 23 | 42 | 3 | 49 | 0.360 | 281 | 349 | 6th Emms | Did not qualify |
| 1979–80 | 68 | 31 | 35 | 2 | 64 | 0.471 | 412 | 398 | 3rd Emms | Won division quarterfinal (Toronto Marlboros) 4–0 Lost division semifinal (Windsor Spitfires) 4–3[6] |
| 1980–81 | 68 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 68 | 0.500 | 350 | 354 | 2nd Emms | Lost division semifinal (Windsor Spitfires) 8–4[7] |
| 1981–82 | 68 | 25 | 41 | 2 | 52 | 0.382 | 293 | 313 | 5th Emms | Won division quarterfinal (London Knights) 6–2 Lost division semifinal (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 8–6[8] |
| 1982–83 | 70 | 34 | 33 | 3 | 71 | 0.507 | 275 | 282 | 4th Emms | Won division quarterfinal (London Knights) 6–0 Lost division semifinal (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 8–2[9] |
| 1983–84 | 70 | 39 | 28 | 3 | 81 | 0.579 | 303 | 235 | 2nd Emms | Lost division quarterfinal (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 8–4[10] |
Arena
[edit]The Brantford Alexanders played home games at the Brantford Civic Centre from 1978 to 1984. The OHL All-Star game was hosted here in 1982.[11]
References
[edit]- ↑ "A's will dress new goaltender". The Expositor. Brantford, Ontario. January 13, 1981. p. 6.
- ↑ "A's hope reserves will pay dividends". The Expositor. Brantford, Ontario. March 13, 1981. p. 8.
- ↑ Radio, Steve (February 12, 1983). "High School Highlights". The Expositor. Brantford, Ontario. p. 14.
- 1 2 "Brantford Alexanders Statistics and History [OHL]". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Brantford Alexanders all-time player list". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
- ↑ "1979–80 OHA Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
- ↑ "1980–81 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
- ↑ "1981–82 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
- ↑ "1982–83 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
- ↑ "1983–84 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
- ↑ Jordan, Kevin (October 24, 2023). "Brantford Bulldogs". The OHL Arena Guide. Retrieved March 5, 2026.