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Hamilton Whizzers

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Hamilton Barons)

Hamilton Whizzers
CityHamilton, Ontario
LeagueOntario Hockey Association
Operated1941–1947
Home arenaBarton Street Arena
Franchise history
1941–1944Hamilton Whizzers
1944Hamilton Barons
1945–46Hamilton Lloyds
1946–47Hamilton Szabos

The Hamilton Whizzers were a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA), and based at the Barton Street Arena in Hamilton, Ontario. Playing three seasons known as the Whizzers, subsequent team names included the Hamilton Barons in the 1944–45 season, the Hamilton Lloyds in the 1945–46 season, and the Hamilton Szabos in the 1946–47 season.

History

[edit]

The Hamilton Whizzers began as an Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) junior B team known as the "G. and M.'s" early in the 1941–42 season. The team was managed by Lou Pelissier who relocated to Hamilton after coaching in Western Canada.[1] Sponsored by Mssrs. Wilkinson and Grisenthwaite,[2] the Whizzers played home games at the Barton Street Arena.[3] In their first season, the Whizzers lost in the playoffs to the St. Michael's Buzzers.[4]

Whizzers' coach Hughie McLean suggested moving the team up to the junior A level for the 1942–43 OHA season.[5] McLean and Pelissier secured approval from the arena manager Percy Thompson to support a junior A team,[6] and were promoted by the OHA along with the Stratford Kroehlers in 1942.[7] Pelissier attempted to sign Howie Meeker and Bill Cupolo, although both players remained in Stratford when they were also promoted to junior A.[8] The Whizzers finished the season second place in the OHA,[9] then lost 4-games-to-1 versus the Oshawa Generals in the playoffs semifinal.[10]

The Hamilton Whizzers were sponsored by Bill Grisenthwaite and Jimmy Kemp in the 1943–44 OHA season.[11] Placing third in Group 1 during the regular season,[9] Hamilton defeated the Brantford Lions 2-games-to-1 in the quarterfinal,[12] then defeated the Toronto Navy junior B team in consecutive games in a challenge series,[13] and lost the playoffs semifinal in three games to the Toronto St. Michael's Majors.[14] Following the playoffs, the Whizzers lost all but three of their players to World War II military service.[15]

Seeking new players, Hamilton agreed with sports promoter Albert C. Sutphin, for the Whizzers to become a farm team for the Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League. The Whizzers were renamed the Hamilton Barons, and sought imported players who spent the previous season in the United States, pending approval of transfer requests.[16][17] The Barons were coached and managed by Louis Pelissier,[18] and were placed in a group with the Galt Red Wings, Port Colborne Recreationists, and the St. Catharines Falcons.[19]

Playing Galt in the first game of the season, Hamilton used Ian MacIntosh and Edward Marchant despite that their transfers were not approved, and lost by an 8–1 score.[20] The Barons withdrew from the OHA, stating that they were unable to form a team of sufficient quality when the Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association refused to grant transfers to the OHA.[15] The Barons' game on November 18, 1944, was also the only game played by Gordie Howe in the OHA, whose goal and two assists were stricken from the official records when Hamilton folded.[21]

Returning to junior hockey for the 1945–46 OHA season, Hamilton was coached and managed by Eddie Ambis, and sponsored by Maurice Lloyd, the owner of Lloyds Glass.[22][23] The Lloyds were granted extra time to prepare a roster and postponed their first week of games.[24] Eddie Ambis coached the Lloyds, whose players were mostly promoted from the junior B or juvenile levels.[25][26] The Lloyds lost their first game of the season by a 19–0 score to the St. Catharines Falcons,[27] and earned their first victory by a 4–3 score versus the Toronto Young Rangers on December 5.[28] The Lloyds concluded the season in last place with only three wins, and did not qualify for the playoffs.[29]

Ambis returned as coach and manager of Hamilton for the 1946–47 OHA season, and recruited goaltender Bob DeCourcy. The team became known as the Szabos, sponsored by local businessman Michael A. Szabo.[30] The Szabos placed ninth in the OHA with six victories, and did not qualify for the playoffs.[31] The Szabos dropped out of the OHA prior to the 1947–48 season.[32]

Notable players

[edit]

Five alumni from the Whizzers played in the National Hockey League (NHL): Walt Atanas,[33] Al Dewsbury,[34] Stan Kemp,[35] Enio Sclisizzi,[36] and Jack Stoddard.[37] Carl Kaiser had a lengthy career playing in the Western Canada Senior Hockey League.[38]

Four alumni from the Lloyds played in the NHL: Ray Frederick,[39] Steve Kraftcheck,[40] Glen Sonmor,[41] and Jack Stoddard.[37]

Two alumni from the Szabos played in the NHL: Bob DeCourcy,[42] and Val Delory.[43]

Season-by-season results

[edit]

Regular season and playoffs results:

  • Hamilton Whizzers (1942–1944)[9]
  • Hamilton Barons (1944)[44]
  • Hamilton Lloyds (1945–46)[29]
  • Hamilton Szabos (1946–47)[31]

Legend: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

SeasonTeam nameRegular seasonPlayoffs
GPWLTPtsPctGFGAFinish
1942–43Whizzers241194260.5421221062nd OHALost semifinal (Oshawa Generals) 4–1[10]
1943–44Whizzers2512121250.5001131243rd Group 1Won quarterfinal (Brantford Lions) 2–1[12]
Won junior B challenge series (Toronto Navy) 2–0[13]
Lost semifinal (Toronto St. Michael's Majors) 2–1[14]
1944–45Barons101000.00009withdrewDid not qualify
1945–46Lloyds28325060.107762298th OHADid not qualify
1946–47Szabos386320120.158763139th OHADid not qualify

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Local Junior Team in Action Tonight". The Hamilton Spectator. November 18, 1941. p. 22.
  2. ↑ "Junior Puck Team to Play Tonight". The Hamilton Spectator. November 26, 1941. p. 26.
  3. ↑ Jordan, Kevin (June 14, 2020). "Hamilton Forum, Hamilton Red Wings". The OHL Arena Guide. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Juniors now rule hockey roost". The Hamilton Spectator. June 27, 1967. p. 35A.
  5. ↑ Moore, Tommy (August 18, 1942). "Wildcats Not Interested In Offer From Grid Body". The Hamilton Spectator. p. 21.
  6. ↑ Moore, Tommy (September 14, 1942). "Interscholastic League Will Operate This Year". The Hamilton Spectator. p. 21.
  7. ↑ "Two Groups Will Operate; Locals In Peninsula Loop". The Hamilton Spectator. The Canadian Press. October 17, 1942. p. 24.
  8. ↑ Moore, Tommy (November 12, 1942). "Lou Pelissier Will Battle For Two Stratford Stars". The Hamilton Spectator. p. 27.
  9. 1 2 3 "Hamilton Whizzers Statistics and History". HockeyDB. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
  10. 1 2 "Oshawa Generals in O.H.A. Junior Finals". Ottawa Journal. The Canadian Press. March 4, 1943. p. 18.
  11. ↑ "Junior Puck Team Dined By Sponsors". The Hamilton Spectator. April 10, 1944. p. 20.
  12. 1 2 "Hamilton Whizzers Oust Brantford From Playoffs". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ontario. The Canadian Press. March 4, 1944. p. 8.
  13. 1 2 "Hamilton Jrs. Defeat Navy By 6–4 Score". Toronto Telegram. March 9, 1944. p. 18.
  14. 1 2 "St. Mike's Juniors Eliminate Whizzers". Ottawa Citizen. The Canadian Press. March 16, 1944. p. 14.
  15. 1 2 "Hamilton Jrs. Fold". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario. November 18, 1944. p. 17.
  16. ↑ Moore, Tommy (November 14, 1944). "Grisenthwaite Has Working Agreement With Cleveland". The Hamilton Spectator. p. 21.
  17. ↑ Rodden, Michael J. (November 16, 1944). "Sports Highways". The Kingston Whig-Standard. p. 8.
  18. ↑ Moore, Tommy (October 11, 1944). "Junior Hockey Is Assured For Hamilton This Season". The Hamilton Spectator. p. 25.
  19. ↑ "Juniors Open Hockey Season At Home Against St. Michael's". The Hamilton Spectator. November 14, 1944. p. 20.
  20. ↑ "Hamilton Handed 8–1 Loss Hockey Loss By Galt Juniors". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario. November 20, 1944. p. 15.
  21. ↑ Doucet, Bill (October 4, 2021). "Pieces of Cambridge hockey lore skate into the Hockey Hall of Fame". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ontario. p. A1.; Doucet, Bill (October 4, 2021). "Hockey (continued from A1)". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ontario. p. A5.
  22. ↑ Moore, Tommy (October 13, 1945). "Hamilton Will Have Junior Team In OHA This Season". The Hamilton Spectator. p. 23.
  23. ↑ Miller, Ivan (October 15, 1945). "The Sport Trail: Junior Hockey Developing". The Hamilton Spectator. p. 22.
  24. ↑ "O.H.A. Enters 21 New Clubs". St. Catharines Standard. The Canadian Press. November 10, 1945. p. 12.
  25. ↑ Browne, Clayton (November 13, 1945). "Sport Done Browne". St. Catharines Standard. p. 12.
  26. ↑ "Juniors Start O.H.A. Season in Fine Shape". The Hamilton Spectator. November 16, 1945. p. 27.
  27. ↑ "Lloyds of Hamilton Hear Bad News Gong". Toronto Star. November 17, 1945. p. 14.
  28. ↑ "Lloyds Defeat Young Rangers in Close Game". The Hamilton Spectator. December 6, 1945. p. 29.
  29. 1 2 "Hamilton Lloyds Statistics and History". HockeyDB. Retrieved September 15, 2026.
  30. ↑ Morganson, Bunny (October 25, 1946). "Sports Slants: Eddie Ambis". Toronto Telegram. p. 23.
  31. 1 2 "Hamilton Szabos Statistics and History". HockeyDB. Retrieved September 15, 2026.
  32. ↑ "11 Hockey Teams in Junior Loop". Standard-Freeholder. Cornwall, Ontario. The Canadian Press. June 23, 1947. p. 10.
  33. ↑ "Walt Atanas–Stats, Contract, Salary & More". Elite Prospects. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Al Dewsbury–Stats, Contract, Salary & More". Elite Prospects. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Stan Kemp–Stats, Contract, Salary & More". Elite Prospects. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Enio Sclisizzi–Stats, Contract, Salary & More". Elite Prospects. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  37. 1 2 "Jack Stoddard–Stats, Contract, Salary & More". Elite Prospects. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  38. ↑ "Carl Kaiser–Stats, Contract, Salary & More". Elite Prospects. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  39. ↑ "Ray Frederick–Stats, Contract, Salary & More". Elite Prospects. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  40. ↑ "Steve Kraftcheck–Stats, Contract, Salary & More". Elite Prospects. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  41. ↑ "Glen Sonmor–Stats, Contract, Salary & More". Elite Prospects. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  42. ↑ "Bob DeCourcy–Stats, Contract, Salary & More". Elite Prospects. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  43. ↑ "Val Delory Hockey Stats and Profile". HockeyDB. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  44. ↑ "Hamilton Barons Statistics and History". HockeyDB. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
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