Kitchener Canucks
| Kitchener Canucks | |
|---|---|
| City | Kitchener, Ontario |
| League | Ontario Hockey Association |
| Operated | 1951–1956 |
| Home arena | Kitchener Memorial Auditorium |
| Parent club | Montreal Canadiens |
| Franchise history | |
| 1951–1954 | Kitchener Greenshirts |
| 1954–1956 | Kitchener Canucks |
| 1956–present | Peterborough Petes |
The Kitchener Canucks , originally known as the Kitchener Greenshirts, were a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association, which played home games at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. Based in Kitchener, Ontario, as a farm team of the Montreal Canadiens, they played as the Greenshirts from 1951 to 1954, as the Canucks from 1954 to 1956, then relocated and became the Peterborough Petes.
History
[edit]The Kitchener Sports Association sought the return of junior A hockey, and a farm team agreement with the Montreal Canadiens to receive higher-calibre players.[1] As part of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) approval to play in the 1951–52 season, the Greenshirts and the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen senior team agreed to equally share playing nights at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.[2] The Greenshirts were the first junior A hockey team based in Kitchener in 15 seasons,[3] and had a local rivalry with the Waterloo Hurricanes who were affiliated with the Boston Bruins.[4] The Greenshirts won their first two games of the season, including a 4–1 victory versus the Hurricanes.[3] Goaltender Bill Harrington won the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHA's most outstanding player during the 1951–52 season.[5]
The Greenshirts changed names to the Kitchener Canucks as of the 1954–55 season,[6] and named Jack Stewart as coach.[7] Stan Baluik won the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy in the 1955–56 season, as the OHA's top scorer with 31 goals, 73 assists, and 104 points.[8] The Canucks operated until 1956, when they relocated due to poor fan support in Kitchener and a newly constructed arena became available in Peterborough, Ontario.[9]
Notable alumni
[edit]Canucks' alumnus Willie O'Ree became the first black player in the National Hockey League (NHL).[10]
List of alumni who played in the NHL or World Hockey Association:[11][12]
Season-by-season results
[edit]Regular season and playoffs results:
Legend: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | W | L | T | Pts | Pct | GF | GA | Finish | ||
| 1951–52 | 54 | 29 | 22 | 3 | 61 | 0.565 | 231 | 213 | 6th OHA | Lost quarterfinal (St. Catharines Teepees) 3–1[18] |
| 1952–53 | 56 | 15 | 38 | 5 | 35 | 0.313 | 161 | 239 | 9th OHA | Did not qualify |
| 1953–54 | 60 | 28 | 27 | 5 | 61 | 0.508 | 236 | 211 | 5th OHA | Lost quarterfinal (Toronto Marlboros) 3–1[19] |
| 1954-55 | 49 | 8 | 39 | 2 | 18 | 0.184 | 140 | 248 | 8th OHA | Did not qualify |
| 1955-56 | 48 | 26 | 21 | 1 | 53 | 0.552 | 222 | 198 | 2nd OHA | Lost quarterfinal (Barrie Flyers) 4–3–1[20] |
References
[edit]- ↑ Johnston, Lloyd (January 22, 1951). "Head Scout Says Selke to Send Top Junior Talent to Kitchener". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ontario. p. 13.
- ↑ Taylor, Len (March 5, 1951). "Snapshots on Sport". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ontario.
- 1 2 "New Greenshirt Sextet Unbeaten In Pair". Windsor Star. The Canadian Press. October 15, 1951. p. 49.
- ↑ "Hurcs to Operate; Sign Kinnear Again". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ontario. May 9, 1951. p. 23.
- ↑ "Harrington Wins Award". Windsor Star. The Canadian Press. March 27, 1952. p. 28.
- ↑ "St. Mike's Minus Top Line But Overtake Canucks 5–3". The Evening Tribune. Welland, Ontario. The Canadian Press. October 23, 1954. p. 16.
- ↑ "Jack Stewart to Coach Twin City Junior Sextet". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ontario. October 8, 1954. p. 22.
- ↑ "Laufman, Baluik Scoring Champs". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ontario. March 1, 1956. p. 26.
- ↑ "Junior Council Agrees: Peterborough Wins (?) K-W Junior Franchise". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario. June 15, 1956. p. 27.
- ↑ Ross, Kendall (January 19, 2022). "Willie O'Ree, 1st Black NHL player, reflects on his time in the league". ABC News. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ↑ "Kitchener-Waterloo Greenshirts all-time player list". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ↑ "Kitchener Canucks all-time player list". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ↑ "Les Binkley–Stats, Contract, Salary & More". Elite Prospects. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ↑ "Howie Glover–Stats, Contract, Salary & More". Elite Prospects. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ↑ "Claude Pronovost–Stats, Contract, Salary & More". Elite Prospects. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ↑ "Kitchener-Waterloo Greenshirts Statistics and History [1951-1954 OHL]". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
- ↑ "Kitchener Canucks Statistics and History". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
- ↑ Johnston, Lloyd (March 13, 1952). "Sharp-Shooting TPs Push Greenshirts Into Discard". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ontario. p. 22.
- ↑ "Marlboros Oust Greenshirts From Jr. OHA". Standard-Freeholder. Cornwall, Ontario. The Canadian Press. March 24, 1954. p. 14.
- ↑ "Barrie Flyers Top Kitchener 6–2". The Moncton Daily Times. The Canadian Press. March 15, 1956. p. 14.