Rockland Nationals
| Rockland Nationals National de Rockland | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Clarence-Rockland |
| League | CCHL |
| Division | Yzerman |
| Founded | 1968 |
| Home arena | Desjardins Centre |
| Colours | |
| General manager | Jean-Maxime Paquin |
| Head coach | Justin Pereira |
| Website | rocklandnationalsjuniora |
| Franchise history | |
| 1968–1972 | Ottawa M.&.W Rangers |
| 1972–2005 | Gloucester Rangers |
| 2005–2008 | Orleans Blues |
| 2008–2017 | Gloucester Rangers |
| Since 2017 | Rockland Nationals |
The Rockland Nationals (French: National de Rockland), are a junior ice hockey franchise of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL). The team plays its home games at the Desjardins Centre in Clarence-Rockland, Ontario.[1]
Team identity
[edit] |
The Rockland Nationals organization operates in both English and French. At home games, the first stanza of O Canada is sung in French, and the chorus is sung in English.
Crest and sweater design
[edit]Since 2017, the team's primary colours are blue, red, and white, the same colours as the New York Rangers. The home sweater is predominantly blue in colour with a maple leaf that says "Rockland Nationals" in the centre, and features four red and white stripes: one across each arm, one across the chest and the other across the waistline. The main road sweater is white with a blue and red stripe across the waist, with their red maple leaf logo in the centre.
In the 2024–25 season, the Nationals have unveiled a "Reverse Retro" alternate uniform in collaboration with Adidas. The uniform was essentially the same as their regular red uniform, but with the blue and white replaced by red and black lines.
History
[edit]The franchise was established in 1968 as the Ottawa M.&.W (MacIntosh & Watts) Rangers. From 1972–2005, and 2008–2017, they were branded as the Gloucester Rangers. In 2017, the franchise moved to Rockland and was rebranded as the Rockland Nationals.[2]
The Gloucester Rangers won the league championship Bogart Cup in 1970, 1971, 1981 and 1994.[3] The Nationals won it in 2025 and 2026.[4][5]
Season-by-season record
[edit]Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | T | 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 Yzerman | |
| 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 Yzerman | |
| 1998-99 | 54 | 7 | 43 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 149 | 287 | 5th in Yzerman | Did not qualify |
| 1999-00 | 55 | 11 | 41 | 4 | 0 | 26 | 177 | 307 | 5th in Yzerman | Did not qualify |
| 2000-01 | 55 | 14 | 35 | 6 | 0 | 37 | 192 | 278 | 4th in Yzerman | Lost quarter-final 4-1 to Cornwall |
| 2001-02 | 55 | 6 | 43 | 7 | 0 | 19 | 162 | 331 | 5th in Yzerman | Did not qualify |
| 2002-03 | 55 | 27 | 17 | 11 | 2 | 67 | 246 | 210 | 3rd in Yzerman | Lost semi-final 4-3 to Nepean |
| 2003-04 | 55 | 30 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 188 | 167 | 64 | 4th in Yzerman | Lost final 4-3 to Nepean |
| 2004-05 | 57 | 24 | 26 | 1 | 6 | 194 | 204 | 55 | 3rd in Yzerman | Lost quarter-final 4-3 to Hawkesbury |
| 2005-06 | 57 | 16 | 37 | 1 | 3 | 172 | 262 | 36 | 5th in Yzerman | Did not qualify |
| 2006-07 | 55 | 26 | 21 | 6 | 2 | 184 | 190 | 60 | 2nd in Yzerman | Lost quarter-final 4-2 to Nepean |
| 2007-08 | 60 | 14 | 38 | 4 | 4 | 188 | 301 | 36 | 10th CJHL | Did not qualify |
| 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 4-2 to Ottawa |
| 2010-11 | 62 | 35 | 25 | - | 2 | 263 | 244 | 72 | 4th CCHL | Lost semi-final 4-0 to Pembroke |
| 2011-12 | 62 | 13 | 46 | - | 3 | 186 | 325 | 29 | 12th CCHL | Did not qualify |
| 2012-13 | 62 | 19 | 35 | - | 8 | 166 | 246 | 46 | 10th CCHL | Did not qualify |
| 2013-14 | 62 | 23 | 32 | - | 7 | 219 | 280 | 53 | 9th CCHL | Did not qualify |
| 2014-15 | 62 | 31 | 30 | - | 1 | 199 | 223 | 63 | 3rd of 6 in Yzerman 9th of 12 CCHL | Won Prelim. Playin, 2-0 (73's) Lost Quarterfinals, 0-4 (Jr. Senators) |
| 2015-16 | 62 | 5 | 52 | 3 | 2 | 116 | 305 | 15 | 6th of 6 in Yzerman 12th of 12 CCHL | Did not qualify |
| 2016-17 | 62 | 22 | 34 | 3 | 3 | 141 | 204 | 50 | 4th of 6 in Yzerman 10th of 12 CCHL | Did not qualify |
| Rockland Nationals | ||||||||||
| 2017–18 | 62 | 28 | 28 | 6 | 0 | 186 | 204 | 62 | 4th in division 8th overall | Lost quarterfinal against Carleton Place (4:1) |
| 2018–19 | 62 | 40 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 205 | 151 | 85 | 2nd in division 4th overall |
Won quarterfinal against Hawkesbury (4:1) Lost semifinals against Carleton Place (4:1) |
| 2019–20 | 62 | 39 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 254 | 183 | 82 | 1st in division 2nd overaell |
Cancelled |
| 2020–21 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 25 | 8 | Season canceled | |
| 2021–22 | 55 | 24 | 24 | 7 | 0 | 166 | 188 | 55 | 4th in division 9th overall |
Lost tie-break game against Smiths Falls (1:0) |
| 2022–23 | 55 | 20 | 23 | 12 | 0 | 172 | 203 | 52 | 5th in division 10th overall |
Did not qualify |
| 2023–24 | 55 | 32 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 202 | 175 | 68 | 3rd in division 4th overall | Won quarterfinal against Renfrew (4:2) Lost semifinal against Navan (4:1) |
| 2024–25 | 55 | 45 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 250 | 138 | 96 | 1st in division 1st overall | Won quarterfinal against Cornwall (4:0) Won semifinal against Smiths Falls (4:3) Won final against Carleton Place (4:0) Advanced to Centennial Cup |
| 2025–26 | 55 | 52 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 284 | 125 | 104 | 1st in division 1st overall | Won quarterfinal against Carleton Place (4:1) Won semifinal against Kemptville (4:0) Won final against Smiths Falls (4:0) Advanced to Centennial Cup |
Source: "Rockland Nationals statistics and history". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
Centennial Cup
[edit]The Gloucester Rangers were runners-up for the 1995 Centennial Cup national championship.[6][7] In 2025, the Nationals were eliminated in the semifinal by the Calgary Canucks.[7] In 2026, they were eliminated after losing three out of four matches in the preliminary round.[8]
| Year | Round-robin | Record | Standing | Quarterfinal | Semifinal | Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | OTL, Edmundston Blizzard (MarJHL), 3-4 W, Valleyfield Braves, (QJHL), 9-4 W, Calgary Canucks (Host), 7-2 L, Melfort Mustangs (SJHL), 2-5 | 2-0-1-1 | 3rd of 5 Pool B | Won, 4-0 Northern Manitoba Blizzard (ManJHL) | OT Loss, 2-3 Calgary Canucks (Host -AJHL) | Did Not Qualify |
| 2026 | OTL, Canmore Eagles (AJHL), 2-3 L, Summerside Western Capitals, (Host), 2-4 W, Thunder Bay North Stars (SIJHL), 8-2 L, Niverville Nighthawks (ManJHL), 6-7 |
1-0-2-1 | 4th of 5
Pool A |
Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
Notable alumni
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "Clarence-Rockland Arena renamed as Desjardins Centre". Vision. 8 September 2026. Retrieved 4 October 2026.
- ↑ "Our history". rocklandnationalsjuniora.com. Rockland Nationals. Retrieved 4 October 2026.
- ↑ "Season award archives". thecchl.ca. Central Canada Hockey League. Retrieved 4 October 2026.
- ↑ "Rockland Nationals sweep Carleton Place Canadians to win Bogart Cup". Lanarkleedstoday.ca. 28 April 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2026.
- ↑ "Rockland sweeps Smiths Falls, repeats as CCHL champion". Brockville Recorder and Times. Postmedia. 23 April 2026. Retrieved 27 September 2026.
- ↑ La Rose, Jason. "Road to the 2025 Centennial Cup: Rockland Nationals". hockeycanada.ca. Hockey Canada. Retrieved 4 October 2026.
- 1 2 La Rose, Jason. "Road to the 2026 Centennial Cup: Rockland Nationals". hockeycanada.ca. Hockey Canada. Retrieved 4 October 2026.
- ↑ "Rockland misses Centennial Cup playoffs". Brockville Recorder and Times. Postmedia. 15 May 2026. Retrieved 4 October 2026.
Further reading
[edit]- Jhalli, Anil (11 May 2025). "Bogart Cup: Rockland Nationals crowned CCHL champions". Les éditions André Paquette (in Canadian French). Retrieved 11 May 2025. [dead link]
- "Centennial Cup taps Cubs' Moore as most sportsmanlike". Sudbury.com. Village Media. 21 May 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- "The Drive - Jesse Winchester: The Rockland Nationals are a force". TSN. Bell Media. 7 April 2026. Archived from the original on 8 April 2026. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- "2026 Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame Inductee Profile: 1976 Rockland Nationals (Team – Hockey)". OttawaSportsPages.ca. 6 May 2026. Retrieved 4 October 2026.
- Lajoie, Kevin (11 May 2008). "32 Years Later; Revisiting The 1975–76 Rockland Nationals". hockeycanada.ca. Hockey Canada. Retrieved 4 October 2026.
