The Calgary Mustangs were a junior A ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). They played in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, at the Father David Bauer Olympic Arena. They were known as the Calgary Royals from 1990 until 2010. On May 4, 2019, it was announced that the Mustangs had elected to take a leave of absence for the 2019–20 season.[1]
| Calgary Mustangs | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Calgary, Alberta |
| League | Alberta Junior Hockey League |
| Division | South |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Home arena | Father David Bauer Olympic Arena |
| Colours | Navy blue and gold |
| Franchise history | |
| 1972–1976 | The Pass Red Devils |
| 1976–1978 | Pincher Creek Panthers |
| 1978–1979 | Calgary Chinooks |
| 1979–1990 | Calgary Spurs |
| 1990–2010 | Calgary Royals |
| 2010–2019 | Calgary Mustangs |
| 2021– | Blackfalds Bulldogs |
History
edit
The franchise began play in the 1972–73 season as The Pass Red Devils based in Crowsnest Pass, Alberta. The Red Devils franchise lasted four years before relocating to the nearby community of Pincher Creek to become the Pincher Creek Panthers. The team lasted two seasons in Pincher Creek before relocating to Calgary to become the Calgary Chinooks. In 1979–80, under a new ownership group, the Chinooks became the Calgary Spurs.
Following the 1989–90 season, the Spurs ceased operations, leaving the AJHL with just seven franchises. The league opted to keep a second Calgary-based franchise along with the Calgary Canucks, and sold a new franchise to four local businessmen who named it the Calgary Jr. "A" Royals with the mandate of providing Calgary and area kids with the opportunity to combine a high level of hockey with a quality education.
The Royals were immediately successful, finishing second in the regular season standings, behind the Fort Saskatchewan Traders and winning the league championship in their first season. The Royals were unable to duplicate that success, as the team failed to make it past the second round of the playoffs since winning the title.
Faced with the challenges of sharing a market with the National Hockey League, Western Hockey League, and another AJHL team, the Royals were supported through corporate partnerships and volunteers. Seeking to distinguish itself from the city's minor hockey program of the same name, the franchise renamed itself the Mustangs prior to the 2010–11 season.[2]
After several seasons of struggling financially, the Mustangs were granted a leave of absence for the 2019–20 season.[3]
The Mustangs are approved to move to Blackfalds, Alberta for the 2021–22 season, after being sold to Doug Quinn.[4][5]
Season-by-season record
editNote: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T/OTL = Ties/Overtime losses, SOL = Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | GP | W | L | T/OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990–91 | 60 | 34 | 18 | 4 | — | 72 | 247 | 179 | 2nd Overall | Won quarterfinals, 4–0 (Canucks) Won semifinals, 4–0 (Oil Barons) Won AJHL Championship, 4–2 (Traders) Lost Doyle Cup, 1–4 (Vernon Lakers of the BCHL) |
| 1991–92 | 60 | 40 | 19 | — | 1 | 81 | 346 | 252 | 2nd Overall | Lost quarterfinals, 2–4 (Blazers) |
| 1992–93 | 56 | 28 | 27 | — | 1 | 57 | 208 | 208 | 6th Overall | Lost quarterfinals, 0–5 (Grizzlys) |
| 1993–94 | 57 | 26 | 27 | — | 3 | 55 | 200 | 238 | 6th Overall | Lost quarterfinals, 0–4 (Grizzlys) |
| 1994–95 | 56 | 25 | 30 | — | 1 | 51 | 234 | 252 | 6th Overall | Lost quarterfinals, 1–4 (Oil Barons) |
| 1995–96 | 60 | 23 | 33 | — | 4 | 50 | 203 | 244 | 8th Overall | Lost quarterfinals, 1–4 (Canucks) |
| 1996–97 | 60 | 17 | 40 | — | 3 | 37 | 175 | 262 | 11th Overall | Did not qualify |
| 1997–98 | 60 | 24 | 32 | — | 4 | 52 | 196 | 235 | 9th Overall | Did not qualify |
| 1998–99 | 62 | 39 | 21 | — | 2 | 80 | 320 | 243 | 2nd South | Lost quarterfinals, 0–4 (Grizzlys) |
| 1999–00 | 64 | 29 | 30 | — | 5 | 63 | 255 | 253 | 4th South | Lost preliminary series, 0–3 (Eagles) |
| 2000–01 | 64 | 25 | 33 | 6 | — | 56 | 280 | 328 | 6th South | Won Preliminary series, 3–1 (Canucks) Lost quarterfinals, 2–4 (Kodiaks) |
| 2001–02 | 64 | 32 | 29 | 3 | — | 67 | 228 | 232 | 4th South | Won Preliminary series, 3–2 (Canucks) Lost quarterfinals, 3–4 (Eagles) |
| 2002–03 | 64 | 36 | 25 | 3 | — | 75 | 246 | 217 | 4th South | Lost preliminary series, 1–4 (Grizzlys) |
| 2003–04 | 60 | 34 | 23 | 3 | — | 71 | 231 | 173 | 4th South | Won Preliminary series, 3–0 (Eagles) Lost quarterfinals, 1–4 (Kodiaks) |
| 2004–05 | 64 | 27 | 32 | 5 | — | 59 | 207 | 237 | 5th South | Lost preliminary series, 0–3 (Eagles) |
| 2005–06 | 60 | 16 | 38 | 6 | — | 71 | 231 | 173 | 8th South | Did not qualify |
| 2006–07 | 60 | 30 | 30 | 0 | — | 60 | 184 | 209 | 5th South | Lost preliminary series, 1–3 (Bandits) |
| 2007–08 | 62 | 19 | 41 | 2 | — | 40 | 148 | 230 | 8th South | Did not qualify |
| 2008–09 | 62 | 8 | 48 | 6 | — | 22 | 158 | 300 | 8th South | Did not qualify |
| 2009–10 | 60 | 21 | 29 | 10 | — | 52 | 213 | 255 | 7th South | Lost preliminary series, 2–3 (Kodiaks) |
| 2010–11 | 60 | 28 | 31 | 1 | — | 57 | 202 | 235 | 4th South | Won Preliminary series, 3–0 (Grizzlys) Lost quarterfinals, 0–4 (Oilers) |
| 2011–12 | 60 | 31 | 22 | 7 | — | 69 | 194 | 188 | 4th South | Lost div. quarter-finals, 1–3 (Grizzlys) |
| 2012–13 | 60 | 21 | 31 | 7 | — | 50 | 177 | 218 | 6th South | Lost div. quarter-finals, 1–3 (Kodiaks) |
| 2013–14 | 60 | 26 | 28 | 6 | — | 58 | 176 | 206 | 6th South | Lost div. quarter-finals, 0–3 (Dragons) |
| 2014–15 | 60 | 20 | 36 | 4 | — | 55 | 174 | 229 | 7th South | Lost div. quarter-finals, 0–3 (Bandits) |
| 2015–16 | 60 | 12 | 44 | 4 | — | 28 | 168 | 295 | 8th of 8, South 15th of 16, AJHL |
Did not qualify |
| 2016–17 | 60 | 8 | 50 | 2 | — | 18 | 135 | 344 | 8th of 8, South 16th of 16, AJHL |
Did not qualify |
| 2017–18 | 60 | 24 | 29 | 7 | — | 55 | 194 | 248 | 5th of 8, South 10th of 16, AJHL |
Lost div. quarter-finals, 0–3 (Kodiaks) |
| 2018–19 | 60 | 29 | 22 | 9 | — | 67 | 221 | 192 | 5th of 8, South 9th of 16, AJHL |
Lost div. quarter-finals, 2–3 (Kodiaks) |
NHL alumni
editSome of the players that played on the Royals that went on to play in the NHL include:
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Rumbolt, Ryan (2019-05-04). "Calgary Mustangs hockey club plans 'leave of absence' from AJHL next season". Calgary Sun. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
- ^ Gilbertson, Wes (2010-06-17). "New AJHL nickname unbridled". Calgary Sun. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
- ^ "Calgary Mustangs Granted Leave of Absence for 2019-2020 Season". AJHL. 8 May 2019.
- ^ Dormer, Dave (23 October 2019). "AJHL approves move of Calgary Mustangs hockey club to Blackfalds". Calgary. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "AJHL Approves Relocation of Calgary Mustangs to Blackfalds, AB Under New Ownership". AJHL. 23 October 2019.