The Westfort Hurricanes were a Canadian Junior ice hockey club from Fort William, Ontario. The Herks were members of the Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League and were Abbott Cup finalists once.
| Westfort Hurricanes | |
|---|---|
| City | Fort William, Ontario |
| League | Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League Midwest Junior Hockey League Can-Am Junior Hockey League |
| Operated | 1940–1980 |
| Home arena | Fort William Gardens |
| Franchise history | |
| 1940-1961 | Fort William Hurricane-Rangers |
| 1961-1966 | Fort William Hurricanes |
| 1966-1972 | Westfort Hurricanes |
| 1972-1975 | Thunder Bay Westfort Hurricanes |
| 1975-1978 | Degagne Hurricanes |
| 1978-1980 | Degagne Buccaneers |
| Previous franchise history | |
| 1978 | merged with Thunder Bay Beavers and Fort William Canadians |
History
editIn 1972, the Hurricanes broke away from the Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League to join the St. Paul, Minnesota-based Can-Am Junior Hockey League. A year later, that league became the Midwest Junior Hockey League. The Herks stayed on board for one Midwest Junior season before returning to the TBJHL.[citation needed]
Dave Siciliano coached the Hurricanes during the 1973–74 season.[1] His team completed the regular season in first place with 45 wins in 60 games.[2] In the 1974 Centennial Cup playoffs, the Hurricanes defeated the Wexford Raiders four games to three in the first round,[3] then were defeated four games to three by the Smiths Falls Bears in the second round.[4]
The MWJHL later merged and solidified the United States Hockey League. The Buccaneers folded on July 6, 1980, when the TBAHA left them with no league to play in.[citation needed]
Season-by-season standings
edit| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940-41 | 18 | 5 | 11 | 2 | - | 89 | 106 | 12 | 3rd TBJHL | ||
| 1941-42 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 0 | - | 110 | 13 | 30 | 1st TBJHL | ||
| 1942-43 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | - | 71 | 31 | 18 | 1st TBJHL | ||
| 1943-45 | did not participate | ||||||||||
| 1945-46 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0 | - | 15 | 52 | 2 | 5th TBJHL | ||
| 1946-47 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | - | 31 | 25 | 9 | 2nd TBJHL | ||
| 1947-48 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | - | 39 | 59 | 7 | 3rd TBJHL | ||
| 1948-49 | 12 | 3 | 8 | 1 | - | 52 | 67 | 7 | 3rd TBJHL | ||
| 1949-50 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 0 | - | 109 | 86 | 22 | 2nd TBJHL | ||
| 1950-51 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 0 | - | 100 | 85 | 22 | 3rd TBJHL | ||
| 1951-52 | 30 | 15 | 14 | 1 | - | 140 | 127 | 31 | 3rd TBJHL | ||
| 1952-53 | 29 | 11 | 18 | 0 | - | 129 | 161 | 22 | 3rd TBJHL | ||
| 1953-54 | 34 | 10 | 23 | 1 | - | 114 | 180 | 21 | 4th TBJHL | ||
| 1954-55 | 29 | 8 | 20 | 1 | - | 97 | 143 | 17 | 4th TBJHL | ||
| 1955-56 | 33 | 3 | 27 | 3 | - | 88 | 167 | 9 | 3rd TBJHL | ||
| 1956-57 | 30 | 2 | 28 | 0 | - | 95 | 241 | 4 | 3rd TBJHL | ||
| 1957-58 | 22 | 4 | 17 | 1 | - | 66 | 126 | 9 | 3rd TBJHL | ||
| 1958-59 | 24 | 6 | 14 | 4 | - | 82 | 128 | 16 | 3rd TBJHL | ||
| 1959-60 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 0 | - | 94 | 76 | 26 | 1st TBJHL | ||
| 1960-61 | 24 | 5 | 15 | 4 | - | 77 | 108 | 14 | 3rd TBJHL | ||
| 1961-62 | 28 | 2 | 24 | 2 | - | 77 | 186 | 6 | 3rd TBJHL | ||
| 1962-63 | 28 | 9 | 17 | 2 | - | 92 | 127 | 20 | 3rd TBJHL | ||
| 1963-64 | 26 | 8 | 12 | 6 | - | 87 | 103 | 22 | 3rd TBJHL | ||
| 1964-65 | 22 | 1 | 19 | 2 | - | 93 | 189 | 4 | 4th TBJHL | ||
| 1965-66 | 30 | 3 | 26 | 1 | - | 112 | 226 | 7 | 4th TBJHL | ||
| 1966-67 | 29 | 7 | 19 | 3 | - | 118 | 172 | 17 | 4th TBJHL | ||
| 1967-68 | 32 | 11 | 19 | 2 | - | 134 | 187 | 27.5 | 4th TBJHL | ||
| 1968-69 | 36 | 23 | 8 | 5 | - | 196 | 129 | 51 | 1st TBJHL | ||
| 1969-70 | 30 | 13 | 14 | 3 | - | 156 | 160 | 29 | 2nd TBJHL | ||
| 1970-71 | 30 | 13 | 14 | 3 | - | 133 | 156 | 29 | 2nd TBJHL | ||
| 1971-72 | 27 | 14 | 11 | 2 | - | -- | -- | 30 | 2nd TBMJHL | ||
| 1972-73 | 31 | 5 | 21 | 5 | - | 94 | 178 | 15 | 4th CAJHL | ||
| 1973-74 | 60 | 45 | 14 | 1 | - | 430 | 258 | 91 | 2nd MWJHL | ||
| 1974-75 | 27 | 19 | 4 | 4 | - | 164 | 106 | 42 | 1st TBJHL | ||
| 1975-76 | 30 | 19 | 6 | 5 | - | 163 | 117 | 43 | 2nd TBJHL | ||
| 1976-77 | 25 | 14 | 9 | 2 | - | 168 | 122 | 30 | 2nd TBJHL | ||
| 1977-78 | 28 | 20 | 6 | 2 | - | -- | -- | 42 | 1st TBJHL | ||
| 1978-79 | 25 | 16 | 6 | 3 | - | -- | -- | 35 | 1st TBJHL | ||
| 1979-80 | 34 | 24 | 10 | 0 | - | 216 | 163 | 48 | 1st TBJHL | ||
Playoffs
edit- 1971 Lost final
- Westfort Hurricanes defeated Fort William Canadians 3-games-to-2
- Thunder Bay Marrs defeated Westfort Hurricanes 4-games-to-1
- 1972 Lost semi-final
- Minnesota Jr. Stars defeated Westfort Hurricanes 2-games-to-none
- 1973 Lost quarter-final/Canadian TBAHA Semi-final
- Thunder Bay Centennials defeated Westfort Hurricanes 4-games-to-2
- 1974 Won TBAHA Jack Adams Trophy final, lost Hewitt-Dudley Memorial Trophy final
- Thunder Bay Hurricanes defeated Thunder Bay Eagles (TBJHL) 3-games-to-none
- Thunder Bay Hurricanes defeated Fort William Canadians (TBJHL) 4-games-to-none JACK ADAMS TROPHY CHAMPIONS
- Thunder Bay Hurricanes defeated Wexford Raiders (OPJHL) 4-games-to-3
- Smiths Falls Bears (CJHL) defeated Thunder Bay Hurricanes 4-games-to-3
- 1975 Lost final
- Thunder Bay Hurricanes defeated Thunder Bay Beavers 4-games-to-2
- Thunder Bay Eagles defeated Thunder Bay Hurricanes 4-games-to-1
- 1976 Lost semi-final
- Thunder Bay Beavers defeated Thunder Bay Hurricanes 4-games-to-2
- 1977 Lost final
- Degagne Hurricanes defeated Thunder Bay Beavers 3-games-to-none and 1 tie
- Thunder Bay Eagles defeated Degagne Hurricanes 4-games-to-1
- 1978 Won League, lost Hewitt-Dudley Memorial Trophy Quarter-final
- Degagne Hurricanes defeated Thunder Bay Beavers 3-games-to-none
- Degagne Hurricanes defeated Atikokan Voyageurs 4-games-to-none TBJHL CHAMPIONS
- Guelph Platers (OPJHL) defeated Degagne Hurricanes 4-games-to-none
- 1979 Lost final
- Thunder Bay North Stars defeated Degagne Buccaneers 4-games-to-1
- 1980 Lost final
- Thunder Bay North Stars defeated Degagne Buccaneers 4-games-to-none with 1 tie
Championships
editTBJHL Champions:
- 1942, 1943, 1952, 1960, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1974*, 1978
Abbott Cup Finalists:
- 1970
Dudley Hewitt Cup/Eastern Centennial Cup Semi-final Champion
- 1974
(*) denotes: Herks played in MWJHL, rejoined TBJHL for playoffs.
Notable alumni
editFort William Hurricane-Rangers[5]
Fort William Hurricanes[6]
- Mike Busniuk
- Larry Cahan
- Dave Gatherum
- Eddie Kachur
- Dennis Owchar
- Don Poile
- Vic Venasky
- Tommy Williams
- Gord Wilson
Westfort Hurricanes[7]
Thunder Bay Westfort Hurricanes[8]
References
edit- ^ "Dave Siciliano Hockey Stats and Profile". Hockey Database. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
- ^ "1973–74 Midwest Junior Hockey League Standings". Hockey Database. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
- ^ "Bears, Hurricanes in east final". Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ontario. April 19, 1974. p. 24.
- ^ "Bears shoot way to Cup finals". Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ontario. May 2, 1974. p. 29.
- ^ "Search Players By Team". www.legendsofhockey.net.
- ^ "Fort William Hurricanes". www.legendsofhockey.net.
- ^ "Westfort Hurricanes". www.legendsofhockey.net.
- ^ "Thunder Bay Hurricanes". www.legendsofhockey.net.
