The Pictou County Crushers are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. They are in the Maritime Junior Hockey League's Eastlink South Division along with five other clubs. The Crushers play their home games at the Pictou County Wellness Centre.
| Pictou County Crushers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| League | Maritime Junior Hockey League |
| Division | Eastlink South Division |
| Founded | 1967 (Halifax Colonels) |
| Home arena | Pictou County Wellness Centre |
| Colours | Red, Black and White |
| Owner(s) | Bruce Ryan & Scott Burden |
| General manager | Willie MacDonald |
| Head coach | Garrett Lambke |
| Media | Crushers Official Site |
| Franchise history | |
| 1967 - 1973 | Halifax Colonels |
| 1973 - 1975 | Halifax Blazers |
| 1975-1977 | Halifax Centennials |
| 1977-1989 | Halifax Lions |
| 1989-1990 | Halifax DQ Blizzards |
| 1990-1991 | Halifax Jr. Canadians |
| 1991-1993 | Halifax Mooseheads |
| 1993-1994 | Halifax Oland Exports |
| 1995-1998 | Dartmouth Oland Exports |
| 1998-2003 | Halifax Oland Exports |
| 2003-2004 | Halifax Team Pepsi |
| 2004-Present | Weeks Jr 'A' Crushers |
History
editThe Crushers originated in Halifax. The franchise, under various names in Nova Scotia's capital city, holds the MHL (formerly the MJAHL) record for most championships with 10. As the Halifax Oland Exports, they captured the 2002 Royal Bank Cup on home ice. Due to financial reasons, the team's name was changed to Halifax Team Pepsi for the 2003-2004 campaign.
In the spring of 2004, the Weeks Hockey Organization bought the club, moved it to New Glasgow and renamed it the Pictou County Weeks Crushers. The team's name and logo are tied to its founding sponsor, Weeks Construction.
After struggling to attract fans in Halifax's crowded hockey market, the Crushers soared up the attendance ladder in New Glasgow and are now one of the league's top draws at the gate.
The Crushers hosted the 2005 MJAHL All-Star Game and the 2006 MJAHL Entry Draft.
In April 2008, the Crushers were the Fred Page Cup host team. They shocked everyone as the underdogs defeated the defending FPC champion Pembroke Lumber Kings 4-1 in the championship game. With the victory, the Crushers advanced to their first ever Royal Bank Cup, in Cornwall, Ontario. They went 1-4 at the RBC, losing the semifinal game 3-0 to the Camrose Kodiaks.
In November 2012, the Crushers moved out of their former home John Brother MacDonald Stadium that they used from 2004 to 2012 and into the new Pictou County Wellness Center.
The Crushers won their first Kent cup in 2016 defeating the Dieppe Commandos in the final, they have also come close back to back years (2010,2011) by making it to the finals but they lost both times. In 2010 they lost to the Woodstock Slammers 4-1 and, in 2011 they lost to the Summerside Western Capitals 4-0.
Season-by-season record
edit| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | Playoffs | |
| Halifax Colonels/Blazers | |||||||||||
| 1972-73 | 40 | 24 | 14 | 2 | - | 201 | 163 | 50 | 3rd MVJHL | ||
| 1973-74 | 34 | 23 | 8 | 3 | - | 211 | 123 | 49 | 3rd MVJHL | ||
| 1974-75 | Statistics Not Available | ||||||||||
| Halifax Centennials | |||||||||||
| 1975-76 | 32 | 14 | 16 | 2 | - | 175 | 192 | 30 | 5th MVJHL | ||
| 1976-77 | 32 | 14 | 12 | 6 | - | 199 | 157 | 34 | 5th MVJHL | ||
| Halifax Lions | |||||||||||
| 1977-78 | 36 | 19 | 16 | 1 | - | 177 | 164 | 39 | 3rd MVJHL | ||
| 1978-79 | 34 | 23 | 8 | 3 | - | 200 | 107 | 49 | 1st MVJHL | Won League | |
| 1979-80 | Statistics Not Available | ||||||||||
| 1980-81 | 39 | 30 | 4 | 5 | - | 294 | 127 | 65 | 1st MVJHL | ||
| 1981-82 | 40 | 23 | 13 | 4 | - | 211 | 184 | 50 | 2nd MVJHL | Won League | |
| 1982-83 | 39 | 22 | 13 | 4 | - | -- | -- | 48 | 2nd MVJHL | Won League | |
| 1983-84 | 40 | 30 | 6 | 4 | - | 358 | 183 | 64 | 1st MVJHL | Won League | |
| 1984-85 | 40 | 27 | 9 | 4 | - | 269 | 169 | 58 | 2nd MVJHL | ||
| 1985-86 | 40 | 20 | 18 | 2 | - | 230 | 220 | 42 | 3rd MVJHL | ||
| 1986-87 | 40 | 32 | 7 | 1 | - | 285 | 142 | 65 | 1st MVJHL | ||
| 1987-88 | 40 | 21 | 12 | 7 | - | 237 | 186 | 49 | 1st MVJHL | Won League | |
| 1988-89 | 40 | 20 | 12 | 8 | - | 271 | 201 | 48 | 2nd MVJHL | ||
| Halifax DQ Blizzards | |||||||||||
| 1989-90 | 40 | 25 | 12 | 3 | - | 313 | 181 | 53 | 2nd MVJHL | ||
| Halifax Jr. Canadians | |||||||||||
| 1990-91 | 39 | 25 | 8 | 6 | - | 219 | 157 | 56 | 2nd MVJHL | Won League | |
| Halifax Mooseheads | |||||||||||
| 1991-92 | 46 | 34 | 7 | 5 | - | 304 | 154 | 73 | 1st MJAHL | Won League | |
| 1992-93 | 48 | 26 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 290 | 228 | 60 | 1st MJAHL | ||
| Halifax Oland Exports | |||||||||||
| 1993-94 | 48 | 36 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 321 | 202 | 75 | 1st MJAHL | ||
| 1994-95 | 48 | 23 | 20 | 3 | 2 | 216 | 188 | 51 | 4th MJAHL | ||
| Dartmouth Oland Exports | |||||||||||
| 1995-96 | 54 | 30 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 324 | 274 | 63 | 3rd MJAHL | Won League | |
| 1996-97 | 56 | 36 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 321 | 242 | 77 | 1st MJAHL | ||
| 1997-98 | 52 | 34 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 286 | 205 | 71 | 1st MJAHL | ||
| Halifax Oland Exports | |||||||||||
| 1998-99 | 48 | 31 | 15 | 2 | - | 231 | 161 | 65 | 2nd MJAHL | ||
| 1999-00 | 52 | 38 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 296 | 178 | 82 | 1st MJAHL | Won League | |
| 2000-01 | 52 | 33 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 232 | 188 | 66 | 4th MJAHL | ||
| 2001-02 | 52 | 38 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 260 | 135 | 82 | 1st MJAHL | Won League, Won FPC, Won RBC | |
| 2002-03 | 52 | 15 | 35 | 2 | 0 | 164 | 248 | 34 | 9th MJAHL | DNQ | |
| Halifax Team Pepsi | |||||||||||
| 2003-04 | 52 | 18 | 27 | 4 | 3 | 184 | 223 | 43 | 10th MJAHL | DNQ | |
| Pictou County Crushers | |||||||||||
| 2004-05 | 56 | 26 | 24 | 6 | 0 | 162 | 168 | 58 | 6th MJAHL | Lost Division Semi-Final | |
| 2005-06 | 56 | 31 | 19 | 0 | 6 | 173 | 170 | 69 | 4th MJAHL | Lost Division Final | |
| 2006-07 | 58 | 24 | 28 | 0 | 6 | 191 | 208 | 54 | 9th MJAHL | Lost Division Semi-Final | |
| 2007-08 | 58 | 35 | 21 | - | 2 | 246 | 180 | 72 | 5th MJAHL | Lost Division Final, Won FPC | |
| 2008-09 | 54 | 25 | 23 | - | 6 | 154 | 177 | 56 | 8th MJAHL | Lost Division Semi-Final | |
| 2009-10 | 49 | 27 | 21 | - | 1 | 159 | 157 | 55 | 5th MJAHL | Lost Final | |
| 2010-11 | 52 | 31 | 16 | - | 5 | 199 | 152 | 67 | 3rd MHL | Lost Final | |
| 2011-12 | 52 | 27 | 18 | - | 7 | 187 | 191 | 61 | 5th MHL | Lost Mini Series | |
| 2012-13 | 52 | 28 | 19 | - | 5 | 199 | 185 | 61 | 6th MHL | Lost Division Semi-Final | |
| 2013-14 | 52 | 35 | 12 | - | 5 | 204 | 137 | 75 | 3rd MHL | Lost Division Final | |
| 2014-15 | 48 | 29 | 14 | - | 5 | 182 | 167 | 63 | 3rd MHL | Lost Division Semi-Final | |
| 2015-16 | 48 | 25 | 18 | - | 5 | 172 | 143 | 55 | 7th MHL | Won Div. Semi-Final 4-2 (Wildcats) Won Div. Finals, 4-1 (Lumberjacks) Won League Finals, 4-2 (Commandos) | |
| 2016-17 | 50 | 38 | 9 | - | 3 | 265 | 145 | 79 | 1st MHL | Lost Div. Semi-Final 3-4 (Ramblers) | |
| 2017-18 | 50 | 21 | 24 | - | 5 | 157 | 173 | 47 | 9th MHL | DNQ | |
| 2018-19 | 50 | 22 | 21 | - | 7 | 170 | 178 | 51 | 8th MHL | DNQ | |
| 2019-20 | 52 | 29 | 21 | - | 2 | 174 | 159 | 60 | 8th MHL | Div. Semi-Final 0-0 (Ramblers). Playoffs Cancelled due to Covid-19 Pandemic. | |
| 2020-21 | Season cancelled due to Covid-19 Pandemic | ||||||||||
| 2021-22 | 39 | 15 | 19 | - | 5 | 129 | 154 | 35 | 9th MHL | DNQ | |
| 2022-23 | 52 | 23 | 29 | - | 0 | 210 | 216 | 46 | 8th MHL | Lost Div. Semi-Final 4-0 (Mariners) | |
| 2023-24 | 52 | 21 | 27 | 4 | 0 | 223 | 217 | 58 | 3rd of 6 South 6th of 12 MHL |
Lost Div. Semi-Final 2-4 (Ramblers) | |
Fred Page Cup
editEastern Canada Championships
MHL - QAAAJHL - CCHL - Host
Round robin play with 2nd vs 3rd in semi-final to advance against 1st in the finals.
| Year | Round Robin | Record | Standing | SemiFinal | Gold Medal Game |
| 2016 | L, Longueuil Collège Français 1-4 L, Carleton Place Canadians 1-3 L, Woodstock Slammers 1-9 |
0-2-0 | 4th of 4 | Failed to qualify for playoffs | |
Notable alumni
edit- Derrick Walser (NHL, KHL, NLA, DEL)
See also
editReferences
editExternal links
edit