The Windsor Spitfires were a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) from 1946 to 1953. The team was based in Windsor, Ontario. The current Windsor Spitfires, founded in 1971, are the namesake of these Spitfires. The Spitfires played home games at the Windsor Arena, built in 1924.
| Windsor Spitfires | |
|---|---|
| City | Windsor, Ontario |
| League | Ontario Hockey Association |
| Operated | 1946–1953 |
| Home arena | Windsor Arena |
| Franchise history | |
| 1946–1953 | Windsor Spitfires |
| 1953–1960 | Hamilton Tiger Cubs |
| 1960–1974 | Hamilton Red Wings |
| 1974–1978 | Hamilton/St. Catharines Fincups |
| 1978–1984 | Brantford Alexanders |
| 1984–1988 | Hamilton Steelhawks |
| 1988–1996 | Niagara Falls Thunder |
| 1996–present | Erie Otters |
History
editThe Windsor Spitfires were founded in 1946 as part of a four-year plan enacted by Lloyd Pollock, the secretary-treasurer of the Windsor City Hockey League. He established a junior league for the 1942–43 season in Windsor, competing at the Junior B-level in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA). The ultimate goal of Junior A-level team was realized in 1946, for the 1946–47 OHA season.[1] Pollock and business partner Jack Dent obtained franchise rights from the OHA for C$500, and purchased uniform for another $100.[2] The team lost its first game 15–0 to the Toronto St. Michael's Majors, but attracted a crowd of 4,062 spectators at the Windsor Arena.[1] Pollock served as the team's general manager, and worked with the Detroit Red Wings to develop players.[3] Pollock convinced the Detroit Red Wings to relocate prospect players from the Galt Red Wings to Windsor in 1947.[2]
The Spitfires were coached by Jimmy Skinner, and reached the J. Ross Robertson Cup final during the 1947–48 OHA season.[4] The team produced several future star players for the Red Wings, including Glenn Hall, Marcel Pronovost, Earl Reibel, Johnny Wilson, and Glen Skov.[1]
In 1953, the Spitfires were sold to Hamilton to create the Hamilton Tiger Cubs.[5] The Spitfires were replaced by an OHA Senior A Hockey League team called the Windsor Bulldogs. The Bulldogs won the OHA Senior A championship in 1962 and 1963 as well as the Allan Cup in 1963. They turned professional for one season after winning the Allan Cup, then folded.
In 1971, the Windsor Spitfires were reformed in the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League.[5] In 1975, they were accepted into the OHA.[5]
Championships
editJ. Ross Robertson Cup appearances[6]
- 1947–48 finalists versus the Barrie Flyers
- 1949–50 finalists versus the Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters
Players
edit- Award winners
- 1948–49 – Bert Giesebrecht Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy OHA Scoring Champion
- 1949–50 – Earl Reibel Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy OHA Scoring Champion
- 1950–51 – Glenn Hall Red Tilson Trophy OHA Most Outstanding Player
- NHL alumni
Season-by-season results
edit| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | Points | Pct % | Goals for |
Goals against |
Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946–47 | 36 | 10 | 24 | 2 | 22 | 0.306 | 75 | 125 | 7th OHA |
| 1947–48 | 36 | 29 | 6 | 1 | 59 | 0.819 | 231 | 124 | 1st OHA |
| 1948–49 | 48 | 34 | 13 | 1 | 69 | 0.719 | 272 | 184 | 1st OHA |
| 1949–50 | 48 | 34 | 13 | 1 | 69 | 0.719 | 307 | 169 | 2nd OHA |
| 1950–51 | 54 | 32 | 18 | 4 | 68 | 0.630 | 209 | 167 | 4th OHA |
| 1951–52 | 54 | 9 | 42 | 3 | 21 | 0.194 | 172 | 355 | 9th OHA |
| 1952–53 | 56 | 16 | 35 | 5 | 37 | 0.330 | 127 | 186 | 8th OHA |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Lloyd Pollock". Windsor/Essex County Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
- ^ a b "Pollock was legend in local hockey". Windsor Star. Windsor, Ontario. September 10, 1993. p. B3.
- ^ Pronovost, Marcel; Duff, Bob (2012). Marcel Pronovost: A Life in Hockey. Canada: Biblioasis. p. 28. ISBN 978-1-926845-98-2 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Windsor Spitfires hockey team [1946–1953 OHL] statistics and history". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
- ^ a b c Simcoe Reformer. February 11, 1975, Page 4.
- ^ Annual Report: Constitution, Regulations and Rules of Competition. Cambridge, Ontario: Ontario Hockey Association. 2006. p. W-13.