- Orangeville Crushers
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Orangeville Crushers 
City Orangeville, Ontario, Canada League Ontario Junior Hockey League
Midwestern Junior B Hockey League
Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League
Central Ontario Junior C Hockey LeagueOperated 1975-2011 Home arena Alder Street Recreation Facility Colors Orange, Black, and White
General manager Robin Inscoe Head coach Dale Hawerchuk Affiliates Barrie Colts (OHL)
Schomberg Cougars (GMOHL)Franchise history 1975-1987 Orangeville Stone Crushers 1987-2001 Orangeville Crushers 2001-2004 Orangeville Thunder 2004-2010 Orangeville Crushers 2010-2011 Orangeville Flyers The Orangeville Crushers were a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey team from Orangeville, Ontario. They played in the Ontario Junior Hockey League, Midwestern Junior B Hockey League, and Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League.
Contents
History
The team originated in the Central Ontario Junior C Hockey League, after one season in the league it became the Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League. In the late 80's and early 90's, the Crushers played in the Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League and won two straight league championships. They won the Clarence Schmalz Cup in 1990 as All-Ontario Champions. In the Clarence Schmalz Cup Finals, the Crushers came back from a 3-0 deficit in games to defeat the Belle River Canadiens of the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League 4-3. The 1991 Clarence Schmalz Cup Final pitted the Crushers against a bound and determined Hanover Barons of the Western Junior C Hockey League. The Crushers again went down 3-0 in games and again forced a seventh and deciding contest but came out on the losing end, dropping the final game and the series 4-3.
In the mid-90's, the Crushers were accepted into the Midwestern Junior B Hockey League and stayed there until 2006. Orangeville had been accepted to play in the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League for the start of the 2006-07 Season. A vote was concocted by the OPJHL teams, where the Crushers were voted in by a 33-3 vote. The Crushers would play out of the North Division. The team's head coach for the beginning of 2006-07 would be Steve Chelios, brother of National Hockey League great Chris Chelios [1]. Chelios was let go in late October. The President of the team is another former NHLer, Dale Hawerchuk.
Junior A
The Crushers' first Junior "A" game took place on September 15, 2006 against Vaughan Vipers in Orangeville. The game resulted in a 6-3 loss. The Crushers' first ever Junior "A" goal was scored by Trevor Branning at 1:17 into the first period. Anthony Ferrante started the game in net.
The Crushers' first ever Junior "A" win was against the Stouffville Spirit on September 28, 2006 in Stouffville, Ontario. The final score was 3-2, with goaltender Michael Hutchinson picking up the win in net. Hutchinson stopped 35 of 37 shots, as the Crushers were badly outshot. Hutchinson also held the Spirit scoreless for the first 48:13 of the game, coming within less than 12 minutes of the shutout. The Crushers' Wil Munson of Corona, California scored the eventual game winner.
The Crushers finished the season one point out of the final playoff spot. With three games to go in the season, Orangeville either had to win or tie to clinch a spot or the Buffalo Jr. Sabres had to tie or lose—neither happened.
Team owner and National Hockey League Hockey Hall of Famer Dale Hawerchuk took over as head coach. In 2010, the changed its name to the Flyers.
On April 3, 2011, despite three consecutive .500 or more seasons, the franchise ceased operations.
Season-by-Season results
Season GP W L T OTL GF GA P Results Playoffs 1994-95 48 26 19 3 - 190 168 55 5th MWJBHL Lost Quarter-final 1995-96 48 29 17 2 - 219 171 60 4th MWJBHL Lost Quarter-final 1996-97 48 17 25 6 - 162 189 40 7th MWJBHL Lost Quarter-final 1997-98 48 29 18 1 - 202 152 59 5th MWJBHL Lost Semi-final 1998-99 48 24 21 3 - 214 203 51 5th MWJBHL Lost Semi-final 1999-00 48 17 29 2 - 169 215 36 7th MWJBHL Lost Quarter-final 2000-01 48 8 40 0 - 159 299 16 10th MWJBHL DNQ 2001-02 48 8 38 2 - 131 280 18 9th MWJBHL DNQ 2002-03 48 3 44 1 0 101 351 7 10th MWJBHL DNQ 2003-04 48 2 44 0 2 84 282 6 10th MWJBHL DNQ 2004-05 48 4 43 1 0 89 346 9 10th MWJBHL DNQ 2005-06 48 5 42 1 - 104 303 11 10th MWJBHL DNQ 2006-07 49 9 36 3 1 131 213 22 7th OPJHL-N DNQ 2007-08 49 17 29 - 3 138 197 37 6th OPJHL-N Lost Division QF 2008-09 49 33 15 - 1 212 159 67 4th OJHL-P Lost Division F 2009-10 50 29 16 - 5 215 184 63 4th CCHL-W Lost Preliminary 2010-11 50 24 24 - 2 173 176 50 5th OJHL-N Lost Round of 16 Clarence Schmalz Cup Appearances
- 1990: Orangeville Crushers defeated Belle River Canadiens 4-games-to-3
- 1991: Hanover Barons defeated Orangeville Crushers 4-games-to-3
Notable alumni
External links
Ontario Hockey Association Junior A HockeyCurrent Leagues & TeamsOntario Junior Hockey League: Aurora Tigers · Brampton Capitals · Buffalo Jr. Sabres · Burlington Cougars · Cobourg Cougars · Georgetown Raiders · Hamilton Red Wings · Huntsville Otters · Kingston Voyageurs · Lindsay Muskies · Markham Waxers · Milton Icehawks · Mississauga Chargers · Newmarket Hurricanes · North York Rangers · Oakville Blades · Orangeville Flyers · Peterborough Stars · Pickering Panthers · St. Michael's Buzzers · Stouffville Spirit · Toronto Jr. Canadiens · Toronto Lakeshore Patriots · Trenton Golden Hawks · Vaughan Vipers · Wellington Dukes · Whitby Fury
Former Leagues & TeamsSouthern Ontario Junior A Hockey League: Brantford Foresters • Brantford Majors • Buffalo-Glencoe Tondas • Chatham Maroons • Detroit Jr. Red Wings • Guelph CMC's • Guelph Imperials • Michigan Americans • Niagara Falls Flyers • St. Thomas Elgins • Sarnia Bees • Sarnia Legionnaires • Welland Sabres • Windsor Spitfires
Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League: Ajax Merchants • Belleville Bulls • Brampton Warriors • Cambridge Winterhawks • Dixie Beehives • Guelph Platers • Hamilton Mountain A's • Kingston Frontenacs • North Bay Trappers • Owen Sound Greys • Royal York Royals • Toronto Nationals • Weston Dodgers • Whitby Lawmen
Metro Junior A Hockey League: Mimico Monarchs • Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins
Ontario Junior Hockey League: Ajax Attack • Barrie Colts • Bowmanville Eagles • Bramalea Blues • Caledon Canadians • Collingwood Blues • Couchiching Terriers • Dixie Beehives • Durham Huskies • Orangeville Crushers • Parry Sound Shamrocks • Seguin Bruins • Shelburne Wolves • Streetsville Derbys • Syracuse Jr. Crunch • Trenton StingOntario Provincial Junior A Hockey League: 1972–73 • 1973–74 • 1974–75 • 1975–76 • 1976–77 • 1977–78 • 1978–79 • 1979–80 • 1980–81 • 1981–82 • 1982–83 • 1983–84 • 1984–85 • 1985–86 • 1986–87
Metro Junior A Hockey League: 1991–92 • 1992–93 • 1993–94 • 1994–95 • 1995–96 • 1996–97 • 1997–98
Ontario Junior Hockey League: 1992–93 • 1993–94 • 1994–95 • 1995–96 • 1996–97 • 1997–98 • 1998–99 • 1999–00 • 2000–01 • 2001–02 • 2002–03 • 2003–04 • 2004–05 • 2005–06 • 2006–07 • 2007–08 • 2008–09 • 2009-10 CC/OJ • 2010–11 • 2011–12Categories:- Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League teams
- Orangeville, Ontario
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