Belleville Bulls

Hockey team |CAN_eng=1
team = Belleville Bulls

city = Belleville, Ontario
league = Ontario Hockey League
conference = Eastern
division = East
founded = Birth date|1981|02|02
arena = Yardmen Arena
colours = Black, Red, Gold & White
coach = George Burnett
GM = George Burnett
affiliates = Wellington Dukes/
Cobourg CougarsThe Belleville Bulls are a junior ice hockey team, founded in 1981 based in Belleville, Ontario, Canada. The teams plays in the Eastern Division of the Eastern Conference of the Ontario Hockey League.

History

The Belleville Bulls started in 1979 as a Junior Tier II team in the OHA. In their second season in 1980–81, the Bulls won the Tier II title, defeating the Guelph Platers in the league finals. The Bulls then competed in the national championhip for the Manitoba Centennial Trophy hosted in Halifax, Nova Scotia losing in the finals to the Prince Albert Raiders.

On February 2, 1981 the OHL granted an expansion franchise to the city of Belleville and the ownership group of Dr. Robert L. Vaughan & Bob Dolan. Dr. Robert L. Vaughan remained an owner/co-owner of the team for over 20 years until he sold the team in 2004 to Gord Simmonds. Dr. Vaughan was awarded the Bill Long award in 1993 for distinguished service to the OHL.

In 1983 Belleville hosted the OHL All-Star Game, known then as the OHL Chrysler Cup.

The Bulls reached the OHL finals in 1986 versus familiar foe from their Tier II days, the Guelph Platers. The Platers won the series in 6 games. In 1995 and 1996 the Bulls lost in the semi-finals to the Guelph Storm.

The 1999 season would be one for the memories when the Belleville Bulls would win it all. The Bulls defeated the London Knights 9–2 in game seven of the OHL championship series at the Yardmen Arena to win their first J. Ross Robertson Cup.

The Bulls competed in the 1999 Memorial Cup, hosted in Ottawa versus the Calgary Hitmen, Acadie-Bathurst Titan & Ottawa 67's. Belleville finished 3rd, losing to Ottawa 4–2 in the semifinal.

In the 2005–06 season the Belleville Bulls celebrated their 25th anniversary in the OHL. The team also hosted the annual OHL All-Star game for the second time, on February 1, 2006. The Bulls set a season-best record of 102 points earned during the 2007–08 regular season.

Championships

Leyden Trophy East Division Regular Season Champions
*2000–2001
*2001–2002
*2006–2007
*2007–2008

Bobby Orr Trophy Eastern Conference Champions
*1998–1999
*2007–2008

J. Ross Robertson Cup Championships: 1999
*1985–1986 — Lost to Guelph Platers in OHL Final
*1998–1999 — OHL Champions vs. London Knights

Memorial Cup Appearances: 2
*1999 OHL representative in Ottawa, Ontario
*2008 OHL representative in Kitchener, Ontario

Coaches

Larry Mavety coached the Belleville Bulls for 14 seasons. He is second only to Brian Kilrea for amount of time coached with an OHL team.

Lou Crawford was groomed by Mavety to replace him behind the Bulls' bench. Lou Crawford is the brother of NHL Coach Marc Crawford. Their father, Floyd Crawford, was team captain of the 1959 World Champion Belleville McFarlands.

Former coaches Lou Crawford and Shawn Mackenzie both had brief NHL careers. George Burnett briefly coached with the Edmonton Oilers. James Boyd is the only former Bulls player to later coach the Belleville team.

;List of Coaches"(Multiple years in parentheses)"
* [http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayersByTeam.jsp?team=Belleville+Bulls Source]

Roster

"As of October 5th, 2008"

Goalies
*33 -- Philipp Grubauer (Rosenheim, Germany)
*32 -- Mike Murphy (Inverary, Ontario)~ CAR 2008

Defencemen
*3 -- Robert Stellick (Toronto, Ontario)
*4 -- Bjorn Krupp (Manhattan Beach, California)
*6 -- P.K. Subban (Toronto, Ontario) ~ MTL 2007
*8 -- Marc Cantin (Omemee, Ontario)
*9 -- Shawn Lalonde (Orleans, Ontario)~ CHI 2008
*24 -- Nick Pageau (Stoney Creek, Ontario)
*26 -- Stephen Silas (Georgetown, Ontario)

Forwards
*7 -- Cory Tanaka (Stouffville, Ontario)
*10 -- Stephen Johnston (Guelph, Ontario)~ DET 2008
*11 -- Tyler Randell (Brampton, Ontario)
*13 -- Scott Howe (Atlanta, Georgia)
*14 -- Luke Judson (Emo, Ontario)
*16 -- Cody Alcock (Whitby, Ontario)
*19 -- Brett Mackie (Whitby, Ontario)
*20 -- Spencer Anderson (Caledon East, Ontario)
*22 -- Andy Bathgate (Brampton, Ontario)
*23 -- Bryan Cameron (Brampton, Ontario) ~ LA 2007
*25 -- Eric Tangradi (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) ~ ANA 2007
*27 -- Matthew Tipoff (Toronto, Ontario)
*28 -- Stephen Blunden (Gloucester, Ontario)

Team records

Playoffs

*1980–1981 Won OPJHL Playoffs.
Defeated Onaping Falls Huskies for OHA Championship 3 games to 0.
Won Dudley Hewitt Cup.
Finished 2nd in Centennial Cup Round Robin.
Lost National final 6-2 to Prince Albert Raiders.
*1981–1982 Out of playoffs.
*1982–1983 Lost to Oshawa Generals 7 points to 1 in first round.
*1983–1984 Lost to Oshawa Generals 6 points to 0 in first round.
*1984–1985 Defeated Oshawa Generals 8 points to 2 in first round.
Defeated Cornwall Royals 6 points to 2 in quarter-finals.
Lost to Peterborough Petes 9 points to 1 in semi-finals.
*1985–1986 Defeated Cornwall Royals 9 points to 3 in first round.
Tied for first in round robin with Peterborough Petes versus Kingston Canadians.
Defeated Peterborough Petes 9 points to 7 in semi-finals.
Lost to Guelph Platers 8 poins to 4 in finals.
*1986–1987 Lost to Kingston Canadians 4 games to 2 in first round.
*1987–1988 Lost to Cornwall Royals 4 games to 2 in first round.
*1988–1989 Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 1 in first round.
*1989–1990 Defeated Kingston Frontenacs 4 games to 3 in first round.
Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
*1990–1991 Lost to Ottawa 67's 4 games to 2 in first round.
*1991–1992 Lost to North Bay Centennials 4 games to 1 in first round.
*1992–1993 Lost to Oshawa Generals 4 games to 3 in first round.
*1993–1994 Defeated Kingston Frontenacs 4 games to 2 in division quarter-finals.
Lost to North Bay Centennials 4 games to 2 in division semi-finals.
*1994–1995 Defeated North Bay Centennials 4 games to 2 in division quarter-finals.
Defeated Kingston Frontenacs 4 games to 2 in quarter-finals.
Lost to Guelph Storm 4 games to 0 in semi-finals.
*1995–1996 Defeated Oshawa Generals 4 games to 1 in division quarter-finals.
Defeated Ottawa 67's 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
Lost to Guelph Storm 4 games to 1 in semi-finals.
*1996–1997 Lost to Ottawa 67's 4 games to 2 in division quarter-finals.
*1997–1998 Defeated Peterborough Petes 4 games to 0 in division quarter-finals.
Lost to Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 2 in quarter-finals.
*1998–1999 Defeated Sudbury Wolves 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
Defeated Ottawa 67's 4 games to 1 in conference semi-finals.
Defeated Oshawa Generals 4 games to 1 in conference finals.
Defeated London Knights 4 games to 3 in finals. OHL CHAMPIONS.
Finished 3rd in Memorial Cup round-robin.
Lost to Ottawa 67's in semi-finals.
*1999–2000 Defeated Peterborough Petes 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
Defeated Ottawa 67's 4 games to 2 in conference semi-finals.
Lost to Barrie Colts 4 games to 1 in conference finals.
*2000–2001 Defeated Kingston Frontenacs 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
Lost to Ottawa 67's 4 games to 2 in conference semi-finals.
*2001–2002 Defeated Oshawa Generals 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
Lost to Barrie Colts 4 games to 2 in conference semi-finals.
*2002–2003 Lost to St. Michael's Majors 4 games to 3 in conference quarter-finals.
*2003–2004 Out of playoffs.
*2004–2005 Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
*2005–2006 Lost to Brampton Battalion 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
*2006–2007 Defeated Ottawa 67's 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
Defeated Oshawa Generals 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.
Lost to Sudbury Wolves 4 games to 2 in conference finals.
*2007–2008 Defeated Peterborough Petes 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
Defeated Barrie Colts 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.
Defeated Oshawa Generals 4 games to 1 in conference finals.
Lost to Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 3 in Finals.
Finished 2nd in Memorial Cup round-robin.
Lost to Kitchener Rangers in semi-finals.

Uniforms and logos

:1999 to present:
*Uniform Colours: Black, Red, Gold, White
*Logo Design: An angry bull with a hockey stick

:1982 to 1998:
*Uniform Colours: Black, Red, Gold, White"'
*Logo Design: A standing red and orange bull"'

[http://www.sportslogos.net/Site/team.php?t=363 Bulls Uniforms]

Arena

The team has played all homes games at the Belleville Yardmen Arena (capacity 3,257) for the existence of the franchise. The Yardmen Arena is part of the Quinte Sports Centre which is composed of the Yardmen Arena and the Wally Dever arena which is home to the Belleville McFarlands, an OHA Senior team, and is also used by minor hockey teams.

: Capacity = 3,257: Ice Size = 199.5' x 99.5'

* [http://www.ohlarenaguide.com/bulls.htm Yardmen Arena] The OHL Arena & Travel Guide

ee also

*List of ice hockey teams in Ontario

External links

* [http://www.bellevillebulls.com Belleville Bulls] Official web site
* [http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/ Ontario Hockey League] Official web site
* [http://www.chl.ca/ Canadian Hockey League] Official web site