Windsor Spitfires (1946–1953)
| 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 |
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 Spitfires played home games at the Windsor Arena built in 1924, and twice played in the J. Ross Robertson Cup final.
History
[edit]The 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 Spitfires 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 from 1947 to 1953.[4] He led the Spitfires to the J. Ross Robertson Cup final during the 1947–48 OHA season,[5] and 1949–50 OHA season.[6] 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 and relocated becoming the Hamilton Tiger Cubs.[7]
Players
[edit]Award winners
[edit]- 1948–49: Bert Giesebrecht, Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy (OHA scoring champion)[8]
- 1949–50: Earl Reibel, Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy (OHA scoring champion)[9]
- 1950–51: Glenn Hall, Red Tilson Trophy (OHA most outstanding player)[10]
Notable alumni
[edit]Notable Spitfires who played in the National Hockey League or World Hockey Association:[11]
Season-by-season results
[edit]Regular season and playoffs results:[4]
Legend: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Memorial Cup champions | OHA champions | OHA finalists |
| Season | Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | W | L | T | Pts | Pct | GF | GA | Finish | ||
| 1946–47 | 36 | 10 | 24 | 2 | 22 | 0.306 | 75 | 125 | 7th OHA | Did not qualify |
| 1947–48 | 36 | 29 | 6 | 1 | 59 | 0.819 | 231 | 124 | 1st OHA | Won semifinal (Oshawa Generals) 4–2[17] Lost OHA final (Barrie Flyers) 4–2[5] |
| 1948–49 | 48 | 34 | 13 | 1 | 69 | 0.719 | 272 | 184 | 1st OHA | Lost semifinal (Barrie Flyers) 4–0[18] |
| 1949–50 | 48 | 34 | 13 | 1 | 69 | 0.719 | 307 | 169 | 2nd OHA | Won semifinal (Toronto Marlboros) 4–1[19] Lost OHA final (Guelph Biltmores) 4–2[6] |
| 1950–51 | 54 | 32 | 18 | 4 | 68 | 0.630 | 209 | 167 | 4th OHA | Won quarterfinal (Oshawa Generals) 3–2[20] Lost semifinal (Barrie Flyers) 3–0[21] |
| 1951–52 | 54 | 9 | 42 | 3 | 21 | 0.194 | 172 | 355 | 9th OHA | Did not qualify |
| 1952–53 | 56 | 16 | 35 | 5 | 37 | 0.330 | 127 | 186 | 8th OHA | Did not qualify |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "Lloyd Pollock". Windsor/Essex County Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
- 1 2 "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.
- 1 2 "Windsor Spitfires Statistics and History [1946-1953 OHL]". HockeyDB. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
- 1 2 "Barrie Team Wins OHA Junior Title". Ottawa Citizen. The Canadian Press. March 22, 1948. p. 16.
- 1 2 "Guelph Captures First OHA Crown". Ottawa Journal. The Canadian Press. March 27, 1950. p. 19.
- ↑ "Hamilton Wins Bid For Junior Hockey Franchise". The Sun Times. Owen Sound, Ontario. The Canadian Press. July 17, 1943. p. 12.
- ↑ "Giesebrecht Tops". Ottawa Citizen. The Canadian Press. March 17, 1949. p. 22.
- ↑ "129 Points Give Reibel Scoring Crown, New Record". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ontario. The Canadian Press. March 1, 1950. p. 18.
- ↑ "Hall Wins Tilson Cup: Edges Lou Jankowski". Toronto Star. April 17, 1951. p. 20.
- ↑ "Windsor Spitfires all-time player list". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
- ↑ "Jim Anderson–Stats, Contract, Salary & More". Elite Prospects. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
- ↑ "Glenn Hall–Stats, Contract, Salary & More". Elite Prospects. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
- ↑ "Earl Johnson–Stats, Contract, Salary & More". Elite Prospects. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
- ↑ "Tom McGrattan–Stats, Contract, Salary & More". Elite Prospects. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
- ↑ "Terry Sawchuk–Stats, Contract, Salary & More". Elite Prospects. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
- ↑ "Gens Ousted By Spitfires In 6th Game". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario. The Canadian Press. March 4, 1948. p. 19.
- ↑ "Barrie Flyers Oust Windsor In 4 Straight". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ontario. The Canadian Press. March 3, 1949. p. 18.
- ↑ "Windsor Ousts Highly-Rated Junior Dukes". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ontario. The Canadian Press. March 7, 1950. p. 14.
- ↑ "Windsor Spits Put Oshawa Out". St. Catharines Standard. March 24, 1951. p. 14.
- ↑ "Barrie Flyers Move Into Final, Ousting Spits Three Straight". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario. The Canadian Press. March 29, 1951. p. 16.