Queen's Gaels men's ice hockey explained

Team Name:Queen's Gaels
Team Link:
Athletics Name:Queen's Gaels
University:Queen's University at Kingston
Font:yes
Coach:Brett Gibson
Coach Year:Since 2005–06
Assistant Coaches:Ben Munroe
Patrick Sanvido
Mike Murphy
Arena:Memorial Centre Arena
Location:Kingston, Ontario
Conference:Ontario University Athletics
Conference Short:OUA
Division:OUA East
Color1:Gold
Color2:Blue
Color3:Red
Hex1:FFCC33
Hex2:003F87
Hex3:FF0000
Usportstourneys:1981, 2017, 2019
Conference Tournament:1981, 2019

The Queen's Gaels men's ice hockey team is an ice hockey team representing the Queen's Gaels athletics program of Queen's University at Kingston. The team is a member of the Ontario University Athletics conference and compete in U Sports. The Gaels play their home games at the Memorial Centre Arena in Kingston, Ontario.[1]

History

19th century

The earliest recorded game for Queen's came in 1884 but its unclear if the match was officially sanctioned by the University or not. In 1886, a group of students from Queen's arranged a match against fellow undergraduates from the Royal Military College. The game took place on Kingston harbor and is typically regarded as the first game between two teams from Ontario.[2] The two schools have been rivals ever since, the oldest such rivalry in the sport.[3] The young program played when it was able to find the time and opposition but was stabilized when it became a founding member of the Ontario Hockey Association. Playing senior hockey at the time, Queen's won a league championship in 1895 and challenged the Montreal Hockey Club for the Stanley Cup. They were reportedly outmatched in the game and lost 1–5.[4] Four years later the team had its second opportunity for the cup when they faced the Montreal Shamrocks in 1899. This match went about as well as the last with Queen's losing 2–6.

Allan Cup

At the beginning of the 20th century, Queen's joined with McGill and Toronto to form the first college conference in Canada. Queen's won two league championships in the first four years of play and leveraged their second intercollegiate title into a third challenge for the Stanley Cup. The Ottawa Hockey Club (later known as the 'Senators') easily dismissed the school boys with a pair of victories totaling 14–28. By 1909, the sport had become such a sensation in Canada that he various teams were separated into professional and amateur ranks. The Allan Cup was created as the amateur's version of the Stanley Cup and was initially awarded to the Ottawa Cliffsides. Queen's, by winning the intercollegiate title that season, earned the first challenge for the cup and defeated Ottawa 5–4, becoming the national amateur champions in the process. Queen's retained possession of the cup for a year and, after repeating as intercollegiate champs, they received their first challenge from the Cliffsides. Queen's cemented their place as the better of the two with a second win but were then beset by St. Michael's College and fell 4–5. Queen's returned to intercollegiate play afterwards and, though they were champions again in 1914, they did not challenge for the Allan Cup.

Interwar years

In 1915 the college schedule was cancelled due to World War I and Queen's rejoined the OHA for the duration. After the war, the Tricolour, as they were then known, returned to the intercollegiate conference but found they had been outpaced by Toronto. Over an 8-year span, Queen's would not post a winning record and eventually they withdrew from the league altogether. Queen's returned to the OHA in 1929, playing two seasons before suspending play due to financial constraints. Queen's was able to restart its program in the mid 30's and joined a new international intercollegiate league. Queen's played well in the four seasons of league play but the arrangement ended with the outbreak of World War II.

Transition period

Queen's returned to play after the war but had fallen even further behind their contemporaries. The newly christened 'Golden Gaels' posted dismal records for five years, routinely finishing last in the conference, and withdrew in 1950. After one season in the OHA, which was no better, the program was suspended for the remainder of the decade. The Gaels returned to play in 1960 and joined the Quebec-Ontario Athletic Association. They were a middle of the pack team for most of the next two decades and remained with the Ontario side when the conference was realigned in 1971. 1981 saw Queen's win its first conference championship in over 65 years and the Gaels made their first appearance in the national tournament.

Long recovery

After the title, Queen's had a few good years in the early 80s but slipped into the bottom half of the conference by the middle of the decade. After 1984, Queen's did not post a winning record for over 20 years and didn't fully regain their previous form until 2014. The Gaels finally returned to the national tournament in 2017 and won their second league championship two years later.

Season-by-season results

Senior and collegiate play

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points

Extra-League ChampionU Sports SemifinalistConference regular season championsConference Division ChampionsConference Playoff Champions
SeasonConferenceRegular SeasonConference Tournament ResultsNational Tournament Results
ConferenceOverall
GPWLTPts*FinishGPWLT%
Senior Hockey
1890–91OHA32104?????Lost Semifinal, 0–4 (Ottawa Hockey Club)
1891–92OHA32104?????Won First Round, 9–1 (Royal Military College)
Won Second Round, 11–1 (Kingston Hockey Club)
Lost Quarterfinal, 0–5 (Ottawa Hockey Club)
1892–93OHA43106?????Won Quarterfinal, 14–2 (Peterborough)
Lost Semifinal, 3–6 (Ottawa Hockey Club)
1893–94OHA31202?????Lost Semifinal, 1–4 (Ottawa Hockey Club)
Lost Championship, 2–3 (Osgoode Hall)
1894–95OHA440081st?????Won Semifinal, 19–5 (Toronto)
Won Championship, 17–3 (Trinity)
Lost Stanley Cup Challenge, 1–5 (Montreal Hockey Club)
1895–96OHA00000?????Won Semifinal, 6–3 (Ayr)
Won Championship, 12–3 (Stratford)
1896–97OHA00000?????Won Semifinal series, default (Peterborough)
Won Championship series, 12–7 (Toronto)
1897–98OHA00000?????Won Quarterfinal series, 32–6 (Royal Military College)
Won Semifinal series, 7–5 (Brockville)
Lost Championship, 3–7 (Osgoode Hall)
1898–99OHA220041st?????Won Quarterfinal series, 25–8 (Brockville)
Won Championship series, 19–11 (Toronto)
Lost Stanley Cup Challenge, 2–6 (Montreal Shamrocks)
1899–00OHA00000?????Won Group Semifinal, default (Brockville)
Won Group Final series, 19–5 (Royal Military College)
Won Semifinal series, 17–6 (Cornwall)
Lost Championship series, 4–6 (Toronto Wellingtons)
1900–01OHA211021st?????Lost Provincial Final series, 2–7 (Toronto Wellingtons)
1901–02OHA211022nd?????
Senior and Collegiate Hockey
1902–03CIAU422042nd?????
1903–04CIAU431061st?????
1904–05CIAU422042nd?????
1905–06CIAU431061st?????Lost Stanley Cup Challenge series, 0–2 (Ottawa Silver Seven)
1906–07CIAU413023rd?????
1907–08CIAU633062nd?????
1908–09CIAU6510101st?????Won Allan Cup Challenge, 5–4 (Ottawa Cliffsides)
1909–10CIAU64208T–1st?????Won Championship, 8–2 (Ottawa)Won Allan Cup Challenge, 6–3 (Ottawa Cliffsides)
Lost Allan Cup Challenge, 4–5 (St. Michael's College)
1910–11CIAU422043rd?????
1911–12CIAU404005th?????
1912–13CIAU413023rd?????
1913–14CIAU431061st?????
1914–15CIAU41302T–2nd?????
1915–16OHA31202??????
1916–17OHA70700??????
1917–18OHA51402??????
bgcolor=cccccc colspan="18" Program suspended
1919–20CIAU404003rd?????
1920–21CIAU404003rd?????
1921–22CIAU404043rd?????
1922–23CIAU633062nd?????
1923–24CIAU633062nd?????
1924–25CIAU633062nd?????
1925–26CIAU624043rd?????
1926–27CIAU606004th?????
bgcolor=cccccc colspan="18" Program suspended
1928–29OHA11650122nd?????Lost Championship series, 5–9 (Toronto)
1929–30OHA12651133rd?????
bgcolor=cccccc colspan="18" Program suspended
1934–35OHA41302T–2nd?????
bgcolor=cccccc colspan="18" Program suspended
1936–37CIAU615024th?????
IIL 1046085th
1937–38CIAU642082nd?????
IIL10820162nd
1938–39CIAU642082nd?????
IIL10730143rd
1939–40CIAU404043rd?????
IIL844085th
bgcolor=cccccc colspan="18" Program suspended
1945–46CIAU606004th?????
1946–47CIAU918024th?????
1947–48CIAU1239063rd?????
1948–49CIAU12012004th?????
1949–50CIAU12111024th?????
1950–51OHA34529010??????
bgcolor=cccccc colspan="18" Program suspended
TotalsGPWLT%Championships
Regular Season?????3 OHA Championships, 5 CIAU Championships
Conference Post-season?????4 OHA Championships, 1 CIAU Championship
Regular Season and Postseason Record?????2 Allan Cup Championships
† The International Intercollegiate League (IIL) was a joint venture between Canadian and American colleges.
‡ Ottawa refused to play in the championship due to a dispute of the site of the final game. Queen's assumed their place instead.

Collegiate only

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, SOL = Shootout Losses, Pts = Points

U Sports Champion U Sports SemifinalistConference regular season championsConference Division ChampionsConference Playoff Champions
SeasonConferenceRegular SeasonConference Tournament ResultsNational Tournament Results
ConferenceOverall
GPWLTOTLSOLPts*FinishGPWLT%
1959–60QOAA8440163rd8440
Program suspended
1961–62QOAA12552124th12552
1962–63QOAA123817T–6th12381
1963–64QOAA1237286th12372
1964–65QOAA16862184th18972Won Semifinal, 6–4 (Toronto)
Lost Championship, 3–4 (Montreal)
1965–66QOAA166100126th166100
1966–67QOAA16853194th17863Lost Semifinal, 1–10 (Toronto)
1967–68QOAA16313068th163130
1968–69QOAA15510010T–9th155100
1969–70QOAA141121312th141121
1970–71QOAA15744184th17854Won Semifinal, 8–3 (Waterloo)
Lost Championship, 4–5 (Toronto)
1971–72OUAA198101179th198101
1972–73OUAA17106121T–5th181071Lost Quarterfinal, 4–5 (OT) (Laurentian)
1973–74OUAA191072227th201082Lost Quarterfinal, 0–3 (Toronto)
1974–75OUAA14662149th14662
1975–76OUAA16952207th17962Lost Quarterfinal, 1–2 (Toronto)
1976–77OUAA194141914th194141
1977–78OUAA2079418T–8th20794
1978–79OUAA1621048T–10th162104
1979–80OUAA221732362nd?????results unavailable
1980–81OUAA221435331st281945Won Semifinal series, 2–0 (York)
Won Championship series, 2–0 (Western Ontario)
Lost Pool B Round-Robin, 3–2 (Concordia), 4–5 (Saskatchewan)
1981–82OUAA22137228T–3rd231382Lost Quarterfinal, 3–7 (Wilfrid Laurier)
1982–83OUAA241581314th2716101Won Quarterfinal, 4–3 (McMaster)
Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (Toronto)
1983–84OUAA241194266th2511104Lost Quarterfinal, 4–9 (Western Ontario)
1984–85OUAA247134189th247134
1985–86OUAA2461621410th246162
1986–87OUAA24415513T–10th244155
1987–88OUAA2561811315th256181
1988–89OUAA26121222611th2913142Lost Division Semifinal series, 1–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
1989–90OUAA2281401613th228140
1990–91OUAA222191515th222191
1991–92OUAA224171914th224171
1992–93OUAA22811319T–10th2610133Won First Round, 4–3 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
Lost Quarterfinal series, 1–2 (Toronto)
1993–94OUAA26718115T–13th277191Lost First Round, 1–4 (Toronto)
1994–95OUAA2631941015th273204Lost First Round, 4–5 (Toronto)
1995–96OUAA26718115T–12th267181
1996–97OUAA2641841214th274194Lost Division Semifinal, 3–7 (Toronto)
1997–98OUA2681621813th288182Lost Division Semifinal series, 0–2 (Toronto)
1998–99OUA2651471713th328177Won Division Semifinal series, 2–1 (Toronto)
Lost Division Final series, 1–2 (Guelph)
1999–00OUA2691522012th3213172Won Division Semifinal series, 2–1 (Toronto)
Won Division Final series, 2–0 (Guelph)
Lost Queen's Cup Semifinal, 1–3 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
2000–01OUA24616214T–12th266182Lost Division Semifinal series, 0–2 (Royal Military College)
2001–02OUA244191915th244191
2002–03OUA2471701412th2910190Won Division Semifinal series, 2–0 (Royal Military College)
Lost Division Final series, 1–2 (Toronto)
2003–04OUA249132020T–11th2811152Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Royal Military College)
Lost Division Semifinal series, 0–2 (Toronto)
2004–05OUA24814021814th248160
2005–06OUA24715111615th247161
2006–07OUA28814512211th308175Lost Division Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Ottawa)
2007–08OUA281312032910th3013143Lost Division Semifinal series, 0–2 (McGill)
2008–09OUA281213122714th2812142
2009–10OUA281412113010th3115151Lost Division Quarterfinal series, 1–2 (Carleton)
2010–11OUA2814113031T–10th3014160Lost Division Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Nipissing)
2011–12OUA2813130228T–13th3013152Lost Division Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (McGill)
2012–13OUA281011612714th3010191Lost Division Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Carleton)
2013–14OUA2817623395th3320103Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Ottawa)
Lost Division Semifinal series, 1–2 (Carleton)
2014–15OUA2613121027T–9th3115160Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Laurentian)
Lost Division Semifinal series, 0–2 (McGill)
2015–16OUA281773138T–4th3118121Lost Division Quarterfinal series, 1–2 (Ontario Tech)
2016–17OUA2818721395th3724121Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Ottawa)
Won Division Semifinal series, 2–0 (Concordia)
Won Division Final series, 2–0 (McGill)
Lost Queen's Cup, 3–4 (York)
Lost Quarterfinal, 1–5 (New Brunswick)
2017–18OUA2819630413rd3322110Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Nipissing)
Lost Division Semifinal series, 1–2 (Concordia)
2018–19OUA28181000366th3725120Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Ontario Tech)
Won Division Semifinal series, 2–1 (Ottawa)
Won Division Final series, 2–0 (Carleton)
Won Queen's Cup, 4–1 (Guelph)
Lost Quarterfinal, 3–5 (St. Francis Xavier)
2019–20OUA281213122714th3012162Lost Division Semifinal series, 0–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
2020–21Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021–22OUA19171011st201721Lost Division Quarterfinal, 2–3 (OT) (McGill)
2022–23OUA2612122026T–12th2612140
TotalsGPWLT/SOL%Championships
Regular Season13785477171142 Mid East Division Titles, 1 OUAA Championship, 1 OUA Championship
Conference Post-season102455701 OUAA Championship, 1 OUA Championship
U Sports Postseason41303 National tournament appearances
Regular Season and Postseason Record1484593777114
Note: Totals include results from 1959–60 onward except for the 1980 conference tournament.

See also

Queen's Gaels women's ice hockey

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Memorial Centre Arena . City of Kingston . February 21, 2024.
  2. Web site: Hockey, First Game of . Queen's University . February 21, 2024.
  3. Web site: Inside hockey's oldest rivalry: Two schools dropped the puck in 1886 — and the hate never went away . National Post . January 11, 2018.
  4. Book: Coleman, Charles L. . The Trail of the Stanley Cup, Vol. 1, 1896–1926, inc . 1966 . National Hockey League .