Toronto Nationals (ice hockey) explained

Team:Toronto Nationals
Logosize:125pg
City:Vaughan, Ontario
League:Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
Operated:-1977
Arena:Vaughan Arena
Colours:Red, Black, and White
Name1:Vaughan Nationals
Dates1:1972-1974
Name2:Toronto Nationals
Dates2:1974-1977
Altname1:Toronto Nationals Jr. B
Altdates1:1970-1976
Altname2:Seneca Nationals
Altdates2:1976-1980

The Toronto Nationals are a pair of defunct Tier II Junior "A" & Junior "B" ice hockey teams from Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. They were a part of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League and the Metro Junior B Hockey League.

Jr. A Nationals

In 1975, the Nationals won their one and only Junior "A" league title. They went on to the Ontario Hockey Association Championship and met the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League Champion Guelph CMC's. Guelph came out on top 4-games-to-2. The Nationals folded in 1977.

Season-by-season results

Season GP W L T GF GA P Results Playoffs
Vaughan Nationals
44 29 9 6 270 189 64 1st OPJHL
44 27 12 5 215 123 59 2nd OPJHL
Toronto Nationals
44 23 15 6 235 202 52 3rd OPJHL Won League
44 16 18 10 198 180 42 7th OPJHL
44 19 22 3 220 250 41 8th OPJHL

Playoffs

Toronto Nationals defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-none

Toronto Nationals defeated Richmond Hill Rams 4-games-to-2

Wexford Raiders defeated Toronto Nationals 4-games-to-1

North Bay Trappers defeated Toronto Nationals 4-games-to-3

Toronto Nationals defeated Richmond Hill Rams 4-games-to-2

Toronto Nationals defeated Seneca Flyers 4-games-to-none

Toronto Nationals defeated Wexford Raiders 4-games-to-1 OPJHL CHAMPIONS

Guelph CMC's (SOJHL) defeated Toronto Nationals 4-games-to-2

Toronto Nationals defeated Royal York Royals 3-games-to-2

Toronto Nationals defeated Weston Dodgers 2-games-to-none

North York Rangers defeated Toronto Nationals 4-games-to-1

Markham Waxers defeated Toronto Nationals 4-games-to-none

Jr. B Nationals

In the early 1970s, the Toronto Nationals also had an entry in the Metro Junior B Hockey League who were 1973 Metro Champions and runners up for the Sutherland Cup All-Ontario title. The 1975-76 season saw a 14-year-old Wayne Gretzky challenge the wishes of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association and sign with the Toronto Nationals. Barely 16 years old, Gretzky had played two seasons with the Nationals and scored 63 goals for 132 points in just 60 games. The Nationals won the 1977 Metro championship, led by the young Gretzky with 75 points in just 23 playoff games. The next season, he signed with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, a quick stop before going professional and starting what is considered by many hockey enthusiasts as the greatest career in hockey history.

Season-by-season results

Season GP W L T GF GA P Results Playoffs
Toronto Nationals
1970-71 43 25 14 4 201 174 54 4th Metro B
1971-72 44 21 17 6 205 172 48 2nd Metro B
1972-73 34 21 9 4 151 197 46 2nd Metro B Won League
1973-74 44 9 30 5 154 256 23 10th Metro B
1974-75 38 4 33 1 119 258 9 14th Metro B
1975-76 36 13 15 8 180 190 34 8th Metro B
Seneca Nationals
1976-77 36 17 14 5 183 181 39 3rd Metro B Won League
1977-78 36 17 13 6 175 179 40 5th Metro B
1978-79 44 24 14 6 273 262 54 6th Metro B
1979-80 41 18 19 4 261 294 40 8th Metro B

Sutherland Cup appearances

1973: Sarnia Bees defeated Toronto Nationals 4-games-to-2

Notable Jr. B alumni

Dave Shand

Dwight FosterRob PalmerWarren Holmes

External links