The Western Mustangs men's ice hockey team represents Western University (in full, The University of Western Ontario) in Canadian university competition. The Mustangs are members of Ontario University Athletics, one of the four regional associations within the national governing body of U Sports. The Mustangs play at Thompson Arena in London, Ontario.
The men's hockey team has won 3 OUA championships (1994–95, 2004–05, 2008–09)[1] and 1 U Sports championship (2001–02)[2]
In 1905, the first hockey club was established at the University of Western Ontario.[3] The sporting teams were organized by the two faculties at Western during this time, the Arts & Divinity faculty and the Medical "Meds" faculty. The teams practiced on ice rinks around London, as well as on the Thames river. By the 1913-14 season, hockey became the most popular sport on campus and a combined faculty team went on to represent Western in the Canadian Hockey Association championships, playing Berlin (now Kitchener, Ontario) in the final match. Western lost 6-4.[4]
Western entered the intercollegiate competition in the 1923-24 season.[5] This league comprised St. Michael’s College of Toronto, the Ontario Agricultural College and the University of Toronto. The team also played some exhibition games during 1920s, including a game against Princeton University in the 1926-27 season and one against the University of Michigan in the 1928-29 season.
In the 1932-33 season, Western won its first Canadian Intermediate Intercollegiate Championship by beating the University of Ottawa in the finals 6-1. Hockey at Western proceeded into the 1930s but was suspended in 1941-44 due to World War II. When the London Arena was not available for the 1936–37 season, J. Howard Crocker arranged to play home games in Brantford, and have practices an outdoor rink on campus.[6] After the war, the team kept competing in the Intermediate Intercollegiate league, as well as the senior London City League. The team continued until the mid 1950s. During this time, a lack of funding and ice time caused the team to be cancelled in 1955. The university did not have a rink at this time and there was little funding for intermediate teams.
In the 1964-65 season, Western joined the Ontario-Quebec Athletic Association. This was due to large support from Bill L’Heureux over the years prior. During this season, L'Heureux acted as the coach and the team placed third in a ten-team league, finishing 4th in the playoffs. While attending Western, Brian Conacher played with the Mustangs during their first season. Ron Watson took over as coach in 1965 and coached the Mustangs for 20 seasons, leading the team to the playoffs 18 years out of his 20 year reign.
After Ron Watson, Barry Martinelli took over in 1985. Mike Tomlak played for Western in the 1986-87 season. The team had medium success during this time, but it started to rise when Steve Rucchin joined the Mustangs from 1990 to 1994.[7] Rucchin scored 24 points in his first year, 62 points in his second, and 48 points in his third. On this rising success, Western won the first league OUA title in the 1994-95 season.[8] Martinelli retired as coach in 1999, where the position was filled by the assistant coach at the time, Clarke Singer.
Clarke Singer is the current coach of the Western Mustangs and has been coaching the team since 1999.[9] He has brought the team to its only national championship in 2001.
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points
| U Sports Champion | U Sports Semifinalist | Conference regular season champions | Conference Division Champions | Conference Playoff Champions |
| Season | Conference | Regular Season | Conference Tournament Results | National Tournament Results | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conference | Overall | ||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | Pts* | Finish | GP | W | L | T | % | |||||||
| Junior Hockey | |||||||||||||||||
| 1914–15 | OHA | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | T–1st | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Won Group 8 Final series, 17–13 (Woodstock) Lost quarterfinal series, 5–7 (Berlin Union Jacks) | ||||
| Program suspended due to World War I | |||||||||||||||||
| Senior and Intercollegiate Hockey | |||||||||||||||||
| 1923–24 | Intermediate | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |||||
| 1924–25 | Intermediate | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |||||
| 1925–26 | Intermediate | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |||||
| 1926–27 | Intermediate | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | T–1st | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Lost Championship, 2–3 (Royal Military College) | ||||
| 1927–28 | Intermediate | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 2nd | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Lost Semifinal series, 5–8 (Toronto jr. varsity) | ||||
| 1928–29 | Intermediate | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |||||
| OHA | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 10 | ? | Won OHA Group 11 Final series, 6–4 (Glencoe) Lost OHA First Round series, 1–14 (Windsor) | ||||||||||
| 1929–30 | Intermediate | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Lost Intermediate Western Final series, 8–9 (Toronto jr. varsity) | ||||
| OHA | 9 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 3 | ? | Lost OHA Section B Round-Robin, 3–4 (Ingersoll), 0–2 (Paris) | ||||||||||
| 1930–31 | Intermediate / OHA | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |||||
| 1931–32 | Intermediate | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |||||
| OHA | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 16 | ? | Lost OHA Group 11 series, 2–6 (Windsor) | ||||||||||
| 1932–33 | Intermediate | 6 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 10 | T–3rd | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Won Championship, 6–1 (Ottawa) | ||||
| OHA | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | ? | Lost OHA Section B series, 3–7 (Chatham Maroons) | ||||||||||
| 1933–34 | OHA | 7 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 12 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |||||
| 1934–35 | OHA | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 4 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |||||
| 1935–36 | OHA | 12 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 7 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |||||
| Program suspended | |||||||||||||||||
| 1937–38 | Intermediate | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |||||
| 1938–39 | Intermediate | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |||||
| Totals | GP | W | L | T | % | Championships | |||||||||||
| Regular Season | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 1 Intermediate Championship | |||||||||||
| Conference Post-season | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ||||||||||||
| Regular Season and Postseason Record | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ||||||||||||
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, SOL = Shootout Losses, Pts = Points
| U Sports Champion | U Sports Semifinalist | Conference regular season champions | Conference Division Champions | Conference Playoff Champions |
| Season | Conference | Regular Season | Conference Tournament Results | National Tournament Results | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conference | Overall | ||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | OTL | SOL | Pts* | Finish | GP | W | L | T | % | |||||
| 1964–65 | QOAA | 16 | 11 | 4 | 1 | – | – | 23 | 3rd | 17 | 11 | 5 | 1 | Lost Semifinal, 4–6 (Montreal) | |||
| 1965–66 | QOAA | 16 | 12 | 2 | 2 | – | – | 26 | 2nd | 16 | 12 | 2 | 2 | ||||
| 1966–67 | QOAA | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | – | – | 20 | 3rd | 17 | 10 | 7 | 0 | Lost Semifinal, 2–6 (Waterloo) | |||
| 1967–68 | QOAA | 16 | 7 | 9 | 0 | – | – | 18 | 5th | 16 | 7 | 9 | 0 | ||||
| 1968–69 | QOAA | 15 | 7 | 7 | 1 | – | – | 15 | 6th | 15 | 7 | 7 | 1 | ||||
| 1969–70 | QOAA | 15 | 5 | 6 | 4 | – | – | 14 | 7th | 15 | 5 | 6 | 4 | ||||
| 1970–71 | QOAA | 15 | 4 | 8 | 3 | – | – | 11 | 9th | 15 | 4 | 8 | 3 | ||||
| 1971–72 | OUAA | 19 | 11 | 5 | 3 | – | – | 25 | 3rd | 21 | 12 | 6 | 3 | Won Western Semifinal, 5–2 (Windsor) Lost Semifinal, 2–5 (Toronto) | |||
| 1972–73 | OUAA | 17 | 14 | 3 | 0 | – | – | 28 | 2nd | 20 | 16 | 4 | 0 | Won Western Semifinal, 7–1 (Windsor) Won Semifinal, 5–4 (Laurentian) Lost Championship, 1–8 (Toronto) | |||
| 1973–74 | OUAA | 17 | 13 | 4 | 0 | – | – | 26 | 4th | 20 | 15 | 5 | 0 | Won Quarterfinal, 4–1 (Guelph) Won Semifinal, 6–4 (Toronto) Lost Championship, 1–8 (Waterloo) | |||
| 1974–75 | OUAA | 17 | 11 | 4 | 2 | – | – | 24 | 3rd | 19 | 12 | 5 | 2 | Won Western Semifinal, 12–3 (Wilfrid Laurier) Lost Semifinal, 2–5 (York) | |||
| 1975–76 | OUAA | 20 | 14 | 6 | 0 | – | – | 26 | T–3rd | 21 | 14 | 7 | 0 | Lost Semifinal, 2–5 (York) | |||
| 1976–77 | OUAA | 20 | 9 | 9 | 2 | – | – | 20 | T–7th | 20 | 9 | 9 | 2 | ||||
| 1977–78 | OUAA | 20 | 14 | 3 | 3 | – | – | 31 | 3rd | 22 | 15 | 4 | 3 | Won Quarterfinal, 9–4 (Windsor) Lost Semifinal, 0–6 (Wilfrid Laurier) | |||
| 1978–79 | OUAA | 16 | 7 | 5 | 4 | – | – | 18 | 6th | 18 | 8 | 6 | 4 | Won Quarterfinal, ? (Wilfrid Laurier) Lost Semifinal, ? (Guelph) | |||
| 1979–80 | OUAA | 22 | 11 | 9 | 2 | – | – | 24 | 7th | 22 | 11 | 9 | 2 | ||||
| 1980–81 | OUAA | 22 | 14 | 4 | 4 | – | – | 32 | 2nd | 26 | 16 | 6 | 4 | Won Semifinal series, 2–0 (Toronto) Lost Championship series, 0–2 (Queen's) | |||
| 1981–82 | OUAA | 22 | 12 | 9 | 1 | – | – | 25 | 7th | 22 | 12 | 9 | 1 | ||||
| 1982–83 | OUAA | 24 | 20 | 4 | 0 | – | – | 40 | 2nd | 27 | 21 | 6 | 0 | Lost Semifinal series, 1–2 (Wilfrid Laurier) | |||
| 1983–84 | OUAA | 24 | 15 | 8 | 1 | – | – | 31 | 3rd | 30 | 18 | 11 | 1 | Won Quarterfinal, 9–4 (Queen's) Won Semifinal series, 2–1 (Wilfrid Laurier) Lost Championship series, 0–2 (Toronto) | |||
| 1984–85 | OUAA | 24 | 15 | 7 | 2 | – | – | 32 | 3rd | 30 | 19 | 9 | 2 | Won Quarterfinal, 8–5 (Guelph) Won Semifinal series, 2–0 (Wilfrid Laurier) Lost Championship series, 1–2 (York) | |||
| 1985–86 | OUAA | 24 | 17 | 5 | 2 | – | – | 36 | 4th | 27 | 18 | 7 | 2 | Won Quarterfinal, 4–3 (Windsor) Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (Wilfrid Laurier) | |||
| 1986–87 | OUAA | 24 | 20 | 2 | 2 | – | – | 1st | 34 | 25 | 7 | 2 | Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Windsor) Won Semifinal series, 2–1 (Wilfrid Laurier) Lost Championship series, 1–2 (York) | Lost Pool 1 Round-Robin, 2–5 (Saskatchewan), 1–3 (Prince Edward Island) | |||
| 1987–88 | OUAA | 26 | 17 | 4 | 5 | – | – | 39 | 3rd | 34 | 21 | 8 | 5 | Won Division Semifinal series, 2–0 (Waterloo) Lost Division Final series, 0–2 (York) Won Semifinal, 3–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières) Lost Championship, 1–5 (York) | Won Semifinal, 3–1 (Prince Edward Island) Lost Championship, 3–5 (York) | ||
| 1988–89 | OUAA | 26 | 19 | 2 | 5 | – | – | 43 | T–1st | 28 | 19 | 4 | 5 | Lost Division Semifinal series, 0–2 (Wilfrid Laurier) | |||
| 1989–90 | OUAA | 22 | 11 | 9 | 2 | – | – | 24 | 8th | 24 | 11 | 11 | 2 | Lost Division Semifinal series, 0–2 (Wilfrid Laurier) | |||
| 1990–91 | OUAA | 22 | 12 | 7 | 3 | – | – | 27 | T–6th | 23 | 12 | 8 | 3 | Lost First Round, 2–3 (Guelph) | |||
| 1991–92 | OUAA | 22 | 16 | 5 | 1 | – | – | 33 | 2nd | 24 | 16 | 7 | 1 | Lost Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Wilfrid Laurier) | |||
| 1992–93 | OUAA | 22 | 12 | 8 | 2 | – | – | 26 | T–6th | 23 | 12 | 9 | 2 | Lost First Round, 4–8 (Windsor) | |||
| 1993–94 | OUAA | 24 | 22 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 45 | 1st | 29 | 25 | 3 | 1 | Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Queen's) Won Semifinal, 2–1 (York) Lost Championship, 1–2 (Guelph) | Lost Semifinal, 5–6 (Guelph) | ||
| 1994–95 | OUAA | 24 | 16 | 6 | 2 | – | – | 34 | 2nd | 29 | 20 | 7 | 2 | Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Waterloo) Won Semifinal, 7–2 (York) Won Championship, 5–4 (Guelph) | Lost Semifinal, 4–5 (Moncton) | ||
| 1995–96 | OUAA | 26 | 16 | 8 | 2 | – | – | 34 | 3rd | 27 | 16 | 9 | 2 | Lost Division Semifinal, 4–5 (2OT) (Windsor) | |||
| 1996–97 | OUAA | 26 | 15 | 11 | 0 | – | – | 30 | T–6th | 29 | 16 | 13 | 0 | Won Division Semifinal, 6–2 (Windsor) Lost Division Final series, 0–2 (Waterloo) | |||
| 1997–98 | OUA | 26 | 15 | 8 | 3 | – | – | 33 | 5th | 29 | 16 | 10 | 3 | Lost Division Semifinal series, 1–2 (Waterloo) | |||
| 1998–99 | OUA | 26 | 14 | 12 | 0 | – | – | 28 | 8th | 26 | 14 | 12 | 0 | ||||
| 1999–00 | OUA | 26 | 19 | 3 | 4 | – | – | 42 | T–2nd | 32 | 22 | 6 | 4 | Won Division Final series, 2–0 (Wilfrid Laurier) Won Semifinal, 5–1 (York) Lost Championship, 2–3 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières) | Lost Pool A Round-Robin, 2–3 (New Brunswick), 2–3 (Saskatchewan) | ||
| 2000–01 | OUA | 24 | 21 | 3 | 0 | – | – | 42 | 2nd | 30 | 25 | 5 | 0 | Won Division Final series, 2–0 (Waterloo) Won Semifinal, 7–3 (York) Lost Championship, 3–4 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières) | Lost Pool A Round-Robin, 2–5 (St. Francis Xavier), 5–3 (Alberta) | ||
| 2001–02 | OUA | 24 | 22 | 0 | 2 | – | – | 46 | 1st | 32 | 28 | 2 | 2 | Won Division Final series, 2–1 (Lakehead) Won Semifinal, 5–3 (York) Lost Championship, 4–5 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières) | Won Pool A Round-Robin, 5–2 (Guelph), 4–1 (Alberta) Won Championship, 4–3 (3OT) (Quebec–Trois-Rivières) | ||
| 2002–03 | OUA | 24 | 24 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 48 | 1st | 26 | 24 | 2 | 0 | Lost Division Final series, 0–2 (Lakehead) | |||
| 2003–04 | OUA | 24 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | – | 42 | 1st | 27 | 22 | 5 | 0 | Lost Division Final series, 1–2 (Lakehead) | |||
| 2004–05 | OUA | 24 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 1 | – | 35 | T–1st | 33 | 22 | 11 | 0 | Won Division Final series, 2–1 (Waterloo) Won Semifinal series, 2–1 (Lakehead) Won Championship, 4–0 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières) | Lost Pool A Round-Robin, 3–8 (Moncton), 0–3 (Saskatchewan) | ||
| 2005–06 | OUA | 24 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | 43 | T–1st | 27 | 22 | 4 | 1 | Lost Division Final series, 1–2 (Lakehead) | |||
| 2006–07 | OUA | 28 | 17 | 6 | 3 | 2 | – | 39 | 4th | 34 | 20 | 11 | 3 | Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Brock) Lost Division Semifinal series, 1–2 (Waterloo) | |||
| 2007–08 | OUA | 28 | 18 | 5 | – | 1 | 4 | 41 | 3rd | 34 | 21 | 9 | 4 | Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (York) Lost Division Semifinal series, 1–2 (Brock) | |||
| 2008–09 | OUA | 28 | 19 | 7 | – | 2 | 0 | 41 | 3rd | 38 | 26 | 12 | 0 | Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Guelph) Won Division Semifinal series, 2–0 (York) Won Division Final series, 2–0 (Wilfrid Laurier) Won Championship, 2–1 (McGill) | Won Pool B Round-Robin, 3–4 (McGill), 7–2 (Saint Mary's) Lost Championship, 2–4 (New Brunswick) | ||
| 2009–10 | OUA | 28 | 21 | 7 | – | 0 | 0 | 42 | 3rd | 35 | 25 | 10 | 0 | Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Ontario Tech) Won Division Semifinal series, 2–0 (Windsor) 'Lost Division Final series, 0–2 (Lakehead) | |||
| 2010–11 | OUA | 28 | 20 | 3 | – | 2 | 3 | 45 | 2nd | 38 | 27 | 8 | 3 | Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Windsor) Won Division Semifinal series, 2–1 (Waterloo) Won Division Final series, 2–0 (Guelph) Lost Championship, 2–6 (McGill) | Lost Pool B Round-Robin, 3–2 (Calgary), 0–4 (New Brunswick) | ||
| 2011–12 | OUA | 28 | 21 | 4 | – | 1 | 2 | 45 | 2nd | 39 | 29 | 8 | 2 | Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Wilfrid Laurier) Won Division Semifinal series, 2–0 (Brock) Won Division Final series, 2–1 (Windsor) Lost Championship, 1–4 (McGill) | Won Pool B Round-Robin, 3–2 (3OT) (Quebec–Trois-Rivières), 3–2 (New Brunswick) Lost Championship, 3–4 (OT) (McGill) | ||
| 2012–13 | OUA | 28 | 21 | 5 | – | 1 | 1 | 44 | 1st | 33 | 24 | 8 | 1 | Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Ontario Tech) Lost Division Semifinal series, 1–2 (Waterloo) | |||
| 2013–14 | OUA | 28 | 21 | 6 | – | 1 | 0 | 43 | 4th | 34 | 24 | 10 | 0 | Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Guelph) Lost Division Semifinal series, 1–2 (Windsor) | |||
| 2014–15 | OUA | 27 | 19 | 7 | – | 1 | 0 | 39 | 5th | 29 | 19 | 10 | 0 | Lost Division Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Lakehead) | |||
| 2015–16 | OUA | 28 | 18 | 10 | – | 0 | 0 | 36 | 7th | 37 | 24 | 13 | 0 | Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Wilfrid Laurier) Won Division Semifinal series, 2–1 (Toronto) Won Division Final series, 2–1 (Guelph) Lost Championship, 3–4 (OT) (Quebec–Trois-Rivières) | Lost Quarterfinal, 1–5 (New Brunswick) | ||
| 2016–17 | OUA | 28 | 8 | 16 | – | 2 | 2 | 20 | 17th | 28 | 8 | 18 | 2 | ||||
| 2017–18 | OUA | 28 | 14 | 11 | – | 2 | 1 | 31 | 12th | 31 | 15 | 15 | 1 | Lost Division Quarterfinal series, 1–2 (Ryerson) | |||
| 2018–19 | OUA | 28 | 15 | 12 | – | 0 | 1 | 31 | T–9th | 35 | 19 | 15 | 1 | Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Wilfrid Laurier) Won Division Semifinal series, 2–1 (Brock) Lost Division Final series, 1–2 (Guelph) Lost Bronze Medal Game, 0–3 (Carleton) | |||
| 2019–20 | OUA | 28 | 11 | 13 | – | 4 | 0 | 26 | 15th | 39 | 18 | 21 | 0 | Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Toronto) Won Division Semifinal series, 2–1 (Ryerson) Lost Division Final series, 1–2 (Guelph) Won Bronze Medal Game, 5–2 (Concordia) | Won Quarterfinal, 3–2 (Saskatchewan) Remainder of tournament cancelled | ||
| 2020–21 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||||||||||||||||
| 2021–22 | OUA | 14 | 7 | 7 | – | 0 | 0 | T–11th | 15 | 7 | 8 | 0 | Lost First Round, 4–5 (2OT) (Ryerson) | ||||
| 2022–23 | OUA | 27 | 11 | 11 | – | 5 | 0 | 27 | T–12th | 27 | 11 | 16 | 0 | ||||
| Totals | GP | W | L | T/SOL | % | Championships | |||||||||||
| Regular Season | 1335 | 864 | 382 | 89 | 1 Central Division Title, 9 Far West Division Titles, 9 West Division Titles, 3 OUAA Championships, 6 OUA Championships | ||||||||||||
| Conference Post-season | 188 | 102 | 86 | 0 | 1 OUAA Championship, 2 OUA Championships | ||||||||||||
| U Sports Postseason | 25 | 11 | 14 | 0 | 13 National Tournament appearances | ||||||||||||
| Regular Season and Postseason Record | 1548 | 977 | 482 | 89 | 1 National Championship | ||||||||||||
Western has had multiple NHL and All-Canadian players over the years. These include: