Toronto Jr. Canadiens Explained

Bg Color:blue
Text Color:red
Team:Toronto Jr. Canadiens
Logosize:160px
City:Toronto, Ontario, Canada
League:Ontario Junior Hockey League
Conference:South-West
Division:South
Founded:1972
Arena:ScotiaBank Pond
Colours:Red, Blue, and White
Owner:Peter Friedmann - Joel Feldberg -Jeffrey Bly
Gm:David DeMarinis
Coach:David DeMarinis
Affiliates:Leaside Kings (GTHL)
Dates1:1972-1983
Name1:Wexford Warriors
Dates2:1983-2006
Name2:Wexford Raiders
Dates3:2006-Present
Name3:Toronto Jr. Canadiens

The Toronto Jr. Canadiens are a Junior "A" ice hockey team based in the Downsview neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They were known as the Wexford Raiders until the end of the 2005–06 season and are a part of Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) but used to be a part of the Metro Junior A Hockey League.

History

The team originated in 1972 as the Wexford Warriors of the Metro Junior B league, when the original Wexford Raiders jumped to the Junior A Ontario Provincial League in 1972. When the Junior A Raiders folded in 1981, the Junior B Warriors adopted the Raider name and kept it until 2006.

The Wexford Raiders were one of the strongest teams to play in the Metro Junior A Hockey League. A losing team for much of its history, they become one of the most dominant squads in 1990, under coaches Stan Butler and Kevin Burkett. Butler and Burkett coached the Wexford Raiders midget team to the 1989 championship, then took most of the players to the Junior B level in 1990, and they served as the foundation to four consecutive Metro championship squads. During the 1990s, under the management of Burkett and Butler, the Raiders sent more players on NCAA Division I hockey scholarships than any other junior team in North America. In 1994, the Raiders defeated the Caledon Canadians 4-games-to-0 in the Metro League final. The Canadians were granted the permission to host the Dudley Hewitt Cup that year and ended up winning it despite losing the Metro final.

In 1998, again playing Caledon, the Raiders won the last Metro Junior "A" title in game 7 by a score of 9–0. In 2006, the Raiders changed their name to the Toronto Jr. Canadiens and took on the colors of the Montreal Canadiens.

2006-07

On February 11, 2007, after 144 minutes and 32 seconds of play, the Canadiens defeated the Pickering Panthers in Game 2 of the first round of the playoffs.[1] The game-winning goal was credited to Kyle Wetering at the 4:32 mark of the 5th overtime. Toronto outshot Pickering 88–86.[2] On February 12, 2007, TSN show That's Hockey showed highlights of the game and announced that the history of the game may be preserved in the Hockey Hall of Fame as the longest junior hockey game in history, far surpassing the previous record. The game has been officially named the longest game in Ontario Hockey Association history.[3]

Season-by-season results

2006 - current History
Toronto Jr. Canadiens
49 26 16 5 2 202 162 59 4th OPJHL-S Lost Conf. QF
49 29 18 - 2 223 175 60 4th OPJHL-S
53 31 20 - 2 242 251 64 3rd OJHL-C
50 27 19 - 4 218 195 58 6th CCHL-W Lost Preliminary
50 16 30 - 4 136 207 36 6th OJHL-S DNQ
49 18 24 - 7 156 184 43 5th OJHL-S Lost Division SF
55 27 23 - 5 176 179 59 5th OJHL-S Lost Conf. QF
53 23 26 - 4 184 213 50 5th OJHL-S Lost Conf. QF
- - - - - - - - - -
54 30 16 3 5 184 170 68 3rd of 6 South Div
6th of 11 SW Conf
9th of 22 OJHL
Lost Conf. Quarters 1-4 (Cougars)
54 28 20 2 4 177 164 62 3rd of 6 South Div
5th of 11 SW Conf
11th of 22 OJHL
Won Conf. Quarters 4-3 (Buzzers)
Lost Conf. Semifinals 0-4 (Raiders)
54 33 18 1 2 202 166 69 4th of 6 South Div
5th of 11 SW Conf
8th of 22 OJHL
Lost Conf. Quarters 2-4 (Blades)
2018–19 54 27 23 1 3 166 180 58 4th of 5 South Div
8th of 11 SW Conf
13th of 22 OJHL
Lost Conf. Quarters 1-4 (Rangers)
2019–20 54 38 10 2 4 207 144 58 1st of 6 South Div
3rd of 11 SW Conf
4th of 22 OJHL
Won Conf. Quarters 4-1 (Rangers)
Remaining playoffs cancelled
due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21 Season Lost to Covid-19 pandemic
2021–22 54 40 12 2 0 235 119 82 1st of 6 South Div
1st of 11 SW Conf
1st of 22 OJHL
Won Conf. Quarters 2-0 (Patriots)
Won Conf. Semifinals 2-0 (Rangers)
Won Conf. Finals 3-1 (Cougars)
Lost League Finals 3-4 (Panthers)
2022–23 54 45 5 2 2 256 104 94 1st of 12 SE Conf
1st of 24 OJHL
Won Conf. Quarters 4-1 (Rangers)
Lost Conf. Semifinals 3-4 (Golden Hawks)
2023–24 56 31 19 3 3 210 165 68 6th of 12 East Conf
10th of 22 OJHL
Won Conf. Quarters 4-1 (Dukes)
Lost Conf Semifinals 0-4 (Golden Hawks)

Playoffs

MetJHL Years

Wexford Raiders defeated Oshawa Legionaires 4-games-to-3

Wexford Raiders defeated Kingston Voyageurs 4-games-to-none

Thornhill Thunderbirds defeated Wexford Raiders 4-games-to-3

Wexford Raiders defeated Kingston Voyageurs 4-games-to-1

Wexford Raiders defeated Oshawa Legionaires 4-games-to-3

Wexford Raiders defeated Bramalea Blues 4-games-to-3 METJHL CHAMPIONS

Wexford Raiders defeated Kingston Voyageurs 4-games-to-1

Wexford Raiders defeated Thornhill Thunderbirds 4-games-to-2

Wexford Raiders defeated Bramalea Blues 4-games-to-none METJHL CHAMPIONS

Wexford Raiders defeated Richmond Hill Riot 4-games-to-none

Wexford Raiders defeated Wellington Dukes 4-games-to-none

Wexford Raiders defeated St. Michael's Buzzers 4-games-to-1 METJHL CHAMPIONS

Wexford Raiders defeated Kingston Voyageurs 4-games-to-1

Wexford Raiders defeated Thornhill Islanders 4-games-to-none

Wexford Raiders defeated Caledon Canadians 4-games-to-none METJHL CHAMPIONS

Third and eliminated in OHA Buckland Cup round robin (1-2)

Wexford Raiders defeated Wellington Dukes 4-games-to-2

Wexford Raiders defeated Thornhill Islanders 4-games-to-3

Caledon Canadians defeated Wexford Raiders 4-games-to-none

Wexford Raiders defeated Wellington Dukes 4-games-to-1

Thornhill Islanders defeated Wexford Raiders 4-games-to-2

Wexford Raiders defeated Niagara Scenic 4-games-to-none

First in round robin quarter-final (4-2)

Caledon Canadians defeated Wexford Raiders 4-games-to-none

Wexford Raiders defeated Quinte Hawks 3-games-to-none

Wexford Raiders defeated Oshawa Legionaires 4-games-to-2

Wexford Raiders defeated Caledon Canadians 4-games-to-3 METJHL CHAMPIONS

Milton Merchants (OPJHL) defeated Wexford Raiders 4-games-to-1OJHL Years

Raiders 1970-1981

Bg Color:green
Text Color:black
Team:Wexford Raiders
Logosize:140px
City:Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
League:Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
Metro Junior B Hockey League
Operated:1970-1981
Colours:Green, Black, and White
Dates1:1970-1971
Name1:Toronto Raiders
Dates2:1971-1981
Name2:Wexford Raiders
Dates3:1981
Name3:Folded

There also was a Wexford Raiders team in the Ontario Provincial Junior League based in the Wexford neighbourhood of the Toronto suburb of Scarborough. The team originated in 1970 as the Toronto Raiders of the Metro Junior B league, and was renamed the Wexford Raiders in 1971. In 1972, the team moved to the new Ontario Provincial Junior League in 1972 and operated until 1981. After the Junior A team folded, the Metro B "Warriors" assumed the "Raider" name in 1983.

Season-by-season results

Season GP W L T OTL GF GA P Results Playoffs
Toronto Raiders
1970-71 44 17 22 5 - 208 241 39 8th Metro B
Wexford Raiders
1971-72 44 20 19 5 - 206 210 45 6th Metro B
44 26 9 9 - 264 185 61 2nd OPJHL Won League
44 26 12 6 - 235 172 58 3rd OPJHL Won League
44 22 15 7 - 241 196 51 4th OPJHL
44 19 19 6 - 207 196 44 4th OPJHL
44 20 21 3 - 211 219 43 7th OPJHL
50 18 25 7 - 268 308 43 6th OPJHL
50 14 31 5 - 208 280 33 10th OPJHL
44 17 20 7 - 238 241 41 8th OPJHL
44 11 32 1 - 234 334 23 12th OPJHL

Playoffs

Wexford Raiders defeated Weston Dodgers 4-games-to-1

Wexford Raiders defeated Dixie Beehives 4-games-to-2

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

Chatham Maroons (SOJHL) defeated Wexford Raiders 4-games-to-3

Wexford Raiders defeated Richmond Hill Rams 4-games-to-2

Wexford Raiders defeated North Bay Trappers 4-games-to-3

Wexford Raiders defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-1 OPJHL CHAMPIONS

Wexford Raiders defeated Windsor Spitfires (SOJHL) 4-games-to-3 BUCKLAND CUP CHAMPIONS

Thunder Bay Hurricanes (TBJHL) defeated Wexford Raiders 4-games-to-3

Wexford Raiders defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-none

Wexford Raiders defeated North York Rangers 4-games-to-3

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

North Bay Trappers defeated Wexford Raiders 4-games-to-2

Royal York Royals defeated Wexford Raiders 4-games-to-2

Guelph Platers defeated Wexford Raiders 4-games-to-none

Dixie Beehives defeated Wexford Raiders 4-games-to-none

Arena

The Jr. Canadiens play at Scotiabank Pond at Downsview Park.

The Raiders played at Scarborough Arena Gardens at 75 Birchmount Road. The city rink built in 1954 was used in the 1986 film Youngbloods and being rebuilt due to roof issues.[4] Demolished in 2023 and should open in 2025.

Notable alumni

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gamesheet: Pickering at Toronto - Sat, Feb 10, 2007.
  2. Web site: Gamesheet: Pickering at Toronto - Sat, Feb 10, 2007.
  3. Web site: Archived copy . 2007-02-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151121180820/http://www.ohahockey.org/news_story.php?id=399 . 2015-11-21 .
  4. https://www.Toronto.com/news/whats-going-on-here-scarborough-gardens-arena-has-reached-the-end-of-its-lifespan-and/article_9abf8991-ef37-52ba-a00f-0b49dbd8ec51.html?