Degagne Hurricanes

The Westfort Hurricanes were a Canadian Junior ice hockey club from Fort William, Ontario. The Herks were members of the Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League and were Abbott Cup finalists once.

History

In 1972, the Hurricanes broke away from the Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League to join the St. Paul, Minnesota-based Can-Am Junior Hockey League. A year later, that league became the Midwest Junior Hockey League. The Herks stayed on board for one Midwest Junior season before returning to the TBJHL.

Dave Siciliano coached the Hurricanes during the 1973–74 season. His team completed the regular season in first place with 45 wins in 60 games. In the 1974 Centennial Cup playoffs, the Hurricanes defeated the Wexford Raiders four games to three in the first round, then were defeated four games to three by the Smiths Falls Bears in the second round.

The MWJHL later merged and solidified the United States Hockey League. The Buccaneers folded on July 6, 1980 when the TBAHA left them with no league to play in.

Season-by-season standings

Playoffs

*1971 ''Lost Final''
:Westfort Hurricanes defeated Fort William Canadians ''3-games-to-2''
:Thunder Bay Marrs defeated Westfort Hurricanes ''4-games-to-1''
*1972 ''Lost Semi-final''
: Minnesota Jr. Stars defeated Westfort Hurricanes ''2-games-to-none''
*1973 ''Lost Quarter-final/Canadian TBAHA Semi-final''
: Thunder Bay Centennials defeated Westfort Hurricanes ''4-games-to-2''
*1974 ''Won TBAHA Jack Adams Trophy final, Lost Hewitt-Dudley Memorial Trophy final''
:Thunder Bay Hurricanes defeated Thunder Bay Eagles (TBJHL) ''3-games-to-none''
:Thunder Bay Hurricanes defeated Fort William Canadians (TBJHL) ''4-games-to-none'' JACK ADAMS TROPHY CHAMPIONS
:Thunder Bay Hurricanes defeated Wexford Raiders (OPJHL) ''4-games-to-3''
:Smiths Falls Bears ( CJHL) defeated Thunder Bay Hurricanes ''4-games-to-3''
*1975 ''Lost Final''
:Thunder Bay Hurricanes defeated Thunder Bay Beavers ''4-games-to-2''
:Thunder Bay Eagles defeated Thunder Bay Hurricanes ''4-games-to-1''
*1976 ''Lost Semi-final''
:Thunder Bay Beavers defeated Thunder Bay Hurricanes ''4-games-to-2''
*1977 ''Lost Final''
:Degagne Hurricanes defeated Thunder Bay Beavers ''3-games-to-none and 1 tie''
:Thunder Bay Eagles defeated Degagne Hurricanes ''4-games-to-1''
*1978 ''Won League, Lost Hewitt-Dudley Memorial Trophy Quarter-final''
:Degagne Hurricanes defeated Thunder Bay Beavers ''3-games-to-none''
:Degagne Hurricanes defeated Atikokan Voyageurs ''4-games-to-none'' TBJHL CHAMPIONS
:Guelph Platers (OPJHL) defeated Degagne Hurricanes ''4-games-to-none''
*1979 ''Lost Final''
:Thunder Bay North Stars defeated Degagne Buccaneers ''4-games-to-1''
*1980 ''Lost Final''
:Thunder Bay North Stars defeated Degagne Buccaneers ''4-games-to-none with 1 tie''

Championships

''TBJHL Champions'':
:1942, 1943, 1952, 1960, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1974*, 1978
''Abbott Cup Finalists'':
:1970
''Dudley Hewitt Cup/Eastern Centennial Cup Semi Final Champion''
:1974

''(*) denotes: Herks played in MWJHL, rejoined TBJHL for playoffs.''

Notable alumni

''Fort William Hurricane-Rangers''
*Gus Bodnar
*Alex Delvecchio
*Bill Johansen
*Bud Poile
''Fort William Hurricanes''
* Mike Busniuk
* Larry Cahan
* Dave Gatherum
* Ed Kachur
*Dennis Owchar
* Don Poile
* Vic Venasky
* Tommy Williams
*Gord Wilson
''Westfort Hurricanes''
*Lou Nistico
* Murray Wing
*Benny Woit
''Thunder Bay Westfort Hurricanes'' http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayersByTeam.jsp?team=Thunder+Bay+Hurricanes
* Mike Hordy
* Trevor Johansen

References

{{Reflist

Defunct junior ice hockey teams in Canada
Hockey Northwestern Ontario