The Royal York Royals are a defunct Junior "A"

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice hock ...

team from

North York, Ontario North York is one of the six administrative districts of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located directly north of York, Old Toronto and East York, between Etobicoke to the west and Scarborough to the east. As of the 2016 Census, it had a popul ...

, Canada. They were a part of the

Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League The Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) is a Junior A ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada. It is under the supervision of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) and the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL). The league was listed as the 7th best d ...

. The team was based at Downsview Arena in the

Downsview Downsview is a neighbourhood in the north end of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located in the district of North York. The area takes its name from the Downs View farm established around 1842 near the present-day intersection of Keele Street and Wilso ...

neighbourhood. The team was originally named the Downsview Bees from 1971–1972, the Downsview Beavers from 1972–1974, and the Royal York Royals from 1974–1980.

History

The Downsview Bees started operations in 1971, as part of the Metro Junior B league. In 1972, the team was one of six Metro teams to join the new OPJHL, changing its name to Beavers to reflect that they no longer were playing "Junior B" hockey. They became the Royals in 1974 and started having some success. After four consecutive years near the top of the league and little playoff success, the Royals folded in 1980. In 1978, the Royals made it to the league finals to contend for the Buckland Trophy. Their opponent was the

Guelph Platers The Guelph Platers were a junior ice hockey team based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The team played in the Ontario Hockey League, Ontario Junior Hockey League, and Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League. They were originally known as the CMC's un ...

. The Platers defeated the Royals 4-games-1. An incident in a 1975 game against the Markham Waxers where the Royals' goalkeeper, Kim Crouch, had his throat slashed open when diving into a fray lead to the development of the Kim Crouch collar, a protective neck-guard that was eventually adopted widely hockey players.

Season-by-season results

Playoffs

*1973 ''DNQ'' *1974 ''DNQ'' *1975 ''DNQ'' *1976 ''Lost Preliminary'' : Toronto Nationals defeated Royal York Royals ''3-games-to-2'' *1977 ''Lost Semi-final'' :Royal York Royals defeated

Wexford Raiders 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 Leag ...

''4-games-to-2'' :

North York Rangers The North York Rangers are a Junior "A" ice hockey team located in the North York district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the South Division of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) and were previously a part of the Metro Jun ...

defeated Royal York Royals ''4-games-to-2'' *1978 ''Lost Final'' :Royal York Royals defeated

Newmarket Flyers The Newmarket Hurricanes were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Newmarket, Ontario. They played in the Ontario Junior Hockey League. The franchise existed from 1972 until 2019, based in Newmarket starting in 1975. History In 1972, the Seneca Fly ...

''4-games-to-2'' :Royal York Royals defeated

Dixie Beehives Dixie Beehives are a pair of defunct junior ice hockey teams from Weston, Toronto, Weston, Ontario, Canada, which is now part of Toronto, Ontario. They played in the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League (1972–87), Ontario Provincial Junio ...

''4-games-to-none'' :

defeated Royal York Royals ''4-games-to-1'' *1979 ''Lost Quarter-final'' :

defeated Royal York Royals ''4-games-to-3'' *1980 ''Lost Final'' :Royal York Royals defeated North Bay Trappers ''4-games-to-3'' :Royal York Royals defeated

Aurora Tigers The Aurora Tigers are a Canadian ice hockey team from Aurora, Ontario. They play in the Ontario Junior Hockey League. The team has previously played in the Metro Junior A Hockey League, Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League, and the Ontario Jun ...

''4-games-to-2'' :

defeated Royal York Royals ''4-games-to-1''

References

External links

OHA Website
Defunct ice hockey teams in Canada Ice hockey teams in Toronto North York 1971 establishments in Ontario 1980 disestablishments in Ontario Ice hockey clubs established in 1971 Sports clubs disestablished in 1980 {{Ontario-icehockey-team-stub