The Westfort Hurricanes were a
Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
Junior
Junior or Juniors may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Music
* ''Junior'' (Junior Mance album), 1959
* ''Junior'' (Röyksopp album), 2009
* ''Junior'' (Kaki King album), 2010
* ''Junior'' (LaFontaines album), 2019
Films
* ''Junior'' (1994 ...
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 h ...
club from
Fort William,
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...
. The Herks were members of the
Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League
The Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League (TBJHL) was a Canadian junior ice hockey league that existed from c. 1920 to 1980. The TBJHL operated in Northwestern Ontario, primarily in the Thunder Bay region.
The Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League wa ...
and were
Abbott Cup
The Abbott Memorial Cup, commonly referred to as the Abbott Cup, was awarded annually from 1919 through 1999 to the Junior "A" ice hockey Champion for Western Canada.
The Cup was named after Captain E.L. (Hick) Abbott who was a noted hockey p ...
finalists once.
History
In 1972, the Hurricanes broke away from the
Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League
The Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League (TBJHL) was a Canadian junior ice hockey league that existed from c. 1920 to 1980. The TBJHL operated in Northwestern Ontario, primarily in the Thunder Bay region.
The Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League wa ...
to join the
St. Paul, Minnesota-based
Can-Am Junior Hockey League
The Can-Am Junior Hockey League (CAJHL) is a junior hockey league with teams based in Canada. The league is independently operated and insured; it is not sanctioned by Hockey Canada, USA Hockey, or the Amateur Athletic Union. There are currently ...
. A year later, that league became the
Midwest Junior Hockey League
The Midwest Junior Hockey League (MWJHL) was an American junior ice hockey league. The MWJHL were members of the United Hockey Union and sanctioned by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). On March 10, 2015, the league announced it would be joining ...
. 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
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 Le ...
four games to three in the first round, then were defeated four games to three by the
Smiths Falls Bears
The Smiths Falls Bears are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Central Canada Hockey League. The team was an original member of the league, but then left Smiths Falls in 1976. The team then re ...
in the second round.
The MWJHL later merged and solidified the
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League (USHL) is the top junior ice hockey league sanctioned by USA Hockey. The league consists of 16 active teams located in the midwestern United States, for players between the ages of 16 and 21. The USHL is strictl ...
. 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
The Fort William Canadians were a junior ice hockey team based in Fort William, Ontario, Canada. The Canadians were members of the Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League and were Abbott Cup finalists three times. For a while, the ''Fort William C ...
''3-games-to-2''
:
Thunder Bay Marrs
The Port Arthur Marrs were a junior ice hockey team that played in Port Arthur, Ontario (now part of the city of Thunder Bay). They were named for trucking company and sponsor W.H. Marr, Ltd., and contested the 1967 Memorial Cup, which they lost ...
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
The Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League (TBJHL) was a Canadian junior ice hockey league that existed from c. 1920 to 1980. The TBJHL operated in Northwestern Ontario, primarily in the Thunder Bay region.
The Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League ...
) ''3-games-to-none''
:Thunder Bay Hurricanes defeated
Fort William Canadians
The Fort William Canadians were a junior ice hockey team based in Fort William, Ontario, Canada. The Canadians were members of the Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League and were Abbott Cup finalists three times. For a while, the ''Fort William C ...
(
TBJHL
The Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League (TBJHL) was a Canadian junior ice hockey league that existed from c. 1920 to 1980. The TBJHL operated in Northwestern Ontario, primarily in the Thunder Bay region.
The Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League ...
) ''4-games-to-none'' JACK ADAMS TROPHY CHAMPIONS
:Thunder Bay Hurricanes 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 Le ...
(
OPJHL) ''4-games-to-3''
:
Smiths Falls Bears
The Smiths Falls Bears are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Central Canada Hockey League. The team was an original member of the league, but then left Smiths Falls in 1976. The team then re ...
(
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
The Thunder Bay North Stars are a junior A ice hockey team from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. They are a member of the Superior International Junior Hockey League.
History
After the fall of the Thunder Bay Flyers in 2001, the Superior Internat ...
defeated Degagne Buccaneers ''4-games-to-1''
*1980 ''Lost Final''
:
Thunder Bay North Stars
The Thunder Bay North Stars are a junior A ice hockey team from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. They are a member of the Superior International Junior Hockey League.
History
After the fall of the Thunder Bay Flyers in 2001, the Superior Internat ...
defeated Degagne Buccaneers ''4-games-to-none with 1 tie''
Championships
''
TBJHL
The Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League (TBJHL) was a Canadian junior ice hockey league that existed from c. 1920 to 1980. The TBJHL operated in Northwestern Ontario, primarily in the Thunder Bay region.
The Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League ...
Champions'':
:1942, 1943, 1952, 1960, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1974*, 1978
''
Abbott Cup
The Abbott Memorial Cup, commonly referred to as the Abbott Cup, was awarded annually from 1919 through 1999 to the Junior "A" ice hockey Champion for Western Canada.
The Cup was named after Captain E.L. (Hick) Abbott who was a noted hockey p ...
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
August "Gus" Bodnar (April 24, 1923 – July 1, 2005) was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who was the Calder Memorial Trophy winner as the National Hockey League's rookie of the year for the 1943-44 season. He played 12 seasons in the ...
*
Alex Delvecchio
Alexander Peter "Fats" Delvecchio (born December 4, 1931) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, coach, and general manager who spent his entire National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Detroit Red Wings. In a playing caree ...
*
Bill Johansen
*
Bud Poile
Norman Robert "Bud" Poile (February 10, 1924 – January 4, 2005) was a professional ice hockey player, coach, general manager, and league executive. Bud is the brother of Don Poile, and the father of David Poile.
Overview
Poile was born in Fo ...
''Fort William Hurricanes''
*
Mike Busniuk
*
Larry Cahan
*
Dave Gatherum
*
Ed Kachur
*
Dennis Owchar
Dennis Owchar (born March 28, 1953) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who played 288 games in the National Hockey League. He was born in Dryden, Ontario. He played with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Rockies.NHL.com
...
*
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