Muskoka Bears

The Huntsville Otters are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team from Huntsville, Ontario. Starting from the 2016-17 season the Otters are members of the Provincial Junior Hockey League. Prior to this change they were members of the Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League after resigning from the Ontario Junior Hockey League in the Spring of 2012.

History

Joining the ranks of Junior hockey in 1990, the Muskoka Bears were a member of the Metro Junior A Hockey League. Prior to this, the team had played Junior C hockey.

The team made hockey history on February 21, 1997 when their goalie
Ryan Venturelli
became the first goaltender to score two goals (both empty-net) in a hockey game against the Durham Huskies during the Metro Junior A Hockey League 1996–97 regular season.

From 1997 until 2004, the franchise was called the Huntsville Wildcats. The team never truly found their groove, and folded halfway through the 2003–04 season after 23 straight loses and a goals-against average of roughly 10.

For the 2004–05 Season, the team reformed as the Huntsville-Muskoka Otters after Sherwood Bassin, Ray Irwin and Tom McCarthy took ownership.

In 2007, the team was sold to local businessmen Kris House and Jason Armstrong, who shortened the team's name to the Huntsville Otters.

The town of Huntsville hosted the 2011 Ontario Junior A Dudley Hewitt Cup on the weekend of April 18–23, 2011 at the Don Lough Arena, Canada Summit Centre. The Otters went 3-0, and received a bye to the final but lost the championship to the Wellington Dukes 5-3.

In March 2012, it was announced that the Huntsville Otters were to be contracted from the Ontario Junior Hockey League when a local group successfully applied to bring the team to the Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League.

Season-by-season results

Playoffs

''MetJHL Years''
*1991 ''DNQ''
*1992 ''Lost Semi-final''
:Muskoka Bears defeated St. Michael's Buzzers ''4-games-to-3''
:Bramalea Blues defeated Muskoka Bears ''4-games-to-none''
*1993 ''Lost Semi-final''
:Muskoka Bears defeated Aurora Eagles ''4-games-to-2''
:St. Michael's Buzzers defeated Muskoka Bears ''4-games-to-none''
*1994 ''Lost Semi-final''
:Muskoka Bears defeated St. Michael's Buzzers ''4-games-to-2''
:Caledon Canadians defeated Muskoka Bears ''4-games-to-2''
*1995 ''DNQ''
*1996 ''Lost Quarter-final''
:Caledon Canadians defeated Muskoka Bears ''4-games-to-2''
*1997 ''Lost Preliminary''
:Caledon Canadians defeated Muskoka Bears ''4-games-to-none''
*1998 ''Lost Preliminary''
:Thornhill Rattlers defeated Huntsville Wildcats ''3-games-to-1''
''OJHL Years''
*1999 ''DNQ''
*2000 ''Lost Division Quarter-final''
:Collingwood Blues defeated Huntsville Wildcats ''4-games-to-3''
*2001 ''Lost Division Quarter-final''
:Thornhill Rattlers defeated Huntsville Wildcats ''4-games-to-none''
*2002 ''Lost Division Quarter-final''
:Newmarket Hurricanes defeated Huntsville Wildcats ''4-games-to-none''
*2003 ''DNQ''
*2004 ''Did Not Finish Season''
*2005 ''Lost Division Semi-final''
:Huntsville-Muskoka Otters defeated Collingwood Blues ''4-games-to-1''
:Aurora Tigers defeated Huntsville-Muskoka Otters ''4-games-to-2''
*2006 ''Lost Division Quarter-final''
:Newmarket Hurricanes defeated Huntsville-Muskoka Otters ''4-games-to-1''
*2007 ''Lost Division Quarter-final''
:Newmarket Hurricanes defeated Huntsville-Muskoka Otters ''4-games-to-1''
*2008 ''Lost Division Semi-final''
:Stouffville Spirit defeated Huntsville Otters ''4-games-to-3''
*2009 ''Lost Conference Final''
:Huntsville Otters defeated Toronto Dixie Beehives ''3-games-to-none''
:Huntsville Otters defeated Aurora Tigers ''4-games-to-2''
:Huntsville Otters defeated Orangeville Crushers ''4-games-to-1''
:Kingston Voyageurs defeated Huntsville Otters ''4-games-to-1''
*2010 ''DNQ OJAHL Playoffs''
*2011 ''Lost Qualifier, Hosted and Lost Dudley Hewitt Cup Final''
: Orangeville Flyers defeated Huntsville Otters ''2-games-to-none''
:First in Dudley Hewitt Cup round robin (3-0)
:Wellington Dukes defeated Huntsville Otters ''5-3'' in final
*2012 ''Lost Division Quarter-final''
:Markham Waxers defeated Huntsville Otters ''3-games-to-none''

References

External links

Otters Webpage

{{OPJAHL

Huntsville, Ontario
Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League teams
1990 establishments in Ontario
Ice hockey clubs established in 1990