The Niagara Falls Flyers were two

junior ice hockey Junior hockey is a level of competitive ice hockey generally for players between 16 and 21 years of age. Junior hockey leagues in the United States and Canada are considered amateur (with some exceptions) and operate within regions of each cou ...

franchises that played in the top tier in the

Ontario Hockey Association The Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) is the governing body for the majority of junior and senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey As ...

. The first, a Junior "A" team existed from 1960 until 1972, and the second in Tier I Junior "A" from 1976 until 1982. Both teams were owned by the Emms Family, and were relocated to Niagara Falls from another city. The

Niagara Falls Memorial Arena The Niagara Falls Memorial Arena is a former arena located in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Built in 1950, the arena was home to various ice hockey teams in the past, including the Niagara Falls Thunder and the Niagara Falls Flyers. It also se ...

was home ice to both teams.

History

The first Flyers team relocated to Niagara Falls from

Barrie Barrie is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada, about north of Toronto. The city is within Simcoe County and located along the shores of Kempenfelt Bay, the western arm of Lake Simcoe. Although physically in Simcoe County, Barrie is politically i ...

in 1960. The team was affiliated with the

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team has been in existence since 1924, making t ...

of the

NHL The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...

. The Flyers appeared in three Memorial Cups in the 1960s, winning in 1965 and 1968.

1963 Memorial Cup

Niagara Falls won the right to play for the Cup by defeating the Toronto Neil McNeil Maroons for the OHA championship, and the

Espanola Eagles The Espanola Eagles (aka Espanola Screaming Eagles) were a Canadian Junior ice hockey team. The team was coached for eighteen years by Red McCarthy who then managed it for another four. The Eagles were located in Espanola, Ontario and played in the ...

to win the

George Richardson Memorial Trophy The George Richardson Memorial Trophy was presented annually from 1932 until 1971, by the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association. It represented the Eastern Canada junior hockey championship, and a berth in the Memorial Cup final versus the Abbott ...

as eastern Canadian representatives. The Flyers were runners up to the

Memorial Cup The Memorial Cup () is the national championship of the Canadian Hockey League, a consortium of three major junior ice hockey leagues operating in Canada and parts of the United States. It is a four-team round-robin tournament played between t ...

in 1963 played at Edmonton's Arena Gardens. They lost in six games to the

Edmonton Oil Kings The Edmonton Oil Kings are a major junior ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, that play in the Western Hockey League. As of July 2008, they are owned by Daryl Katz's Oilers Entertainment Group, which also owns the Edmonton Oilers. ...

in a best-of-seven series. Flyers players Dornhoefer and Harmer both suffered broken legs while on the ice.

1965 Memorial Cup

Niagara Falls won the right to play for the Cup by defeating the defending champions

Toronto Marlboros The Toronto Marlborough Athletic Club, commonly known as the Toronto Marlboros, was founded in 1903. It operated junior ice hockey and senior ice hockey teams in the Ontario Hockey Association and later the Ontario Hockey League. The Marlboros ...

for the OHA championship. The

in 1965 was again played at Edmonton's Arena Gardens. They defeated the Oil Kings 4 games to 1 in a best-of-seven rematch series from two years previous. The series was filled with brawls and suspensions, as well as a heavy police presence throughout.

1968 Memorial Cup

Niagara Falls won the right to play for the Cup by defeating the

Kitchener Rangers The Kitchener Rangers are a major junior ice hockey team based in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Midwest Division of the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League. The Rangers have won the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL ...

for the OHA championship, and the Verdun Maple Leafs for the eastern championship. The 1968

featured two Boston Bruins farm teams playing one another. The Flyers would play the Estevan Bruins on home ice, except for game two at the

Montreal Forum Montreal Forum (french: Le Forum de Montréal) is a historic building located facing Cabot Square in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Called "the most storied building in hockey history" by ''Sporting News'', it was an indoor arena which served as the h ...

. Game 4 was the longest in Memorial Cup history, lasting into five periods. Niagara Falls defeated Estevan in a best-of-seven series in five games.

Second Flyers

The Emms Family sold the Flyers in 1972 after it played for 12 seasons. The new owners then relocated the team to Sudbury to become the Sudbury Wolves. Later the same year, after selling the Flyers, the Emms family bought the St. Catharines Black Hawks team who were the OHA champions the previous year. Four years after buying the Black Hawks, the Emms family relocated them to Niagara Falls in 1976, taking the same name as the previous team. The Emms family later sold this version of the Flyers in 1978. The second Flyers team played for 4 seasons in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1976 to 1980, and 2 years in the Ontario Hockey League from 1980 to 1982. The Flyers appeared in the OHA finals in 1979, losing to Peterborough. Niagara Falls lost its Flyers team a second time in 1982 when they moved to North Bay to become the Centennials, who have subsequently moved to Saginaw in 2002 to become the Saginaw Spirit.

Championships

The Niagara Falls Flyers are one of a few clubs to win multiple Memorial Cup championships. Also of note, the franchise were repeat champions in different home cities, of

and Niagara Falls. In total, the Flyers won the Memorial Cup twice in Niagara Falls, and twice in Barrie. and the J. Ross Robertson Cup 3 times each in Barrie and Niagara Falls. The Flyers finished first overall in 1963 & 1965 during the regular season to win the Hamilton Spectator Trophy. The second Niagara Falls Flyers team won the western conference Emms Trophy in the 1978–79 playoffs. :

* 1963 Lost to Edmonton Oil Kings * 1965 Champions vs. Edmonton Oil Kings * 1968 Champions vs. Estevan Bruins :

* 1963 Champions vs. Espanola Eagles * 1965 Champions vs. Lachine Maroons * 1968 Champions vs. Verdun Maple Leafs :

J. Ross Robertson Cup The J. Ross Robertson Cup is a Canadian ice hockey trophy. It is awarded annually in junior ice hockey to the champion of the Ontario Hockey League playoffs. It was donated by John Ross Robertson to the Ontario Hockey Association in 1910, and ...

* 1963 Champions vs. Neil McNeil Maroons * 1965 Champions vs. Toronto Marlboros * 1968 Champions vs. Kitchener Rangers * 1979 Lost to Peterborough Petes :

Hamilton Spectator Trophy The Hamilton Spectator Trophy is awarded annually by the Ontario Hockey League to the team that finishes the regular season with the best record. The trophy was donated by ''The Hamilton Spectator,'' and first presented in the 1957–58 season. It ...

*1962–63 (69pts) and 1964–65 (81pts) :

Emms Trophy The Emms Trophy is presented annually to the regular season champion of the Central division in the Ontario Hockey League. The trophy was inaugurated in the 1975–76 season for the winner of the Emms division, the more westerly of the two division ...

*1978–79 (Western Conference)

Coaches

The Flyers from 1960 to 1972 were coached by

Hap Emms Leighton Alfred Emms (January 12, 1905 – October 23, 1988) was a Canadian ice hockey player, coach, team owner, and general manager, during nearly 60 years in hockey. Emms played 17 seasons of professional hockey as a left winger and a defence ...

, Bill Long and Paul Emms. The Flyers coaches from 1976 to 1982 are listed below. *1976–78: Paul Emms (2) *1978–79:

Bert Templeton Robert "Bert" Templeton (May 11, 1940 – December 5, 2003) was a junior ice hockey coach. He worked primarily in the Ontario Hockey League from 1974 to 2003. Templeton compiled a career coaching record of 907-678-148 with major junior teams in ...

(2) *1979–80:

Barry Boughner Barry Michael Boughner (born January 29, 1948 in Delhi, Ontario) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger. He played 20 National Hockey League games with the Oakland Seals/California Golden Seals between 1969 and 1971, going score ...

, F.Stanfield *1980–81: Paul Gauthier *1981–82:

(2)

Players

A combined total of 82 players from the Niagara Falls Flyers franchises went on to play in the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...

, and two of those are enshrined in the

Hockey Hall of Fame , logo = Hockey Hall of Fame Logo.svg , logo_upright = 0.5 , image = Hockey Hall of Fame, Toronto.jpg , caption = The Hall's present location on Yonge Street since 1992 , map_type = , former_name = , established = 1943 , location = 30 Y ...

Award winners

*1962–63 -

Wayne Maxner Wayne Douglas Maxner (born September 27, 1942 in Halifax, Nova Scotia) is a Canadian former hockey player for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He led the Ontario Hockey Association junior A league in scoring in 1962–63 as ...

Red Tilson Trophy The Red Tilson Trophy is awarded annually by the Ontario Hockey League to the most outstanding player (MVP) as voted by OHL writers and broadcasters. It was donated by ''The Globe and Mail,'' and first awarded in the 1944–45 OHA season by the O ...

(Most Outstanding Player),

Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy The Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy is awarded annually by the Ontario Hockey League to the player scoring the most points in the regular season. The trophy was donated by the Toronto Marlboro Athletic Club in memory of athlete and coach Eddie Power ...

(Scoring Champion) *1963–64 -

Bernie Parent Bernard Marcel Parent (born April 3, 1945) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played 13 National Hockey League (NHL) seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, and Toronto Maple Leafs, and also spent one seaso ...

Dave Pinkney Trophy The Dave Pinkney Trophy is awarded to the goaltenders of the Ontario Hockey League team that has the lowest goals against average. It has been awarded annually since 1949. Winners List of winners of the Dave Pinkney Trophy. See also * List of C ...

(Lowest Team GAA) *1964–65 - Bernie Parent, Dave Pinkney Trophy *1966–67 -

Derek Sanderson Derek Michael Sanderson (born June 16, 1946), nicknamed "Turk", is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre and two-time Stanley Cup champion who helped transform the culture of the professional athlete in the 1970s era. The two-time Sta ...

, Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy *1967–68 - Tom Webster, Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy,

William Hanley Trophy The William Hanley Trophy is awarded annually by Ontario Hockey League to the most sportsmanlike player. It is named for Bill Hanley, a former secretary-manager of the Ontario Hockey Association who served in that capacity for twenty-five years. T ...

(Most Sportsmanlike Player) *1976–77 -

Mike Gartner Michael Alfred Gartner (born October 29, 1959) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger who played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Washington Capitals, Minnesota North Stars, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs ...

Emms Family Award The Emms Family Award is presented annually to the Rookie of the Year (top first-year player) in the Ontario Hockey League. The winner is also nominated for the CHL Rookie of the Year. The award was donated by Hap Emms. Leighton "Hap" Emms was a c ...

(Rookie of the Year) *1978–79 -

Nick Ricci Nicholas Joseph Ricci (born June 3, 1959) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey goaltender. He played 19 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL), playing most of his career in the American Hockey League and I ...

, F. W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy (Best Rookie GAA) *1981–82 -

Ron Meighan Ron James Meighan (born May 26, 1963) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. Biography Meighan was born in Montreal, Quebec. As a youth, he played in the 1975 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hoc ...

Max Kaminsky Trophy The Max Kaminsky Trophy is awarded annually by the Ontario Hockey League to the most outstanding defenceman. The award is named in honour of Max Kaminsky, who coached the St. Catharines Teepees to the Memorial Cup in 1960 and died shortly thereaf ...

(Most Outstanding Defenceman)

Hall of Famers

(1963–1965) *

(1976–1979)

NHL alumni

:1960 to 1972 :1976 to 1982

Yearly results

Regular season 1960–72

Playoffs *1960–61 Lost to Guelph Royals 10 points to 4 in quarter-finals. *1961–62 Lost to Hamilton Red Wings 8 points to 0 in OHA semi-finals. *1962–63 Defeated Hamilton Red Wings 8 points to 2 in OHA semi-finals.
Defeated Montreal Junior Canadiens 8 points to 0 in OHA finals.
Defeated Toronto Neil McNeil Maroons in all-Ontario finals. OHA CHAMPIONS
Defeated Espanola Eagles in Richardson Trophy playoffs.
Lost to Edmonton Oil Kings in Memorial Cup finals. *1963–64 Lost to Toronto Marlboros 8 points to 0 in quarter-finals. *1964–65 Defeated Oshawa Generals 8 points to 4 in quarter-finals.
Received second-round bye.
Defeated Toronto Marlboros 8 points to 2 in finals. OHA CHAMPIONS
Defeated Edmonton Oil Kings in Memorial Cup finals. ''MEMORIAL CUP CHAMPIONS'' *1965–66 Lost to Kitchener Rangers 8 points to 4 in quarter-finals. *1966–67 Defeated London Knights 8 points to 4 in quarter-finals.
Lost to Hamilton Red Wings 8 points to 6 in semi-finals. *1967–68 Defeated Peterborough Petes 8 points to 2 in quarter-finals.
Defeated Montreal Junior Canadiens 8 points to 4 in semi-finals.
Defeated Kitchener Rangers 9 points to 7 in finals. OHA CHAMPIONS
Defeated Verdun Maple Leafs in Richardson Trophy playoffs.
Defeated Estevan Bruins in Memorial Cup finals. ''MEMORIAL CUP CHAMPIONS'' *1968–69 Defeated Ottawa 67's 9 points to 5 in quarter-finals.
Lost to St. Catharines Black Hawks 8 points to 6 in semi-finals. *1969–70 Out of playoffs. *1970–71 Out of playoffs. *1971–72 Lost to Oshawa Generals 8 points to 4 in quarter-finals.

Regular season 1976–82

Playoffs *1976–77 Out of playoffs. *1977–78 Out of playoffs. *1978–79 Defeated Kitchener Rangers 8 points to 6 in quarter-finals.
Defeated Windsor Spitfires and London Knights in a semi-final round-robin.
Lost to Peterborough Petes 8 points to 6 in finals. *1979–80 Defeated London Knights 3 games to 2 in first round.
Lost to Windsor Spitfites 4 games to 1 in quarter-finals. *1980–81 Defeated Toronto Marlboros 3 games to 2 in division quarter-finals.
Lost to Kitchener Rangers 9 points to 5 in quarter-finals. *1981–82 Lost to Windsor Spitfires 6 points to 4 in first round.

Arena

The Niagara Falls Flyers played home games at

from 1960 to 1972, and again from 1976 to 1982. The arena hosted

games in 1968.

References

External links

Niagara Falls Memorial Arena
- The OHL Arena & Travel Guide {{OHL Defunct Ontario Hockey League teams Sport in Niagara Falls, Ontario