The Niagara Whalers are a

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 ...

team based in

Port Colborne, Ontario Port Colborne is a city in Ontario, Canada that is located on Lake Erie, at the southern end of the Welland Canal, in the Niagara Region of Southern Ontario. The original settlement, known as Gravelly Bay, dates from 1832 and was renamed after S ...

, Canada. They are members of the South Division of the

Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League The Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League (GMHL) is a Canadian developmental junior ice hockey league. The league has primarily had teams in the Greater Toronto Area, Central Ontario, Northeastern Ontario, and Quebec. In 2019, they added three t ...

(GMHL). The Whalers were founded in 2014 and joined the GMHL in the 2014–15 season. The club plays their home games at the Vale Health & Wellness Centre.

History

In May 2014, the Whalers were granted a franchise in the

(GMHL) for the 2014–15 season. Prior to joining the GMHL, the Whalers competed as a showcase organization in Southern Ontario Bantam and Midget tournaments, winning nine of eleven tournaments. A prospects team will continue to compete in the showcase tournaments and will serve as an affiliate to the Junior A club. After being awarded a GMHL franchise, the Whalers were approved to play out of the Vale Health & Wellness Centre in

. The Whalers finished their debut regular season in tenth place overall and third in the South Division of the South Conference. The club advanced to Round One of the 2014–15 Russell Cup playoffs where they were drawn against the

Halton Ravens The St. George Ravens are a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey team based in St. George, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League (GMHL). History Originally announced as the Cyclones, the Halton Ravens joined the GMHL i ...

. The Whalers were defeated by the Ravens three-games-to-one ending their playoff run. In 2015–16, the league realigned the teams into three divisions, North, Central and South. The Whalers finished the season in fourth place, defeated the Komoka Dragons in the first round in three straight games, before losing to the eventual division Champions in the division semifinals. In 2016–17, the league went back to the two conferences, North and South placing the Whalers in the 11 team South Division.

Season-by-season results

Head coaches

*Andrew Joyner, 2014–15 *Bryan Elliott, 2015–16 *Terry Masterson, 2016–present

References

External links

Official website
{{GMHL 2014 establishments in Ontario Ice hockey clubs established in 2014 Ice hockey teams in Ontario