The Stratford Warriors are a
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 hock ...
team based in
Stratford,
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 Ca ...
, Canada. They play in the Mid-Western division of the
Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. The team was originally named the Warriors but was changed to Cullitons in 1975 in honour of the team sponsor the Culliton brothers. The sponsorship from the Culliton brothers ended in 2016, bringing the name "Warriors" back to the city.
History
![Stratford Cullitons goalie white 2015](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Stratford_Cullitons_goalie_white_2015.jpg)
Between the years of 1951 and 1962, not much is known about junior hockey in the town of Stratford-St. Marys District. Prior to 1952, the
Stratford Midgets
The Stratford Midgets were a Canadian junior ice hockey team that played in the Ontario Hockey Association. The team played at the Stratford Arena, now known as the William Allman Memorial Arena in Stratford, Ontario.
History
The Stratford ...
, who became the
Kroehlers and Kist Canadians won a
Sutherland Cup in the 1940s and competed as Junior A team for the
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 ...
. Stratford played in the Central "B" from 1962 until 1969. When they joined the reformed Western "B" in 1969, they became the Warriors and stayed on board until 1975. In 1975, the team jumped to the precursor to the Mid-Western "B", the "Waterloo-Wellington Junior "B" Hockey League" and changed their name to the Cullitons, finishing first both seasons. They continued their dominance when the league was renamed the Mid-Western, winning eight of the first 13 championships they competed for. They have since won five more league championships. If the Stratford Canadians era is included, the Stratford Junior "B" club has captured eight
Sutherland Cup titles, leading the Mid-Western "B" with six since its founding in 1977. The Cullitons have never failed to make the playoffs since joining the Mid-Western "B", a feat matched only by the
Waterloo Siskins
The Kitchener-Waterloo Siskins are a junior ice hockey team based in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Mid-Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.
History
Founded in 1934, the Siskins are one of the longest runn ...
. Between 1975-76 and 2004–05, the Cullitons never placed lower than third in the league standings.
One thing that sets the Cullitons apart from any other teams in the league, including the Siskins, is that until 2006 the Cullitons have only suffered one losing season. In fact, in their 32-year history the Cullitons have lost more than 10 games only eight times. On three occasions they registered more ties than losses. They have scored more than 300 goals in a season 11 times, and have only allowed more than 200 goals once. The Cullitons have also been regular-season champions 19 times.
Season-by-season record
![Stratford Cullitons player white 2015](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Stratford_Cullitons_player_white_2015.jpg)
*1974-1975
*1975-1977
*1977-2002
*2002–Present
Sutherland Cup appearances
:''1977'': Stratford Cullitons defeated
Streetsville Derbys
The Streetsville Derbys were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Streetsville, Ontario, Canada. They were a part of the Ontario Junior Hockey League in 2011 until they merged into the Cobourg Cougars. As of 2018 the Streetsville Hockey League have r ...
''4-games-to-2''
:''1978'': Stratford Cullitons defeated
Streetsville Derbys
The Streetsville Derbys were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Streetsville, Ontario, Canada. They were a part of the Ontario Junior Hockey League in 2011 until they merged into the Cobourg Cougars. As of 2018 the Streetsville Hockey League have r ...
''9-points-to-5''
:''1981'':
Burlington Cougars defeated Stratford Cullitons ''8-points-to-4''
:''1983'':
Henry Carr Crusaders defeated Stratford Cullitons ''4-games-to-none''
:''1986'': Stratford Cullitons defeated
Streetsville Derbys
The Streetsville Derbys were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Streetsville, Ontario, Canada. They were a part of the Ontario Junior Hockey League in 2011 until they merged into the Cobourg Cougars. As of 2018 the Streetsville Hockey League have r ...
''4-games-to-none''
:''1990'': Stratford Cullitons defeated
St. Catharines Falcons ''4-games-to-none''
:''1995'': Stratford Cullitons defeated
St. Thomas Stars ''4-games-to-none''
:''1999'':
Chatham Maroons defeated Stratford Cullitons ''4-games-to-3''
:''2003'': Stratford Cullitons defeated
Thorold Blackhawks
The Thorold Blackhawks are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Thorold, Ontario. They play in the Golden Horseshoe division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.
History
The Thorold Jaycees joined the Niagara District Junior B Hocke ...
''4-games-to-3''
:''2004'': Stratford Cullitons defeated
Thorold Blackhawks
The Thorold Blackhawks are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Thorold, Ontario. They play in the Golden Horseshoe division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.
History
The Thorold Jaycees joined the Niagara District Junior B Hocke ...
''4-games-to-none''
Notable alumni
*
Mark Bell
*
Rob Blake
Robert Bowlby Blake (born December 10, 1969) is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player. He is the current general manager of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was originally drafted by the Kin ...
*
Boyd Devereaux
Boyd Fletcher Devereaux (born April 16, 1978) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player.
Drafted 6th overall in the 1996 NHL Draft by the Edmonton Oilers, Devereaux is best known for forming 1/3 of the "Two Kids and a Goat" line as a ...
*
Greg de Vries
*
Nelson Emerson
Nelson Donald Emerson (born August 17, 1967) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger. He played for eight teams in the National Hockey League during his 12-year career, which lasted from 1990 to 2002.
Playing career
Emerson grew ...
*
Dave Farrish
David Allan Farrish (born August 1, 1956) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 430 games in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the New York Rangers, Quebec Nordiques, and Toronto Maple Leafs. While playin ...
*
Jeff Halpern
Jeffrey Craig Halpern (born May 3, 1976) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He played for the Washington Capitals twice, Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, and Phoenix Co ...
*
Rem Murray
Raymond Joseph "Rem" Murray (born October 9, 1972) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger. Murray was selected in the sixth round, 135th overall in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Kings, and he played in the National ...
*
Ed Olczyk
Edward Walter Olczyk Jr. (; born August 16, 1966) is a former center in the National Hockey League for 16 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, and Pittsburgh Penguins. He ...
*
Mike Peluso
*
Chris Pronger
Christopher Robert Pronger ( or ; born October 10, 1974) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman and a former advisor to the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Originally selected second overall by the Hartford ...
*
David Shaw
*
Bryan Smolinski
Bryan Anthony Smolinski (born December 27, 1971) is an American former professional ice hockey center. The Boston Bruins drafted him 21st overall in 1990. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islander ...
*
Garth Snow
Garth E. Snow (born July 28, 1969) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender and former general manager, president and alternate governor of the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Drafted by the Quebec Nordiqu ...
*
Tim Taylor
*
Mike Watt
Michael David Watt (born December 20, 1957) is an American bassist, vocalist and songwriter.
Watt co-founded and played bass guitar for the rock bands Minutemen (1980–1985), Dos (1985–present), and Firehose (1986–1994). He began a solo ...
*
Zac Dalpe
Zac Dalpe (born November 1, 1989) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who currently plays for the Charlotte Checkers in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NH ...
*
Steve Miller (NHL Linesmen)
*
Kendrick Nicholson (NHL Referee)
*
Tyson Baker (NHL Linesmen)
[http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayersByTeam.jsp?team=Stratford+Cullitons Legends of Hockey -- Cullitons Pro Alumni List provided by NHLPA]
References
External links
Warriors WebpageGOJHL Webpage
More sources
OHA WebpageSutherland Cup History provided by OHA via Official 2006-07 Handbook
Basic Team Name History
{{GOJHL
Ice hockey teams in Ontario
Sport in Stratford, Ontario