Toronto Thunderbirds

The Caledon Admirals are a Junior 'A' ice hockey team based in Caledon, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.

History

Henry Carr

The Admirals lineage traces back to the Henry Carr Crusaders. Like the Toronto St. Michael's Majors and St. Michael's Buzzers, the Crusaders were a secondary school based junior hockey team. The team's affiliation was with the Father Henry Carr Secondary School of the Toronto Catholic District School Board. In 1980, they took their high school team and joined the Metro Junior "B" Hockey League, where they played until 1991, even after the league left the Ontario Hockey Association in 1989. The team was famous for its first undefeated Metro season in 1983 (34–0–2), when they won the All-Ontario Jr. B Championship, the Sutherland Cup. After five rounds of playoffs competing for the Sutherland Cup, the Crusaders accumulated 54 wins, 2 losses, 2 ties, and 2 losses in overtime in 60 regulation games.

In 1991, when the Metro league declared itself Junior "A" and they transferred the franchise to the Weston Dukes. Henry Carr used to field a team at the high school hockey level as well.

Thornhill

In 1993, the Weston Dukes organization folded and their franchise was moved to Thornhill and became the Thornhill Islanders. In 1997, they were renamed the Thornhill Rattlers until 2004, when they assumed the Thunderbirds name.

After playing in multiple league over many years, even competing for the 2001 Royal Bank Cup. In summer 2006, the players of the team started to get let go or traded for cash to any interested team. The team was for sale for the better part of six months, but with no serious offers.

Villanova Knights

In 2007, local businessman David Arsenault (governor and owner) along with St. Thomas of Villanova College revived the team bringing it back into the OPJHL under the Villanova College name.

The Villanova Knights were announced officially on May 15, 2007. The team played their home games at York University's Canlan Ice Gardens.

Orangeville Jr. Flyers

The original Orangeville Flyers were disbanded by the league in spring 2011. On April 14, 2011, ten days after the Flyers folded, the OJHL and the Villanova Knights announced that they were moving to Orangeville under the name Orangeville Flyers.

Brampton Admirals

On June 18, 2018, team president David Arsenault, citing poor local support in Orangeville and an improved development model by having both his junior "A" and Junior "B" teams playing in the same arena, relocated and rebranded the Orangeville Flyers as the Brampton Admirals. In 2021 the team relocated to Caledon, Ontario and were renamed the Caledon Admirals. They currently play out of the Mayfield Recreation Centre.

Season-by-season standings

Playoffs

''MetJHL Years''
*1990 ''Lost Semi-final''
:Henry Carr Crusaders defeated Mimico Monarchs ''4-games-to-none''
:Thornhill Thunderbirds defeated Henry Carr Crusaders ''4-games-to-2''
*1991 ''Lost Semi-final''
:Henry Carr Crusaders defeated St. Michael's Buzzers ''4-games-to-none''
:Bramalea Blues defeated Henry Carr Crusaders ''4-games-to-2''
*1992 ''Lost Preliminary''
: St. Michael's Buzzers defeated Weston Dodgers ''3-games-to-none''
*1993 ''DNQ''
*1994 ''Lost Semi-final''
:Thornhill Islanders defeated Wellington Dukes ''4-games-to-1''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Thornhill Islanders ''4-games-to-none''
*1995 ''Lost Semi-final''
:Thornhill Islanders defeated Kingston Voyageurs ''4-games-to-none''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Thornhill Islanders ''4-games-to-3''
*1996 ''Lost Final''
:Thornhill Islanders defeated Markham Waxers ''4-games-to-1''
:Thornhill Islanders defeated Wexford Raiders ''4-games-to-2''
: Caledon Canadians defeated Thornhill Islanders ''4-games-to-3''
*1997 ''Lost Round Robin Quarter-final''
:Thornhill Islanders defeated Markham Waxers ''4-games-to-3''
:Fifth in round robin quarter-final (2-4)
*1998 ''Lost Quarter-final''
:Thornhill Rattlers defeated Huntsville Wildcats ''3-games-to-1''
: Syracuse Jr. Crunch defeated Thornhill Rattlers ''3-games-to-1''
''OJHL Years''
*1999 ''Lost Division Quarter-final''
:Couchiching Terriers defeated Thornhill Rattlers ''3-games-to-2''
*2000 ''Lost Conference Final''
:Thornhill Rattlers defeated Oshawa Legionaires ''4-games-to-1''
:Thornhill Rattlers defeated Wexford Raiders ''4-games-to-1''
:Thornhill Rattlers defeated Vaughan Vipers ''4-games-to-none''
:Lindsay Muskies defeated Thornhill Rattlers ''4-games-to-1''
*2001 ''Won League, Won OHF Ruddock Trophy, Won Dudley Hewitt Cup, Lost 2001 Royal Bank Cup round robin''
:Thornhill Rattlers defeated Huntsville Wildcats ''4-games-to-none''
:Thornhill Rattlers defeated St. Michael's Buzzers ''4-games-to-none''
:Thornhill Rattlers defeated Wexford Raiders ''4-games-to-2''
:Thornhill Rattlers defeated Trenton Sting ''4-games-to-1''
:Thornhill Rattlers defeated Couchiching Terriers ''4-games-to-1'' OPJHL CHAMPIONS
:Thornhill Rattlers defeated Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats ( NOJHL) ''4-games-to-3'' RUDDOCK TROPHY, DUDLEY HEWITT CUP CHAMPIONS
:Fifth and eliminated in 2001 Royal Bank Cup round robin (0-4)
*2002 ''Lost Division Quarter-final''
:Pickering Panthers defeated Thornhill Rattlers ''4-games-to-3''
*2003 ''Lost Division Quarter-final''
:Markham Waxers defeated Thornhill Rattlers ''4-games-to-none''
*2004 ''Lost Division Quarter-final''
:Stouffville Spirit defeated Thornhill Rattlers ''4-games-to-2''
*2005 ''Lost Division Quarter-final''
: St. Michael's Buzzers defeated Thornhill Thunderbirds ''4-games-to-none''
*2006 ''Lost Division Quarter-final''
:Markham Waxers defeated Toronto Thunderbirds ''4-games-to-1''
*2007 ''Did Not Participate''
*2008 ''DNQ''
*2009 ''DNQ''
*2010 ''Lost OJAHL Quarter-final''
:Georgetown Raiders defeated Villanova Knights ''4-games-to-2''
*2011 ''Lost Quarter-final''
:Villanova Knights defeated Peterborough Stars ''4-games-to-1''
:Wellington Dukes defeated Villanova Knights ''4-games-to-1''
*2012 ''Lost Division Quarter-final''
:Aurora Tigers defeated Orangeville Flyers ''3-games-to-1''

Sutherland Cup appearances

:''1983'': Henry Carr Crusaders defeated Stratford Cullitons ''4-games-to-none''

Notable alumni

*Bob Essensa
*Patrick Flatley
*Manny Legace
* Matt Lorito
* Steve Moore
*Dominic Moore
*Jeff O'Neill
*Raffi Torres
*Mike York

References

External links

Orangeville Flyers Website

{{Toronto Sports

Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League teams
Sport in Orangeville, Ontario