Toronto Nationals (1970–80)
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The Toronto Nationals are a pair of defunct Tier II Junior "A" & Junior "B" ice hockey teams from Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. They were a part of the
Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League The Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) is a Junior A ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada. It is under the supervision of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) and the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL). The league was listed as the 7th best d ...
and the
Metro Junior B Hockey League The Metro Junior "A" Hockey League was a junior level ice hockey league based out of Southern Ontario. The league originated in 1956 as the Metro Junior "B" Hockey League, which lasted until 1991, when it changed its designation from Junior B to ...
.


Jr. A Nationals

In 1975, the Nationals won their one and only Junior "A" league title. They went on to 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 ...
Championship and met the
Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League The Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League was a Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey that lasted from the late 1960s until 1977 in Southern Ontario, Canada. The league was swallowed by what is now called the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League ...
Champion Guelph CMC's. Guelph came out on top 4-games-to-2. The Nationals folded in 1977.


Season-by-season results


Playoffs

*1973 ''Lost Final'' :Toronto Nationals defeated Aurora Tigers ''4-games-to-none'' :Toronto Nationals defeated Richmond Hill Rams ''4-games-to-2'' : Wexford Raiders defeated Toronto Nationals ''4-games-to-1'' *1974 ''Lost Quarter-final'' : North Bay Trappers defeated Toronto Nationals ''4-games-to-3'' *1975 ''Won League, Lost OHA Buckland Cup'' :Toronto Nationals defeated Richmond Hill Rams ''4-games-to-2'' :Toronto Nationals defeated Seneca Flyers ''4-games-to-none'' :Toronto Nationals defeated Wexford Raiders ''4-games-to-1'' OPJHL CHAMPIONS : Guelph CMC's (
SOJHL The Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League (SOJHL) is a former Canada, Canadian Junior ice hockey league sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association based out of Southwestern Ontario. Prior to the 2012-13 season, the SOJHL was promoted to the Ju ...
) defeated Toronto Nationals ''4-games-to-2'' *1976 ''Lost Semi-final'' :Toronto Nationals defeated
Royal York Royals The Royal York Royals are a defunct Junior "A" ice hockey team from North York, Ontario, Canada. They were a part of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League. The team was based at Downsview Arena in the Downsview neighbourhood. The team wa ...
''3-games-to-2'' :Toronto Nationals defeated Weston Dodgers ''2-games-to-none'' :
North York Rangers The North York Rangers are a Junior "A" ice hockey team located in the North York district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the South Division of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) and were previously a part of the Metro Jun ...
defeated Toronto Nationals ''4-games-to-1'' *1977 ''Lost Quarter-final'' : Markham Waxers defeated Toronto Nationals ''4-games-to-none''


Jr. B Nationals

In the early 1970s, the Toronto Nationals also had an entry in the
Metro Junior B Hockey League The Metro Junior "A" Hockey League was a junior level ice hockey league based out of Southern Ontario. The league originated in 1956 as the Metro Junior "B" Hockey League, which lasted until 1991, when it changed its designation from Junior B to ...
who were 1973 Metro Champions and runners up for the
Sutherland Cup The Sutherland Cup is the ice hockey Ontario Junior "B" Provincial Championship trophy. The trophy was first awarded in 1934, and named in honour of former OHA and CAHA president, James T. Sutherland. The Sutherland Cup is now the championship t ...
All-Ontario title. The 1975-76 season saw a 14-year-old Wayne Gretzky challenge the wishes of the
Canadian Amateur Hockey Association The Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA; french: Association canadienne de hockey amateur) was the national governing body of amateur ice hockey in Canada from 1914 until 1994, when it merged with Hockey Canada. Its jurisdiction include ...
and sign with the Toronto Nationals. Barely 16 years old, Gretzky had played two seasons with the Nationals and scored 63 goals for 132 points in just 60 games. The Nationals won the 1977 Metro championship, led by the young Gretzky with 75 points in just 23 playoff games. The next season, he signed with the
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (often shortened to Soo Greyhounds) are a Junior ice hockey#Major junior, major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The Greyhounds play home games at the GFL Memorial Gardens. The present team was ...
, a quick stop before going professional and starting what is considered by many hockey enthusiasts as the greatest career in hockey history.


Season-by-season results


Sutherland Cup The Sutherland Cup is the ice hockey Ontario Junior "B" Provincial Championship trophy. The trophy was first awarded in 1934, and named in honour of former OHA and CAHA president, James T. Sutherland. The Sutherland Cup is now the championship t ...
appearances

:''1973'':
Sarnia Bees The Sarnia Legionnaires are a junior hockey, junior ice hockey team based in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. History The Sarnia Bees joined the ranks of the current Western ...
defeated Toronto Nationals ''4-games-to-2''


Notable Jr. B alumni

* Bill Gardner * Wayne Gretzky *
Basil McRae Basil Paul McRae (born January 5, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is a part owner and alternate governor of the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League and he is the director of player personnel for the Columbus Bl ...
*
Rick Middleton Richard David "Nifty" Middleton (born December 4, 1953) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player for the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League. Playing career As a youth, Middleton played in the 1966 Quebec ...
Dave Shand *
Daryl Evans Daryl Thomas Evans (born January 12, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League with the Los Angeles Kings, Washington Capitals, and Toronto Maple Leafs between 1982 and 1987. The rest of hi ...
Dwight Foster Rob Palmer Warren Holmes


External links


OHA Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Toronto Nationals (1970-80) Defunct ice hockey teams in Canada Ice hockey teams in Ontario Sport in Vaughan