Cornwall Colts

The Cornwall Colts are a Junior A ice hockey team based in Cornwall, Ontario. The Colts compete in the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) as a member of the East Division. The team plays its home games at the Cornwall Civic Complex, an arena which was previously the home of five different hockey franchises, such was the Cornwall Royals, Cornwall Aces, Cornwall Comets, the Cornwall River Kings as well as the Cornwall Nationals. They are the first Junior A hockey team in Cornwall; the others were either major junior or minor professional teams.

Founded in 1988, the Colts were known as the Massena Americans, and moved to Cornwall in 1992 when the Cornwall Royals were sold and moved away from the city.

Championship era

The Cornwall Colts quickly became CJHL powerhouses winning Art Bogart Cups in 1995 and 1996. The 1996 final between the Gloucester Rangers was played at the Cornwall Civic Complex. A sold-out crowd of over 4,000 people watched the Cornwall Colts defeat the Gloucester Rangers 4–3 in Game 7. In 1998, the Cornwall Colts were swept 4 games to 0 by the Brockville Braves. Cornwall went on to claim the Art Bogart Cup over the Brockville Braves two years later, and went on to defeat the Halifax Oland Exports to win the Fred Page Cup. Despite going win-less at the Royal Bank Cup in Fort McMurray, Alberta, the entire City of Cornwall stood right behind the Colts every step of the way. The Colts would continue their winning ways in 2000-01 as the Colts whitewashed the Ottawa Junior Senators 7–0 in Game 7 at the Si Miller Arena on Water Street. But, suffered a heart-breaking overtime loss to the St. Jerome Panthers in the final game of the Fred Page Cup.

2003 Fred Page Cup

The Cornwall Colts and the City of Cornwall was awarded the Fred Page Cup for 2003. The tournament was originally awarded to the Ottawa Junior Senators, but backed out due to arena trouble and accommodations. The tournament was played in the Cornwall Civic Complex, instead of the SI Millar Arena, because it was too small. The tournament was a success, despite that the Colts bowed out in the semi-finals with a double-overtime loss to the Nepean Raiders.

2008 Royal Bank Cup

In fall 2005, the City of Cornwall and the Cornwall Colts were awarded Canada's most prestigious Junior A hockey tournament for 2008. The runner-up for the tournament were the Pembroke Lumber Kings. For the 2007–08 season, the Cornwall Colts shifted over to the Cornwall Civic Complex and left the Si Miller Arena for good. The Colts now had the biggest arena in the league, despite that attendance figures were surprisingly low. The Colts finished 6th and lost the quarter-finals. The Colts rested for several weeks and entered the tournament with expectations of winning the Royal Bank Cup. But, a 7–0 loss to the Humboldt Broncos of the SJHL in the opening contest wasn't the start they were looking for. The Colts managed to win the next two games against the Oakville Blades (5-4) and Weeks Crushers (6-1), but lost in the semi-finals to the eventual champion Humboldt Broncos. Captain Darcy Findlay received the RBC most valuable player award for the tournament.

Cornwall Civic Complex

The Cornwall Civic Complex became the permanent home for the Cornwall Colts in 2007. Before, the Colts played their games at the now-demolished SI Miller Arena. The Cornwall Colts played their games at the Cornwall Civic Complex since 1992, but moved into the SI Miller in 1997. The Cornwall Civic Complex was used to host the 2003 and 2015 Fred Page Cup tournaments.

Season-by-season record

''Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against''

Attendance

As of March 15, 2025

Fred Page Cup

Eastern Canada Championships

'' MHL - QAAAJHL - CCHL - Host''

Round robin play with 2nd vs 3rd in semi-final to advance against 1st in the finals.

* 2003 Tournament Host

Royal Bank Cup

CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

'' Dudley Hewitt Champions - Central, Fred Page Champions - Eastern, Western Canada Cup Champions - Western, Western Canada Cup - Runners Up and Host''

Round robin play with top 4 in semi-final and winners to finals.

Championships

:CJHL Bogart Cup Championships: 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2013
:Eastern Canadian Fred Page Cup Championships: 2000
:CJAHL Royal Bank Cup Championships: None

Notable alumni

* Doug Lawson
*Cam Barker
* Andre Binette
*Yann Danis
* Farrand Gillie
* Rosario Joannette
* Chad Kilger
* Frank Mario
* Kent McDonell
* Eric Meloche
* Kevin O'Shea
* Gordon Spence
* Ryan VandenBussche
* Ron Ward
* Jesse Winchester (ice hockey)
* Brian Marino
* Alain Quenneville

External links

Cornwall Colts Webpage

{{CCHL, state=expanded

Central Canada Hockey League teams
Sport in Cornwall, Ontario
Ice hockey clubs established in 1988
1988 establishments in Ontario
Ice hockey teams in Ontario