The Markham Royals are a Junior "A"

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...

team from Markham,

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

, Canada. They are a part of the

Ontario Junior 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 dates back to 1954 where i ...

. From 1973 until 2015, the team operated in

Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Ontario. Hamilton has a 2021 Canadian census, population of 569,353 (2021), and its Census Metropolitan Area, census metropolitan area, which encompasses ...

as the Kilty's and the Red Wings.

History

Hamilton Red Wings/Kilty B's (1973–2015)

The Red Wings were founded in 1973 as the second Hamilton-based team in the Niagara District Junior B Hockey League. After one season, the league divided into two leagues and the Red Wings went the way of the

Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League The Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League (GHL) was a junior ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association from 1974 until 2007. In 2007, the league became a division of the newly formed Greater Ontario Juni ...

. In 1975–76, the other Hamilton team joined 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 ...

and became the

Hamilton Mountain A's The Hamilton Mountain A's are a defunct Junior "A" ice hockey team from Hamilton, Ontario, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They were a part of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League. History Originating as the Hamilton Red Wing B's, the team b ...

. The draw of a local Junior A club weakened the team and they took a one-year leave a season later. In 1977, under new ownership the team came back as the Kiltys. Although a very competitive team, it took the Kiltys until 1992–93 to win a Golden Horseshoe championship. With that win, the Kiltys were promoted to the newly formed

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 dates back to 1954 where i ...

with a variety of other Junior B squads. Outside of some brief troubles in the late 1990s, the Hamilton franchise has been very successful in regular season play in the OJHL. The team was renamed the Hamilton Red Wings in 2002 and continued to field highly competitive teams season after season.

Markham Royals (2015–present)

In early 2015, the Red Wings moved to

Markham, Ontario Markham () is a city in Regional Municipality of York, York Region, Ontario, Canada. It is approximately northeast of Downtown Toronto. In the Canada 2021 Census, 2021 Census, Markham had a population of 338,503, which ranked it the largest in ...

and became the Markham Royals. Markham had been without an OJHL franchise since 2012. The club also acquired the rights for Waxers Junior A, and has chosen to play as the Markham Royals.

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 championshi ...
appearances

:''1974'': Hamilton Red Wings defeated

Bramalea Blues The Bramalea Blues were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Bramalea, Ontario, Canada. Their final two seasons were played in Brampton, Ontario at the Powerade Centre. They were a part of the Ontario Junior A Hockey League but also used to be a ...

''by forfeit''

Notable alumni

Marty McSorley Martin James McSorley (born May 18, 1963) is a Canadian former professional hockey player, who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1983 to 2000. A versatile player, he could play both the forward and defense positions. He was also hea ...

Keith Primeau Keith David Primeau (born November 24, 1971) is a Canadian businessman and ice hockey coach. He is a former professional ice hockey centre who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers, C ...

* Pat Quinn * Jeff Reese *

Zac Rinaldo Zachary Rinaldo (born June 15, 1990) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger. He has previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, Arizona Coyotes, Nashville Predators and Calgar ...

* Gary Roberts *

Steve Staios Steve Staios (born July 28, 1973) is a Canadian ice hockey executive and former professional player. He currently serves as president of hockey operations and general manager for the Ottawa Senators. Staios played right defence in the National Ho ...

* Cam Talbot * Zach Hyman * Chris Tanev * Brandon Tanev

External links

Royals Webpage
{{OPJAHL Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League teams Sport in Markham, Ontario 1973 establishments in Ontario

Markham Royals The Markham Royals are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Markham, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. From 1973 until 2015, the team operated in Hamilton, Ontario as the Kilty's and the Red Wings. History Ham ...

Ice hockey teams in Ontario