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Dream Teams
The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. In each issue, you'll find news, features and opinions about the NHL and leagues across North America and the world.
KINGSTON FRONTENACS
1989-PRESENT formerly: Kingston Raiders 1988-89 Kingston Canadians 1973-88 Kingston came into the OHA in 1973 as the Canadians, then 15 years later changed to the Raiders for a season before settling on the Frontenacs moniker in 1989. Fort Frontenac was established by Louis de Buade de Frontenac, the governor of New France, on the site of the city of Kingston. A reason the franchise was originally called the Canadians is because it replaced the Montreal Jr. Canadiens, who moved from the OHA to the QMJHL in 1972. A change in ownership prompted the change to Raiders in 1988, but that ownership didn’t survive. FRANCHISE DEFINING MOMENTS Establishing a brand, 1989 When new owners Wren Blair and Bob Attersley came aboard, they dug up the Frontenacs name, which had long been associated with Kingston hockey at various…
TRI -CITY AMERICANS
1988-PRESENT formerly: New Westminster Bruins 1983-88 Nanaimo Islanders 1982-83 Billings Bighorns 1977-82 Calgary Centennials 1967-77 Calgary Buffaloes 1966-67 The franchise was there in the beginning (1966-67) as the Calgary Buffaloes. It also spent five years in Montana (Billings) and one on Vancouver Island (Nanaimo). Bill Burton and Ron Dixon bought the team from Chicago businessman Bill Zeitlin and moved them to New Westminster, hoping to recapture Bruins’ magic. By 1989-90, Dixon was sole owner and the franchise shifting. The Americans play in Kennewick, Wash., which with Pasco and Richland forms the Tri-Cities area. FRANCHISE DEFINING MOMENTS making Cents, 1965-66 During the season, Scotty Munro sold the SJHL’s Estevan Bruins to 35 shareholders, including Ernie ‘Punch’ McLean and Bill Shinske, and headed for Calgary. McLean would become a co-founder of the WHL and the owner of the Calgary Centennials. South of…
ACADIE - BATHURST TITAN
1998-PRESENT FORMERLY: LAVAL TITAN COLL EGE FRANCAI LAVAL TITAN 1985-94 LAVAL VOISINS 1979-85 LAVAL NATIONAL 1971-79 NATIONAL 1969-71 THE ACADIE-BATHURST TITAN date back almost half a century, to the late 1960s, when the franchise was located in Laval. They have called Bathurst, N.B., home since 1998, and the ‘Acadie’ prefix refers to the region to which they belong. The Titan are Acadia’s team. FRANCHISE DEFINING MOMENTS Magnificent Mario, 1983-84 Mario Lemieux’s recordbreaking season, in which he had 282 points, blasted the Laval Voisins up the standings. They won the QMJHL President’s Cup with a franchiserecord 54 wins and qualified for their first Memorial Cup. Memorial Cup host, 1993-94 The Titan hosted major junior’s biggest tourney, backstopped by star goalie Manny Fernandez and led by coach Michel Therrien. They battled to the final, where they fell to star scorer Darcy…
CALGARY HITMEN
1995-PRESENT Prior to his conviction as a sex offender, former Swift Current Broncos coach-GM Graham James was the founder of the Hitmen. In 1994, he organized a group of 18 investors including wrestler Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart, along with former players Joe Sakic, Theoren Fleury and others. The Hitmen played in the Saddledome, but typically just the lower bowl was open for WHL games. The Calgary Flames purchased the Hitmen in 1997. FRANCHISE DEFINING MOMENTS FAST ASCEN SION, 1998-99 The Hitmen captured their first WHL title in just their fourth year. Considering Calgary won just 33 games and lost 104 in the first two seasons, the turnaround under coach Dean Clark was impressive. Pavel Brendl led the way as the Hitmen lost the Memorial Cup to host Ottawa in OT. oil the turnstile, 2004-05…
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