Orangeville Crushers

The Orangeville Crushers were a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey team from Orangeville, Ontario. They played in the Ontario Junior Hockey League, Midwestern Junior B Hockey League, and Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League.

Orangeville Crushers
CityOrangeville, Ontario, Canada
LeagueOntario Junior Hockey League
Midwestern Junior B Hockey League
Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League
Central Ontario Junior C Hockey League
Operated1975-2011
Home arenaAlder Street Recreation Facility
ColoursOrange, Black, and White
              
General managerRobin Inscoe
Head coachDale Hawerchuk
AffiliatesBarrie Colts (OHL)
Schomberg Cougars (GMOHL)
Franchise history
1975-1987Orangeville Stone Crushers
1987-2001Orangeville Crushers
2001-2004Orangeville Thunder
2004-2010Orangeville Crushers
2010-2011Orangeville Flyers

History

Founded in 1975, the Stonecrushers sat out the 1978-79 season. The owners of the team opted to attempt to field a team in the Georgian Bay Intermediate A Hockey League by the name of the Orangeville Cougars. The Cougars only won twice in all of 1978-79 and the Stonecrushers were brought back for 1979-80.

The team originated in the Central Ontario Junior C Hockey League, after one season in the league it became the Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Crushers played in the Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League and won two straight league championships. They won the Clarence Schmalz Cup in 1990 as All-Ontario Champions. In the Clarence Schmalz Cup Finals, the Crushers came back from a 3-0 deficit in games to defeat the Belle River Canadiens of the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League 4-3. The 1991 Clarence Schmalz Cup Final pitted the Crushers against a bound and determined Hanover Barons of the Western Junior C Hockey League. The Crushers again went down 3-0 in games and again forced a seventh and deciding contest but came out on the losing end, dropping the final game and the series 4-3.

In the mid-1990s, the Crushers were accepted into the Midwestern Junior B Hockey League and stayed there until 2006. Orangeville had been accepted to play in the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League for the start of the 2006-07 Season. A vote was concocted by the OPJHL teams, where the Crushers were voted in by a 33-3 vote. The Crushers would play out of the North Division. The team's head coach for the beginning of 2006-07 would be Steve Chelios, brother of National Hockey League great Chris Chelios . Chelios was let go in late October. The President of the team is another former NHLer, Dale Hawerchuk.

Junior A

The Crushers' first Junior "A" game took place on September 15, 2006 against Vaughan Vipers in Orangeville. The game resulted in a 6-3 loss. The Crushers' first ever Junior "A" goal was scored by Trevor Branning at 1:17 into the first period. Anthony Ferrante started the game in net.

The Crushers' first ever Junior "A" win was against the Stouffville Spirit on September 28, 2006 in Stouffville, Ontario. The final score was 3-2, with goaltender Michael Hutchinson picking up the win in net. Hutchinson stopped 35 of 37 shots, as the Crushers were badly outshot. Hutchinson also held the Spirit scoreless for the first 48:13 of the game, coming within less than 12 minutes of the shutout. The Crushers' Wil Munson of Corona, California scored the eventual game winner.

The Crushers finished the season one point out of the final playoff spot. With three games to go in the season, Orangeville either had to win or tie to clinch a spot or the Buffalo Jr. Sabres had to tie or lose—neither happened.

Team owner and National Hockey League Hockey Hall of Famer Dale Hawerchuk took over as head coach. In 2010, the changed its name to the Flyers.

On April 3, 2011, despite three consecutive .500 or more seasons, the franchise ceased operations. A week later, the owner of the Villanova Knights announced that he was moving the Knights to Orangeville and renaming them the "Orangeville Flyers".

Season-by-season results
SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPResultsPlayoffs
1975-7632101111-156145315th CJCHLLost "C" Semi-final
1976-773015150-176187305th CJCHLLost "C" Semi-final
1977-783213127-155152334th MOJCHLLost Semi-final
1978-79Did Not Participate
1979-803912270-201253245th MOJCHLDNQ
1980-813615210-182188304th MOJCHLLost Final
1981-82407321-190311156th MOJCHLDNQ
1982-833620151-201162413rd MOJCHLLost Final
1983-84342662-232132541st MOJCHLLost Semi-final
1984-853620160-254174405th MOJCHLLost Final
1985-863417161-235196354th MOJCHL
1986-873421130-246161423rd MOJCHLLost Semi-final
1987-88363240-297148641st MOJCHLWon League, Lost CSC QF
1988-89363240-366121641st MOJCHLLost Final
1989-90353050-294138601st MOJCHLWon League, Won CSC
1990-91343130-265101621st MOJCHLWon League, Lost CSC Final
1991-92342572-205124521st MOJCHLWon League, Lost CSC QF
1992-9338231320193160481st MOJCHLWon League
1993-94403550-303126701st MOJCHLWon League, Lost CSC QF
1994-954826193-190168555th MWJBHLLost Quarter-final
1995-964829172-219171604th MWJBHLLost Quarter-final
1996-974817256-162189407th MWJBHLLost Quarter-final
1997-984829181-202152595th MWJBHLLost Semi-final
1998-994824213-214203515th MWJBHLLost Semi-final
1999-004817292-169215367th MWJBHLLost Quarter-final
2000-01488400-1592991610th MWJBHLDNQ
2001-02488382-131280189th MWJBHLDNQ
2002-034834410101351710th MWJBHLDNQ
2003-04482440284282610th MWJBHLDNQ
2004-05484431089346910th MWJBHLDNQ
2005-06485421-1043031110th MWJBHLDNQ
2006-074993631131213227th OPJHL-NDNQ
2007-08491729-3138197376th OPJHL-NLost Division QF
2008-09493315-1212159674th OJHL-PLost Division F
2009-10502916-5215184634th CCHL-WLost Preliminary
2010-11502424-2173176505th OJHL-NLost Round of 16

Clarence Schmalz Cup appearances
1990: Orangeville Crushers defeated Belle River Canadiens 4-games-to-3
1991: Hanover Barons defeated Orangeville Crushers 4-games-to-3

Notable alumni
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