Kingston Canadians

Kingston Canadians
CityKingston, Ontario
LeagueOntario Hockey League
ConferenceLeyden
Founded1973 (1973)–74
Home arenaKingston Memorial Centre
ColoursRed, white and blue
Franchise history
1972–1973Kingston Frontenacs Jr. A.
1973–1988Kingston Canadians
1988–1989Kingston Raiders
1989–presentKingston Frontenacs

The Kingston Canadians were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League from 1973 to 1988. The team played home games at the Kingston Memorial Centre in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

History

The Kingston Canadians arrival in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) for the 1973–74 OHL season, was a result of the Montreal Junior Canadiens switch to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in 1972. During the summer of 1972, the QMJHL had threatened a lawsuit against the OHA to force the Junior Canadiens to return to the Quebec-based league. The OHA granted the Junior Canadiens franchise a "one-year suspension" of operations, while team ownership transferred the team and players into the QMJHL, renaming themselves the Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge.

The OHA reactivated the suspended franchise after a one-year hiatus, under new ownership and with new players, calling the team the Kingston Canadians. A group of Kingston business and professionals including J. Douglas Cunningham, purchased the rights from the Montreal Arena Corporation. The new Kingston team was an expansion franchise promoted from the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League. The Kingston Canadians used the same colours and uniforms as the NHL's Montreal Canadiens and Junior Canadiens. The Kingston logo replaced the "H" with the letter "K" for Kingston.

The team played from 1973 to 1980 in the OHA, then from 1980 to 1988 in the OHL. In 1981, Kingston hosted the annual OHL All-Star game. In 1985–1986 season, Chris Clifford was the OHL first goalie to score a goal. Following a 28-game losing streak to end the 1987–88 season, the Canadians franchise was sold and renamed the team Kingston Raiders.[1]

Coaches

Jim Morrison coached the Canadians for almost half the team's tenure in the OHA & OHL. He was an NHL veteran defenceman of 704 games, as well as being a player coach with the AHL Baltimore Clippers.

Four other Canadians coaches also played in the NHL. They are, Jack Bownass, Rod Graham, Fred O'Donnell & Jim Dorey.

Jack Bownass was the recipient of the Matt Leyden Trophy as OHA Coach of the Year in 1973-1974.

List of Coaches

(Multiple years in parentheses)

Players

Award winners

Retired numbers

NONE. Five numbers have been "honoured" from the Kingston Canadians, although not retired and still in circulation. (#5 Mike O'Connell, #7 Tony McKegney, #10 Brad Rhiness, #14 Ken Linseman and #29 Chris Clifford).

Notable alumni

Sean Simpson played for the Canadians during the 1976–77 season, later coached Switzerland and Hungary at the Ice Hockey World Championships, and had a lengthy career coaching professional European hockey.[2] Paul Coffey played for the Canadians during the 1977–78 season, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.[3] Jim Aldred played for the Canadians from 1979 to 1981, and became coach of the Portugal men's national team in 2017.[4] Kevin Conway played for the Canadians during the 1983–84 season, was inducted into the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005.[5] Rick Fera played for the Canadians during the 1984–85 season, and had a lengthy British Hockey League career.[6]

List of Canadians that also played in the National Hockey League or World Hockey Association:[7]

Season-by-season results

Regular season and playoffs results:[8]

Season Games Won Lost Tied Points Pct % Goals
for		 Goals
against		 Standing Playoffs
1973–74 70 20 43 7 47 0.336 256 378 10th in OHA did not qualify
1974–75 70 25 35 10 60 0.429 297 345 8th in OHA Lost to Toronto Marlboros in quarterfinals 9 points to 7[9]
1975–76 66 33 24 9 75 0.568 357 316 3rd in Leyden Lost to Ottawa 67's in quarterfinals 9 points to 5[10]
1976–77 66 32 24 10 74 0.561 295 259 3rd in Leyden Defeated Sudbury Wolves in quarterfinals 9 points to 3
Lost to Ottawa 67's in semifinals 9 points to 7[11]
1977–78 68 27 32 9 63 0.463 288 323 4th in Leyden Lost to S.S.Marie Greyhounds in first round 6 points to 4[12]
1978–79 68 26 38 4 56 0.412 265 306 5th in Leyden Defeated Ottawa 67's in first round 6 points to 2
Lost to Peterborough Petes in quarterfinals 9 points to 5[13]
1979–80 68 35 26 7 77 0.566 320 298 4th in Leyden Lost to Sudbury Wolves in first round 3 games to 0[14]
1980–81 68 39 26 3 81 0.596 334 273 3rd in Leyden Defeated Ottawa 67's in division semifinals 9 points to 5
Lost to S.S. Marie Greyhounds in division finals 9 points to 5[15]
1981–82 68 29 34 5 63 0.463 302 316 5th in Leyden Lost to Peterborough Petes in first round 6 points to 2[16]
1982–83 70 24 45 1 49 0.350 351 425 7th in Leyden did not qualify
1983–84 70 25 45 0 50 0.357 313 378 7th in Leyden did not qualify
1984–85 66 18 47 1 37 0.280 239 380 7th in Leyden did not qualify
1985–86 66 35 28 3 73 0.553 297 257 4th in Leyden Defeated Oshawa Generals in first round 8 points to 4
Finished 3rd place in round-robin versus Peterborough Petes and Belleville Bulls[17]
1986–87 66 26 39 1 53 0.402 287 316 4th in Leyden Defeated Belleville Bulls in first round 4 games to 2
Lost to Oshawa Generals in quarterfinals 4 games to 2[18]
1987–88 66 14 52 0 28 0.212 246 432 7th in Leyden did not qualify

Kingston Memorial Centre

The home arena of the Canadians was the Kingston Memorial Centre with a seating capacity 3,079 seated, and 3,300 including standing room.[19]

References

  1. ^ Gordanier, Tim (April 29, 1988). "Mavety's move to Kingston unique". The Whig-Standard. Kingston, Ontario. p. 15.
  2. ^ "Sean Simpson— Stats, Contract, Salary & More". Elite Prospects. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  3. ^ "Player Inductees: Paul Coffey". Hockey Hall of Fame. 2004. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  4. ^ "Jim Aldred, o senhor Hóquei". Portuguese Winter Sports Federation (in Portuguese). 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  5. ^ Martin C. Harris (2005). "Kevin Conway's British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame entry". Ice Hockey Journalists UK. Archived from the original on May 12, 2008. Retrieved October 30, 2007.
  6. ^ "Rick Fera Hockey Stats and Profile". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  7. ^ "Kingston Canadians all-time player list". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  8. ^ "Kingston Canadians Statistics and History". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  9. ^ "1974–75 OHA Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  10. ^ "1975–76 OHA Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  11. ^ "1976–77 OHA Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  12. ^ "1977–78 OHA Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  13. ^ "1978–79 OHA Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  14. ^ "1979–80 OHA Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  15. ^ "1980–81 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  16. ^ "1981–82 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  17. ^ "1985–86 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  18. ^ "1986–87 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  19. ^ Jordan, Kevin (December 4, 2019). "Kingston Memorial Centre, Kingston Frontenacs". The OHL Arena Guide. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
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