Niagara Falls Flyers

For the team in the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League from 1972 to 1976, see Niagara Falls Flyers (SOJHL).

Niagara Falls Flyers
CityNiagara Falls, Ontario
LeagueOntario Hockey Association (1960–1972)
Ontario Hockey League (1976–1982)
Operated1960 (1960)–1972, 1976–1982
Home arenaNiagara Falls Memorial Arena
ColoursGold, white and black
Parent clubBoston Bruins (1960–1967)
Franchise history
1943–1947St. Catharines Falcons
1947–1962St. Catharines Teepees
1962–1976St. Catharines Black Hawks
1976–1982Niagara Falls Flyers
1982–2002North Bay Centennials
2002–presentSaginaw Spirit
Previous franchise history
1945–1960Barrie Flyers
1960–1972Niagara Falls Flyers
1972–presentSudbury Wolves
Championships
Playoff championships1965 Memorial Cup
1968 Memorial Cup

The Niagara Falls Flyers were two junior ice hockey franchises that played in the top tier in the Ontario Hockey Association. The first, a Junior "A" team existed from 1960 until 1972, and the second in Tier I Junior "A" from 1976 until 1982.

Both teams were owned by the Emms Family, and were relocated to Niagara Falls from another city. The Niagara Falls Memorial Arena was home ice to both teams.

History

The first Flyers team relocated to Niagara Falls from Barrie in 1960. The team was affiliated with the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers appeared in three Memorial Cups in the 1960s, winning in 1965 and 1968. Both versions of the Flyers played home games at Niagara Falls Memorial Arena from 1960 to 1972, and again from 1976 to 1982. The arena hosted Memorial Cup games in 1968.[1]

1963 Memorial Cup

Niagara Falls won the right to play for the Cup by defeating the Toronto Neil McNeil Maroons for the OHA championship, and the Espanola Eagles to win the George Richardson Memorial Trophy as eastern Canadian representatives.

The Flyers were runners up to the Memorial Cup in 1963 played at Edmonton's Arena Gardens. They lost in six games to the Edmonton Oil Kings in a best-of-seven series. Flyers players Dornhoefer and Harmer both suffered broken legs while on the ice.

1965 Memorial Cup

Niagara Falls won the right to play for the Cup by defeating the defending champions Toronto Marlboros for the OHA championship. The Memorial Cup in 1965 was again played at Edmonton's Arena Gardens. They defeated the Oil Kings 4 games to 1 in a best-of-seven rematch series from two years previous. The series was filled with brawls and suspensions, as well as a heavy police presence throughout.

1968 Memorial Cup

Niagara Falls won the right to play for the Cup by defeating the Kitchener Rangers for the OHA championship, and the Verdun Maple Leafs for the eastern championship.

The 1968 Memorial Cup featured two Boston Bruins farm teams playing one another. The Flyers would play the Estevan Bruins on home ice, except for game two at the Montreal Forum. Game 4 was the longest in Memorial Cup history, lasting into five periods. Niagara Falls defeated Estevan in a best-of-seven series in five games.

Second Flyers

The Emms Family sold the Flyers in 1972 after it played for 12 seasons. The new owners then relocated the team to Sudbury to become the Sudbury Wolves.

Later the same year, after selling the Flyers, the Emms family bought the St. Catharines Black Hawks team who were the OHA champions the previous year. Four years after buying the Black Hawks, the Emms family relocated them to Niagara Falls in 1976, taking the same name as the previous team. The Emms family later sold this version of the Flyers in 1978.[2][3]

The second Flyers team played for 4 seasons in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1976 to 1980, and 2 years in the Ontario Hockey League from 1980 to 1982. The Flyers appeared in the OHA finals in 1979, losing to Peterborough. Niagara Falls lost its Flyers team a second time in 1982 when they moved to North Bay to become the Centennials, who have subsequently moved to Saginaw in 2002 to become the Saginaw Spirit.

Championships

The Niagara Falls Flyers are one of a few clubs to win multiple Memorial Cup championships. Also of note, the franchise were repeat champions in different home cities, of Barrie and Niagara Falls. In total, the Flyers won the Memorial Cup twice in Niagara Falls, and twice in Barrie. and the J. Ross Robertson Cup 3 times each in Barrie and Niagara Falls. The Flyers finished first overall in 1963 & 1965 during the regular season to win the Hamilton Spectator Trophy. The second Niagara Falls Flyers team won the western conference Emms Trophy in the 1978–79 playoffs.

Coaches

The Flyers from 1960 to 1972 were coached by Hap Emms, Bill Long and Paul Emms. The Flyers coaches from 1976 to 1982 are listed below.

Players

Award winners

Season Player Award Recognition Source
1962–63 Wayne Maxner Red Tilson Trophy Most outstanding player [5]
Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy OHA scoring champion [6]
1963–64 Bernie Parent Dave Pinkney Trophy Lowest team GAA [7]
1964–65
1966–67 Derek Sanderson Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy OHA scoring champion [8]
1967–68 Tom Webster Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy OHA scoring champion [9]
William Hanley Trophy Most sportsmanlike player [10]
1976–77 Mike Gartner Emms Family Award OHA rookie of the year [11]
1978–79 Nick Ricci F. W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy Lowest rookie GAA [12]
1981–82 Ron Meighan Max Kaminsky Trophy Most outstanding defenceman [13]

NHL alumni

Ninety-one players from the Flyers played in the National Hockey League (NHL) or World Hockey Association.[a] Two Hockey Hall of Fame inductees are Flyers alumni: Bernie Parent (1963–1965)[16] and Mike Gartner (1976–1979).[17]

1960 to 1972
1976 to 1982

Season-by-season results

1960–1972

Regular season and playoffs results:[18]

Legend: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Memorial Cup champions League champions League finalists
Season Regular season Playoffs
GP W L T Pts Pct GF GA Finish
1960–61 48 22 21 5 49 0.510 165 166 4th OHA Lost quarterfinal (Guelph Royals) 10–4[19]
1961–62 50 16 23 11 43 0.430 193 193 4th OHA Won semifinal (Montreal Junior Canadiens) 4–2[20]
Lost OHA final (Hamilton Red Wings) 8–0[21]
1962–63 50 31 12 7 69 0.690 212 146 1st OHA Won semifinal (Hamilton Red Wings) 8–2[22]
Won OHA final (Montreal Junior Canadiens) 8–0[23]
Won Ontario Junior A final (Toronto Neil McNeil Maroons) 4–2
Won Eastern Canada playoffs (Espanola Eagles) 4–0
Lost 1963 Memorial Cup (Edmonton Oil Kings) 4–2[24]
1963–64 56 26 22 8 60 0.536 207 178 4th OHA Lost quarterfinal (Toronto Marlboros) 8–0
1964–65 56 36 11 9 81 0.723 236 168 1st OHA Won quarterfinal (Oshawa Generals) 8–4
Bye through semifinal
Won OHA final Toronto Marlboros 8–2
Won Eastern Canada playoffs (Lachine Maroons) 3–1
Won 1965 Memorial Cup (Edmonton Oil Kings) 4–1[25]
1965–66 48 23 15 10 56 0.583 210 162 3rd OHA Lost quarterfinal (Kitchener Rangers) 8–4
1966–67 48 23 15 10 56 0.583 238 195 2nd OHA Won quarterfinal (London Nationals) 8–4[26]
Lost semifinal (Hamilton Red Wings) 8–6[27]
1967–68 54 32 15 7 71 0.657 255 169 4th OHA Won quarterfinal (Peterborough Petes) 8–2
Won semifinal Montreal Junior Canadiens 8–4[28]
Won OHA final Kitchener Rangers 9–7
Won Eastern Canada playoffs (Verdun Maple Leafs) 3–2
Won 1968 Memorial Cup (Estevan Bruins) 4–1[29]
1968–69 54 28 24 2 58 0.537 223 229 4th OHA Won quarterfinal (Ottawa 67's) 9–5
Lost semifinal (St. Catharines Black Hawks) 8–6
1969–70 54 10 41 3 23 0.213 151 313 10th OHA Did not qualify[18]
1970–71 62 11 44 7 29 0.234 193 350 10th OHA Did not qualify[30]
1971–72 63 27 27 9 63 0.500 280 293 6th OHA Lost quarterfinal (Oshawa Generals) 8–4[31]

1976–1982

Regular season and playoffs results:[32]

Legend: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Memorial Cup champions League champions League finalists
Season Regular season Playoffs
GP W L T Pts Pct GF GA Finish
1976–77 66 15 45 6 36 0.273 254 370 6th Emms Did not qualify[33]
1977–78 68 17 41 10 44 0.324 261 340 6th Emms Did not qualify[34]
1978–79 68 43 21 4 90 0.662 361 243 1st Emms Won quarterfinals (Kitchener Rangers) 8–6
Won semifinal round-robin (Windsor Spitfires and London Knights)[b]
Lost OMJHL finals (Peterborough Petes) 8–6[36]
1979–80 68 29 39 0 58 0.426 325 355 4th Emms Won division quarterfinals (London Knights) 3–2
Lost division semifinals (Windsor Spitfites) 4–1[37]
1980–81 68 30 36 2 62 0.456 354 359 4th Emms Won division quarterfinals (Toronto Marlboros) 3–2
Lost division semifinals (Kitchener Rangers) 9–5[38]
1981–82 68 31 34 3 65 0.478 311 338 4th Emms Lost division quarterfinals (Windsor Spitfires) 6–4[39]

Notes

  1. ^ 60 players from the Niagara Falls Flyers [1960–1972],[14] and 31 players from the Niagara Falls Flyers [1976–1982].[15]
  2. ^ The quarterfinals series between the Windsor Spitfires and London Knights was protested by the Knights, resulting in the both teams advancing into a round-robin series versus the Flyers.[35]

References

  1. ^ Jordan, Kevin (October 15, 2024). "Niagara Falls Memorial Arena, Niagara Falls Thunder". The OHL Arena Guide. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  2. ^ "Blackhawks". Archived from the original on June 29, 2004.
  3. ^ "Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Hap Emms". Archived from the original on January 25, 2003.
  4. ^ Annual Report: Constitution, Regulations and Rules of Competition. Cambridge, Ontario: Ontario Hockey Association. 2006. p. W-13.
  5. ^ "Junior Canadiens' Yvan Cournoyer Named Winner of Tilson Trophy". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario. April 17, 1964. p. 45.
  6. ^ Marks, Jack (April 20, 1963). "Flyers Triumph 9– Against Neil McNeil; Win Junior A Title". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario. p. 40.
  7. ^ "Few trophy repeaters in OMJHL loop". Niagara Falls Review. Niagara Falls, Ontario. November 21, 1980. p. 5.
  8. ^ "Derek Sanderson takes junior scoring honors". North Bay Nugget. The Canadian Press. March 14, 1967. p. 12.
  9. ^ "Flyers display power in decisive 8–3 win". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario. April 6, 1968. p. 42.
  10. ^ "Injured Peake claims award". Windsor Star. April 2, 1993. p. 22.
  11. ^ "OHA Rookie Of Year". Niagara Falls Review. Niagara Falls, Ontario. April 14, 1977. p. 17.
  12. ^ Austin, Doug (March 29, 1979). "This and That: Top trophy choices". Niagara Falls Review. Niagara Falls, Ontario. p. 11.
  13. ^ "Meighan awarded Kaminsky". Niagara Falls Review. Niagara Falls, Ontario. April 20, 1982. p. 13.
  14. ^ "Niagara Falls Flyers [1960–1972] all-time player list". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  15. ^ "Niagara Falls Flyers [1976–1982] all-time player list". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  16. ^ "Player Inductee–Bernie Parent". Legends of Hockey. Hockey Hall of Fame. 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  17. ^ "Player Inductee–Mike Gartner". Legends of Hockey. Hockey Hall of Fame. 2001. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  18. ^ a b "Niagara Falls Flyers Statistics and History [1960–1972 OHL]". HockeyDB. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  19. ^ "Guelph Royals Set For Junior Finals". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ontario. The Canadian Press. March 25, 1961. p. 19.
  20. ^ Campbell, Gordon (March 19, 1962). "Flyers Upset Habs: Even Emms At Loss For An Explanation". Toronto Star. p. 10.
  21. ^ "Jr. Wings Sweep Series; Win 4–2". The Evening Tribune. Welland, Ontario. The Canadian Press. March 28, 1968. p. 26.
  22. ^ Watkins, Joe (March 16, 1963). "Late Rally Sidelines Wings". The Hamilton Spectator. p. 15.
  23. ^ "Flyers KO Junior Habs 4 Straight". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ontario. The Canadian Press. April 1, 1963. p. 11.
  24. ^ Lapp and Macaulay (1997), pp. 126–129
  25. ^ Lapp and Macaulay (1997), pp. 133–137
  26. ^ "Rangers Will Meet Marlies In Jr. A Series". The Sun Times. Owen Sound, Ontario. The Canadian Press. March 25, 1967. p. 14.
  27. ^ "Red Wings Oust Niagara Falls". The Sault Star. Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The Canadian Press. April 8, 1967. p. 11.
  28. ^ "Junior Habs Ousted". The Gazette. Montreal, Quebec. The Canadian Press. April 6, 1968. p. 13.
  29. ^ Lapp and Macaulay (1997), pp. 144–148
  30. ^ "1970–71 OHA Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  31. ^ "1971–72 OHA Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  32. ^ "Niagara Falls Flyers Statistics and History [1976–1982 OHL]". HockeyDB. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  33. ^ "1976–77 OHA Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  34. ^ "1977–78 OHA Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  35. ^ Juby, Jordan (April 11, 1979). "Committee-room feud now shifts to arena in bizarre OHA mess". Ottawa Citizen. p. 31.
  36. ^ "1978–79 OHA Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  37. ^ "1979–80 OHA Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  38. ^ "1980–81 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  39. ^ "1981–82 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.

Sources

  • Lapp, Richard M.; Macaulay, Alec (1997). The Memorial Cup: Canada's National Junior Hockey Championship. Madeira Park, British Columbia: Harbour Publishing. ISBN 1-55017-170-4.
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