Hamilton Red Wings

For the defunct minor league baseball team, see Hamilton Red Wings (baseball). For the current team playing in the Ontario Junior Hockey League, see Hamilton Red Wings (1973–).

Hamilton Red Wings
City	Hamilton, Ontario
League	Ontario Hockey Association
Operated	1960 (1960)-74
Home arena	Barton Street Arena
Parent club(s)	Detroit Red Wings (1960-67)
Championships	1962 Memorial Cup Champions
Franchise history
1946-53	Windsor Spitfires
1953-60	Hamilton Tiger Cubs
1960-74	Hamilton Red Wings
1974-76	Hamilton Fincups
1976-77	St. Catharines Fincups
1977-78	Hamilton Fincups
1978-84	Brantford Alexanders
1984-88	Hamilton Steelhawks
1988-96	Niagara Falls Thunder
1996-present	Erie Otters

The Hamilton Red Wings were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1960 to 1974. The team was based in Hamilton, Ontario.

History

The Hamilton Tiger Cubs were renamed in 1960 becoming the Hamilton Red Wings as they wanted to gain increased ticket sales to emphasize the affiliation with the parent Detroit Red Wings which dated back to 1953. The team played for 14 seasons before being renamed the Hamilton Fincups as they had an ownership change as well as the partnership with Detroit was terminated in the late 60's.

The Red Wings of 1962 were coached by Eddie Bush, and managed by Jimmy Skinner (1954-55 Stanley Cup Champion Coach) . The team finished second overall in the OHA standings, then lost only 1 game in the post-season run to the Memorial Cup. In the playoffs Hamilton defeated the St. Catharines Teepees, Niagara Falls Flyers, and the Metro Jr. A. champs Toronto St. Michael's Majors 4 games to 1, winning the J. Ross Robertson Cup. The Red Wings then swept the series against the Quebec Citadelles for the George Richardson Memorial Trophy to win the Eastern Canadian Championship.

The Red Wings would play the Western Canadian champion Edmonton Oil Kings for the Memorial Cup. The first game of the 1962 Memorial Cup was played on home ice at the Barton Street Arena which Hamilton won 5-2. The next three games were played at the Guelph Memorial Gardens. Hamilton won game two 4-2. Edmonton won game three 5-3. Hamilton shutout Edmonton 3-0 in game four. The fifth and deciding game was played in the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. The Red Wings defeated the Oil Kings 7-4 to win the series and the Memorial Cup, 4 games to 1.

Five years later the Red Wings made it to the OHA finals again in 1967, but were swept 4 games to 0 by the Toronto Marlboros.

Once the sponsorship money from the Detroit Red Wings ended at the conclusion of the 1966-67 season the franchise went in a free for all and owner Nick Durbano who had cash flow issues and little interest to maintain a competitive team . Durbano finally found a buyer in the summer of 1974

Players

The two most famous Hamilton Red Wings alumni are "Little M" Pete Mahovlich, and 1972 Summit Series hero Paul Henderson. Many Hamilton Red Wings went on to play for the Detroit NHL team.

Award winners

• 1960-1961 - Bud Blom, Dave Pinkney Trophy, Lowest team GAA
• 1961-1962 - Pit Martin, Red Tilson Trophy, Most Outstanding Player
• 1961-1962 - Lowell MacDonald, William Hanley Trophy, Most Sportsmanlike Player
• 1962-1963 - Paul Henderson, William Hanley Trophy, Most Sportsmanlike Player
• 1964-1965 - Jimmy Peters, William Hanley Trophy, Most Sportsmanlike Player
• 1967-1968 - Jim Rutherford & Gerry Gray, Dave Pinkney Trophy, Lowest team GAA

NHL alumni

4

Yearly results

Regular season

Season	Games	Won	Lost	Tied	Points	Pct %	Goals for	Goals against	Standing
1960-61	48	22	19	7	51	0.531	192	148	3rd OHA
1961-62	50	32	12	6	70	0.700	220	162	2nd OHA
1962-63	50	21	21	8	50	0.500	202	184	4th OHA
1963-64	56	11	35	10	32	0.286	193	285	7th OHA
1964-65	56	14	31	11	39	0.348	220	287	8th OHA
1965-66	48	22	20	6	50	0.521	203	217	5th OHA
1966-67	48	22	21	5	49	0.510	172	161	4th OHA
1967-68	54	31	13	10	72	0.667	253	162	3rd OHA
1968-69	54	27	24	3	57	0.528	207	190	5th OHA
1969-70	54	16	26	12	44	0.407	207	238	9th OHA
1970-71	62	22	35	5	49	0.395	224	328	7th OHA
1971-72	63	11	46	6	28	0.222	200	334	10th OHA
1972-73	63	15	41	7	37	0.294	244	374	9th OHA
1973-74	70	16	49	5	37	0.264	221	376	11th OHA

Playoffs

• 1960-61 Defeated Peterborough Petes 8 points to 2 in quarter-finals.
  Lost to St. Michael's Majors 9 points to 5 in semi-finals.
• 1961-62 Defeated St. Catharines Teepees 9 points to 3 in OHA semi-finals.
  Defeated Niagara Falls Flyers 8 points to 0 in OHA finals.
  Defeated St. Michael's Majors 8 points to 2 in all-Ontario finals. OHA CHAMPIONS
  Defeated Quebec Citadelles in Richardson Trophy playoffs.
  Defeated Edmonton Oil Kings 8 points to 2 in Memorial Cup finals. MEMORIAL CUP CHAMPIONS
• 1962-63 Lost to Niagara Falls Flyers 8 points to 2 in OHA semi-finals.
• 1963-64 Out of playoffs.
• 1964-65 Out of playoffs.
• 1965-66 Lost to Montreal Junior Canadiens 8 points to 0 in quarter-finals.
• 1966-67 Defeated Peterborough Petes 8 points to 4 in quarter-finals.
  Defeated Niagara Falls Flyers 8 points to 6 in semi-finals.
  Lost to Toronto Marlboros 8 points to 0 in finals.
• 1967-68 Defeated London Knights 8 points to 2 in quarter-finals.
  Lost to Kitchener Rangers 8 points to 4 in semi-finals.
• 1968-69 Lost to Montreal Junior Canadiens 8 points to 0 in quarter-finals.
• 1969-70 Out of playoffs.
• 1970-71 Lost to Ottawa 67's 9 points to 5 in quarter-finals.
• 1971-72 Out of playoffs.
• 1972-73 Out of playoffs.
• 1973-74 Out of playoffs.

Arena

The Hamilton Red Wings played home games at the Barton Street Arena, also known as the Hamilton Forum . The Provincial junior A league team has adopted the historic Hamilton hockey name Red wings, although zero linkage to the original OHA/OHL franchise they play at the Dave Andreychuck Mountain Arena on Hester Street, every Monday night.

External links

• Hamilton Forum - The OHL Arena & Travel Guide