Barrie Flyers
CityBarrie, Ontario
LeagueOntario Hockey Association
Operated1945 (1945)–1960
Home arenaBarrie Arena
ColoursWhite, black and gold
Parent club(s)Boston Bruins
Franchise history
1945–1960Barrie Flyers
1960–72Niagara Falls Flyers
1972–presentSudbury Wolves
Championships
Playoff championships1951 and 1953 Memorial Cup

The Barrie Flyers were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1945 to 1960, from Barrie, Ontario. The Flyers played home games at the Barrie Arena from 1945 to 1960.[1]

History

The Barrie Flyers junior team was founded in 1945 by Leighton "Hap" Emms. The franchise was soon affiliated with the Boston Bruins of the NHL. Barrie quickly became a powerhouse in the OHA. They appeared in the Memorial Cup three times, losing the first time in 1948, then winning twice, in 1951 and 1953. The Emms family relocated the team to Niagara Falls in 1960 where the team continued to win and played for 12 seasons, then relocated to Sudbury to become the Sudbury Wolves.

1948 Memorial Cup

Barrie won the right to play for the cup by defeating the Windsor Spitfires for the OHA championship, and the Montreal Nationales to win the Richardson Trophy as eastern Canadian representatives.

The Flyers were runners up for the Memorial Cup in 1948 played at Maple Leaf Gardens. They were swept by the Port Arthur West End Bruins (now Thunder Bay) in a best-of-seven series.

The series was very physical and bitter between the teams. After the third game, Emms threatened that the Flyers would not continue to play without a change in referees. The series ultimately continued with the same referees.

Game 1  Port Arthur 10 vs. Barrie  8
Game 2  Port Arthur  8 vs. Barrie  1
Game 3  Port Arthur  5 vs. Barrie  4
Game 4  Port Arthur  9 vs. Barrie  8 (OT)

1951 Memorial Cup

Memorial Cup Winner 1951 Barrie Flyers

Barrie won the OHA championship defeating the Toronto Marlboros.

Canadian Amateur Hockey Association vice-president W. B. George oversaw the Flyers versus Quebec Citadels series for the George Richardson Memorial Trophy, to represent Eastern Canada in the 1951 Memorial Cup playoffs. When the Citadels refused to play game five in Barrie, George gave them an ultimatum to play or forfeit the series. Quebec decided to play too late to arrive by train, but arrived half an hour late after flying.[2][3] George scheduled game seven on neutral ice at Maple Leaf Gardens, despite protests from Flyers' coach Hap Emms who claimed that his team only agreed to resume the series if game seven was played in Barrie.[4]

The Flyers won the Memorial Cup in 1951 played at Winnipeg and Brandon, Manitoba. They swept the Winnipeg Monarchs in a best-of-seven series.

Game 1  Barrie 5 vs. Winnipeg 1
Game 2  Barrie 5 vs. Winnipeg 1
Game 3  Barrie 4 vs. Winnipeg 3
Game 4  Barrie 9 vs. Winnipeg 5

1953 Memorial Cup

Barrie won the right to play for the cup by defeating the St. Michael's Majors for the OHA championship. The Flyers won the Memorial Cup in 1953 played at Winnipeg and Brandon, Manitoba. They defeated the St. Boniface Canadiens in a best-of-seven series.

Game 1  Barrie 6 vs. St. Boniface 4
Game 2  Barrie 6 vs. St. Boniface 3
Game 3  Barrie 7 vs. St. Boniface 5
Game 4  Barrie 4 vs. St. Boniface 7
Game 5  Barrie 6 vs. St. Boniface 1

Championships

The Barrie Flyers were a dominant team during the late 1940s and early 1950s, and one of a few clubs to win multiple Memorial Cup championships. The Flyers won the Ontario championship 4 times, the Eastern Canadian championship 3 times, and the national championship twice.

Memorial Cup appearances

  • 1948, Lost to Port Arthur West End Bruins
  • 1951, CAHA Champions vs. Winnipeg Monarchs
  • 1953, CAHA Champions vs. St. Boniface Canadiens

George Richardson Memorial Trophy appearances

  • 1948, Champions vs. Montreal Nationales
  • 1949, Lost to Montreal Royals
  • 1951, Champions vs. Quebec Citadels
  • 1953, Champions vs. Quebec Citadels

J. Ross Robertson Cup appearances[5]

  • 1947–48, OHA Champions vs. Windsor Spitfires
  • 1948–49, OHA Champions vs. Toronto Marlboros
  • 1950–51, OHA Champions vs. Toronto Marlboros
  • 1952–53, OHA Champions vs. St. Michael's Majors
  • 1955–56, Lost to Toronto Marlboros

Players

Award winners

NHL alumni

List of Flyers' alumni who played in the National Hockey League (NHL):[6]

Regular season results

SeasonGamesWonLostTiedPointsPct %Goals
For		Goals
Against		Standing
1945–46288182180.308891717th OHA
1946–473517162360.5141291446th OHA
1947–483623130460.6391981163rd OHA
1948–494828164600.6252081342nd OHA
1949–504821243450.4691802175th OHA
1950–515438142780.7222761611st OHA
1951–525322301470.4252252307th OHA
1952–535637172760.6792581871st OHA
1953–545925331510.4322602857th OHA
1954–554918310360.3671692517th OHA
1955–564820253430.4481792076th OHA
1956–575213372280.2691472186th OHA
1957–585118294400.3922012346th OHA
1958–595421276480.4441781925th OHA
1959–604824186540.5621931723rd OHA

References

  1. ↑ Jordan, Kevin (December 7, 2019). "Barrie Colts". The OHL Arena & Travel Guide. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Popular Valley Figure: W. B. George Retiring From KAS Post". Ottawa Journal. Ottawa, Ontario. September 24, 1960. p. 7.Free access icon
  3. ↑ "On-Off Junior Series Finally Settled". Medicine Hat News. Medicine Hat, Alberta. April 24, 1951. p. 3.Free access icon
  4. ↑ "Smoke Still Rising: But Playoff Locations Settled". Lethbridge Herald. Lethbridge, Alberta. April 28, 1951. p. 17.Free access icon
  5. ↑ Annual Report: Constitution, Regulations and Rules of Competition. Cambridge, Ontario: Ontario Hockey Association. 2006. p. W-13.
  6. ↑ "NHL Player Search—Barrie Flyers". Legends of Hockey. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
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