Belleville Bulls
CityBelleville, Ontario
LeagueOntario Hockey League
ConferenceEastern
DivisionEast
Operated1981–2015
Home arenaYardmen Arena
ColoursBlack, red, gold, white
       
Franchise history
1981–2015Belleville Bulls
2015–2023Hamilton Bulldogs
2023–presentBrantford Bulldogs
Belleville Bulls in action at home versus Oshawa Generals.

The Belleville Bulls were a junior ice hockey team, founded in 1981 and based in Belleville, Ontario, Canada. The team played in the Eastern Division of the Eastern Conference of the Ontario Hockey League. The team moved to Hamilton, Ontario at the end of the 2014–15 OHL season.

History

The Belleville Bulls started in 1979 as a Junior Tier II team in the OHA. In their second season in 1980–81, the Bulls won the Tier II title, defeating the Guelph Platers in the league finals. The Bulls then competed in the national championship for the Manitoba Centennial Trophy hosted in Halifax, Nova Scotia losing in the finals to the Prince Albert Raiders.

On February 2, 1981, the OHL granted an expansion franchise to the city of Belleville and the ownership group of Dr. Robert L. Vaughan & Bob Dolan. Dr. Robert L. Vaughan remained an owner/co-owner of the team for over 20 years until he sold the team in 2004 to Gord Simmonds. Dr. Vaughan was awarded the Bill Long award in 1993 for distinguished service to the OHL.

In 1983, Belleville hosted the OHL All-Star Game, known then as the OHL Chrysler Cup.

The Bulls reached the OHL finals in 1986 versus a familiar foe from their Tier II days, the Guelph Platers. The Platers won the series in 6 games. In 1995 and 1996, the Bulls lost in the semi-finals to the Guelph Storm.

The 1999 season would be one for the memories when the Belleville Bulls would win it all. The Bulls defeated the London Knights 9–2 in game seven of the OHL championship series at the Yardmen Arena to win their first J. Ross Robertson Cup.

The Bulls competed in the 1999 Memorial Cup, hosted in Ottawa versus the Calgary Hitmen, Acadie-Bathurst Titan & Ottawa 67's. Belleville finished 3rd, losing to Ottawa 4–2 in the semifinal.

In the 2005–06 season, the Belleville Bulls celebrated their 25th anniversary in the OHL. The team also hosted the annual OHL All-Star game for the second time, on February 1, 2006. The Bulls set a season-best record of 102 points earned during the 2007–08 regular season.

In 2007–08, the Bulls made a trip to the Memorial Cup by virtue of Kitchener winning the Western Conference, and being the host, Belleville would get in as the OHL representative. The Bulls would lose the semi-final game 9-0 against the hosting team, the Kitchener Rangers, who would eventually lose to the Spokane Chiefs in the championship game.

On March 12, 2015, Michael Andlauer announced that he had acquired the Belleville Bulls, and that they would move to Hamilton's FirstOntario Centre for the 2015-16 season to become the Hamilton Bulldogs. The Hamilton Bulldogs, an American Hockey League franchise, was concurrently sold to the Montreal Canadiens and moved to St. John's, Newfoundland for the 2015-16 season as the St. John's IceCaps (the True North Sports and Entertainment-owned IceCaps, which was affiliated with the Winnipeg Jets, moved back to Winnipeg as the Manitoba Moose).[1]

Championships

Leyden Trophy East Division Regular Season Champions

  • 2000–2001
  • 2001–2002
  • 2006–2007
  • 2007–2008
  • 2008–2009
  • 2012–2013

Bobby Orr Trophy Eastern Conference Champions

  • 1998–1999
  • 2007–2008

J. Ross Robertson Cup Championships: 1999

  • 1985–1986 — Lost to Guelph Platers in OHL Final
  • 1998–1999 — OHL Champions vs. London Knights
  • 2007–2008 — Lost to Kitchener Rangers in OHL Final

Memorial Cup Appearances: 2

Coaches

Larry Mavety coached the Belleville Bulls for 14 seasons. He is third only to Brian Kilrea & Dale Hunter for amount of time coached with an OHL team

Lou Crawford was groomed by Mavety to replace him behind the Bulls' bench. Lou Crawford is the brother of NHL Coach Marc Crawford, who was also the coach of the St. John's Maple Leafs (now the Toronto Marlies) in the AHL, which played in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Their father, Floyd Crawford, was team captain of the 1959 World Champion Belleville McFarlands.

Former coaches Lou Crawford and Shawn MacKenzie both had brief NHL careers. George Burnett briefly coached with the Edmonton Oilers. James Boyd is the only former Bulls player to later coach the Belleville team.

List of Coaches

(Multiple years in parentheses)

Players

Award winners

CHL Humanitarian of the Year Award

Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy
OHL Top Point Scorer.

Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy
OHL Top Scoring Right Winger.

OHL Goaltender of the Year
Voted best goaltender in the OHL.

F.W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy
Best rookie goals against average.

  • 1982–1983 Dan Burrows
  • 1985–1986 Paul Henriques

Wayne Gretzky 99 Award
Playoffs MVP

Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy
Humanitarian of the year.

William Hanley Trophy
Most sportsmanlike player.

Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy
Overage player of the year.

Bobby Smith Trophy
Scholastic player of the year.

Jack Ferguson Award
First overall draft pick.

Captains

Retired numbers

  • # 15 — Dunc MacIntyre

NHL alumni

Season-by-season results

Regular season

Legend: OL = Overtime loss, SL = Shootout Loss

SeasonGamesWonLostTiedOTLSLPointsPct %Goals
For		Goals
Against		Standing
1979–804424182––500.5682351915th OPJHL
1980–81443572––720.8182731381st OPJHL
1981–826824422––500.3682803267th Leyden
1982–837034360––680.4863423326th Leyden
1983–847033370––660.4713193045th Leyden
1984–856642240––840.6363902782nd Leyden
1985–866637272––760.5763052682nd Leyden
1986–876626391––530.4022923475th Leyden
1987–886632304––680.5152972754th Leyden
1988–896627354––580.4392923226th Leyden
1989–906636264––760.5763012475th Leyden
1990–916638217––830.6293242803rd Leyden
1991–9266272712––660.5003142936th Leyden
1992–9366213411––530.4022803156th Leyden
1993–946632286––700.5303032644th Leyden
1994–956632313––670.5082952874th Eastern
1995–966635265––750.5683002503rd Eastern
1996–976622377––510.3862352785th Eastern
1997–986641223––850.6443152392nd Eastern
1998–996839227––850.6253342462nd East
1999–200068442220–900.6623192272nd East
2000–0168372353–820.5812752241st East
2001–0268392342–840.6032792181st East
2002–0368332762–740.5291952003rd East
2003–0468154481–390.2791722795th East
2004–0568292964–680.4711762083rd East
2005–06683228–53720.5292022253rd East
2006–07683924–05830.6102602271st East
2007–08684814–421020.7502801751st East
2008–09684717–22980.7212581761st East
2009–10682040–26480.3531892635th East
2010–11682143–04460.3381752714th East
2011–12683532–10710.5222002212nd East
2012–13684416–53960.7062281671st East
2013–14682338–43530.3902062854th East
2014–15682733–35620.3902032464th East

Playoffs

  • 1979–1980 Lost to Aurora Tigers 4 games to 3 in quarter-final.
  • 1980–1981 Defeated Markham Waxers 4 games to 1 in quarter-final.
    Defeated North Bay Trappers 4 games to 0 in semi-final
    Defeated Guelph Platers 4 games to 1 in final to win OPJHL Championship
    Defeated Onaping Falls Huskies (NOJHL) for OHA Championship 3 games to 0.
    Defeated Thunder Bay Kings (TBJHL) 4 games to 1 in Central Canada semi-final
    Defeated Gloucester Rangers (CJHL) 4 games to 3 in Central Canada final to win Dudley Hewitt Cup
    Finished 2nd in Centennial Cup Round Robin.
    Lost National final 6-2 to Prince Albert Raiders (SJHL).
  • 1981–1982 Out of playoffs.
  • 1982–1983 Lost to Oshawa Generals 7 points to 1 in first round.
  • 1983–1984 Lost to Oshawa Generals 6 points to 0 in first round.
  • 1984–1985 Defeated Oshawa Generals 8 points to 2 in first round.
    Defeated Cornwall Royals 6 points to 2 in quarter-finals.
    Lost to Peterborough Petes 9 points to 1 in semi-finals.
  • 1985–1986 Defeated Cornwall Royals 9 points to 3 in first round.
    Tied for first in round robin with Peterborough Petes versus Kingston Canadians.
    Defeated Peterborough Petes 9 points to 7 in semi-finals.
    Lost to Guelph Platers 8 points to 4 in finals.
  • 1986–1987 Lost to Kingston Canadians 4 games to 2 in first round.
  • 1987–1988 Lost to Cornwall Royals 4 games to 2 in first round.
  • 1988–1989 Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 1 in first round.
  • 1989–1990 Defeated Kingston Frontenacs 4 games to 3 in first round.
    Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
  • 1990–1991 Lost to Ottawa 67's 4 games to 2 in first round.
  • 1991–1992 Lost to North Bay Centennials 4 games to 1 in first round.
  • 1992–1993 Lost to Oshawa Generals 4 games to 3 in first round.
  • 1993–1994 Defeated Kingston Frontenacs 4 games to 2 in division quarter-finals.
    Lost to North Bay Centennials 4 games to 2 in division semi-finals.
  • 1994–1995 Defeated North Bay Centennials 4 games to 2 in division quarter-finals.
    Defeated Kingston Frontenacs 4 games to 2 in quarter-finals.
    Lost to Guelph Storm 4 games to 0 in semi-finals.
  • 1995–1996 Defeated Oshawa Generals 4 games to 1 in division quarter-finals.
    Defeated Ottawa 67's 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
    Lost to Guelph Storm 4 games to 1 in semi-finals.
  • 1996–1997 Lost to Ottawa 67's 4 games to 2 in division quarter-finals.
  • 1997–1998 Defeated Peterborough Petes 4 games to 0 in division quarter-finals.
    Lost to Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 2 in quarter-finals.
  • 1998–1999 Defeated Sudbury Wolves 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
    Defeated Ottawa 67's 4 games to 1 in conference semi-finals.
    Defeated Oshawa Generals 4 games to 1 in conference finals.
    Defeated London Knights 4 games to 3 in finals. OHL CHAMPIONS.
    Finished 3rd in Memorial Cup round-robin.
    Lost to Ottawa 67's in semi-finals.
  • 1999–2000 Defeated Peterborough Petes 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
    Defeated Ottawa 67's 4 games to 2 in conference semi-finals.
    Lost to Barrie Colts 4 games to 1 in conference finals.
  • 2000–2001 Defeated Kingston Frontenacs 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
    Lost to Ottawa 67's 4 games to 2 in conference semi-finals.
  • 2001–2002 Defeated Oshawa Generals 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
    Lost to Barrie Colts 4 games to 2 in conference semi-finals.
  • 2002–2003 Lost to Toronto St. Michael's Majors 4 games to 3 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2003–2004 Out of playoffs.
  • 2004–2005 Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2005–2006 Lost to Brampton Battalion 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2006–2007 Defeated Ottawa 67's 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
    Defeated Oshawa Generals 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.
    Lost to Sudbury Wolves 4 games to 2 in conference finals.
  • 2007–2008 Defeated Peterborough Petes 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
    Defeated Barrie Colts 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.
    Defeated Oshawa Generals 4 games to 1 in conference finals.
    Lost to Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 3 in Finals.
    Finished 2nd in Memorial Cup round-robin.
    Lost to Kitchener Rangers in semi-finals.
  • 2008–2009 Defeated Sudbury Wolves 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
    Defeated Niagara Ice Dogs 4 games to 1 in conference semi-finals.
    Lost to Brampton Battalion 4 games to 2 in conference finals.
  • 2009–2010 Out of playoffs.
  • 2010–2011 Lost to Mississauga St. Michael's Majors 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2011–2012 Lost to Ottawa 67's 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2012–2013 Defeated Mississauga Steelheads 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
    Defeated Sudbury Wolves 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.
    Lost to Barrie Colts 4 games to 3 in conference finals.
  • 2013–2014 Out of playoffs.
  • 2014–2015 Lost to Barrie Colts 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.

Uniforms and logos

1999 to present:
  • Uniform Colours: Black, Red, Gold, White
  • Logo Design: An angry bull with a hockey stick
1982 to 1998:
  • Uniform Colours: Black, Red, Gold, White
  • Logo Design: A standing red and orange bull

Bulls Uniforms

Arena

The team has played all homes games at the Belleville Yardmen Arena (capacity 3,257) for the existence of the franchise. The Yardmen Arena is part of the Quinte Sports Centre which is composed of the Yardmen Arena and the Wally Dever arena which is home to the Belleville McFarlands, an OHA Senior team, and is also used by minor hockey teams.

Capacity = 3,257
Ice Size = 199.5' x 99.5'

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Hamilton Bulldogs sell AHL franchise, buy the OHL Belleville Bulls". CBC News. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
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