Galt Red Wings
CityGalt, Ontario
LeagueOntario Hockey Association
Operated1944 (1944)-47
Home arenaGalt Arena Gardens
Parent club(s)Detroit Red Wings
Franchise history
1943-44Galt Canadians
1944-47Galt Red Wings
1947-49Galt Rockets
1949-55Galt Black Hawks

The Galt Red Wings were a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Galt, Ontario, now a part of the city of Cambridge. They played in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) from 1944 to 1947 and were operated as an affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. Their home arena was the Galt Arena Gardens.

History

The team was previously the Galt Canadians during the 1943-44 season. The team gained NHL sponsorship, becoming the Galt Red Wings. The sponsorship lasted for three seasons, with Galt finishing near the top of the league each year. New ownership renamed the team the Galt Rockets in 1947. Much of the team's success was due to its coach, Al Murray, who guided the team during its first three years. Murray had played in the NHL with the New York Americans.

During the 1944-45 season, future Hockey Hall of Famer Gordie Howe suited up for the team, but only played in one regular-season game due to league rules.[1] That game occurred in Galt, before 1,848 fans on Saturday, Nov. 18, 1944 against Hamilton; Howe scored three points. This has become somewhat of a historical footnote as Howe was deemed ineligible to play for the team following that game. Howe's only points in Galt were thrown out when Hamilton withdrew from the league. A day after that Hamilton game it was reported that both Howe and teammate Terry Cavanagh (later mayor of Edmonton) would he ineligible to play until further notice after their transfers were held up. Howe explained what happened next. "Terry got his (transfer) and I never did. Hamilton got thrown out of the league, and I did too."

The Galt Red Wings reached the league finals for the J. Ross Robertson Cup in 1945 and 1947, but lost to Toronto St. Michael's Majors both times in four consecutive games.[2]

Under coach Normie Himes, another former NHLer with the New York Americans, the Red Wings returned to the finals again in 1946-47, led by future Hall of Fame goaltender, Terry Sawchuk, but lost the finals again in four games to the Majors.

In 1947, Lloyd Pollock who owned the Windsor Spitfires, convinced the Detroit Red Wings to relocate prospect players from Galt to Windsor.[3]

NHL alumni

From the Galt Red Wings, fourteen players graduated to play in the National Hockey League.

Yearly results

SeasonTeamGamesWonLostTiedPointsPct %Goals
For		Goals
Against		Standing
1943-44Canadians2615110300.577125972nd Group 2
1944-45Red Wings201280240.60083912nd OHA (tie)
1945-46Red Wings282260440.786187962nd OHA
1946-47Red Wings362790540.750232993rd OHA

References

  • Rutherford, Kristina (2012). "Ice Aged". Sportsnet Magazine. 2 (6): 61–64.
Notes
  1. ↑ Rutherford 2012, p. 64.
  2. ↑ Annual Report: Constitution, Regulations and Rules of Competition. Cambridge, Ontario: Ontario Hockey Association. 2006. p. W-13.
  3. ↑ "Pollock was legend in local hockey". Windsor Star. Windsor, Ontario. September 10, 1993. p. B3.
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