Kenora Thistles (1926–1940)
Kenora Thistles | ||
---|---|---|
Turnbull Cups 2 (1934, 1940) | | |
Jack Adams Trophies | 2 (1928, 1929) | |
Abbott Cups | 1 (1940) |
The Kenora Thistles were a Manitoba Junior Hockey League team playing in the Canadian town of Kenora, Ontario.
History
The Kenora Thistles junior hockey club was founded in 1925 in a local Northern league with
The 1926 regional playoffs put them up against Fort Frances in the semi-final. Kenora won the games 5-1 and 6-1 to earn a berth into the region finals. In the final, the Thistles lost to the Fort William Juniors 4-2 and 4-0 to end their season. In 1927, the Thistles squared off with the Port Arthur West End Juniors in a two-game series for the region. Port Arthur won 6-5 and 5-1 to take the series.
The Thistles first season of league play had them win the regular season crown of the TBJHL. In the playoffs, with a direct berth to the league final, the Thistles played the Fort William Juniors. They lost the first game 4-3, but won the second game 5-3 to take the series. In the Memorial Cup Eastern semi-final, the Thistles had to play the Manitoba Junior Hockey League's Elmwood Millionaires. Kenora won both games 3-2 to play in the Eastern final. Up against the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League's Regina Pats, the Thistles fell 8-0 in game one but only managed to win game two by a score of 4-3, thus eliminating them from a chance at the Memorial Cup.
In their second TBJHL season, the Thistles came in first again. They ended up against the Fort William Juniors in the finals, beating them 1-0 and tying them 2-2 to win the regional playoffs. In the Eastern Memorial Cup semi-final, the Thistles again met up with the MJHL's Elmwood Millionaires. They won game one 4-3, but fell 3-1 in game two and were eliminated.
Their third and final TBJHL season had them finish in second place behind the
In 1930, the Thistles were accepted into the South Division of the
From 1936 until 1939 the Thistles suffered, three consecutive losing seasons left them financially in trouble.
The 1939-40 season was a great season for the Thistles. They won the league by defeating the
In the summer of 1940, it became apparent that they would not have the numbers or the money to continue competing during World War II and folded.
Season-by-season record
Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
1925-26 | Independent | Lost Regional Final | ||||||||
1926-27 | Independent | Lost Regional Final | ||||||||
1927-28 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | - | 61 | 26 | 20 | 1st TBJHL | Won League |
1928-29 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | - | -- | -- | 18 | 1st TBJHL | Won League |
1929-30 | 15 | 11 | 3 | 1 | - | -- | -- | 23 | 2nd TBJHL | Lost semi-final |
1930-31 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | - | 31 | 37 | 14 | 3rd MJHL | |
1931-32 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | - | 17 | 23 | 10 | 2nd WinJHL | |
1932-33 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | - | 32 | 23 | 14 | 2nd MJHL-S | |
1933-34 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 0 | - | -- | -- | 24 | 2nd MJHL | Won League |
1934-35 | 17 | 13 | 3 | 1 | - | 78 | 45 | 27 | 2nd MJHL | |
1935-36 | 16 | 6 | 9 | 1 | - | 40 | 57 | 13 | 8th MJHL | |
1936-37 | 16 | 5 | 10 | 1 | - | 48 | 74 | 11 | 8th MJHL | |
1937-38 | 22 | 1 | 19 | 2 | - | 39 | 104 | 4 | 9th MJHL | |
1938-39 | 22 | 9 | 11 | 2 | - | 69 | 62 | 20 | 5th MJHL | |
1939-40 | 24 | 15 | 5 | 4 | - | 98 | 66 | 34 | 2nd MJHL | Won League, won AbC |
Notable alumni
- John Gallagher
- Bill Juzda
- Doug Lewis
- Jake Milford
- Babe Pratt
- Chuck Rayner
- Stu Smith
- Bill Thomson
- Jimmy Ward
- Aubrey Webster