The Galt Red Wings were a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Galt, Ontario. They played in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) from 1943 to 1947 and were operated as an affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. Their home arena was the Galt Arena Gardens, and were also known as the Galt Canadians and Galt Kist Canadians during the 1943–44 OHA season. Galt were finalists for the J. Ross Robertson Cup in 1945 and 1947, but lost to Toronto St. Michael's Majors both times in four consecutive games.
History The Galt Boys' Hockey Association began a junior A team in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) for the 1943–44 season. The Detroit Red Wings supplied equipment and six players, and asked that former professional player Al Murray be appointed coach. Murray owned the Albion Hotel in Galt and coached the Brantford Lions in the 1942–43 season.; The team operated during the 1943–44 season known as the Galt Canadians in OHA Group 2, were also known as the Galt Kist Canadians, wore orange and white uniforms, and played home games at the Galt Arena Gardens. The Canadians won 15 of 26 games played in their inaugural season.
The team changed their name to the Galt Red Wings the following year, and wore similar uniforms to their National Hockey League sponsor. During the 1944–45 season, Gordie Howe played for the team, but only played in one regular-season game. On November 18, 1944, Howe scored one goal and two assists versus the Hamilton Barons, then was deemed ineligible to play in the OHA due to limits on transferring players from Western Canada, and his points were stricken from the record when Hamilton withdrew from the league.;
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. Norman Himes coached Galt for the 1946–47 season. Following the season, Lloyd Pollock who owned the Windsor Spitfires, convinced the Detroit Red Wings to relocate prospect players from Galt to Windsor. After the NHL sponsorship was cancelled, Galt affiliated with the Philadelphia Rockets of the American Hockey League as of the 1947–48 season, and were renamed the Galt Rockets.
National Hockey League alumni From the Galt Red Wings and Canadians, fourteen players graduated to play in the National Hockey League:
Pete Babando Pete Conacher Lee Fogolin Sr. Fred Glover Warren Godfrey Bronco Horvath Gordie Howe Tom McGrattan Marty Pavelich Nels Podolsky Jack Price Terry Sawchuk Barry Sullivan Bill Wylie
Season-by-season results Regular season and playoffs results:
Legend: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Memorial Cup championsOHA championsOHA finalists
SeasonCityGamesWonLostTiedPointsPct %GoalsforGoalsStandingPlayoffs1943–44Canadians2615110300.577125972nd Group 2Lost quarterfinal (Toronto St. Michael's Majors) 3–11944–45Red Wings2012 80240.600 83912nd OHA (tie)Won quarterfinal (Oshawa Generals) 3–0Won semifinal (Toronto Young Rangers) 2–1Lost OHA final (Toronto St. Michael's Majors) 4–01945–46Red Wings2822 60440.786187962nd OHALost semifinal (Toronto St. Michael's Majors) 4–11946–47Red Wings3627 90540.750232993rd OHAWon quarterfinal (Stratford Kroehlers) 2–0Won semifinal (Barrie Flyers) 2–1Lost OHA final (Toronto St. Michael's Majors) 4–0
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