The Toronto Lions were a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) from 1931 to 1939, based in Toronto. The team was previously known as the Victorias until changing their name in 1931 when affiliating with the Lions Club.
History The Toronto Lions began play in the 1931–32 OHA season, and where previously known as the Toronto Victorias until changing their name when affiliating with the Lions Club. Beginning the 1931–32 season, they were coached by Eddie Livingstone, played home games at Varsity Arena, and were in the same group as the Toronto Native Sons. In the playoffs for their group, the Toronto Lions lost the third game versus North Toronto by a 4–3 score in overtime and lost the series by 11 goals to 10.
In the 1934–35 OHA season, the Lions defeated the Toronto St. Michael's Majors in their group's playoffs semifinals, by a cumulative score of eight goals to seven in three games. Facing the Oshawa Majors in the group finals, the Lions lost in two consecutive games. In the 1935–36 OHA season, the Lions lost to the Toronto Young Rangers in a sudden-death tiebreaker for fourth place in their group.
With the onset of World War II, the Toronto Lions did not return for the 1939–40 OHA season.
Notable players Centre Jimmy Good won the OHA scoring title in the 1934–35 season, playing with future Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Gordie Drillon on right wing. Three alumni of the Toronto Lions graduated to play in the National Hockey League; including Drillon, Charlie Phillips, and Lefty Wilson.
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
Season Regular season Playoffs Finish1931–329810160.88934131st Group 6Lost group final (North Toronto) 11–101932–33835060.37528283rd Group 3Did not qualify1933–341256117–47323rd Group 7Did not qualify1934–3513940180.69266563rd Group 1Won group semifinal (Toronto St. Michael's Majors) 8–7Lost group final (Oshawa Majors) 2–01935–361037060.30023335th Group 1Lost 4th-place tiebreaker (Toronto Young Rangers) 6–31936–371239060.25036665th Group 1Did not qualify1937–3811110020.09122727th OHADid not qualify1938–3914113020.07124764th Group 2Did not qualify
References