The Royal York Royals are a defunct Junior "A" ice hockey team from North York, Ontario, Canada. They were a part of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League. The team was based at Downsview Arena in the Downsview neighbourhood. The team was originally named the Downsview Bees from 1971 to 1972, the Downsview Beavers from 1972 to 1974, and the Royal York Royals from 1974 to 1980.
History The Downsview Bees started operations in 1971, as part of the Metro Junior B league. In 1972, the team was one of six Metro teams to join the new OPJHL, changing its name to Beavers to reflect that they no longer were playing "Junior B" hockey. They became the Royals in 1974 and started having some success. After four consecutive years near the top of the league and little playoff success, the Royals folded in 1980.
In 1978, the Royals made it to the league finals to contend for the Buckland Trophy. Their opponent was the Guelph Platers. The Platers defeated the Royals 4-games-1. An incident in a 1975 game against the Markham Waxers where the Royals' goalkeeper, Kim Crouch, had his throat slashed open when diving into a fray lead to the development of the Kim Crouch collar, a protective neck-guard that was eventually adopted widely hockey players.
Season-by-season results
Season GP W L T OTL GF GA P Results PlayoffsDownsview Bees1971–72 44 6 36 2 - 115 330 14 11th Metro BDownsview Beavers1972–73 44 12 21 11 - 198 257 35 9th OPJHL1973–74 44 4 36 4 - 158 265 12 12th OPJHLRoyal York Royals1974–75 44 5 36 3 - 172 296 13 12th OPJHL1975–76 44 16 21 7 - 194 220 39 10th OPJHL1976–77 44 21 16 7 - 211 199 49 4th OPJHL1977–78 50 33 11 6 - 288 214 72 3rd OPJHLLost final1978–79 50 33 13 4 - 272 190 70 2nd OPJHL1979–80 44 25 12 7 - 277 203 57 2nd OPJHL
Playoffs 1973 DNQ 1974 DNQ 1975 DNQ 1976 Lost Preliminary Toronto Nationals defeated Royal York Royals 3-games-to-2 1977 Lost semi-final Royal York Royals defeated Wexford Raiders 4-games-to-2 North York Rangers defeated Royal York Royals 4-games-to-2 1978 Lost final Royal York Royals defeated Newmarket Flyers 4-games-to-2 Royal York Royals defeated Dixie Beehives 4-games-to-none Guelph Platers defeated Royal York Royals 4-games-to-1 1979 Lost quarter-final North York Rangers defeated Royal York Royals 4-games-to-3 1980 Lost final Royal York Royals defeated North Bay Trappers 4-games-to-3 Royal York Royals defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-2 North York Rangers defeated Royal York Royals 4-games-to-1
References
External links OHA Website