The Hamilton Steelhawks were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League from 1984 to 1988. The team was based in Hamilton, Ontario, and played at Copps Coliseum.
History The Brantford Alexanders were relocated in 1984 becoming the Hamilton Steelhawks. The team chose a name which reflected the steel industry in Hamilton, and wore colours similar to the Chicago Blackhawks. The Steelhawks played home games at Mountain Arena for 1984–85 and then moved to Copps Coliseum in December 1985 as the arena was not ready in time for the start of the season.
On March 9, 1985, the Steelhawks played the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the televised OHL game of the week, that resulted in a bench-clearing brawl in the second period. A total of 164 minutes in penalties, including 14 fighting majors and 10 game misconducts were called. The Steelhawks were fined $2,000 and coach Bill LaForge was suspended for the balance of the season, including the playoffs.
Keith Gretzky was the co-recipient of the William Hanley Trophy as the league's most sportsmanlike player in the 1986–87 OHL season.
The team played four seasons in Hamilton, then relocated becoming the Niagara Falls Thunder.
Coaches 1984–85: Dave Draper (until November 1984), Bill LaForge (November 1984 onward) 1985–86: Bill LaForge 1986–87: Bill LaForge 1987–88: Bill LaForge
NHL alumni Twenty-five alumni of the Steelhawks later played in the National Hockey League (NHL):
Roger Belanger Shayne Corson Troy Crowder Brad Dalgarno Stan Drulia John English Mike Hudson Jeff Jackson Jason Lafreniere Paul Laus Jamie Leach Shawn McCosh Ken McRae Mike Millar Keith Primeau Bob Probert John Purves Chris Pusey Mike Rosati Jason Simon Kirk Tomlinson Dennis Vial Michael Ware Darryl Williams Jason York
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 championsOHL championsOHL finalists
Season Regular season Playoffs Finish1984–85662935 2600.4553132964th EmmsWon division quarterfinal (North Bay Centennials) 9–7Won division semifinal (London Knights) 6–2Lost division final (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 9–11985–86662636 4560.4242683067th EmmsDid not qualify1986–87663924 3810.6143212582nd EmmsWon division quarterfinal (Guelph Platers) 4–1Lost division semifinal (Windsor Spitfires) 4–01987–88663528 3730.5533272913rd EmmsWon division quarterfinal (North Bay Centennials) 4–0Won division semifinal (London Knights) 4–2Lost division final (Windsor Spitfires) 4–0 TOTALS 264 129 123 12 270 0.511 1,229 1,151 ——
References