The Brantford Alexanders were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League from 1978 to 1984. The team was based in Brantford, Ontario, Canada.
History The Hamilton Fincups were relocated in 1978 becoming the Brantford Alexanders. The OMJHL junior team took the name of the OHA senior team which had played for two years prior, which in themselves were named for Brantford's most famous former resident, telephone pioneer Alexander Graham Bell. After two years in the OMJHL, the league changed names to the OHL and the Alexanders played four more seasons in Brantford, before moving back to Hamilton as the Steelhawks.
The Alexanders made the playoffs for five straight years after missing out its first year in Brantford. The team narrowly missed out on winning its division in 1980–81 by a single point. Their playoff nemeses were the Windsor Spitfires and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Two years in a row they were eliminated by the Spitfires, followed by three years in a row at the hands of the Greyhounds.
In 1981, the Alexanders implemented country music into their image, when they began using the theme song, "Cowboys of the Ice" recorded by the band County Line.
In 1982–83 OHL season, forward Dave Gagner who graduated from North Park Collegiate and Vocational School, was awarded the Bobby Smith Trophy as the league's scholastic player of the year.
Coaches List of coaches:
1978–79: Dave Draper 1979–80: Ron Carroll 1980–81: Ron Carroll, Dave Draper, Ken Gratton 1981–82: Bep Guidolin, Dave Draper 1982–83: Dave Draper 1983–84: Dave Draper
NHL alumni There have been 29 alumni of the Alexanders to play in the National Hockey League (NHL):
Perry Anderson Bruce Bell Allan Bester Mark Botell Mike Bullard Shayne Corson Tony Curtale Dean De Fazio Daryl Evans Dave Gagner Len Hachborn Dave Hannan Mike Hoffman Mark Hunter Jeff Jackson Randy Ladouceur Jason Lafreniere Rick LaFerriere Mike Lalor Kevin LaVallee Paul Marshall Mike Millar Ric Nattress Mark Plantery Bob Probert Chris Pusey Steve Smith Greg Terrion Rick Wamsley
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 Finish1978–79682342 3490.3602813496th EmmsDid not qualify1979–80683135 2640.4714123983rd EmmsWon division quarterfinal (Toronto Marlboros) 4–0Lost division semifinal (Windsor Spitfires) 4–31980–81683434 0680.5003503542nd EmmsLost division semifinal (Windsor Spitfires) 8–4 1981–82682541 2520.3822933135th EmmsWon division quarterfinal (London Knights) 6–2Lost division semifinal (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 8–61982–83703433 3710.5072752824th EmmsWon division quarterfinal (London Knights) 6–0Lost division semifinal (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 8–21983–84703928 3810.5793032352nd EmmsLost division quarterfinal (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 8–4
Arena The Brantford Alexanders played home games at the Brantford Civic Centre from 1978 to 1984. The OHL All-Star game was hosted here in 1982.
References