The Oakville Blades are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Oakville, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.
History The Blades started as a Junior C team, and made it to the Clarence Schmalz Cup Final once to compete for the All-Ontario Junior "C" title. In 1969, the Blades lost 4-games-to-3 to the Woodstock Navy-Vets. Oakville moved up to the Junior B level for the 1970-71 season, and joined the Mid-Ontario Junior B league. In 1971, the leagues realigned, and Oakville moved to the new Central Junior B league. In 1975 and 1991 the Blades made it the Sutherland Cup Final for the All-Ontario Junior "B" title. The first time, they were defeated by the Metro Junior B Hockey League's Bramalea Blues 4-games-to-3. The second time, they were defeated by the Midwestern Junior B Hockey League's Waterloo Siskins 4-games-to-0. Oakville became a Junior A team in the mid 1990s and ever since they played in the Ontario Junior Hockey League Buckland Cup Final five times, winning three Buckland Cups in franchise history.
2007-08 season The Blades had a great 2007-08 regular season. With 39 wins, 6 losses, and 4 overtime losses, the Blades finished first overall in the West Division. After a bye in the division quarter-final, the Blades defeated the Milton Icehawks 4-games-to-1 in the division semi-final and Georgetown Raiders 4-games-to-1 to win the West Division playoff title. In the North/West Conference championship, the Blades took on the defending Royal Bank Cup 2007 champion Aurora Tigers. The Tigers appeared dominant, but faltered late in the series to lose to the Blades 4-games-to-2. In the OPJHL Buckland Cup final, Blades dominated the Markham Waxers and won 4-games-to-1 to win their first ever Junior A league championship.
The Blades then moved on to the Dudley Hewitt Cup, the Central Canadian championship. In game 1, the Blades defeated the Thunder Bay Region champion Dryden Ice Dogs 5-1. The then defeated the Northern Ontario champion Sudbury Jr. Wolves 5-3. In the final game of the round robin, they defeated the host Newmarket Hurricanes 5-2. This gave the Blades a bye to the final where they played the Hurricanes again and beat them 6-3. This earned them a berth into the 2008 Royal Bank Cup.
The 2008 campaign got rocky when the Blades shipped off to Cornwall, Ontario for the Royal Bank Cup. Star goaltender Scott Greenham could not attend the tournament despite leading the Blades to the OPJHL and Central Canadian Championships. Having accepted a scholarship to play for the Alaska Nanooks,OakvilleToday.ca: Article he would lose his NCAA eligibility if he played in the Royal Bank Cup because his age (21).Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League With this, the Blades had to bring their back-up cold off the bench for the national championship. In the first game of the tournament, Oakville had to play the host Cornwall Colts of the Central Junior A Hockey League. Despite outshooting them, the Blades were shocked by the Colts 5-4. The next night, the Blades drew the Weeks Crushers of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. The Blades badly outshot the Crushers, but the Crushers managed to squeak out a 4-3 overtime victory of the Central Canadian champions. In a nail-biting and high scoring outing, the Blades gave Humboldt a 7-6 loss to keep contention for a playoff spot in the tournament. It was not to be though, as the Blades out-shot but still lost to the top ranked Camrose Kodiaks 6-1.
Despite outshooting all four of their opponents, the Oakville Blades lost three out of four games and were eliminated on a head-to-head tie breaker with Weeks.
2018-2019 season The Oakville Blades had their best season yet in franchise history, winning the OJHL, the Dudley-Hewitt Cup, and coming in third place going to the semi-finals at the National Jr. A Hockey Championship, the furthest they have got at the national tournament. The Blades finished with the highest wins ever, and tied for most points in club history.
Team includes: Spencer Kersten, Peyton Reeves "C", Jack Ricketts "A", Thomas Maia, Josh Nixon, Harrison Israels, Kyle Potts, Kyle Lewis, Jason Pineo, Callum Jones "A", Garrett Pyke "A", Alton McDermott, Ryan Nicholson, Nicholas Aromatario, Ryan O'Hara, Holden Doggett, Tyler Amaral, Jack Lyons, Tanner McEachern, Christian Girhiny, Nathan Ribau, Cameron Hatziioannou, Will Barber, Chris Elliot.
Staff: Mike Tarantino (head coach), Rob Bentivegna (assistant coach), Ryan Hunter (assistant coach), Mark Edwards (assistant coach), Jordan Selinger (general manager), Cole Crane (Assistant GM), Craig Clayton (head equipment manager), Natalie Figueria (trainer), Nicholas Fiore (Play by Play Broadcaster), Matthew Ahmadzai (Colour Commentator), John Cole (Camera Man)
Season-by-season results Season GP W L T OTL GF GA P Results Playoffs1970-71 33 10 20 3 - 137 178 23 8th MOJBHL1971-72 42 23 15 4 - 240 202 50 3rd CJBHL1972-73 42 25 13 4 - 242 186 54 3rd CJBHL1973-74 42 34 7 1 - 302 130 69 1st CJBHL1974-75 40 29 8 3 - 292 149 61 1st CJBHL Won League1975-76 36 19 12 5 - 189 160 43 2nd CJBHL1976-77 42 27 11 4 - 219 187 58 1st CJBHL1977-78 42 20 17 5 - 237 216 45 5th CJBHL1978-79 44 30 14 0 - 288 204 60 3rd CJBHL1979-80 44 16 25 3 - 237 257 35 9th CJBHL1980-81 44 29 10 5 - 256 162 63 2nd CJBHL1981-82 40 37 2 1 - 276 124 75 1st CJBHL Won League1982-83 42 26 13 3 - 212 144 55 2nd CJBHL1983-84 40 29 5 6 - 268 120 64 2nd CJBHL1984-85 40 21 12 7 - 230 156 49 4th CJBHL1985-86 48 28 12 8 - 276 188 64 2nd CJBHL1986-87 42 24 12 6 - 226 185 54 2nd CJBHL1987-88 44 24 16 4 - 228 201 52 6th CJBHL1988-89 42 15 20 7 - 161 192 37 10th CJBHL1989-90 42 29 4 9 - 233 124 67 2nd CJBHL1990-91 42 25 8 9 - 252 152 59 2nd CJBHL Won League1991-92 42 24 10 8 - 251 148 56 3rd CJBHL1992-93 49 24 23 2 - 219 193 51 9th CJBHL1993-94 42 25 15 2 - 249 195 53 4th OPJHL-W1994-95 49 24 20 5 - 249 221 54 6th OPJHL-W1995-96 50 21 24 5 - 211 228 50 3rd OPJHL-Mi1996-97 51 22 28 1 - 218 233 50 3rd OPJHL-Mi1997-98 51 31 15 4 1 215 183 67 2nd OPJHL-Mi1998-99 51 22 23 4 2 216 216 50 7th OPJHL-W1999-00 49 16 21 9 3 209 246 44 8th OPJHL-W2000-01 49 14 27 6 2 185 228 36 9th OPJHL-W2001-02 49 33 11 3 2 254 177 71 3rd OPJHL-W2002-03 49 27 20 2 0 219 197 56 5th OPJHL-W2003-04 49 32 13 3 1 207 143 68 3rd OPJHL-W2004-05 49 40 6 1 2 283 110 83 2nd OPJHL-W2005-06 49 26 17 3 3 231 147 58 4th OPJHL-W Lost League SF2006-07 49 38 9 1 1 269 125 78 2nd OPJHL-W Lost Conf. SF2007-08 49 39 6 - 4 222 139 82 1st OPJHL-W Won League, 4-1 Series VS Markham 2008-09 49 41 8 - 0 289 146 82 2nd OJHL-M Lost in FINAL 4-2 VS Kingston2009-10 56 46 9 - 1 280 137 93 2nd OJAHL Won League, OHA Champions, 4-3 VS Kingston2010-11 50 36 12 - 2 212 131 74 2nd OJHL-W Lost final, 4-1 VS Wellington2011-12 49 31 12 - 6 196 120 68 2nd OJHL-W Lost division final2012-13 55 34 16 - 5 214 159 73 4th OJHL-S Lost Conf. Quarters 1-4 vs North York2013-14 53 23 26 - 4 165 212 80 6th OJHL-S Lost Tie-breaker2014-15 53 31 19 2 2 201 130 66 2nd of 6 South Div3rd of 11 SW Conf7th of 22 OJHL Won Conf. Quarters 4-3 (Flyers)Lost Conf. Semifinals 1-4 (Patriots)2015-16 54 34 17 2 1 231 178 71 1st of 6 South Div3rd of 11 SW Conf5th of 22 OJHL Won Conf. Quarters 4-2 (Buzzers)Lost Conf. Semifinals 3-4 (Cougars)2016-17 54 33 14 0 7 217 146 73 1st of 6 South Div3rd of 11 SW Conf6th of 22 OJHL Won Conf. Quarters 4-1 (Rangers)Won Conf. Semifinals 4-1 (Cougars)Lost Conf. Finals 2-4 (Raiders)2017-18 54 38 13 2 1 195 125 79 3rd of 6 South Div3rd of 11 SW Conf3rd of 22 OJHL Won Conf. Quarters 4-2 (Jr. Canadiens)Lost Conf. Semifinals 3-4 (Patriots)2018-19 55 44 5 2 4 247 124 94 1st of 6 West Div 1st of 11 NW Conf1st of 22 OJHL Won NW Conf. Quarters 4-1 (Admirals)Won NW Conf. Semifinals 4-1 (Jr. Sabres)Won NW Conf. Finals 4-1 (Royals)Won OJHL Buckland Cup 4-0 (Dukes)2019-20 54 39 9 2 4 230 129 84 1st of 6 West Div 1st of 11 NW ConfTied 2nd of 22 OJHL Won NW Conf. Quarters 4-0 (99ers)SEASON CANCELLED (COVID-19)2020-21 SEASON CANCELLED (COVID-19)2021-22 54 24 27 1 2 167 195 51 4th of 5 West Div7th of 10 NW Conf14th of 21 OJHL Lost NW Conf. Quarters 2-0 (Cougars)2022-23 54 16 36 1 1 144 233 34 9th of 10 NW Conf17th of 21 OJHL Did Not Qualify for Post Season2023-24 56 32 20 1 3 180 151 68 4th of 12 West Conf8th of 24 OJHL Won W Conf. Quarters 4-2 (Jr. Sabres)Lost W Conf. Semifinals 1-4 (Blues)2024-25 56 16 32 3 5 133 210 40 10th of 12 West Conf19th of 24 OJHL Did Not Qualify for Post Season
National Jr. A Championship appearances 2008: 5th Place - 1-3-0 Record Host city: Cornwall, Ontario Defeated by Cornwall Colts (CCHL) 5-4 Defeated by Pictou County Crushers (MJAHL) 4-3 Defeated by Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL) 6-1 Won vs. Humboldt Broncos (SJHL) 7-6 2010: 5th Place - 0-3-1 Record Host city: Dauphin, Manitoba Defeated by La Ronge Ice Wolves (SJHL) 3-2 OT Defeated by Brockville Braves (CCHL) 11-2 Defeated by Vernon Vipers (BCHL) 5-3 Defeated by Dauphin Kings (MJHL) 5-4 2019: Lost in Semifinal - 2-3-0 Record Host city: Brooks, Alberta Defeated by Brooks Bandits (AJHL) 7-3 Defeated by Prince George Spruce Kings (BCHL) 5-1 Won vs. Portage Terriers (MJHL) 5-4 Won vs. Ottawa Jr. Senators (CCHL) 7-4 Defeated by Prince George Spruce Kings (BCHL) 2-1 in semifinal Centennial Cup - Revised format 2022 Canadian Jr. A National ChampionshipsMaritime Junior Hockey League, Quebec Junior Hockey League, Central Canada Hockey League, Ontario Junior Hockey League, Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, Superior International Junior Hockey League, Manitoba Junior Hockey League, Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, Alberta Junior Hockey League, and Host. The BCHL declared itself an independent league and there is no BC representative.Round-robin play in two 5-team pools with top three in pool advancing to determine a Champion. Year Round-robin Record Standing Quarterfinal Semifinal Championship 2024HOST L, Miramichi Timberwolves (MarJHL), 4-7W, Sioux Lookout Bombers (SIJHL), 5-2L, Winkler Flyers (ManJHL), 0-4L, Melfort Mustangs (SJHL), 1-3 1-0-3-0 4th of 5 Group B did not qualified did not qualified did not qualified
Dudley Hewitt Cup appearances The Dudley Hewitt Cup represents the Central Canadian Junior A championship. The winner moves on to the Centennial Cup National Junior A championship.
2008: Won Championship - 4-0-0 Record Host city: Newmarket, Ontario Won vs. Dryden Ice Dogs (SIJHL) 5-1 Won vs. Sudbury Jr. Wolves (NOJHL) 5-3 Won vs. Newmarket Hurricanes (OPJHL) 5-2 Won vs. Newmarket Hurricanes (OPJHL) 6-3 in final 2010: Won Championship - 4-0-0 Record Host city: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Won vs. Fort William North Stars (SIJHL) 2-1 OT Won vs. Abitibi Eskimos (NOJHL) 6-0 Won vs. Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL) 3-1 Won vs. Fort William North Stars (SIJHL) 2-1 in final 2019: Won Championship - 4-0-0 Record Host city: Cochrane, Ontario Won vs. Thunder Bay North Stars (SIJHL) 9-4 Won vs. Hearst Lumberjacks (NOJHL) 4-2 Won vs. Cochrane Crunch (NOJHL) 6-2 Won vs. Hearst Lumberjacks (NOJHL) 2-0 in final
Sutherland Cup appearances 1975: Bramalea Blues defeated Oakville Blades 4-games-to-3 1991: Waterloo Siskins defeated Oakville Blades 4-games-to-none
Clarence Schmalz Cup appearances 1969: Woodstock Navy-Vets defeated Oakville Blades 4-games-to-3
References
External links Blades Webpage