The Elmira Sugar Kings are a junior hockey team based in Elmira, Ontario, Canada. The Sugar Kings compete as a member of the Western Conference in the Greater Ontario Hockey League (GOHL), which serves as the official development league of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). They currently play at the Dan Snyder Arena inside the Woolwich Memorial Centre. The Sugar Kings are six-time Cherrey Cup Champions (1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2011, 2015), four-time Sutherland Cup Champions (1997, 2001, 2011, 2017) and two-time Regular Season Champions (2001, 2011).
History
Early years The Elmira Sugar Kings have been a part of the sports scene since 1971. This came out of a desire from local sports and business people for skilled hockey players who wanted to play at a greater level than Minor Hockey without leaving town. Their goal was to give local kids a chance to play Junior Hockey at Home. The Elmira Juniors first played at the Junior "C" level during the 1950s and 1960s, winning the Clarence Schmalz Cup in 1962 before rebranding to the Elmira Sugar Kings. The name was chosen as a nod to the "sweet success" of the local Elmira Maple Syrup Festival, which still stands holding the Guinness World Record for the World's Largest Single Day Maple Syrup Festival in the world. The Elmira Sugar Kings' 1st season was in 1971–72, but in 1973, the Sugar Kings entered the Southwestern Junior "B" Hockey League. In that first Junior "B" season, the Sugar Kings won the league championship. In 1974, the league became the Waterloo-Wellington Junior "B" Hockey League, which changed its name to the Midwestern "B" in 1977. Through much of their first 20 years, the Kings were inconsistent—some years finishing with more than 30 wins, some years fewer than 10. But throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Sugar Kings were one of the most dominant teams in Canadian Junior Hockey. In 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2011 & 2015 the Kings reigned as Mid-Western "B" champions, winning the Sutherland Cup as Ontario Hockey Association Junior B champions in 1997, 2001, 2011 & 2017.
Modern era In the decade following their 2011 championship, the Sugar Kings maintained their status as a perennial contender in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL). The 2016–17 season marked a significant milestone as the team captured its fourth Sutherland Cup title, defeating the London Nationals in a five-game final series. This victory solidified Elmira as one of the few franchises to win the Provincial Junior B Championship in four different decades, and made them the first team in league history to win entering as a Wild-Card Team.
The 2019–20 Season was statistically one of the strongest in franchise history, with the team setting a record for the highest season Away Winning Percentage (.820) and a record six overtime wins. The organization reached new statistical heights in the mid-2020s. During the 2024–25 season, forward Joey Martin set a (Modern-GOJHL) franchise record for most points in a single season with 85, also earning the Terry Crisp Trophy as the GOJHL scoring champion and Western Conference MVP. On December 14, 2024, Martin set a single-game record with 7 assists in a match against the Komoka Kings. The same season saw defenseman Liam Eveleigh conclude a record-breaking tenure, setting franchise career highs for games played by a defenseman (165) and earning consecutive Conference Top Defenseman honors in 2024 and 2025.
In January 2026, the team celebrated a milestone for Brendan Gerber, who became one of the fastest players in the modern era to reach (100) career points with the franchise.
The Sugar Kings continue to be one of the most competitive teams in the GOHL, having achieved competitive hockey at the Junior Level. Over 185 former Sugar Kings have moved on to play at a higher level of hockey: 50+ players in Junior A, 10 in the NHL, 62 Semi-Pro, 85 in Sports (CIS), 55 in NCAA, 27 in Europe, and 38 as coaches.
Season-By-Season Record {|class="wikitable" |- align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd" |Season ||GP || W || L || T || OTL || GF || GA || P || Results || Playoffs |- align="center" |1971-72 ||39 ||21 ||12 ||6 ||- ||185 ||166 ||48 ||3rd WOJHL || |- align="center" |1972-73 ||42 ||19 ||20 ||3 ||- ||198 ||186 ||41 ||5th WOJHL || |- align="center" |1973-74 ||40 ||20 ||15 ||6 ||- ||192 ||166 ||46 ||4th SWJBHL ||Won League |- align="center" |1974-75 ||40 ||19 ||15 ||6 ||- ||189 ||157 ||44 ||4th WWJHL|| |- align="center" |1975-76 ||41 ||12 ||20 ||9 ||- ||181 ||203 ||33 ||6th WWJHL ||Lost quarter-final |- align="center" |1976-77 ||39 ||13 ||21 ||5 ||- ||194 ||213 ||31 ||5th WWJHL ||DNQ |- align="center" |1977-78 ||40 ||13 ||20 ||7 ||- ||162 ||193 ||33 ||4th MWJBHL ||Lost semi-final |- align="center" |1978-79 ||42 ||30 ||7 ||5 ||- ||234 ||149 ||65 ||2nd MWJBHL ||Lost final |- align="center" |1979-80 ||42 ||16 ||23 ||3 ||- ||204 ||262 ||35 ||4th MWJBHL ||Lost semi-final |- align="center" |1980-81 ||42 ||6 ||35 ||1 ||- ||142 ||286 ||13 ||8th MWJBHL ||DNQ |- align="center" |1981-82 ||42 ||1 ||40 ||1 ||- ||118 ||363 ||3 ||8th MWJBHL ||DNQ |- align="center" |1982-83 ||42 ||7 ||34 ||1 ||- ||146 ||295 ||15 ||7th MWJBHL ||DNQ |- align="center" |1983-84 ||42 ||17 ||24 ||1 ||- ||170 ||198 ||35 ||6th MWJBHL ||Lost semi-final |- align="center" |1984-85 ||42 ||17 ||24 ||1 ||- ||179 ||220 ||35 ||6th MWJBHL ||Lost quarter-final |- align="center" |1985-86 ||40 ||22 ||17 ||1 ||- ||206 ||178 ||45 ||3rd MWJBHL ||Lost semi-final |- align="center" |1986-87 ||42 ||31 ||11 ||0 ||- ||292 ||140 ||62 ||3rd MWJBHL ||Lost final |- align="center" |1987-88 ||48 ||35 ||11 ||2 ||- ||286 ||175 ||72 ||2nd MWJBHL ||Lost final |- align="center" |1988-89 ||48 ||19 ||24 ||5 ||- ||241 ||251 ||43 ||6th MWJBHL ||Lost semi-final |- align="center" |1989-90 ||48 ||26 ||21 ||1 ||- ||262 ||227 ||53 ||4th MWJBHL ||Lost quarter-final |- align="center" |1990-91 ||48 ||8 ||39 ||1 ||- ||195 ||367 ||17 ||8th MWJBHL ||Lost quarter-final |- align="center" |1991-92 ||48 ||6 ||39 ||3 ||- ||145 ||273 ||15 ||9th MWJBHL ||DNQ |- align="center" |1992-93 ||48 ||14 ||33 ||1 ||- ||192 ||283 ||29 ||7th MWJBHL ||Lost quarter-final |- align="center" |1993-94 ||48 ||27 ||17 ||4 ||- ||222 ||174 ||58 ||5th MWJBHL ||Lost quarter-final |- align="center" |1994-95 ||48 ||29 ||14 ||5 ||- ||229 ||169 ||63 ||2nd MWJBHL ||Lost final |- align="center" |1995-96 ||48 ||20 ||26 ||2 ||- ||198 ||214 ||42 ||7th MWJBHL ||Lost semi-final |- align="center" |1996-97 ||48 ||31 ||11 ||6 ||- ||257 ||166 ||68 ||2nd MWJBHL ||Won League, won SC |- align="center" |1997-98 ||48 ||33 ||12 ||3 ||- ||259 ||137 ||69 ||2nd MWJBHL ||Won League |- align="center" |1998-99 ||48 ||29 ||14 ||5 ||- ||225 ||187 ||63 ||3rd MWJBHL ||Lost semi-final |- align="center" |1999-00 ||48 ||33 ||12 ||3 ||- ||203 ||116 ||69 ||3rd MWJBHL ||Lost semi-final |- align="center" |2000-01 ||48 ||28 ||15 ||5 ||- ||217 ||158 ||61 ||3rd MWJBHL ||Won League, won SC |- align="center" |2001-02 ||48 ||38 ||5 ||5 ||- ||254 ||128 ||81 ||1st MWJBHL ||Won League |- align="center" |2002-03 ||48 ||17 ||28 ||3 ||0 ||178 ||199 ||37 ||9th MWJBHL ||DNQ |- align="center" |2003-04 ||47 ||20 ||19 ||4 ||4 ||191 ||175 ||48 ||6th MWJBHL|| |- align="center" |2004-05 ||48 ||27 ||13 ||3 ||5 ||199 ||155 ||62 ||6th MWJBHL|| |- align="center" |2005-06 ||48 ||27 ||19 ||2 ||- ||201 ||150 ||56 ||3rd MWJBHL ||Lost quarter-final |- align="center" |2006-07 ||48 ||36 ||8 ||4 ||0 ||262 ||165 ||76 ||2nd MWJBHL ||Lost final |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeff" |2007-08 ||48 ||30 ||7 ||8 ||3 ||196 ||124 ||71 ||1st GOJHL-MW ||Lost final |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeff" |2008-09 ||52 ||23 ||24 ||- ||5 ||207 ||215 ||51 ||7th GOJHL-MW|| Lost Conf. QF |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeff" |2009-10 ||51 ||20 ||26 ||- ||5 ||163 ||188 ||45 ||6th GOJHL-MW ||Lost Conf. SF |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeff" |2010-11 ||51 ||34 ||15 ||- ||2 ||219 ||153 ||70 ||2nd GOJHL-MW ||Won League, won SC |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeff" |2011-12 ||51 ||40 ||9 ||- ||2 ||240 ||134 ||82 ||3rd GOJHL-MW || |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeff" |2012-13 ||51 ||25 ||21 ||- ||5 ||180 ||183 ||55 ||7th GOJHL-MW ||Lost Conf. QF |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeff" |2013-14 ||49 ||34 ||10 ||- ||5 ||187 ||117 ||73 ||2nd GOJHL-MW ||Lost Conf. SF |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeff" |2014-15 ||49 ||38 ||7 ||- ||4 ||215 ||127 ||80 ||1st GOJHL-MW ||Won Conf. Quarters, 4-0 (Bombers)Won Conf. Semis, 4-0 (Siskins)Won Conf. Finals, 4-1 (Cullitons)Lost Sutherland Semifinals, 3-4 (Vipers) |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeff" |2015-16 ||50 ||24 ||19 ||2 ||5 ||185 ||177 ||55 ||5th of 9-MW14th of 26-GOJHL ||Won Conf. Quarters, 4-1 (Hurricanes)Lost Conf. Semis, 2-4 (Cullitons) |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeff" |2016-17 ||50 ||38 ||11 ||0 ||1 ||207 ||123 ||77 ||2nd of 9-MW5th of 27-GOJHL ||Won Conf. Quarters, 4-0 (Hurricanes)Won Conf. Semifinals, 4-2 (Dutchmen)Lost Conf. Finals, 2-4 (Cyclones)advance as Wild CardWon Sutherland Cup Semis 4-2 (Corvairs)Won Sutherland Cup Finals 4-1 (Nationals) |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeff" |2017-18 ||50 ||29 ||21 ||0 ||0 ||181 ||155 ||58 ||3rd of 8-MW12th of 26-GOJHL ||Won Conf. Quarters, 4-0 (Bombers)Won Conf. Semifinal 4-2 (Warriors)Lost Conf. Finals 0-4 (Cyclones)advance as Wild CardLost Sutherland Cup Semis 0-4 (Corvairs) |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeff" |2018-19 ||47 ||26 ||15 ||0 ||6 ||162 ||135 ||58 ||5th of 8-MW11th of 25-GOJHL ||Lost Conf. Quarters, 3-4 (Dutchmen) |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeff" |2019-20 ||50 ||36 ||9 ||0 ||5 ||212 ||114 ||77 ||1st of 8-MW114th of 26-GOJHL ||Incomplete Conf. Semi, 0-1 (Warriors) |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeff" |2020-21 ||colspan=10 |Season cancelled due to pandemic |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeff" |2021-22 ||45 ||35 ||11 ||1 ||1 ||169 ||102 ||72 ||<small>1st of 8-MW of 8-MW4th of 25-GOJHL </small> ||Won Conf. Quarters, 4-0 (Bandits)Won Conf. Semifinal 4-2 (Warriors)Lost Conf. Finals 1-4 (Redhawks) |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeff" |2022-23 ||50 ||29 ||20 ||1 ||0 ||160 ||114 ||59 ||4 of 9-MW of 8-MW11th of 25-GOJHL ||Won Conf. Quarters, 4-0 (Centennials)Lost Conf. Semifinal 2-4 (Siskins) |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeff" |2023-24 ||50 ||32 ||16 ||0 ||2 ||195 ||151 ||66 ||3 of 8-MW of 8-MW9th of 23-GOJHL ||Won Conf. Quarters, 4-1 (Redhawks)Lost Conf semifinals, 1-4 (Warriors) |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeff" |2024-25 ||50 ||27 ||19 ||4 ||0 ||194 ||159 ||58 ||7th of 12 West Conf13th of 23-GOJHL ||Lost Conf. Quarters, 1-4 (Chatham Maroons) |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeff" |2025-26 ||50 ||37 ||10 ||2 ||1 ||233 ||139 ||77 ||2nd of 12 West Conf5th of 23-GOJHL ||Won Conf. Quarters, 4-2 (Vipers)Lost Conf. Semifinals, 2-4 (Lincolns)
Current roster Source: