The Stratford Warriors are a junior ice hockey team based in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Western division of the Greater Ontario Hockey League. The team was originally named the Warriors but was changed to Cullitons in 1975 in honor of the team sponsor the Culliton brothers. When the sponsorship from the Culliton brothers ended in 2016, the team reverted to its original name, bringing the name "Warriors" back to the city.
History
Between the years of 1951 and 1962, not much is known about junior hockey in the town of Stratford-St. Marys District. Prior to 1952, the Stratford Midgets, who became the Kroehlers and Kist Canadians won a Sutherland Cup in the 1940sOntario Hockey Association 2006-2007 Constitution, Regulations and Rules of Competition by The Ontario Hockey Association (2006) and competed as Junior A team for the J. Ross Robertson Cup. Stratford played in the Central "B" from 1962 until 1969. When they joined the reformed Western "B" in 1969, they became the Warriors and stayed on board until 1975. In 1975, the team jumped to the precursor to the Mid-Western "B", the "Waterloo-Wellington Junior "B" Hockey League" and changed their name to the Cullitons, finishing first both seasons. They continued their dominance when the league was renamed the Mid-Western, winning eight of the first 13 championships they competed for. They have since won five more league championships. If the Stratford Canadians era is included, the Stratford Junior "B" club has captured eight Sutherland Cup titles, leading the Mid-Western "B" with six since its founding in 1977.Ontario Hockey Association 2006-2007 Constitution, Regulations and Rules of Competition by The Ontario Hockey Association (2006) The Cullitons have never failed to make the playoffs since joining the Mid-Western "B", a feat matched only by the Waterloo Siskins.Mid-Western Ontario OHA Jr. B Hockey League 25th Anniversary Program by J. Clark Hayman (2002) Between 1975-76 and 2004–05, the Cullitons never placed lower than third in the league standings.
One thing that sets the Cullitons apart from any other teams in the league, including the Siskins, is that until 2006 the Cullitons have only suffered one losing season.Mid-Western Ontario OHA Jr. B Hockey League 25th Anniversary Program by J. Clark Hayman (2002) In fact, in their 32-year history the Cullitons have lost more than 10 games only eight times. On three occasions they registered more ties than losses. They have scored more than 300 goals in a season 11 times, and have only allowed more than 200 goals once.Mid-Western Ontario OHA Jr. B Hockey League 25th Anniversary Program by J. Clark Hayman (2002) The Cullitons have also been regular-season champions 19 times.Mid-Western Ontario OHA Jr. B Hockey League 25th Anniversary Program by J. Clark Hayman (2002)
Season-by-season record
Season GP W L T OTL GF GA P Results Playoffs1962-63 36 18 17 1 - 168 177 37 3rd CJBHL1963-64 36 25 11 0 - 241 178 50 1st CJBHL1964-65 42 18 20 4 - 184 147 40 4th CJBHL1965-66 40 22 18 0 - 210 184 44 3rd CJBHL1966-67 32 11 18 3 - 130 140 25 4th CJBHL1967-68 40 17 21 2 - 163 194 36 5th CJBHL1968-69 36 17 13 6 - 188 184 40 3rd CJBHL1969-70 36 24 7 5 - 227 162 53 1st WOJHL Won League1970-71 42 30 8 4 - 302 174 64 2nd WOJHL Won League1971-72 40 19 16 5 - 214 212 43 4th WOJHL 1972-73 42 17 20 5 - 241 236 39 6th WOJHL 1973-74 39 21 17 1 - 211 199 43 3rd WOJHL1974-75 40 11 24 5 - 181 226 27 6th WOJHL1975-76 42 37 5 0 - 349 176 74 1st WWJBHL Lost final1976-77 40 34 3 3 - 278 162 71 1st WWJBHL Won League, won SC1977-78 40 34 2 4 - 277 127 72 1st MWJBHL Won League, won SC1978-79 42 33 4 5 - 321 141 71 1st MWJBHL Won League1979-80 42 31 6 5 - 251 149 67 1st MWJBHL Lost final1980-81 42 31 10 1 - 240 118 63 1st MWJBHL Won League1981-82 42 35 7 0 - 272 140 70 1st MWJBHL Won League1982-83 42 27 13 2 - 293 179 56 2nd MWJBHL Won League1983-84 42 35 6 1 - 284 126 71 2nd MWJBHL Lost final1984-85 42 25 15 2 - 280 185 52 2nd MWJBHL Lost final1985-86 40 36 3 1 - 333 134 73 1st MWJBHL Won League, won SC1986-87 42 35 7 0 - 345 131 70 1st MWJBHL Won League1987-88 48 35 11 2 - 332 172 72 3rd MWJBHL Lost semi-final1988-89 48 43 4 1 - 398 161 87 1st MWJBHL Lost final1989-90 48 41 7 0 - 396 197 82 1st MWJBHL Won League, won SC1990-91 48 41 7 0 - 367 148 82 1st MWJBHL Lost final1991-92 48 32 10 6 - 299 171 70 3rd MWJBHL Lost final1992-93 48 32 15 1 - 279 206 65 3rd MWJBHL Lost final1993-94 48 39 8 1 - 278 127 79 1st MWJBHL Lost semi-final1994-95 48 41 6 1 - 338 125 83 1st MWJBHL Won League, won SC1995-96 48 38 10 0 - 294 140 76 1st MWJBHL Won League1996-97 48 34 8 6 - 348 183 74 1st MWJBHL Lost final1997-98 48 38 9 1 - 315 147 77 1st MWJBHL Lost final1998-99 48 43 5 0 - 347 123 86 1st MWJBHL Won League1999-00 48 33 10 5 - 231 139 71 1st MWJBHL Lost semi-final2000-01 48 31 14 3 - 263 167 65 2nd MWJBHL Lost semi-final2001-02 48 33 7 8 - 270 124 74 2nd MWJBHL Lost final2002-03 48 38 6 4 2 262 115 82 1st MWJBHL Won League, won SC2003-04 48 42 4 1 1 294 133 88 1st MWJBHL Won League, won SC2004-05 48 31 13 3 1 227 133 66 2nd MWJBHL Lost quarter-final2005-06 48 24 22 2 - 176 175 50 5th MWJBHL Lost quarter-final2006-07 48 19 24 4 1 158 180 43 7th MWJBHL Lost quarter-final2007-08 48 22 16 7 3 167 158 54 4th GOJHL-MW 2008-09 52 28 22 - 2 211 177 58 5th GOJHL-MW2009-10 51 23 27 - 1 183 178 47 5th GOJHL-MW Lost Conf. Final2010-11 51 33 16 - 2 217 150 68 4th GOJHL-MW Lost Conf. QF2011-12 51 41 9 - 1 266 139 83 2nd GOJHL-MW Lost Conf. Final2012-13 51 27 18 - 6 193 169 60 5th GOJHL-MW Lost Conf. Final2013-14 49 28 18 - 3 171 140 59 4th GOJHL-MW Lost Conf. Final2014-15 49 32 13 - 4 212 140 68 3rd GOJHL-MW Won Conf. Quarter-finals, 4-1 (Winter Hawks)Won Conf. Semi-finals, (Dutchmen)Lost Conf. Finals, 1-4 (Sugar Kings)2015-16 50 33 10 4 3 223 159 73 2nd of 9-MW4th of 26-GOJHL Won Conf. Quarter-finals, 4-0 (Bombers)Won Conf. Semi-finals, 4-2 (Sugar Kings)Won Conf. Finals, 4-1 (Siskins)Lost semifinals, 2-4 (Nationals)Warriors2016-17 50 24 23 0 3 200 194 51 6th of 9-MW14th of 27-GOJHL Lost Conf. Quarter-finals, 1-4 (Dutchmen)2017-18 50 37 11 1 1 241 146 76 2nd of 9-MW5th of 27-GOJHL Won Conf. Quarter-finals, 4-0 (99ers)Lost Conf Semifinals 2-4 (Sugar Kings)2018-19 47 32 11 1 3 165 117 68 2nd of 8-MW6th of 25-GOJHL Won Conf. Quarter-finals, 4-1 (99ers)Lost Conf Semifinals 2-4 (Siskins)2019-20 50 31 16 1 2 185 119 65 4th of 8-MW9th of 26-GOJHL Won Conf. Quarter-finals, 4-1 (Cyclones)Incomplete Conf Semifinals 1-3 (Sugar Kings)remaining playoffs cancelled due to pandemic2020-21 Season cancelled due to pandemic2021-22 48 29 17 1 1 175 131 60 4th of 8-MW10th of 25-GOJHL 2022-23 50 38 11 1 0 256 126 77 2nd of 8-MW4th of 25-GOJHL 2024-25 50 33 14 3 0 171 107 69 3rd of 12 West Conf6th of 23-GOJHL Won Conf. Quarter-finals, 4-0 (Vipers)Lost Conf Semifinals, 3-4 (Maroons)2025-26 50 30 13 4 3 183 133 67 4th of 12 West Conf7th of 23-GOJHL Won Conf. Quarter-finals, 4-3 (Nationals)Won Conf Semifinals, 4-1 (Maroons) Lost Conf. Finals 3-4 (Lincolns)
1974-1975 The Windsor Star, February 1975 1975-1977 Welcome to The Stratford Cullitons 1977-2002 Mid-Western Ontario OHA Jr. B Hockey League 25th Anniversary Program by J. Clark Hayman (2002) 2002–Present Midwestern Junior Hockey League
Sutherland Cup appearances 1977: Stratford Cullitons defeated Streetsville Derbys 4-games-to-2 1978: Stratford Cullitons defeated Streetsville Derbys 9-points-to-5 1981: Burlington Cougars defeated Stratford Cullitons 8-points-to-4 1983: Henry Carr Crusaders defeated Stratford Cullitons 4-games-to-none 1986: Stratford Cullitons defeated Streetsville Derbys 4-games-to-none 1990: Stratford Cullitons defeated St. Catharines Falcons 4-games-to-none 1995: Stratford Cullitons defeated St. Thomas Stars 4-games-to-none 1999: Chatham Maroons defeated Stratford Cullitons 4-games-to-3 2003: Stratford Cullitons defeated Thorold Blackhawks 4-games-to-3 2004: Stratford Cullitons defeated Thorold Blackhawks 4-games-to-none Ontario Hockey Association 2006-2007 Constitution, Regulations and Rules of Competition by The Ontario Hockey Association (2006) 2023: Leamington Flyers defeated Stratford Cullitons 4-games-to-3
Notable alumni
Mark Bell Rob Blake Boyd Devereaux Greg de Vries Nelson Emerson Dave Farrish Jeff Halpern Rem Murray Ed Olczyk Mike Peluso Chris Pronger David Shaw Bryan Smolinski Garth Snow Tim Taylor Mike Watt Zac Dalpe
http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayersByTeam.jsp?team=Stratford+Cullitons Legends of Hockey -- Cullitons Pro Alumni List provided by NHLPA
References
External links Warriors Webpage GOJHL Webpage
More sources OHA Webpage Sutherland Cup History provided by OHA via Official 2006-07 Handbook Official Game Puck Basic Team Name History