Barrie Flyers

Barrie Flyers
Barrie Flyers
City	Barrie, Ontario
League	Ontario Hockey Association
Operated	1945–1960
Home arena	Barrie Arena
Colours	White, black and gold
Parent club(s)	Boston Bruins
Franchise history
1945–1960	Barrie Flyers
1960–72	Niagara Falls Flyers
1972–present	Sudbury Wolves
Championships
Playoff championships	1951 and 1953 Memorial Cup

The Barrie Flyers were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1945 to 1960, from Barrie, Ontario. The Flyers played home games at the Barrie Arena from 1945 to 1960.^[1]

History

The Barrie Flyers junior team was founded in 1945 by Leighton "Hap" Emms. The franchise was soon affiliated with the Boston Bruins of the NHL. Barrie quickly became a powerhouse in the OHA. They appeared in the Memorial Cup three times, losing the first time in 1948, then winning twice, in 1951 and 1953. The Emms family relocated the team to Niagara Falls in 1960 where the team continued to win and played for 12 seasons, then relocated to Sudbury to become the Sudbury Wolves.

1948 Memorial Cup

Barrie won the right to play for the cup by defeating the Windsor Spitfires for the OHA championship, and the Montreal Nationales to win the Richardson Trophy as eastern Canadian representatives.

The Flyers were runners up for the Memorial Cup in 1948 played at Maple Leaf Gardens. They were swept by the Port Arthur West End Bruins (now Thunder Bay) in a best-of-seven series.

The series was very physical and bitter between the teams. After the third game, Emms threatened that the Flyers would not continue to play without a change in referees. The series ultimately continued with the same referees.

Game 1  Port Arthur 10 vs. Barrie  8
Game 2  Port Arthur  8 vs. Barrie  1
Game 3  Port Arthur  5 vs. Barrie  4
Game 4  Port Arthur  9 vs. Barrie  8 (OT)

1951 Memorial Cup

Barrie won the OHA championship defeating the Toronto Marlboros.

Canadian Amateur Hockey Association vice-president W. B. George oversaw the Flyers versus Quebec Citadels series for the George Richardson Memorial Trophy, to represent Eastern Canada in the 1951 Memorial Cup playoffs. When the Citadels refused to play game five in Barrie, George gave them an ultimatum to play or forfeit the series. Quebec decided to play too late to arrive by train, but arrived half an hour late after flying.^[2]^[3] George scheduled game seven on neutral ice at Maple Leaf Gardens, despite protests from Flyers' coach Hap Emms who claimed that his team only agreed to resume the series if game seven was played in Barrie.^[4]

The Flyers won the Memorial Cup in 1951 played at Winnipeg and Brandon, Manitoba. They swept the Winnipeg Monarchs in a best-of-seven series.

Game 1  Barrie 5 vs. Winnipeg 1
Game 2  Barrie 5 vs. Winnipeg 1
Game 3  Barrie 4 vs. Winnipeg 3
Game 4  Barrie 9 vs. Winnipeg 5

1953 Memorial Cup

Barrie won the right to play for the cup by defeating the St. Michael's Majors for the OHA championship. The Flyers won the Memorial Cup in 1953 played at Winnipeg and Brandon, Manitoba. They defeated the St. Boniface Canadiens in a best-of-seven series.

Game 1  Barrie 6 vs. St. Boniface 4
Game 2  Barrie 6 vs. St. Boniface 3
Game 3  Barrie 7 vs. St. Boniface 5
Game 4  Barrie 4 vs. St. Boniface 7
Game 5  Barrie 6 vs. St. Boniface 1

Championships

The Barrie Flyers were a dominant team during the late 1940s and early 1950s, and one of a few clubs to win multiple Memorial Cup championships. The Flyers won the Ontario championship 4 times, the Eastern Canadian championship 3 times, and the national championship twice.

Memorial Cup appearances

1948, Lost to Port Arthur West End Bruins
1951, CAHA Champions vs. Winnipeg Monarchs
1953, CAHA Champions vs. St. Boniface Canadiens

George Richardson Memorial Trophy appearances

1948, Champions vs. Montreal Nationales
1949, Lost to Montreal Royals
1951, Champions vs. Quebec Citadels
1953, Champions vs. Quebec Citadels

J. Ross Robertson Cup appearances^[5]

1947–48, OHA Champions vs. Windsor Spitfires
1948–49, OHA Champions vs. Toronto Marlboros
1950–51, OHA Champions vs. Toronto Marlboros
1952–53, OHA Champions vs. St. Michael's Majors
1955–56, Lost to Toronto Marlboros

Players

Award winners

1948-49 - Gil Mayer, Red Tilson Trophy Most Outstanding Player
1950-51 - Lorne Howes, Dave Pinkney Trophy Lowest Team Goals Against

NHL alumni

List of Flyers' alumni who played in the National Hockey League (NHL):^[6]

Regular season results

Season	Games	Won	Lost	Tied	Points	Pct %	Goals For	Goals Against	Standing
1945–46	28	8	18	2	18	0.308	89	171	7th OHA
1946–47	35	17	16	2	36	0.514	129	144	6th OHA
1947–48	36	23	13	0	46	0.639	198	116	3rd OHA
1948–49	48	28	16	4	60	0.625	208	134	2nd OHA
1949–50	48	21	24	3	45	0.469	180	217	5th OHA
1950–51	54	38	14	2	78	0.722	276	161	1st OHA
1951–52	53	22	30	1	47	0.425	225	230	7th OHA
1952–53	56	37	17	2	76	0.679	258	187	1st OHA
1953–54	59	25	33	1	51	0.432	260	285	7th OHA
1954–55	49	18	31	0	36	0.367	169	251	7th OHA
1955–56	48	20	25	3	43	0.448	179	207	6th OHA
1956–57	52	13	37	2	28	0.269	147	218	6th OHA
1957–58	51	18	29	4	40	0.392	201	234	6th OHA
1958–59	54	21	27	6	48	0.444	178	192	5th OHA
1959–60	48	24	18	6	54	0.562	193	172	3rd OHA

References

^ Jordan, Kevin (December 7, 2019). "Barrie Colts". The OHL Arena & Travel Guide. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
^ "Popular Valley Figure: W. B. George Retiring From KAS Post". Ottawa Journal. Ottawa, Ontario. September 24, 1960. p. 7.
^ "On-Off Junior Series Finally Settled". Medicine Hat News. Medicine Hat, Alberta. April 24, 1951. p. 3.
^ "Smoke Still Rising: But Playoff Locations Settled". Lethbridge Herald. Lethbridge, Alberta. April 28, 1951. p. 17.
^ Annual Report: Constitution, Regulations and Rules of Competition. Cambridge, Ontario: Ontario Hockey Association. 2006. p. W-13.
^ "NHL Player Search—Barrie Flyers". Legends of Hockey. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 30, 2021.

[1] Jordan, Kevin (December 7, 2019). "Barrie Colts". The OHL Arena & Travel Guide. Retrieved January 30, 2021.

[2] "Popular Valley Figure: W. B. George Retiring From KAS Post". Ottawa Journal. Ottawa, Ontario. September 24, 1960. p. 7.

[3] "On-Off Junior Series Finally Settled". Medicine Hat News. Medicine Hat, Alberta. April 24, 1951. p. 3.

[4] "Smoke Still Rising: But Playoff Locations Settled". Lethbridge Herald. Lethbridge, Alberta. April 28, 1951. p. 17.

[5] Annual Report: Constitution, Regulations and Rules of Competition. Cambridge, Ontario: Ontario Hockey Association. 2006. p. W-13.

[6] "NHL Player Search—Barrie Flyers". Legends of Hockey. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 30, 2021.

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