Wexford Raiders

The Toronto Jr. Canadiens are a Junior "A" ice hockey team based in the Downsview neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They were known as the Wexford Raiders until the end of the 2005–06 season and are a part of Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) but used to be a part of the Metro Junior A Hockey League.

History

The team originated in 1972 as the Wexford Warriors of the Metro Junior B league, when the original Wexford Raiders jumped to the Junior A Ontario Provincial League in 1972. When the Junior A Raiders folded in 1981, the Junior B Warriors adopted the Raider name and kept it until 2006.

The Wexford Raiders were one of the strongest teams to play in the Metro Junior A Hockey League. A losing team for much of its history, they become one of the most dominant squads in 1990, under coaches Stan Butler and Kevin Burkett. Butler and Burkett coached the Wexford Raiders midget team to the 1989 championship, then took most of the players to the Junior B level in 1990, and they served as the foundation to four consecutive Metro championship squads. During the 1990s, under the management of Burkett and Butler, the Raiders sent more players on NCAA Division I hockey scholarships than any other junior team in North America. In 1994, the Raiders defeated the Caledon Canadians 4-games-to-0 in the Metro League final. The Canadians were granted the permission to host the Dudley Hewitt Cup that year and ended up winning it despite losing the Metro final.

In 1998, again playing Caledon, the Raiders won the last Metro Junior "A" title in game 7 by a score of 9–0. In 2006, the Raiders changed their name to the Toronto Jr. Canadiens and took on the colours of the Montreal Canadiens.

2006-07

On February 11, 2007, after 144 minutes and 32 seconds of play, the Canadiens defeated the Pickering Panthers in Game 2 of the first round of the playoffs. The game-winning goal was credited to Kyle Wetering at the 4:32 mark of the 5th overtime. Toronto outshot Pickering 88–86. On February 12, 2007, TSN show That's Hockey showed highlights of the game and announced that the history of the game may be preserved in the Hockey Hall of Fame as the longest junior hockey game in history, far surpassing the previous record. The game has been officially named the longest game in Ontario Hockey Association history.

Season-by-season results

Playoffs

''MetJHL Years''
*1990 ''Lost final''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Oshawa Legionaires ''4-games-to-3''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Kingston Voyageurs ''4-games-to-none''
: Thornhill Thunderbirds defeated Wexford Raiders ''4-games-to-3''
*1991 ''Won League''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Kingston Voyageurs ''4-games-to-1''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Oshawa Legionaires ''4-games-to-3''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Bramalea Blues ''4-games-to-3'' METJHL CHAMPIONS
*1992 ''Won League''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Kingston Voyageurs ''4-games-to-1''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Thornhill Thunderbirds ''4-games-to-2''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Bramalea Blues ''4-games-to-none'' METJHL CHAMPIONS
*1993 ''Won League''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Richmond Hill Riot ''4-games-to-none''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Wellington Dukes ''4-games-to-none''
:Wexford Raiders defeated St. Michael's Buzzers ''4-games-to-1'' METJHL CHAMPIONS
*1994 ''Won League, lost OHA Buckland Cup round robin''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Kingston Voyageurs ''4-games-to-1''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Thornhill Islanders ''4-games-to-none''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Caledon Canadians ''4-games-to-none'' METJHL CHAMPIONS
:Third and eliminated in OHA Buckland Cup round robin (1-2)
*1995 ''Lost final''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Wellington Dukes ''4-games-to-2''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Thornhill Islanders ''4-games-to-3''
: Caledon Canadians defeated Wexford Raiders ''4-games-to-none''
*1996 ''Lost semi-final''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Wellington Dukes ''4-games-to-1''
: Thornhill Islanders defeated Wexford Raiders ''4-games-to-2''
*1997 ''Lost semi-final''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Niagara Scenic ''4-games-to-none''
:First in round robin quarter-final (4-2)
: Caledon Canadians defeated Wexford Raiders ''4-games-to-none''
*1998 ''Won League, lost OHA Buckland Cup''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Quinte Hawks ''3-games-to-none''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Oshawa Legionaires ''4-games-to-2''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Caledon Canadians ''4-games-to-3'' METJHL CHAMPIONS
: Milton Merchants ( OPJHL) defeated Wexford Raiders ''4-games-to-1''
''OJHL Years''

Raiders 1970-1981

There also was a Wexford Raiders team in the Ontario Provincial Junior League based in the Wexford neighbourhood of the Toronto suburb of Scarborough. The team originated in 1970 as the Toronto Raiders of the Metro Junior B league, and was renamed the Wexford Raiders in 1971. In 1972, the team moved to the new Ontario Provincial Junior League in 1972 and operated until 1981. After the Junior A team folded, the Metro B "Warriors" assumed the "Raider" name in 1983.

Season-by-season results

Playoffs

*1973 ''Won League, lost OHA Buckland Cup''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Weston Dodgers ''4-games-to-1''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Dixie Beehives ''4-games-to-2''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Toronto Nationals ''4-games-to-1'' OPJHL CHAMPIONS
: Chatham Maroons ( SOJHL) defeated Wexford Raiders ''4-games-to-3''
*1974 ''Won League, won OHA Buckland Cup, lost Hewitt-Dudley Memorial Trophy semi-final''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Richmond Hill Rams ''4-games-to-2''
:Wexford Raiders defeated North Bay Trappers ''4-games-to-3''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Aurora Tigers ''4-games-to-1'' OPJHL CHAMPIONS
:Wexford Raiders defeated Windsor Spitfires ( SOJHL) ''4-games-to-3'' BUCKLAND CUP CHAMPIONS
: Thunder Bay Hurricanes ( TBJHL) defeated Wexford Raiders ''4-games-to-3''
*1975 ''Lost final''
:Wexford Raiders defeated Aurora Tigers ''4-games-to-none''
:Wexford Raiders defeated North York Rangers ''4-games-to-3''
: Toronto Nationals defeated Wexford Raiders ''4-games-to-1''
*1976 ''Lost quarter-final''
: North Bay Trappers defeated Wexford Raiders ''4-games-to-2''
*1977 ''Lost quarter-final''
: Royal York Royals defeated Wexford Raiders ''4-games-to-2''
*1978 ''Lost quarter-final''
: Guelph Platers defeated Wexford Raiders ''4-games-to-none''
*1979 ''DNQ''
*1980 '' Lost quarter-final''
:Dixie Beehives defeated Wexford Raiders ''4-games-to-none''
*1981 ''DNQ''

Arena

The Jr. Canadiens play at Scotiabank Pond at Downsview Park.

The Raiders played at Scarborough Arena Gardens at 75 Birchmount Road. The city rink built in 1954 was used in the 1986 film Youngbloods and being rebuilt due to roof issues. Demolished in 2023 and should open in 2025.

Notable alumni

* Keith Acton
* Bill Armstrong
* Mark Botell
*Brian Boucher
* Brian Bradley
* Stan Butler
* Anson Carter
* Andy Chiodo
*Devante Smith-Pelly
* Doug Doull
* Brett McConnachie
* Dave Duerden
* Iain Duncan
* Oren Eizenman (born 1985), Israeli-Canadian ice hockey player
* Larry Floyd
* Matt Foy
* Luciano Aquino
* Scott Fraser
* Orin Ezienman
* Steve Guolla
* Mark Kirton
* Chris Kotsopoulos
* Paul Lawless
*Steve Maltais
* John McFarland
* Lindsay Middlebrook
* Gavin Morgan
* Bryan Muir
* Mark Napier
*Ryan O'Reilly
* Steve Rooney
* Al Secord
* Luke Sellars
* George Servinis
* Derrick Smith
* Greg Smyth
* Brad Tapper
*Bill Terry
*Greg Theberge
* Tyler Toffoli
* Jake Walman
* Jeff Ware
* Daniel Winnik
* Mike Zigomanis

References

External links

Toronto Jr. Canadiens

{{Toronto Sports

Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League teams
Ca
Ice hockey clubs established in 1972
1972 establishments in Ontario