Collingwood Blues (2020)
| Collingwood Blues | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Collingwood, Ontario |
| League | OJHL |
| Division | North |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Home arena | Eddie Bush Memorial Arena |
| Colours | |
| General manager | Andrew Campoli |
| Head coach | Andrew Campoli |
| Website | cwoodblues |
| Franchise history | |
| 1974-2019 | Kingston Voyageurs |
| 2019–2020 | Collingwood Colts |
The Collingwood Blues are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) based in Collingwood, Ontario, and the 2024 Centennial Cup national championship team.
History
The team came into being with sale and relocation of the Kingston Voyageurs to Collingwood after the 2018–19 OJHL season.[1] The Kingston Voyageurs had been a league staple since 1974.[2] After the 2019–20 OJHL season, the team was rebranded the Collingwood Blues.[3]
The 2020–21 OJHL season was cancelled due to public health restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4][5]
The Blues won consecutive league championships in 2023 and 2024.[6][7] They went on to win the 2024 Centennial Cup national championship tournament in 2024.[8][9]
Arena
The team plays its home games at the Eddie Bush Memorial Arena in Collingwood.[10] In 2024, the team entered a 10-year agreement with the Town of Collingwood to continue its use of facility, following protracted negotiations.[11] The agreement included the option to renew for a further 10 years.[12][13]
Season-by-season results
The team won its second consecutive league championship in 2024 and went on to win the national championship 2024 Centennial Cup.[14][15]
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Pts | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | 54 | 27 | 17 | 1 | 9 | 164 | 155 | 64 | 2nd of 5 North Div 5th of 11 NW Conf 10th of 22 OJHL | Lost Conf. Quarters 3-4 (Spirit) |
| 2020–21 | Season cancelled | |||||||||
| 2021–22 | 54 | 28 | 20 | 1 | 4 | 170 | 140 | 61 | 2nd of 5 North Div 4th of 10 NW Conf 11th of 21 OJHL | Lost Conf. Quarters 2-0 (Tigers) Lost Conf Semifinals 0-2 (Panthers) |
| 2022–23 | 54 | 44 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 226 | 113 | 89 | 1st of 10 NW Conf 2nd of 21 OJHL | Won Conf. Quarters 4-0 (Spirit) Won Conf Semifinals 4-0 (Menace) Won Conf Finals 4-1 (Cougars) Won League Finals 4-1 (Golden Hawks) advance to Centennial Cup |
| 2023–24 | 56 | 49 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 284 | 88 | 99 | 1st of 12 NW Conf 1st of 24 OJHL | Won Conf. Quarters 4-0 (99ers) Won Conf Semifinals 4-1 (Blades) Won Conf Finals 4-0 (Flyers) Won League Finals 2-4 (Golden Hawks) Won National Championship 1-0 (Melfort Mustangs) |
| 2024–25 | 56 | 43 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 256 | 113 | 90 | 2nd of 12 West Conf 3rd of 24 OJHL | Won Conf. Quarters 4-1 (Rebellion) Lost Conf Semifinals 1-4 (Menace) |
| 2025–26 | 56 | 41 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 250 | 118 | 87 | 2nd in division 3rd overall | Won first round against King (4:0) Won second round against Leamington (4:1) |
Source: "Collingwood Blues statistics and history". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
National championships
In 2022, the Centennial Cup moved to a 10-team format, including the champions from each of the nine leagues that make up the CJHL, and the host team, thus eliminating the intervening regional contests for the ANAVET Cup, the Fred Page Cup and the Doyle Cup.[16] The format consists of a 4-game round-robin with two groups of five teams, followed by a six-team single-elimination play-off.[17]
2023 Centennial Cup
| Centennial Cup | |
|---|---|
| Tournament details | |
| City | Portage la Prairie |
| Venue | Stride Place |
| Dates | 11–21 May 2023 |
| Teams | 10 |
| Host team | Portage Terriers |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Brooks Bandits |
| Runners-up | Battlefords North Stars |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Games played | 25 |
| Awards | |
| MVP | Aiden Fink |
| Official website | |
| Hockey Canada | |
The 2023 Centennial Cup tournament took place at Stride Place in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba from 11 – 21 May 2023. It was the second year of the 10-team format, including the championship teams of nine CJHL affiliate leagues and the host team, the Portage Terriers.[18] The Portage Terriers and city of Portage la Prairie were to be the host for the 2020 Centennial Cup, but were renamed as the 2023 host when the 2020 tournament was cancelled at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.[19][20]
| Round-robin | Record | Standing | Quarterfinal | Semifinal | Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OTW, Steinbach Pistons (ManJHL), 2–1 W, Battlefords North Stars (SJHL), 3–1 W, Kam River Fighting Walleye (SIJHL), 4–1 L, Portage Terriers (Host), 3-4 | 2-1-1-0 | 3rd of 5 Pool B | Lost - 2–4 Ottawa Jr. Senators (CCHL) | Did not Qualify | Did not Qualify |
2024 Centennial Cup
| Centennial Cup | |
|---|---|
| Tournament details | |
| City | Oakville, Ontario |
| Venue | Sixteen Mile Sports Complex |
| Dates | 9–19 May 2024 |
| Teams | 10 |
| Host team | Oakville Blades |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Collingwood Blues |
| Runners-up | Melfort Mustangs |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Games played | 25 |
| Awards | |
| MVP | Julien Gervais |
| Official website | |
| Hockey Canada | |
The 2024 Centennial Cup was hosted by the Oakville Blades at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville, Ontario from 9 – 19 2024.[21][22]
| Round-robin | Record | Standing | Quarterfinal | Semifinal | Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W, Calgary Canucks (AJHL), 5–4 W, Greater Sudbury Cubs (NOJHL), 10–2 W, Longueuil Collège Français (QJHL), 8–0 W, Navan Grads (CCHL), 3-2 | 4-0-0-0 | 1st of 5 Group A | Earned bye | Won 5–2 Miramichi Timberwolves | Won 1–0 Melfort Mustangs Centennial Cup National Junior A Champions |
References
- ↑ Ian MacAlpine (6 March 2019). "Kingston Voyageurs may move to Collingwood". Kingston Whig-Standard. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
- ↑ "Kingston Voyageurs are no more". Kingstonist - Kingston News. 21 March 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
- ↑ Engel, Erika (22 February 2020). "Collingwood Colts will be Collingwood Blues next year". CollingwoodToday.ca. Village Media. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ↑ Lockhart, Brian (22 April 2021). "That's it for Junior A hockey - League calls it quits". Toronto Star. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ↑ Steiner, Laura (13 April 2021). "OJHL announces cancellation of 2020–21 season". Milton Reporter. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ↑ Engel, Erika (29 April 2023). "Collingwood Blues earn OJHL title, punch ticket to Centennial Cup". OrilliaMatters.com. Village Media. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ↑ Engel, Erika (30 April 2024). "Collingwood Blues win OJHL playoffs again". CollingwoodToday.ca. Village Media. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ↑ O'Flanagan, Rob (19 May 2024). "Mustangs fall short in Centennial Cup final". Melfort Journal. Postmedia. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ↑ "Collingwood Blues edge Melfort Mustangs to win Centennial Cup". TSN. Bell Media. Canadian Press. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ↑ "Breaking: Collingwood Colts awarded tenancy of Eddie Bush Arena". CollingwoodToday.ca. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ↑ Owen, Jessica (30 July 2024). "'It's like a phone book': Blues contract negotiations continue". CollingwoodToday.ca. Village Media. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ↑ Owen, Jessica (24 September 2024). "Town and Collingwood Blues net new contract". CollingwoodToday.ca. Village Media. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ↑ Owen, Jessica (23 November 2024). "Here's what's in the new Collingwood Blues contract". CollingwoodToday.ca. Village Media. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ↑ Owen, Jessica (2 May 2023). "Parade planning underway to celebrate Blues as OJHL champs". CollingwoodToday.ca. Village Media. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ↑ Carneiro, Alessandra (19 May 2024). "Collingwood Blues crowned Centennial Cup champions". CTV News Barrie. Bell Media. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ↑ Willberg, David (22 March 2022). "The 2022 Centennial Cup in Estevan will be the biggest ever with 10 teams". sasktoday.ca. Harvard Media. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ↑ Willberg, David (16 May 2022). "The field is set for the Centennial Cup in Estevan". sasktoday.ca. Harvard Media. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
The top three teams from each pool will advance to the playoff round. The top seed gets a direct bye to the semifinal, while the second and third place teams move onto the quarter-finals.
- ↑ Foster, River (29 May 2022). "2023 Centennial Cup officially coming to Portage". PembinaValleyOnline. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ↑ Sawatzky, Mike (19 June 2023). "Portage la Prairie earns praise for hosting 'best' Centennial Cup ever". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ↑ Punkari, Lucas (21 May 2023). "Bandits win third straight Centennial Cup". Brandon Sun. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ↑ Bernasiewicz, Lukas (7 May 2024). "Centennial Cup ready to hit the ice". Oakville News. Village Media. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ↑ Brown, Ben (29 April 2024). "Centennial Cup estimated to bring $5 million for Oakville businesses". Oakville News. Village Media. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
Further reading
- Engel, Erika (5 July 2024). "Collingwood Blues given rare Legion Friendship award from Portage La Prarie". CollingwoodToday.ca. Village Media. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- Robinson, Peter (20 May 2024). "'Amazing feeling': Collingwood Blues score first Centennial Cup". OrilliaMatters.com. Village Media. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- Wallace, Fred (6 August 2024). "2024-25 Collingwood Blues OJHL Schedule". Bayshore Broadcasting News Centre. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- "Collingwood Blues shut-out Quebec team for third Centennial Cup win". CollingwoodToday.ca. Village Media. 13 May 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- Owen, Jessica (11 January 2024). "Arena deal between Collingwood Blues, town on ice — for now". OrilliaMatters.com. Village Media. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- Edwards, John (24 February 2024). "'We have come to love the community': Collingwood Blues score new rental agreement with town". Simcoe.com. Metroland Media Group. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- Owen, Jessica (15 February 2024). "Emergency council meeting nets new Blues contract". CollingwoodToday.ca. Village Media. Retrieved 30 September 2024.