Guelph Royals (ice hockey)

Guelph Royals
CityGuelph, Ontario
Operated1908–09 (OPHL)
1920s (OHA) seniors
1960–1963 (OHA) juniors
Home arenaGuelph Memorial Gardens (OHA juniors)
Parent clubNew York Rangers (OHA juniors)
Franchise history
1908–09Guelph Royals
c. 1920sGuelph Royals
1937–1939Guelph Indians
1939–1942
1947–1960		Guelph Biltmores
1960–1963Guelph Royals
1963–presentKitchener Rangers

The Guelph Royals name has been used for several hockey teams based in Guelph, Ontario. The most recent was a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) from 1960 to 1963, that played home games at the Guelph Memorial Gardens. The junior Royals were a farm team for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League.

Earlier versions of the Guelp Royals include a professional team during the 1908–09 Ontario Professional Hockey League season, and a senior ice hockey team in the OHA during the 1920s. The Royals namesake is the City of Guelph's nickname as the "Royal City."

History

In 1960, Madison Square Gardens Corporation who owned the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League (NHL), purchased the Guelph Biltmores as a farm team. Since "Biltmore" was considered a commercial name, the junior team was renamed.[1] The Royals were an early favourite to win the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) junior division, with Emile Francis as head coach.[2] Francis coached the Royals for the 1960–61 OHA season and the 1961–62 OHA season.[3]

Guelph won the Hamilton Spectator Trophy during the 1960–61 OHA season, finishing 1st overall.[4] The Royals' Rod Gilbert led the OHA in goals scored with 54, points scored with 103, and Jean Ratelle led the league in assists with 61.[5] Gilbert won Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy with the most goals in the league,[6] and was also awarded the Red Tilson Trophy as the most outstanding player.[7] In the playoffs, the Royals lost in the league finals to the Toronto St. Michael's Majors, 4 games to 2 with a tie.[8]

At the end of the 1962–63 OHA season, the team moved to nearby Kitchener, Ontario, becoming the Kitchener Rangers, taking the name of the NHL parent club.[9]

National Hockey League alumni

Twenty-one former Guelph Royals played in the NHL,[10] and two were elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame; Rod Gilbert and Jean Ratelle.[11]

Season-by-season results

Regular season and playoffs results:[12]

Legend: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Memorial Cup champions League champions League finalists
SeasonRegular seasonPlayoffs
GPWLTPtsPctGFGAFinish
1960–61483099690.7192551651st OHAWon semifinal (Niagara Falls Flyers) 5–2[13]
Lost OHA final (Toronto St. Michael's Majors) 4–2–1[14]
1961–625018266420.4201942365th OHADid not qualify
1962–63509356240.2401582576th OHADid not qualify

References

  1. ↑ "Rangers Buy Guelph Club". The Expositor. Brantford, Ontario. The Canadian Press. May 17, 1960. p. 9.
  2. ↑ Sharpe, Barry (October 27, 1960). "Junior "A" Hockey Season Opens on Two Fronts Tonight". St. Catharines Standard. The Canadian Press. p. 28.
  3. ↑ "Emile Francis hockey statistics and profile". HockeyDB. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  4. ↑ "1960-61 Ontario Hockey Association [OHA] standings". HockeyDB. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  5. ↑ "OHA 1960-61 League Leaders". HockeyDB. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Award - OHL Most Points (Eddie Powers Trophy)". Elite Prospects. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Award–OHL Most Outstanding Player (Red Tilson Trophy)". Elite Prospects. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  8. ↑ Annual Report: Constitution, Regulations and Rules of Competition. Cambridge, Ontario: Ontario Hockey Association. 2006. p. W-13.
  9. ↑ "Rangers Switch From Guelph: Kitchener Gets Royals". The Kingston Whig-Standard. The Canadian Press. July 17, 1963. p. 13.
  10. ↑ "NHL Player Search -- Players by Team -- Guelph Royals". Legends of Hockey. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Guelph Royals -- Legends of Hockey -- The Legends". Legends of Hockey. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Guelph Royals Statistics and History". HockeyDB. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Guelph Royals Set For Junior Finals". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ontario. The Canadian Press. March 25, 1961. p. 19.
  14. ↑ "St. Michael's Beats Guelph 4–1; Win OHA Junior Championship". St. Catharines Standard. The Canadian Press. April 18, 1961. p. 17.
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