Hamilton Red Wings

Hamilton Red Wings
CityHamilton, Ontario
LeagueOntario Hockey Association
Operated1960 (1960)–1974
Home arenaBarton Street Arena
Parent clubsDetroit Red Wings
(1960–1967)
Franchise history
1946–1953Windsor Spitfires
1953–1960Hamilton Tiger Cubs
1960–1974Hamilton Red Wings
1974–1978Hamilton/St. Catharines Fincups
1978–1984Brantford Alexanders
1984–1988Hamilton Steelhawks
1988–1996Niagara Falls Thunder
1996–presentErie Otters
Championships
Playoff championships1962 Memorial Cup Champions

The Hamilton Red Wings were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) from 1960 to 1974. The team was based at the Barton Street Arena in Hamilton, Ontario. The Red Wings won the OHA junior championship in 1962, and won the 1962 Memorial Cup as national champions.

History

The Hamilton Tiger Cubs became the Hamilton Red Wings as of the 1960–61 OHA season, were coached by Eddie Bush, and affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL).[1] Jimmy Skinner was the team's scout and general manager,[2] which was based at the Barton Street Arena.[3]

In the 1961–62 OHA season, the Red Wings placed second overall.[4] In the playoffs, Hamilton defeated the St. Catharines Teepees in six games,[5] the Niagara Falls Flyers in four games,[6] and the Metro Jr. A. champs Toronto St. Michael's Majors in five games to win the J. Ross Robertson Cup.[7] The Red Wings then swept the series against the Quebec Citadelles for the George Richardson Memorial Trophy as the Eastern Canadian champions.[8]

The Red Wings played the Edmonton Oil Kings for the 1962 Memorial Cup championship. Originally scheduled at Maple Leaf Gardens, the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association relocated the games due to disagreements on television broadcast rights. Playing the first game at Barton Street Arena, Hamilton won by a 5–2 score. Playing the next three games at Guelph Memorial Gardens, Hamilton won twice to lead the series three games to one. Playing the fifth game at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, the Red Wings defeated the Oil Kings by a 7–4 score to win the national championship series.[9]

Five years later the Red Wings lost the OHA finals in 1967, in four consecutive games to the Toronto Marlboros.[7]

The direct NHL sponsorship of junior teams ended in 1967.[10] The Red Wings were purchased by Nick Durbano in 1970.[11] Durbano sold the team in 1974, which became the Hamilton Fincups in the next season.[12]

Award winners

SeasonPlayerAward(s)RecognitionSource
1960–61Bud BlomDave Pinkney TrophyLowest team goals against average[13]
1961–62Pit MartinRed Tilson TrophyMost outstanding player[14]
Lowell MacDonaldMax Kaminsky TrophyMost sportsmanlike player[15]
1962–63Paul HendersonMax Kaminsky TrophyMost sportsmanlike player[16]
1964–65Jimmy Peters Jr.Max Kaminsky TrophyMost sportsmanlike player[17]
1967–68Jim Rutherford / Gerry GrayDave Pinkney TrophyLowest team goals against average[18]

Notable players

Notable Red Wings alumni who also played in the National Hockey League or World Hockey Association:[19]

Kevin Pettit played for the Red Wings from 1964 to 1967, and was later an All-American for Cornell Big Red.[21] Lee Carpenter played for the Red Wings from 1965 to 1966, and was chosen by the Detroit Red Wings in the third round of 1966 NHL amateur draft, but never played in the NHL.[22] Jim McInally played for the Red Wings from 1966 to 1968, and was chosen by the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of 1968 NHL amateur draft, but never played in the NHL.[23] Jim Koleff played for the Red Wings from 1971 to 1973, and later coached in European professional leagues.[24]

Season-by-season results

Regular season and playoffs results:[25]

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

Memorial Cup champions OHA champions OHA finalists
SeasonRegular seasonPlayoffs
GPWLTPtsPctGFGAFinish
1960–614822197510.5311921483rd OHAWon quarterfinal (Peterborough Petes) 4–1[26]
Lost semifinal (Toronto St. Michael's Majors) 4–2–1[27]
1961–625032126700.7002201622nd OHAWon semifinal (St. Catharines Teepees) 4–1–1[5]
Won OHA final (Niagara Falls Flyers) 4–0[6]
Won Ontario Junior A final (Toronto St. Michael's Majors) 4–1[28]
Won Eastern Canada final (Quebec Citadelles) 4–0[8]
Won 1962 Memorial Cup final (Edmonton Oil Kings) 4–1[29]
1962–635021218500.5002021844th OHALost semifinal (Niagara Falls Flyers) 4–1[30]
1963–6456113510320.2861932857th OHADid not qualify
1964–6556143111390.3482202878th OHADid not qualify
1965–664822206500.5212032175th OHALost quarterfinal (Montreal Junior Canadiens) 3–0–2[31]
1966–674822215490.5101721614th OHAWon quarterfinal (Peterborough Petes) 8–4[32]
Won semifinal (Niagara Falls Flyers) 3–2–2[33]
Lost OHA final (Toronto Marlboros) 4–0[34]
1967–6854311310720.6672531623rd OHAWon quarterfinal (London Nationals) 4–1[35]
Lost semifinal (Kitchener Rangers) 3–1–2[36]
1968–695427243570.5282071905th OHALost quarterfinal (Montreal Junior Canadiens) 3–0–2[37]
1969–7054162612440.4072072389th OHADid not qualify
1970–716222355490.3952243287th OHALost quarterfinal (Ottawa 67's) 4–2[38]
1971–726311466280.22220033410th OHADid not qualify
1972–736315417370.2942443749th OHADid not qualify
1973–747016495370.26422137611th OHADid not qualify

References

  1. ↑ "New Look For Juniors". The Hamilton Spectator. The Canadian Press. September 3, 1960. p. 17.
  2. ↑ "New Coach Welcomed". The Hamilton Spectator. September 13, 1960. p. 23.
  3. ↑ Jordan, Kevin (June 14, 2020). "Hamilton Forum: Hamilton Red Wings". The OHL Arena Guide. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Jr. Habs Clinch Junior 'A' Crown". Niagara Falls Review. Niagara Falls, Ontario. The Canadian Press. March 2, 1962. p. 15.
  5. 1 2 "Hamilton Wings Rally To Defeat Teepees 4–3, Wall Raps Two Goals". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario. March 19, 1962. p. 20.
  6. 1 2 "Jr. Wings Sweep Series; Win 4–2". The Evening Tribune. Welland, Ontario. The Canadian Press. March 28, 1968. p. 26.
  7. 1 2 Annual Report: Constitution, Regulations and Rules of Competition. Cambridge, Ontario: Ontario Hockey Association. 2006. p. W-13.
  8. 1 2 Marks, Jack (April 25, 1962). "Hamilton Red Wings Reach Memorial Cup Final: Crush Quebec 9 to 3, Capture Series 4–0". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario. p. 19.
  9. ↑ Lapp, Richard M.; Macaulay, Alec (1997). The Memorial Cup: Canada's National Junior Hockey Championship. Madeira Park, British Columbia: Harbour Publishing. p. 122–126. ISBN 1-55017-170-4.
  10. ↑ Watkins, Joe (February 23, 1970). "Forum, Red Wings to change hands". The Hamilton Spectator. p. 12.
  11. ↑ Watkins, Joe (February 23, 1970). "Eddie Bush gone: Another hockey era ends". The Hamilton Spectator. p. 13.
  12. ↑ Watkins, Joe (May 15, 1974). "Durbano sells all: Red Wings will stay in Hamilton". The Hamilton Spectator. p. 28.
  13. ↑ "Blom Record Is Best". The Hamilton Spectator. March 7, 1961. p. 14.
  14. ↑ Marks, Jack (May 12, 1962). "Led Hamilton to Memorial Cup, Pit Martin Wins Tilson Trophy". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario. p. 27.
  15. ↑ "Lowell MacDonald Wins Max Kaminsky Trophy". The Evening Tribune. Welland, Ontario. The Canadian Press. May 24, 1962. p. 3.
  16. ↑ "Paul Henderson Awarded Lady Byng of Junior A's". The Hamilton Spectator. The Canadian Press. March 19, 1963. p. 18.
  17. ↑ "Max Kaminsky Trophy Won By Jimmy Peters of Red Wings". Niagara Falls Review. Niagara Falls, Ontario. The Canadian Press. March 17, 1965. p. 26.
  18. ↑ "Trophy Day". The Hamilton Spectator. August 23, 1968. p. 10.
  19. ↑ "Hamilton Red Wings all-time player list". HockeyDB. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Jim Watson–Stats, Contract, Salary & More". HockeyDB. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  21. ↑ "1970-1971 All-American Team". American Hockey Coaches Association. Boston, Massachusetts. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Lee Carpenter career profile". Hockey Draft Central. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Jim McInally career profile". Hockey Draft Central. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  24. ↑ Milton, Steve (November 4, 2008). "Courage in the face of death". The Hamilton Spectator. p. 48.; Milton, Steve (November 4, 2008). "Courage in the face of death". The Hamilton Spectator. p. 49.
  25. ↑ "Hamilton Red Wings Statistics and History [OHL]". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Wings Beat Petes, 9–2; Win Round". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario. March 16, 1961. p. 30.
  27. ↑ "St. Mike's Gain Junior 'A' Finals: Down Hamilton Red Wings 5–3". Niagara Falls Review. Niagara Falls, Ontario. The Canadian Press. April 3, 1961. p. 14.
  28. ↑ Campbell, Gordon (April 16, 1962). "Wings Push Irish Off Memorial Cup Trail". Toronto Star. p. 10.
  29. ↑ "Hamilton Wraps Up Memorial Cup: Wings Win Wild Ice Tilt". The Montreal Star. May 9, 1962. p. 70.
  30. ↑ Watkins, Joe (March 16, 1963). "Late Rally Sidelines Wings". The Hamilton Spectator. p. 15.
  31. ↑ Boire, Charlie (March 17, 1966). "Junior Canadiens Bounce Red Wings". The Montreal Star. p. 21.
  32. ↑ "Hamilton Wings gain Junior A semifinals". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario. The Canadian Press. March 27, 1967. p. 20.
  33. ↑ "Red Wings Oust Niagara Falls". The Sault Star. Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The Canadian Press. April 8, 1967. p. 11.
  34. ↑ "Marlies Take Junior Crown". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ontario. The Canadian Press. April 18, 1967. p. 15.
  35. ↑ "Six Teams Battle For Junior Title". The Expositor. Brantford, Ontario. The Canadian Press. March 22, 1968. p. 9.
  36. ↑ "Tie as good as a win". Toronto Telegram. The Canadian Press. April 8, 1968. p. 21.
  37. ↑ "Junior Wings Eliminated". St. Catharines Standard. The Canadian Press. March 20, 1969. p. 45.
  38. ↑ "1970–71 OHA Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
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