Brantford Alexanders

Brantford Alexanders
City Brantford, Ontario
League Ontario Hockey League
Operated 1978 (1978)–84
Home arena Brantford Civic Centre
Colours Red and white
Franchise history
1946–53 Windsor Spitfires
1953–60 Hamilton Tiger Cubs
1960–74 Hamilton Red Wings
1974–76 Hamilton Fincups
1976–77 St. Catharines Fincups
1977–78 Hamilton Fincups
1978–84 Brantford Alexanders
1984–88 Hamilton Steelhawks
1988–96 Niagara Falls Thunder
1996–present Erie Otters

The Brantford Alexanders were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League from 1978 to 1984. The team was based in Brantford, Ontario.

History

The Hamilton Fincups were relocated in 1978 becoming the Brantford Alexanders. The OMJHL junior team took the name of the OHA senior team which had played for two years prior, which in themselves were named for Brantford's most famous former resident, telephone pioneer Alexander Graham Bell. After two years in the OMJHL, the league changed names to the OHL and the Alexanders played four more seasons in Brantford, before moving back to Hamilton as the Steelhawks.

The Alexanders made the playoffs for five straight years after missing out its first year in Brantford. The team narrowly missed out on winning its division in 1980–81 by a single point.

Brantford developed close rivalries with the London Knights and the Niagara Falls Flyers. Their playoff nemeses were Windsor and Sault Ste. Marie. Two years in a row they were eliminated by the Spitfires, followed by three years in a row at the hands of the Greyhounds.

The Brantford Alexanders also had an official theme song recorded by County Line, called "Cowboys of the Ice".

There have been 29 alumni of the Alexanders to play in the NHL. In 1982–83, Dave Gagner was awarded the Bobby Smith Trophy for the OHA's Scholastic Player of the Year.

Coaches

  • 1978–79 - Dave Draper
  • 1979–80 - Ron Carroll
  • 1980–81 - R. Carroll, D. Draper, Ken Gratton
  • 1981–82 - Bep Guidolin, D. Draper
  • 1982–83 - Dave Draper
  • 1983–84 - Dave Draper

NHL alumni

Season-by-season results

Regular season

Season Games Won Lost Tied Points Pct % Goals
for
Goals
against
Standing
1978–79 68 23 42 3 49 0.360 281 349 6th Emms
1979–80 68 31 35 2 64 0.471 412 398 3rd Emms
1980–81 68 34 34 0 68 0.500 350 354 2nd Emms
1981–82 68 25 41 2 52 0.382 293 313 5th Emms
1982–83 70 34 33 3 71 0.507 275 282 4th Emms
1983–84 70 39 28 3 81 0.579 303 235 2nd Emms

Playoffs

Arena

The Brantford Alexanders played home games at the Brantford Civic Centre from 1978 to 1984. The OHL All-Star game was hosted here in 1982.

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