Windsor Spitfires (1946-1953)

Hockey team | CAN_eng = 1|
team = Windsor Spitfires

logosize = 100px
city = Windsor, Ontario
league = Ontario Hockey Association
operated = 1946-53
arena = Windsor Arena
name1 = Windsor Spitfires
dates1 = 1946-53
name2 = Hamilton Tiger Cubs
dates2 = 1953-60
name3 = Hamilton Red Wings
dates3 = 1960-74
name4 = Hamilton Fincups
dates4 = 1974-76
name5 = St. Catharines Fincups
dates5 = 1976-77
name6 = Hamilton Fincups
dates6 = 1977-78
name7 = Brantford Alexanders
dates7 = 1978-84
name8 = Hamilton Steelhawks
dates8 = 1984-88
name9 = Niagara Falls Thunder
dates9 = 1988-96
name10 = Erie Otters
dates10 = 1996-Present|The Windsor Spitfires were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1946 to 1953. The team was based in Windsor, Ontario. The current Windsor Spitfires, founded in 1971, are the namesake of the these Spitfires.

History

The Spitfires were created in 1946 on the foundation of the Windsor Junior Hockey League, the local junior league up until 1946.

In 1953, the Spitfires were sold to Hamilton to create the Hamilton Tiger Cubs. [Simcoe Reformer. February 11, 1975, Page 4.] The Spitfires were replaced by a OHA Senior A Hockey League team called the Windsor Bulldogs. The Bulldogs won the OHA Senior A championship in 1962 and 1963 as well as the Allan Cup in 1963. They turned professional for one season after winning the Allan Cup, then folded.

In 1971, the Windsor Spitfires were reformed in the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League. [Simcoe Reformer. February 11, 1975, Page 4.] In 1975, they were accepted into the OHA. [Simcoe Reformer. February 11, 1975, Page 4.]

Championships

J. Ross Robertson Cup
* 1948 Finalist vs. Barrie Flyers
* 1950 Finalist vs. Guelph Biltmores

Players

Award Winners
* 1948–49 – Bert Giesebrecht Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy OHA Scoring Champion
* 1949–50 – Earl Reibel Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy OHA Scoring Champion
* 1950–51 – Glenn Hall Red Tilson Trophy OHA Most Outstanding Player

NHL Alumni

*Jim Anderson *Al Arbour *Bob Bailey *Cummy Burton *Don Cherry *Gordon Haidy

*Glenn Hall *Jim Hay *Larry Hillman *Vic Howe *Earl Johnson *Tom McGrattan

*Doug McKay *Marcel Pronovost *Max Quackenbush *Dutch Reibel *Dennis Riggin

*Terry Sawchuk *Glen Skov *Ed Stankiewicz *Johnny Wilson *Larry Wilson

Yearly Results

Arena

The Spitfires played home games at the Windsor Arena, built in 1924 in downtown Windsor, Ontario. The arena was originally known as the "Border Cities Arena" and was once home to the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL prior to 1927. The Windsor Arena, nicknamed "The Barn," is the oldest operating facility in the Canadian Hockey League. It hosted the OHL All-Star game in 1978, and the Memorial Cup in 1981.

:Capacity = 4,400:Ice Size = 195'×80'

* [http://www.ohlarenaguide.com/spitfires.htm Windsor Arena] - The OHL Arena & Travel Guide

ee also

*List of ice hockey teams in Ontario

External links

* [http://www.windsorspitfires.com/ www.windsorspitfires.com] Official web site
* [http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/ Ontario Hockey League] Official web site
* [http://www.chl.ca/ Canadian Hockey League] Official web site