Essex 73's

Hockey team
team = Essex 73's

logosize = 135px
city = Essex, Ontario
league = Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League
division = South
founded = 1973
arena = Essex Memorial Arena
colours = Orange, Black, and White
coach = Tony Piroski
GM = Tony Piroski
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The Essex 73's are a Junior "C" ice hockey team based in Essex, Ontario, Canada. The 73's are members of the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League and the Ontario Hockey Association.

History

The Essex 73’s have competed for 35 seasons in the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League. In total, the club has won 15 Great Lakes Junior C League Championships and 5 All Ontario Junior C titles. By both measures, they are the most successful team in Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League history.

In the mid-1970s and early 1980s, the 73’s dominated the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League winning six of the eight League Championships from the 1974-75 season to the 1982-83 Season. With Dave Prpich behind the bench the 73’s won four league titles in a row from 1974-75 to 1978-79, including three All Ontario Championships in that span. The 73’s would claim two more Great Lakes League Championships in the 80’s in 1985-86 and 1986-87.

After some struggles in the early to mid 90’s the 73’s got back into winning form under head coach Les Garrod. For the first time in ten years in 1997-98 the team won Great Lakes League Championship by defeating the Wallaceburg Lakers in the league final. Their loss to the Kincardine Bulldogs in the All Ontario semi-finals marked the 73's most successful season in a decade.

In the 2001-02 season the 73’s brought aboard Head Coach Tony Piroski. This proved to be a major turning point for the 73's, who have dominated the Great Lakes League under Piroski. In his first season the 73’s won the Great Lakes League and the All Ontario Title defeating the Uxbridge Bruins in the finals. The team has reached the All Ontario Junior C Finals in each of the last four seasons, defeating the Grimsby Peach Kings in 2005 but losing to the Penetang Kings in 2006 and 2007 and then losing in 2008 to the Alliston Hornets in a memorable game 7 overtime loss. In the last seven seasons under Piroski the 73’s have won six Great Lakes League Championships along with two All Ontario Titles.

eason-by-Season Results

Additional Staff

*Director of Hockey Operations: Tony Piroski
*President: Kris Wojornski
*Assistant GM: Mark Barnett
*Assistant Coach: Lee Jones
*Assistant Coach: Jamie Mcdermott
*Assistant Coach: Chris Dupuis
*Assistant Coach: RJ Hotts
*Trainer: Steve O'neil
*Equipment Manager: Frank Matthys
*Equipment Manager: Ron Prpich

Clarence Schmalz Cup Appearances

:"1975": Essex 73's defeated Lindsay Muskies "4-games-to-3":"1976": Dunnville Terriers defeated Essex 73's "4-games-to-2":"1977": Essex 73's defeated Bowmanville Eagles "4-games-to-2":"1978": Essex 73's defeated Bowmanville Eagles "4-games-to-1":"1981": Bowmanville Eagles defeated Essex 73's "4-games-to-2":"2002": Essex 73's defeated Uxbridge Bruins "4-games-to-3":"2005": Essex 73's defeated Grimsby Peach Kings "4-games-to-3":"2006": Penetang Kings defeated Essex 73's "4-games-to-1":"2007": Penetang Kings defeated Essex 73's "4-games-to-1":"2008": Alliston Hornets defeated Essex 73's "4-games-to-3"

Notable Alumni

*Bruce Crowder
*Keith Crowder
*Warren Rychel
*Dave Gagnon
*Kyle Wellwood
*Mike Sadler Scout
*Dave Prpich OHL Head Coach 1987-2005

External links