Cranbrook Colts
Encyclopedia
The Cranbrook Colts were a Junior "B" and a Junior "A" team in Cranbrook, British Columbia
. They were formed in 1971 as a Junior "B" team in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League
. They were immediately successful, winning the league title in their first four years. The Colts jumped to the Junior "A" Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League
in 1991, winning three league titles in their seven years in the league.
The Colts folded in 1998 because of the forming of the Kootenay Ice
in Cranbrook, British Columbia
, a major junior team in the Western Hockey League
.
Junior B hockey had to offer. The Colts went on to win KIJHL playoff titles in 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, and 1976, topping this off with Cyclone Taylor Cup
s as Provincial Champions in 1974 and 1975.
In the early 1980s, the Colts came back to their winning ways, taking league titles in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1987. They finished this dynasty off with four consecutive Cyclone Taylor Cups in 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1987 as BC champions.
In 1991, the Colts joined the Peace-Cariboo Junior Hockey League with a group of other KIJHL teams to form the Kootenay Division of what was to now be known as the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League
. The PCJHL had been a tiny Junior "A" league bridging the British Columbia
-Alberta
North-Central border since 1980. The Southern expansion into the Kootenays was an effort to increase the talent pool and to venture into an area that British Columbia Junior Hockey League had yet to claim. The Colts would continue to dominate, even as a Junior "A" team, winning league championships in 1995, 1997, and 1998.
In 1998, the Western Hockey League
's Edmonton Ice
was failing and was sold and moved to Cranbrook. The Colts folded to make way for the Major Junior team.
Cranbrook, British Columbia
Cranbrook, British Columbia is a city in southeast British Columbia, located on the west side of the Kootenay River at its confluence with the St. Mary's River, It is the largest urban centre in the region known as the East Kootenay. As of 2006, Cranbrook's population is 18,267, and the...
. They were formed in 1971 as a Junior "B" team in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League
Kootenay International Junior Hockey League
The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League is a Junior "B" Ice Hockey league in British Columbia, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The winner of the KIJHL playoffs competes with the champions of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League and the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League...
. They were immediately successful, winning the league title in their first four years. The Colts jumped to the Junior "A" Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League
Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League
The Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League was a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey league in British Columbia.In 1975, the Quesnel Millionaires and Prince George Spruce Kings joined the Peace Junior B Hockey League. The PJBHL already included the Fort St. John Huskies, Dawson Creek Canucks, and Grande...
in 1991, winning three league titles in their seven years in the league.
The Colts folded in 1998 because of the forming of the Kootenay Ice
Kootenay Ice
The Kootenay Ice are a major junior ice hockey team based in Cranbrook, British Columbia and competing in the Western Hockey League. The team plays its home games at the Cranbrook Recreational Complex, also nicknamed the RecPlex.-History:...
in Cranbrook, British Columbia
Cranbrook, British Columbia
Cranbrook, British Columbia is a city in southeast British Columbia, located on the west side of the Kootenay River at its confluence with the St. Mary's River, It is the largest urban centre in the region known as the East Kootenay. As of 2006, Cranbrook's population is 18,267, and the...
, a major junior team in the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
.
Championships
- Kootenay International Junior Hockey LeagueKootenay International Junior Hockey LeagueThe Kootenay International Junior Hockey League is a Junior "B" Ice Hockey league in British Columbia, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The winner of the KIJHL playoffs competes with the champions of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League and the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League...
: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987. - Cyclone Taylor CupCyclone Taylor CupThe Cyclone Taylor Cup tournament serves as the British Columbia Provincial Junior B Hockey Championship. The annual tournament is held amongst the champions of British Columbia's three Junior B ice hockey leagues, as well as a host team...
: 1974, 1975, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987. - Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey LeagueRocky Mountain Junior Hockey LeagueThe Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League was a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey league in British Columbia.In 1975, the Quesnel Millionaires and Prince George Spruce Kings joined the Peace Junior B Hockey League. The PJBHL already included the Fort St. John Huskies, Dawson Creek Canucks, and Grande...
: 1995, 1997, 1998.
History
In 1971, the Cranbrook Colts joined the KIJHL with a partial schedule. After going undefeated in nineteen games, Colts went on to win the league playoff title. For much of the 1970s, the Colts were the elite of the KIJHL and amongst the best British ColumbiaBritish Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
Junior B hockey had to offer. The Colts went on to win KIJHL playoff titles in 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, and 1976, topping this off with Cyclone Taylor Cup
Cyclone Taylor Cup
The Cyclone Taylor Cup tournament serves as the British Columbia Provincial Junior B Hockey Championship. The annual tournament is held amongst the champions of British Columbia's three Junior B ice hockey leagues, as well as a host team...
s as Provincial Champions in 1974 and 1975.
In the early 1980s, the Colts came back to their winning ways, taking league titles in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1987. They finished this dynasty off with four consecutive Cyclone Taylor Cups in 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1987 as BC champions.
In 1991, the Colts joined the Peace-Cariboo Junior Hockey League with a group of other KIJHL teams to form the Kootenay Division of what was to now be known as the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League
Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League
The Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League was a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey league in British Columbia.In 1975, the Quesnel Millionaires and Prince George Spruce Kings joined the Peace Junior B Hockey League. The PJBHL already included the Fort St. John Huskies, Dawson Creek Canucks, and Grande...
. The PCJHL had been a tiny Junior "A" league bridging the British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
-Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
North-Central border since 1980. The Southern expansion into the Kootenays was an effort to increase the talent pool and to venture into an area that British Columbia Junior Hockey League had yet to claim. The Colts would continue to dominate, even as a Junior "A" team, winning league championships in 1995, 1997, and 1998.
In 1998, the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
's Edmonton Ice
Edmonton Ice
The Edmonton Ice were a junior ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta that played two seasons in the Western Hockey League.Despite the long held belief that Major-Junior hockey could not compete against the NHL, the WHL expanded to Calgary in 1995, and to Edmonton in 1996...
was failing and was sold and moved to Cranbrook. The Colts folded to make way for the Major Junior team.
Season-by-season standings
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | Playoffs |
| 1971-72 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| 193 | 48 | 38 | 3rd WKHL | Won League | ||||||
| 1972-73 | 30 | 25 | 5 | 0 | ||||||
| 230 | 92 | 50 | 1st KIJHL-E | Won League | ||||||
| 1973-74 | 30 | 26 | 3 | 1 | ||||||
| 245 | 116 | 53 | 1st KIJHL-E | Won League, Won CTC Cyclone Taylor Cup The Cyclone Taylor Cup tournament serves as the British Columbia Provincial Junior B Hockey Championship. The annual tournament is held amongst the champions of British Columbia's three Junior B ice hockey leagues, as well as a host team... |
||||||
| 1974-75 | 34 | 32 | 2 | 0 | ||||||
| 237 | 111 | 64 | 1st KIJHL-E | Won League, Won CTC | ||||||
| 1975-76 | 34 | 24 | 10 | 0 | ||||||
| 207 | 139 | 48 | 1st KIJHL-E | Won League | ||||||
| 1976-77 | 44 | 20 | 23 | 1 | ||||||
| 241 | 221 | 41 | 1st KIJHL-E | |||||||
| 1977-78 | 42 | 17 | 25 | 0 | ||||||
| 209 | 229 | 34 | 3rd KIJHL-E | |||||||
| 1978-79 | 40 | 26 | 13 | 1 | ||||||
| 264 | 205 | 53 | 2nd KIJHL-E | |||||||
| 1979-80 | 40 | 21 | 16 | 3 | ||||||
| 217 | 178 | 45 | 3rd KIJHL-E | |||||||
| 1980-81 | 40 | 36 | 3 | 1 | ||||||
| 293 | 141 | 73 | 1st KIJHL-E | |||||||
| 1981-82 | 42 | 37 | 5 | 0 | ||||||
| 381 | 162 | 74 | 1st KIJHL-E | Won League, Won CTC | ||||||
| 1982-83 | 42 | 36 | 6 | 0 | ||||||
| 331 | 154 | 72 | 1st KIJHL-E | Won League | ||||||
| 1983-84 | 42 | 29 | 12 | 1 | ||||||
| 318 | 221 | 59 | 2nd KIJHL-E | Won League | ||||||
| 1984-85 | 42 | 34 | 8 | 0 | ||||||
| 303 | 187 | 68 | 1st KIJHL-E | Won League, Won CTC | ||||||
| 1985-86 | 39 | 32 | 7 | 0 | ||||||
| 310 | 184 | 64 | 1st KIJHL-E | Won League, Won CTC | ||||||
| 1986-87 | 42 | 33 | 8 | 1 | ||||||
| 303 | 171 | 67 | 1st KIJHL-E | Won League, Won CTC | ||||||
| 1987-88 | 42 | 33 | 9 | 0 | ||||||
| 336 | 180 | 66 | 2nd KIJHL-E | |||||||
| 1988-89 | 43 | 25 | 18 | 0 | ||||||
| 270 | 172 | 50 | 2nd KIJHL-E | |||||||
| 1989-90 | 40 | 20 | 20 | 0 | ||||||
| 226 | 215 | 40 | 2nd KIJHL-E | |||||||
| 1990-91 | 40 | 15 | 24 | 1 | ||||||
| 183 | 223 | 31 | 3rd KIJHL-E | |||||||
| 1991-92 | 52 | 29 | 20 | 3 | ||||||
| 220 | 173 | 61 | 2nd RMJHL-K | Lost Semi-final | ||||||
| 1992-93 | 52 | 31 | 20 | |||||||
| 1 | 262 | 194 | 63 | 3rd RMJHL-K | Lost Final | |||||
| 1993-94 | 52 | 34 | 17 | |||||||
| 1 | 295 | 239 | 69 | 2nd RMJHL-K | Lost Semi-final | |||||
| 1994-95 | 52 | 37 | 15 | |||||||
| 0 | 312 | 193 | 74 | 2nd RMJHL-K | Won League | |||||
| 1995-96 | 58 | 37 | 21 | |||||||
| 0 | 295 | 197 | 74 | 1st RMJHL-K | Lost Quarter-final | |||||
| 1996-97 | 60 | 34 | 24 | |||||||
| 2 | 309 | 281 | 70 | 1st RMJHL | Won League | |||||
| 1997-98 | 54 | 35 | 14 | |||||||
| 5 | 311 | 202 | 75 | 2nd RMJHL | Won League |
Playoffs
- 1992 Lost Semi-final
- Cranbrook Colts defeated Fernie GhostridersFernie GhostridersThe Fernie Ghostriders are a Junior B Ice Hockey team based in Fernie, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Eddie Mountain Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League . They play their home games at Fernie Memorial Arena...
4-games-to-none - Trail Smoke EatersTrail Smoke EatersThe Trail Smoke Eaters are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Trail, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League.-History:...
defeated Cranbrook Colts 4-games-to-3- 1993 Lost Final
- Cranbrook Colts defeated Kimberley DynamitersKimberley DynamitersThe Kimberley Dynamiters are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Kimberley, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Eddie Mountain Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League . They play their home games at Kimberley Civic Centre.The team was...
4-games-to-2 - Cranbrook Colts defeated Trail Smoke EatersTrail Smoke EatersThe Trail Smoke Eaters are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Trail, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League.-History:...
4-games-to-2 - Williams Lake MustangsWilliams Lake MustangsThe Williams Lake Mustangs were a Canadian Junior ice hockey team from Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada. They are former members of the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League.-History:...
defeated Cranbrook Colts 3-games-to-2- 1994 Lost Semi-final
- Cranbrook Colts defeated Creston Valley Thunder 4-games-to-1
- Kimberley DynamitersKimberley DynamitersThe Kimberley Dynamiters are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Kimberley, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Eddie Mountain Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League . They play their home games at Kimberley Civic Centre.The team was...
defeated Cranbrook Colts 4-games-to-1- 1995 Won League, Lost Mowat CupMowat CupThe Mowat Cup is emblematic of the Junior "A" ice hockey Championship of British Columbia .The cup was donated to the British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association by Mr...
- 1995 Won League, Lost Mowat Cup
- Cranbrook Colts defeated Kimberley DynamitersKimberley DynamitersThe Kimberley Dynamiters are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Kimberley, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Eddie Mountain Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League . They play their home games at Kimberley Civic Centre.The team was...
4-games-to-none - Cranbrook Colts defeated Creston Valley Thunder 4-games-to-none
- Cranbrook Colts defeated Prince George Spruce KingsPrince George Spruce KingsThe Prince George Spruce Kings are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Interior Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League...
4-games-to-2 RMJHL CHAMPIONS - Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL) defeated Cranbrook Colts 3-games-to-none
- 1996 Lost Quarter-final
- Kimberley DynamitersKimberley DynamitersThe Kimberley Dynamiters are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Kimberley, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Eddie Mountain Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League . They play their home games at Kimberley Civic Centre.The team was...
defeated Cranbrook Colts 4-games-to-2- 1997 Won League, Lost Mowat CupMowat CupThe Mowat Cup is emblematic of the Junior "A" ice hockey Championship of British Columbia .The cup was donated to the British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association by Mr...
- 1997 Won League, Lost Mowat Cup
- Kimberley DynamitersKimberley DynamitersThe Kimberley Dynamiters are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Kimberley, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Eddie Mountain Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League . They play their home games at Kimberley Civic Centre.The team was...
defeated Cranbrook Colts 4-games-to-3 - Cranbrook Colts defeated Nelson LeafsNelson LeafsThe Nelson Leafs are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Nelson, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Neil Murdoch Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League...
4-games-to-none - Cranbrook Colts defeated Fernie GhostridersFernie GhostridersThe Fernie Ghostriders are a Junior B Ice Hockey team based in Fernie, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Eddie Mountain Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League . They play their home games at Fernie Memorial Arena...
4-games-to-none RMJHL CHAMPIONS - South Surrey Eagles (BCHL) defeated Cranbrook Colts 3-games-to-none
- 1998 Won League, Lost Mowat CupMowat CupThe Mowat Cup is emblematic of the Junior "A" ice hockey Championship of British Columbia .The cup was donated to the British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association by Mr...
- 1998 Won League, Lost Mowat Cup
- Cranbrook Colts defeated Fernie GhostridersFernie GhostridersThe Fernie Ghostriders are a Junior B Ice Hockey team based in Fernie, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Eddie Mountain Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League . They play their home games at Fernie Memorial Arena...
4-games-to-1 - Cranbrook Colts defeated Kimberley DynamitersKimberley DynamitersThe Kimberley Dynamiters are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Kimberley, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Eddie Mountain Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League . They play their home games at Kimberley Civic Centre.The team was...
4-games-to-3 RMJHL CHAMPIONS - South Surrey Eagles (BCHL) defeated Cranbrook Colts 3-games-to-none
Notable alumni
- Jon KlemmJon KlemmJonathan Darryl Klemm is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League. He is currently serving as the assistant coach for the Spokane Chiefs, a Western Hockey League team, based from Spokane, Washington.-Playing career:After winning the Memorial...
- Brad LukowichBrad LukowichBrad Lukowich is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who plays for the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League. He has won the Stanley Cup once in his career, with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004. He was on the roster of the Dallas Stars when they won the cup in 1998–99 but did not...
- Bob MurdochBob Murdoch (ice hockey b. 1954)Robert Lovell Murdoch is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 260 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the California Golden Seals, Cleveland Barons, and St. Louis Blues....