Galt Red Wings
Encyclopedia
The Galt Red Wings were a junior ice hockey
team based in Galt, Ontario, now a part of the city of Cambridge
. They played in the Ontario Hockey Association
from 1944 to 1947 and were operated as an affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings
. Their home arena was the Galt Arena Gardens
.
The team was previously the Galt Canadians
during the 1943-44 season. The team gained NHL sponsorship, becoming the Galt Red Wings. The sponsorship lasted for three seasons, with Galt finishing near the top of the league each year. New ownership renamed the team the Galt Rockets
in 1947.
During the 1944-45 season, Galt was led on ice by future Hockey Hall of Fame
r Gordie Howe
. The Galt Red Wings reached the league finals for the J. Ross Robertson Cup
in 1945, but lost to Toronto St. Michael's Majors
in four games. The Red Wings returned to the finals again in 1946-47, led by future Hall of Fame goaltender, Terry Sawchuk
, but lost the finals again in four games to the Majors.
.
Junior ice hockey
Junior hockey is a catch-all term used to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between 16 and 20 years of age...
team based in Galt, Ontario, now a part of the city of Cambridge
Cambridge, Ontario
Cambridge is a city located in Southern Ontario at the confluence of the Grand and Speed rivers in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It is an amalgamation of the City of Galt, the towns of Preston and Hespeler, and the hamlet of Blair.Galt covers the largest portion of...
. They played in the Ontario Hockey Association
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
from 1944 to 1947 and were operated as an affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
. Their home arena was the Galt Arena Gardens
Galt Arena Gardens
The Galt Arena Gardens is the oldest operating arena in Ontario. It was built throughout 1921 and opened in January 1922. It is located in the town of Galt, which is now a part of the city of Cambridge, Ontario. The arena is noted for its impressive external facade...
.
The team was previously the Galt Canadians
Galt Canadians
The Galt Canadians were a junior ice hockey team based in Galt, Ontario, now a part of the city of Cambridge. They played in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1943 to 1944. Their home arena was the Galt Arena Gardens....
during the 1943-44 season. The team gained NHL sponsorship, becoming the Galt Red Wings. The sponsorship lasted for three seasons, with Galt finishing near the top of the league each year. New ownership renamed the team the Galt Rockets
Galt Rockets
The Galt Rockets were a junior ice hockey team team based in Galt, Ontario, now a part of the city of Cambridge. They played in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1947 to 1949. Their home arena was the Galt Arena Gardens....
in 1947.
During the 1944-45 season, Galt was led on ice by future Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
r Gordie Howe
Gordie Howe
Gordon "Gordie" Howe, OC is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League , and the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association . Howe is often referred to as Mr...
. The Galt Red Wings reached the league finals for the J. Ross Robertson Cup
J. Ross Robertson Cup
The J. Ross Robertson Cup is an ice hockey trophy awarded annually to the winner of the Ontario Hockey League playoff championship. It was presented by and named for John Ross Robertson, the president of the Ontario Hockey Association who served from 1899 to 1905.Originally it was awarded to the...
in 1945, but lost to Toronto St. Michael's Majors
Toronto St. Michael's Majors
The Toronto St. Michael's Majors, was a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The hockey program was founded and operated by St. Michael's College School in 1906, and adopted the name "Majors" in 1934, and was commonly referred to as St. Mike's...
in four games. The Red Wings returned to the finals again in 1946-47, led by future Hall of Fame goaltender, Terry Sawchuk
Terry Sawchuk
Terrance Gordon Sawchuk was a Ukrainian-Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played 21 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers.-Early life and playing career:Sawchuk was born and raised...
, but lost the finals again in four games to the Majors.
NHL Alumni
From the Galt Red Wings, fourteen players graduated to play in the National Hockey LeagueNational Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
.
|
|
|
|
Yearly Results
| Season | Team | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | Points | Pct % | Goals For |
Goals Against |
Standing |
| 1943-44 | Canadians | 26 | 15 | 11 | 0 | 30 | 0.577 | 125 | 97 | 2nd Group 2 |
| 1944-45 | Red Wings | 20 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 24 | 0.600 | 83 | 91 | 2nd OHA (tie) |
| 1945-46 | Red Wings | 28 | 22 | 6 | 0 | 44 | 0.786 | 187 | 96 | 2nd OHA |
| 1946-47 | Red Wings | 36 | 27 | 9 | 0 | 54 | 0.750 | 232 | 99 | 3rd OHA |
External links
- www.cambridgehockey.com - The History of Cambridge Hockey by Todd Jones
- Galt Arena Gardens - OHL Arena & Travel Guide
- Ontario Hockey League Official web site
- Canadian Hockey League Official web site