Orangeville Crushers

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Orangeville Crushers

City:	Orangeville, Ontario
League:	Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
Division:	North
Founded:	1975
Home Arena:	Alder Street Recreation Facility
Colours:	Orange, Black, and White
Head Coach:	Dale Hawerchuk
General Manager:	Robin Inscoe
Parent club(s):	Barrie Colts
Farm club(s):	Erin Shamrocks

The Orangeville Crushers are a Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey team based out of Orangeville, Ontario. They play out of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League.

Orangeville Stone Crushers 1975 - 1987

Orangeville Crushers 1987 - 2001

Orangeville Thunder 2001 - 2004

Orangeville Crushers 2004 to Present

1 History
- 1.1 2006-07
2 Season-by-Season Results
3 Notable Alumni
4 External links

[edit] History

The team originated in the Central Junior C Hockey League. In the late 80's and early 90's, the Crushers played in the Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League and won two straight league championships. They won the Clarence Schmalz Cup in 1990 as All-Ontario Champions. In the Clarence Schmalz Cup Finals, the Crushers came back from a 3-0 deficit in games to defeat the Belle River Canadiens of the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League 4-3. The 1991 Clarence Schmalz Cup Final pitted the Crushers against a bound and determined Hanover Barons of the Western Junior C Hockey League. The Crushers again went down 3-0 in games and again forced a seventh and deciding contest but came out on the losing end, dropping the final game and the series 4-3.

In the mid-90's, the Crushers were accepted into the Midwestern Junior B Hockey League and stayed there until 2006. Orangeville have been accepted to play in the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League for the start of the 2006-07 Season. A vote was concocted by the OPJHL teams, where the Crushers were voted in by a 33-3 vote. The Crushers will play out of the North Division. The team's head coach for the beginning of 2006-07 will be Steve Chelios, brother of National Hockey League great Chris Chelios [1]. Chelios was let go in late October. The President of the teams is another former NHLer, Dale Hawerchuk.

[edit] 2006-07

The Crushers' first Junior "A" game took place on September 15, 2006 against Vaughan Vipers in Orangeville. The game resulted in a 6-3 loss. The Crushers' first ever Junior "A" goal was scored by Trevor Branning at 1:17 into the first period. Anthony Ferrante started the game in net.

The Crushers' first ever Junior "A" win was against the Stouffville Spirit on September 28, 2006 in Stouffville, Ontario. The final score was 3-2, with goaltender Michael Hutchinson picking up the win in net. Hutchinson stopped 35 of 37 shots, as the Crushers were badly outshot. Hutchinson also held the Spirit scoreless for the first 48:13 of the game, coming within less than 12 minutes of the shutout. The Crushers' Wil Munson of Corona, California scored the eventual game winner.

The Crushers finished the season one point out of the final playoff spot. With three games to go in the season, Orangeville either had to win or tie to clinch a spot or the Buffalo Jr. Sabres had to tie or lose -- neither happened.

[edit] Season-by-Season Results

Season	GP	W	L	T	OTL	GF	GA	P	Results	Playoffs
1994-95	48	26	19	3	-	190	168	55	5th MWJBHL	Lost Quarter-final
1995-96	48	29	17	2	-	219	171	60	4th MWJBHL	Lost Quarter-final
1996-97	48	17	25	6	-	162	189	40	7th MWJBHL	Lost Quarter-final
1997-98	48	29	18	1	-	202	152	59	5th MWJBHL	Lost Semi-final
1998-99	48	24	21	3	-	214	203	51	5th MWJBHL	Lost Semi-final
1999-00	48	17	29	2	-	169	215	36	7th MWJBHL	Lost Quarter-final
2000-01	48	8	40	0	-	159	299	16	10th MWJBHL	DNQ
2001-02	48	8	38	2	-	131	280	18	9th MWJBHL	DNQ
2002-03	48	3	44	1	0	101	351	7	10th MWJBHL	DNQ
2003-04	48	2	44	0	2	84	282	6	10th MWJBHL	DNQ
2004-05	48	4	43	1	0	89	346	9	10th MWJBHL	DNQ
2005-06	48	5	42	1	-	104	303	11	10th MWJBHL	DNQ
2006-07	49	9	36	3	1	131	213	22	33rd OPJHL	DNQ