Burlington Cougars
The Burlington Cougars are a Canadian junior "A" ice hockey team from Burlington, Ontario. They are a part of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.
History
Founded in the early 1950s, the Burlington Mohawks found their footing in the Central Junior B Hockey League. After seven seasons in the league and two league championships, the team was transferred to the Niagara District Junior B Hockey League.In the Niagara League, the Mohawks won both the 1963 and 1964 league championships before dropping down to Junior C in 1967.
In 1970, the Mohawks jumped back up to the Junior B level in the Mid-Ontario Junior B Hockey League. They were in the league for one season before the Ontario Hockey Association shifted them back to the Central Junior B Hockey League.
The Mohawks were renamed the Cougars in 1976 and stayed in the Central League for twenty-two seasons, from 1971 until 1993.
In 1981, the Cougars won their first Central League championship since 1958. They went on to face the Stratford Cullitons of the Mid-Western Junior Hockey League in the Sutherland Cup final. The Cougars won the series 8-points-to-4 to defeat the Cullitons and claim their only Sutherland Cup.
In 1987, the Cougars won their fourth and final Central League championship.
In 1993, the Central League was promoted to become the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League, the Cougars made the jump with the league. The Cougars have yet to win an OPJHL title.
The Cougars moved their home rink from Central Arena on Drury Lane to The Wave Twin Rinks on Mainway and have since returned to Central Arena.
Season-by-season results
Playoffs
- 1994 Lost quarter-final
- 1995 Lost Preliminary
- 1996 Did not qualify
- 1997 Did not qualify
- 1998 Lost Preliminary
- 1999 Lost Division Quarter-final
- 2000 Lost Division Semi-final
- 2001 Did not qualify
- 2002 Did not qualify
- 2003 Lost Division Quarter-final
- 2004 Lost Division Quarter-final
- 2005 Lost Division Quarter-final
- 2006 Lost Division Quarter-final
- 2007 Lost Division Quarter-final
- 2008 Lost Division Quarter-final
- 2009 Lost Division Semi-final
- 2010 Lost CCHL Semi-final
- 2011 Lost quarter-final
- 2012 ''Lost Division Semi-final''
Sutherland Cup appearances
1981: Burlington Cougars defeated Stratford Cullitons ''8-points-to-4''Notable alumni
- Kevin Bieksa
- Tim Bothwell
- Eric Cairns
- Greg Carey
- Paul Crowley
- Dan Currie
- Bob Dillabough
- Steve Durbano
- Paul Henderson
- Larry Jeffrey
- Jeff Johnson
- Josh Jooris
- Rick Lanz
- Mark Lawrence
- Lowell MacDonald
- Pit Martin
- Scott McKay
- John Miszuk
- Lance Nethery
- Danny Olesevich
- Murray Oliver
- Pat Quinn
- Dennis Ribant
- Wayne Rivers
- Ron Sedlbauer
- Fred Speck
- Steve Valiquette
- Mark Visheau
- Chad Wiseman
- Dino Felicetti