Cornwall Royals


The Cornwall Royals were a junior ice hockey team based in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. The team played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 1969 to 1981, and the Ontario Hockey League from 1981 to 1992. This team shared its name with other Cornwall Royals teams that played in the QSHL, MMJHL, or OHA-B.

History

From 1961 until 1969, the Cornwall Royals were successful members of the Central Junior A Hockey League. As perennial CJHL champions, they represented that league at the playdowns for the 1966, 1967 and 1968 Memorial Cup national junior hockey championships, falling in the quarterfinals each year against the representatives from Quebec. After an application to join the OHL was rejected, the franchise became one of the inaugural teams of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in 1969. The Cornwall Royals were one of the league's premier teams during its tenure in the QMJHL, winning 3 Memorial Cup titles. For the 1981–82 season, the team transferred into the Ontario Hockey League.
The Royals suffered through many tough seasons and poor attendance after moving to the OHL. The switch in leagues alienated many die-hard fans from across the Quebec border. Seeking better fortunes, the franchise moved to Newmarket, Ontario to play as the Newmarket Royals in 1992. In 1994 the team was bought by the Ciccarelli brothers and moved to Sarnia, Ontario as the Sarnia Sting.

Championships

The Cornwall Royals are one of only 7 clubs to win consecutive Memorial Cup championships. They did so in 1980 and 1981. In total, the Royals won 3 Memorial Cups, 3 President's Cups, and 5 division titles while in the QMJHL. The Royals did not win any OHL championships.
CJHL Bogart Cup Championships: 1966, 1967, 1968
President's Cup
Playoff Champions in the QMJHL.
  • 1972 QMJHL Champions vs. Quebec Remparts
  • 1980 QMJHL Champions vs. Sherbrooke Castors
  • 1981 QMJHL Champions vs. Trois-Rivieres Draveurs
Jean Rougeau Trophy
Regular season champions in the QMJHL.
  • 1971–1972 96 points
  • 1980–1981 90 points
West Division Trophy
First overall in the West Division.
  • 1973–1974 94 points
Lebel Division Trophy
First overall in the Lebel Division.
  • 1977–1978 100 points
  • 1979–1980 88 points
  • 1980–1981 90 points
;Memorial Cups1972 CHL Champions vs. Peterborough Petes1980 CHL Champions vs. Peterborough Petes1981 CHL Champions vs. Kitchener Rangers

Coaches

Orval Tessier guided the Cornwall Royals to the Memorial Cup championship in 1972. Doug Carpenter coached the 1980 Royals, and Bob Kilger in 1981.
Marc Crawford was a former Cornwall Royals player. He won the Stanley Cup as coach of the Colorado Avalanche. He also coached the Vancouver Canucks, the Los Angeles Kings, and the Dallas Stars.
;List of Coaches

*''1982–83 coaches Bob Kilger, Bill Murphy, Gord Woods, Jocelyn Guevremont''

Players

The Cornwall Royals graduated 55 players to the National Hockey League. From these alumni, 31 played for the Royals in the QMJHL, and 29 played for the Royals in the OHL, and 5 played for the Royals in both leagues.

CHL awards

CHL Player of the Year
  • 1980–1981 Dale Hawerchuk
CHL Defenceman of the Year
  • 1989–1990 John Slaney
CHL Scholastic Player of the Year
  • 1991–1992 Nathan LaFayette

QMJHL awards

Michel Brière Commemorative Trophy
  • 1973–74 Gary MacGregor
  • 1974–75 Mario Viens
  • 1980–81 Dale Hawerchuk
Guy Lafleur Trophy
  • 1979–80 Dale Hawerchuk
Jean Béliveau Trophy
  • 1980–81 Dale Hawerchuk
Instructors Trophy
  • 1970–71 Bob Murphy
  • 1971–72 Bob Murray
  • 1979–80 Dale Hawerchuk
Emile Bouchard Trophy
  • 1980–81 Fred Boimistruck
Jacques Plante Commemorative Trophy
  • 1971–72 Richard Brodeur
  • 1975–76 Tim Bernhardt
  • 1976–77 Tim Bernhardt
  • 1977–78 Tim Bernhardt
Mike Bossy Trophy
  • 1980–81 Dale Hawerchuk
Frank J. Selke Commemorative Trophy
  • 1971–72 Gerry Teeple
  • 1973–74 Gary MacGregor

OHL awards

Red Tilson Trophy
OHL Most valuable player.
  • 1982–1983 Doug Gilmour
  • 1985–1986 Ray Sheppard
Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy
OHL Top Point Scorer.
  • 1982–1983 Doug Gilmour
  • 1985–1986 Ray Sheppard
Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy
OHL Top Scoring Right Winger.
  • 1982–1983 Ian MacInnis
  • 1985–1986 Ray Sheppard
  • 1989–1990 Owen Nolan
Max Kaminsky Trophy
Most Outstanding Defenceman.
  • 1989–1990 John Slaney
OHL Goaltender of the Year
Voted best goaltender in the OHL.
  • 1987–1988 Rick Tabaracci
Emms Family Award
Rookie of the year.
  • 1988–1989 Owen Nolan
Bobby Smith Trophy
Scholastic player of the year.
  • 1990–1991 Nathan LaFayette
  • 1991–1992 Nathan LaFayette

Hockey Hall of Fame members

Three alumni of the Cornwall Royals have been enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame, including Billy Smith, Dale Hawerchuk, and Doug Gilmour.

NHL alumni

Season-by-season results

Playoffs

Defeated Shawinigan Bruins 8 points to 2 in semifinals.
Defeated Quebec Remparts 9 points to 5 in finals. QMJHL champions
Defeated Peterborough Petes 2-1 in Memorial Cup final.Memorial Cup champions
  • 1972–1973 Defeated Montreal Bleu-Blanc-Rouge 4 games to 0 in quarterfinals.
Defeated Sorel Eperviers 4 games to 1 in semifinals.
Lost to Quebec Remparts 4 games to 3 in finals.
  • 1973–1974 Lost to Laval National 4 games to 1 in quarterfinals.
  • 1974–1975 Lost to Montreal Bleu-Blanc-Rouge 4 games to 0 in quarterfinals.
  • 1975–1976 Defeated Montreal Juniors 4 games to 2 in quarterfinals.
Lost to Quebec Remparts 4 games to 0 in semifinals.
  • 1976–1977 Defeated Trois-Rivières Draveurs 8 points to 4 in quarterfinals.
Lost to Sherbrooke Castors 9 points to 0 in semifinals.
Lost to Montreal Juniors 8 points to 2 in semifinals.
  • 1978–1979 Lost to Verdun Eperviers 8 points to 6 in quarterfinals.
  • 1979–1980 Defeated in Shawinigan Cataractes 4 games to 3 in quarterfinals.
Defeated Chicoutimi Saguenéens 4 games to 1 in semifinals.
Defeated Sherbrooke Castors 4 games to 2 in finals. QMJHL champions
Defeated Peterborough Petes 3-2 in Memorial Cup final.Memorial Cup champions
  • 1980–1981 Defeated Quebec Remparts 4 games to 3 in quarterfinals.
Defeated Sherbrooke Castors 4 games to 3 in semifinals.
Defeated Trois-Rivières Draveurs 4 games to 1 in finals. QMJHL champions
Defeated Kitchener Rangers 5-2 in Memorial Cup final. Memorial Cup champions
  • 1981–1982 Lost to Toronto Marlboros 6 points to 4 in first round.
  • 1982–1983 Defeated Toronto Marlboros 7 points to 1 in first round.
Lost to Ottawa 67's 8 points to 0 in quarterfinals.
  • 1983–1984 Lost to Peterborough Petes 6 points to 0 in first round.
  • 1984–1985 Defeated Toronto Marlboros 8 points to 2 in first round.
Lost to Belleville Bulls 6 points to 2 in quarterfinals.
  • 1985–1986 Lost to Belleville Bulls 9 points to 3 in first round.
  • 1986–1987 Lost to Ottawa 67's 4 games to 1 in first round.
  • 1987–1988 Defeated Belleville Bulls 4 games to 2 in first round.
Lost to Ottawa 67's 4 games to 1 in quarterfinals.
  • 1988–1989 Defeated Toronto Marlboros 4 games to 2 in first round.
Defeated Ottawa 67's 4 games to 2 in quarterfinals.
Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 2 in semifinals.
  • 1989–1990 Lost to Oshawa Generals 4 games to 2 in first round.
  • 1990–1991 Out of playoffs.
  • 1991–1992 Lost to Ottawa 67's 4 games to 2 in first round.

Arenas

The Cornwall Royals played out of the Water Street Arena from 1969 to 1976, while in the QMJHL. The Arena, renamed in honour of Si Miller, the city's Director of Parks and Recreation for more than 30 years, was torn down in 2012.
From 1976 to 1992, the Royals played out for the Cornwall Civic Complex, located across the road from their previous arena. The arena hosted the 1990 Chrysler Challenge Cup, the annual All-Star game between the OHL and the QMJHL, which the OHL won by a score of 3 to 0.