Westfort Hurricanes
The Westfort Hurricanes were a Canadian Junior ice hockey club from Fort William, Ontario. The Herks were members of the Junior A Hockey League and were Abbott Cup finalists once.
History
In 1972, the Hurricanes broke away from the Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League to join the St. Paul, Minnesota-based Can-Am Junior Hockey League. A year later, that league became the Midwest Junior Hockey League. The Herks stayed on board for one Midwest Junior season before returning to the TBJHL.Dave Siciliano coached the Hurricanes during the 1973–74 season. His team completed the regular season in first place with 45 wins in 60 games. In the 1974 Centennial Cup playoffs, the Hurricanes defeated the Wexford Raiders four games to three in the first round, then were defeated four games to three by the Smiths Falls Bears in the second round.
The MWJHL later merged and solidified the United States Hockey League. The Buccaneers folded on July 6, 1980, when the TBAHA left them with no league to play in.
Season-by-season standings
Playoffs
- 1971 Lost final
- 1972 Lost semi-final
- 1973 Lost quarter-final/Canadian TBAHA Semi-final
- 1974 Won TBAHA Jack Adams Trophy final, lost Hewitt-Dudley Memorial Trophy final
- 1975 Lost final
- 1976 Lost semi-final
- 1977 Lost final
- 1978 Won League, lost Hewitt-Dudley Memorial Trophy Quarter-final
- 1979 Lost final
- 1980 ''Lost final''
Championships
TBJHL Champions:Abbott Cup Finalists:
Dudley Hewitt Cup/Eastern Centennial Cup Semi-final Champion
'' denotes: Herks played in MWJHL, rejoined TBJHL for playoffs.''
Notable alumni
Fort William Hurricane-RangersFort William Hurricanes
- Mike Busniuk
- Larry Cahan
- Dave Gatherum
- Eddie Kachur
- Dennis Owchar
- Don Poile
- Vic Venasky
- Tommy Williams
- Gord Wilson
Thunder Bay Westfort Hurricanes