Stouffville Spirit

Stouffville Spirit
City	Stouffville, Ontario, Canada
League	Ontario Junior Hockey League
Founded	1995
Home arena	Stouffville Arena
Colors	Red, Black, and White
General manager	Ken Burrows
Head coach	Craig Donovan
Affiliates	Uxbridge Bruins (COJCHL)
Franchise history
1995-1996	Stouffville Clippers
1996-Present	Stouffville Spirit

The Stouffville Spirit are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Stouffville, Ontario, Canada. The Stouffville Spirit are members of the Central Canadian Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.

History

From 1970 until 1984, the Stouffville Clippers were members of the Central Junior C Hockey League. From 1984 until 1995, the team was on a long hiatus. The Clippers were brought back in 1995, changed their name to the Spirit a season later, and have been members of the OPJHL ever since. Junior hockey has a long and storied history in Stouffville.

The 1947 Stouffville Red Wings won an OHA championship. Junior hockey was popular in Stouffville through the 1960s, right into the early 1980s.

The Stouffville Spirit are the new kids on the block in the Toronto-area town.

The Spirit was founded in 1995. George Stavro, who was granted the franchise by the Ontario Hockey Association, was the team's first coach and general manager. Junior hockey hadn't been played in Stouffville since 1984, when the OHA's junior C Stouffville Clippers folded.

But Stavro didn't last a full season in the Provincial Junior A Hockey League.

In mid-season, he sold the franchise to Stouffville businessman Ed Hakonson, who had tried to obtain a junior A franchise for Stouffville earlier in the '90s. Former Stouffville minor official Wally Crowder was named general manager, and Steve Sedore of Georgina head coach.

The Spirit struggled on and off the ice over the first three seasons. Sedore was replaced as coach by Stouffville minor hockey grad Dan Larmer. Larmer played junior hockey in southern Ontario and college hockey at Mercyhurst in Pennsylvania, before a brief pro career.

A move of home games at the Whitchurch-Stouffville Recreation Complex, from Saturday nights to Thursdays, improved attendance. But the Spirit didn't make the playoffs in its first three seasons.

A new regime took over Spirit hockey operations in 1998. New Spirit general manager Dieter Schmidt had been manager and head coach Brian Perrin was associate coach with the successful Newmarket Hurricanes' organization, before accepting promotions in Stouffville.

The Spirit has made the playoffs ever since. Its regular season record has improved annually.

Players have advanced to college and major junior hockey since Year 1 of the Spirit.

Hakonson sold shares in the hockey club to Stouffville-area resident Zeev Werek and Larry Goldberg in 1999, then sold the rest of the team to Werek and Goldberg a year later. David Laren joined the Spirit in 2002 as an equal partner. Goldberg left the group in 2005.

Schmidt retired as GM after the 2000-2001 season. His replacement is Stouffville native Ken Burrows, who in 10 years with the Spirit has been vice-president of hockey, assistant coach and scout.

Dan West was named head coach of the Spirit in the summer of 2005.

A volunteer board of directors oversees the operation of the Spirit.

The Spirit is proud to be affiliated with the Whitchurch-Stouffville Minor Hockey Association and the Uxbridge Bruins Junior C Hockey Club.

Season-by-season results

Season	GP	W	L	T	OTL	GF	GA	P	Results	Playoffs
1995-96	50	13	35	2	-	182	288	30	5th OPJHL-P
1996-97	50	8	41	1	-	167	295	19	5th OPJHL-P
1997-98	51	16	32	2	1	194	280	35	6th OPJHL-P
1998-99	51	23	27	0	1	215	234	47	8th OPJHL-C
1999-00	49	24	23	2	0	195	190	50	5th OPJHL-N
2000-01	49	35	9	3	2	260	159	75	3rd OPJHL-N
2001-02	49	24	18	5	2	207	183	55	4th OPJHL-N
2002-03	49	29	18	2	0	241	154	60	3rd OPJHL-N
2003-04	49	27	21	1	0	201	178	55	3rd OPJHL-N
2004-05	49	25	20	3	1	195	157	54	3rd OPJHL-N
2005-06	49	26	10	9	4	172	138	65	3rd OPJHL-N	Lost Final
2006-07	49	28	16	3	2	199	164	61	2nd OPJHL-N	Lost Conf. Finals
2007-08	49	31	13	-	5	245	166	67	4th OPJHL-N
2008-09	53	13	34	-	6	165	246	32	8th OJHL-C
2009-10	50	28	19	-	3	153	140	59	4th CCHL-E	Lost Preliminary
2010-11	50	33	11	-	6	262	154	72	3rd OJHL-N	Lost Semi-final
2011-12	49	32	8	-	9	217	152	73	2nd OJHL-N

Playoffs

• 1996 DNQ
• 1997 DNQ
• 1998 DNQ
• 1999 Lost Division Quarter-final

Collingwood Blues defeated Stouffville Spirit 3-games-to-none

• 2000 Lost Division Final

Stouffville Spirit defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-none

Stouffville Spirit defeated Newmarket Hurricanes 4-games-to-2

Couchiching Terriers defeated Stouffville Spirit 4-games-to-none

• 2001 Lost Division Semi-final

Stouffville Spirit defeated Parry Sound Shamrocks 4-games-to-none

Couchiching Terriers defeated Stouffville Spirit 4-games-to-2

• 2002 Lost Division Quarter-final

Collingwood Blues defeated Stouffville Spirit 4-games-to-3

• 2003 Lost Division Final

Stouffville Spirit defeated Couchiching Terriers 4-games-to-none

Stouffville Spirit defeated Newmarket Hurricanes 4-games-to-3

Aurora Tigers defeated Stouffville Spirit 4-games-to-2

• 2004 Lost Division Semi-final

Stouffville Spirit defeated Thornhill Rattlers 4-games-to-2

Newmarket Hurricanes defeated Stouffville Spirit 4-games-to-1

• 2005 Lost Division Semi-final

Stouffville Spirit defeated Couchiching Terriers 4-games-to-2

Newmarket Hurricanes defeated Stouffville Spirit 4-games-to-2

• 2006 Lost Final

Stouffville Spirit defeated Seguin Bruins 4-games-to-2

Stouffville Spirit defeated Newmarket Hurricanes 4-games-to-2

Stouffville Spirit defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-2

Stouffville Spirit defeated Oakville Blades 4-games-to-3

St. Michael's Buzzers defeated Stouffville Spirit 4-games-to-2

• 2007 Lost Division Final

Stouffville Spirit defeated Cobourg Cougars 4-games-to-none

Stouffville Spirit defeated Collingwood Blues 4-games-to-none

Aurora Tigers defeated Stouffville Spirit 4-games-to-1

• 2008 Lost Division Final

Stouffville Spirit defeated Couchiching Terriers 3-games-to-none

Stouffville Spirit defeated Huntsville Otters 4-games-to-3

Aurora Tigers defeated Stouffville Spirit 4-games-to-1

• 2009 Lost Division Quarter-final

Wellington Dukes defeated Stouffville Spirit 4-games-to-none

• 2010 Lost CCHL Preliminary

Peterborough Stars defeated Stouffville Spirit 4-games-to-none

• 2011 Lost Semi-final

Stouffville Spirit defeated Markham Waxers 4-games-to-2

Stouffville Spirit defeated Newmarket Hurricanes 4-games-to-3

Wellington Dukes defeated Stouffville Spirit 4-games-to-2

Alumni

Stouffville Spirit Alumni

Name -Current Team
Barbera, Michael -Wesleyan, NCAA

Bellissimo, Daniel -Western Michigan (NCAA)
Bruetsch, Konrad -Langenthal, Switzerland
Buckley, Grant -Ryerson (CIS)
Ciernia, Troy -Salem State, NCAA
Coghlan, Jamie -Mercyhurst (NCAA)
Conway, Neil -Owen Sound, OHL
D'Aversa, Jon -Sudbury, OHL
Dillon, Mitch -Bowdoin, NCAA
Duco, Mike -Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Duco, John -Buffalo State
Forgie, Mike -Wayne State, NCAA
Frank, Shawn -Barrie, OHL
Gray, Sean -New England College, NCAA
Gray, Chris -Toronto, CIS
Groom, Rob -York, CIS
Jarman, Kevin -UMass, NCAA
Lakos, Phil -Vienna Capitals, Austria
Lee, Pat -Erie, OHL
Lee, Thomas -Brock, CIS
Marshall, Jeff -Dundee Stars (Scotland)
McDowall, Jeff -Windsor, CIS
McWhinney, Dan -Fort Wayne, UHL
Mok, Jeff -Buffalo St. (NCAA)
Moor, Jeff -Columbus, SPHL
Orr, Doug -Rio Grande, CHL
Ramsay, Mike -Odessa, CHL
Scully, Sean -Western (CIS)
Smyth, Jon -Wheeling, ECHL
Speer, Dan -Lakehead, CIS
Stern, Craig -Framingham State, NCAA
Spivak, Daniel -Rochester Institute of Technology, NCAA
Sullivan, Mike -Clarkson, NCAA
Tucciarone, Mike -Austin Ice Bats, CHL
Van Allen, Jake -York, CIS
Versteeg-Lytwyn, Mark -Kalamazoo, UHL
Werek, Ethan -Kingston, OHL

External links

• Spirit Webpage

Ontario Hockey Association Junior A Hockey

Current Leagues & Teams

Ontario Junior Hockey League: Aurora Tigers · Brampton Capitals · Buffalo Jr. Sabres · Burlington Cougars · Cobourg Cougars · Georgetown Raiders · Hamilton Red Wings · Huntsville Otters · Kingston Voyageurs · Lindsay Muskies · Markham Waxers · Milton Icehawks · Mississauga Chargers · Newmarket Hurricanes · North York Rangers · Oakville Blades · Orangeville Flyers · Peterborough Stars · Pickering Panthers · St. Michael's Buzzers · Stouffville Spirit · Toronto Jr. Canadiens · Toronto Lakeshore Patriots · Trenton Golden Hawks · Vaughan Vipers · Wellington Dukes · Whitby Fury

Former Leagues & Teams

Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League: Brantford Foresters • Brantford Majors • Buffalo-Glencoe Tondas • Chatham Maroons • Detroit Jr. Red Wings • Guelph CMC's • Guelph Imperials • Michigan Americans • Niagara Falls Flyers • St. Thomas Elgins • Sarnia Bees • Sarnia Legionnaires • Welland Sabres • Windsor Spitfires

Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League: Ajax Merchants • Belleville Bulls • Brampton Warriors • Cambridge Winterhawks • Dixie Beehives • Guelph Platers • Hamilton Mountain A's • Kingston Frontenacs • North Bay Trappers • Owen Sound Greys • Royal York Royals • Toronto Nationals • Weston Dodgers • Whitby Lawmen

Metro Junior A Hockey League: Mimico Monarchs • Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins

Ontario Junior Hockey League: Ajax Attack • Barrie Colts • Bowmanville Eagles • Bramalea Blues • Caledon Canadians • Collingwood Blues • Couchiching Terriers • Dixie Beehives • Durham Huskies • Orangeville Crushers • Parry Sound Shamrocks • Seguin Bruins • Shelburne Wolves • Streetsville Derbys • Syracuse Jr. Crunch • Trenton Sting

Seasons

Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League: 1972–73 • 1973–74 • 1974–75 • 1975–76 • 1976–77 • 1977–78 • 1978–79 • 1979–80 • 1980–81 • 1981–82 • 1982–83 • 1983–84 • 1984–85 • 1985–86 • 1986–87

Metro Junior A Hockey League: 1991–92 • 1992–93 • 1993–94 • 1994–95 • 1995–96 • 1996–97 • 1997–98

Ontario Junior Hockey League: 1992–93 • 1993–94 • 1994–95 • 1995–96 • 1996–97 • 1997–98 • 1998–99 • 1999–00 • 2000–01 • 2001–02 • 2002–03 • 2003–04 • 2004–05 • 2005–06 • 2006–07 • 2007–08 • 2008–09 • 2009-10 CC/OJ • 2010–11 • 2011–12

CJHL: Dudley Hewitt Cup  · Royal Bank Cup