Fernie Ghostriders
| Fernie Ghostriders | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Fernie, British Columbia |
| League | Kootenay International Junior Hockey League |
| Conference | Kootenay |
| Division | Eddie Mountain |
| Founded | 1991 (RMJHL) |
| Home arena | Fernie Memorial Arena |
| Colours | Black, Red, Silver and White |
| General manager |  Craig Mohr |
| Head coach | Craig Mohr |
| Website | fernieghostriders.com |
| Franchise history | |
| 1991-present | Fernie Ghostriders |
The Fernie Ghostriders are a junior 'B' ice hockey team based in Fernie, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Eddie Mountain Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL). The Ghostriders play their home games at the Fernie Memorial Arena. Barb Anderson is the team's president; Craig Mohr is the general manager and coach. They are captained by forward Cole Keebler.
The Ghostriders joined the KIJHL in 2004 as an expansion team, after they played junior 'A' in the RMJHL from 1991–99; the AWHL from 1999-2003; and the NAHL in 2003-04. In its RMJHL history, the team has won one division playoff title as a member of the Kootenay Division from 1991-1996. In its AWHL history, the Ghostriders have won the Bourne Cup once, in 1999. In its KIJHL history, the team has won the KIJHL Championship twice, in 2007 and 2008. They won two division playoff titles as a member of the Eddie Mountain Division from 2004-2007, one playoff title as a member of the Eastern Division of the Neil Murdoch Conference from 2007-2008 and four consecutive playoff titles as a member of the Eddie Mountain Division from 2008-2012; one conference playoff title as a member of the Kootenay Conference from 2007-2012.
The Ghostriders takes its name from the Ghost Rider, an iconic shadow that appears on Mount Hosmer and is visible from the city. Mount Hosmer appears on the team's current and past logo.
Team history
1991–1999: RMJHL
The Ghostriders began in 1991 as one of the charter members of the Southern Division of the now defunct Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League (RMJHL). The Ghostriders missed the 1993 season but came back with a vengeance, capturing the Southern Division in 1994. In 1996, after not qualifying to make the playoffs the year prior, the Ghostriders dramatically improved, making it to the Finals, but only to lose to the history-rich Prince George Spruce Kings, four-games-to-one. The following year, looking for vengeance after losing the RMJHL Championship the year before, the Ghostriders once again made it to the Finals, this time being swept four-games-to-none to the regular season lead-leading Cranbrook Colts. In 1998, after making it to the Finals two years in-a-row, they got beat four-games-to-one, in the Semifinals, by the same team who beat them for the championship the previous year, the Cranbrook Colts. The next year the Ghostriders made it the last-ever RMJHL Finals, losing to the league lead-leading Kimberley Dynamiters four-games-to-two.
1999–2003: AWHL
When the RMJHL folded in 1999 the Ghostriders moved to the America West Hockey League (AWHL), winning the championship in 2000, and made an appearance in the Gold Cup National Championship. The Ghostriders were US Junior National Gold Cup Bronze Medal Winners in 2003.
2003–2004: NAHL
They played in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) for one season before their move down, but their franchise rights were sold to a Kalamazoo, Michigan based group.
2004–2008: KIJHL - Immediate success
In 2004 the Ghostriders moved down to the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL), opting to be a large fish in the junior 'B' pond rather than a small fish in the junior 'A' pond. The Ghostriders immediately made a mark on the KIJHL, finishing third overall in 2006 and winning their division. In arguably their finest season ever, the Ghostriders dramatically won the 2007 championship in come-from-behind fashion on home ice against the Nelson Leafs, but did not fare as well in the 2007 Cyclone Taylor Cup, losing all of their games. The following year they won the championship again, this time on the road in Kamloops against the Kamloops Storm and also winning bronze in the 2008 Cyclone Taylor Cup against the Victoria Cougars, the 2008 Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy Champions.
2008–2014: Success continues
In 2009 with the Ghostriders looking for a three-peat, the Fernie-based squad made it to the semifinals of the KIJHL, only to lose to the Nelson Leafs in the best of five series. The next year they made it all the way to the Kootenay Conference Final, but only to lose to the Nelson Leafs four-games-to-one in the best of seven series. In 2011 the Ghostriders once again made it to the Conference Final, but they lost four-games-to-two against the Castlegar Rebels. Looking for redemption after the Ghostriders lost to the Rebels in the third round of the playoffs, they hosted the 2011 Cyclone Taylor Cup, the BC junior 'B' provincial championships making it to the gold medal game, in front of a sold out crowd at the Fernie Memorial Arena, only to lose to the VIJHL Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy Champions, the Peninsula Panthers, the same score the Ghostriders beat the Victoria Cougars for bronze in the 2008 Cyclone Taylor Cup, 5-3. The following year after winning the division playoff title and advancing to the third round of the playoffs for the seventh consecutive year, the Ghostriders lost in the Conference Final once again, this time losing to the regular season lead-leading and 2012 KIJHL Champions, the Beaver Valley Nitehawks, four-games-to-one. In 2013, the Golden Rockets ended the Ghostriders streak of seven consecutive playoff division titles, where they prevailed over the Ghostriders, four-games-to-two, in the Division Finals.
2014–present: Return of Craig Mohr
After a disappointing early exit from the 2013-14 playoffs, the Ghostriders took stock and decided on a new direction for the next season. Craig Mohr returned to Fernie as head coach and general manager, bringing with him a great knowledge of the club from his 2004-05 and 2004-06 campaigns as well as invaluable links to minor hockey clubs in Calgary. The Ghostriders finished the 2014-15 regular season at the top of the Eddie Mountain division and second overall in the league, before easily disposing of the Golden Rockets in the first round of playoffs. The Division Finals saw the Ghostriders pitched against the Kimberley Dynamiters, where an exciting series culminated in the Nitros taking the division playoff title in six games. The Dynamiters progressed to eventually win the 2014-15 KIJHL Championship and placed second in the Cyclone Taylor Cup. Mohr has suggested the 2015-16 Ghostriders roster will feature a younger side than in past years, with a strong local contingent and veteran Cole Keebler as captain.
Season-by-season record
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Records as of February 22, 2014.[1][2]
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs | |
| 1991-92 | 52 | 26 | 24 | 2 | — | 54 | 267 | 294 | 3rd, Kootenay | Lost in Division Semifinals, 0-4 (Colts) | |
| 1992-93 | Did not participate | ||||||||||
| 1993-94 | 52 | 19 | 32 | — | 1 | 39 | 212 | 158 | 4th, Kootenay | Lost in Division Semifinals, 0-4 (Dynamiters) | |
| 1994-95 | 52 | 15 | 37 | — | 0 | 30 | 199 | 352 | 6th, Kootenay | Did not qualify | |
| 1995-96 | 58 | 32 | 24 | — | 2 | 66 | 282 | 260 | 3rd, Kootenay | Lost in Finals, 1-4 (Spruce Kings) | |
| 1996-97 | 60 | 31 | 26 | — | 3 | 65 | 267 | 252 | 3rd, RMJHL | Lost in Finals, 0-4 (Colts) | |
| 1997-98 | 54 | 25 | 27 | — | 2 | 52 | 219 | 303 | 3rd, RMJHL | Lost in Semifinals, 1-4 (Colts) | |
| 1998-99 | 45 | 27 | 18 | — | 0 | 54 | 164 | 165 | 2nd, RMJHL | Lost in Finals, 2-4 (Dynamiters) | |
| 1999-00 | 58 | 48 | 8 | — | 2 | 98 | 273 | 139 | 1st, AWHL | Bourne Cup Champions | |
| 2000-01 | 60 | 31 | 25 | — | 4 | 66 | 210 | 210 | 6th, AWHL | Lost in Conference Quarterfinals (Bulls) | |
| 2001-02 | 56 | 37 | 16 | — | 3 | 77 | 256 | 189 | 3rd, AWHL | Lost in Finals (Bobcats) | |
| 2002-03 | 56 | 23 | 29 | — | 4 | 50 | 191 | 220 | 5th, North | Won Bronze at US Junior National Gold Cup | |
| 2003-04 | 56 | 12 | 38 | — | 6 | 30 | 146 | 270 | 7th, West | Did not qualify | |
| 2004-05 | 50 | 17 | 28 | 1 | 4 | 39 | 167 | 220 | 4th, Eddie Mountain | Lost in Division Semifinals, 2-4 (Dynamiters) | |
| 2005-06 | 50 | 35 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 76 | 223 | 137 | 1st, Eddie Mountain | Lost in League Semifinals, 0-3 (Nitehawks) | |
| 2006-07 | 52 | 38 | 10 | — | 4 | 80 | 254 | 245 | 1st, Eddie Mountain | KIJHL Champions, 4-2 (Leafs) | |
| 2007-08 | 52 | 32 | 17 | — | 3 | 67 | 184 | 145 | 1st, Neil Murdoch: East | KIJHL Champions, 4-2 (Storm) | |
| 2008-09 | 52 | 30 | 15 | — | 7 | 67 | 172 | 153 | 2nd, Eddie Mountain | Lost in League Semifinals, 0-3 (Leafs) | |
| 2009-10 | 50 | 41 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 84 | 243 | 103 | 1st, Eddie Mountain | Lost in Conference Finals, 1–4 (Leafs) | |
| 2010-11 | 50 | 42 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 87 | 265 | 118 | 1st, Eddie Mountain | Lost in Conference Finals, 2-4 (Rebels) | |
| 2011-12 | 52 | 35 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 75 | 237 | 148 | 1st, Eddie Mountain | Lost in Conference Finals, 1-4 (Nitehawks) | |
| 2012-13 | 52 | 35 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 74 | 195 | 152 | 1st, Eddie Mountain | Lost in Division Finals, 2-4 (Rockets) | |
| 2013-14 | 52 | 24 | 22 | 0 | 6 | 54 | 173 | 175 | 3rd, Eddie Mountain | Lost in Division Semifinals, 1-4 (Dynamiters) | |
| 2014-15 | 52 | 37 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 78 | 234 | 151 | 1st, Eddie Mountain | Lost in Division Finals, 2-4 (Dynamiters) | |
| 2015-16 | 52 | 27 | 20 | 0 | 5 | 59 | 169 | 148 | 4th, Eddie Mountain | Lost in Division Semifinals, 1-4 (Dynamiters) | |
Playoffs
Records as of March 3, 2014.[3][4][5]
| Season | 1st Round | 2nd Round | 3rd Round | Finals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991–92 | L, 0-4, Cranbrook | — | — | — |
| 1992–93 | Did not participate | |||
| 1993–94 | L, 0-4, Kimberley | — | — | — |
| 1994–95 | Did not qualify | |||
| 1995–96 | W, 4-0, Nelson | W, 4-0, Kimberley | — | L, 1-4, Prince George |
| 1996–97 | W, 4-2, Castlegar | W, 4-0, Kimberley | — | L, 0-4, Cranbrook |
| 1997–98 | Bye | L, 1-4, Cranbrook | — | — |
| 1998–99 | W, 4-3, Nelson | — | — | L, 2-4, Kimberley |
| 1999–03 | Playoff statistics not available | |||
| 2003–04 | Did not qualify | |||
| 2004–05 | L, 2-4, Kimberley | — | — | — |
| 2005–06 | W, 4-3, Golden | W, 4-3, Kimberley | L, 0-3, Beaver Valley | — |
| 2006–07 | W, 4-0, Columbia Valley | W, 4-0, Creston Valley | W, 3-0, Kamloops | W, 4-2, Nelson |
| 2007–08 | Bye | W, 4-3, Kimberley | W, 4-2, Beaver Valley | W, 4-2, Kamloops |
| 2008–09 | W, 4-1, Golden | W, 4-1, Kimberley | L, 0-3, Nelson | — |
| 2009–10 | W, 4-0, Golden | W, 4-0, Creston Valley | L, 1-4, Nelson | — |
| 2010-11 | W, 4-0, Kimberley | W, 4-3, Creston Valley | L, 2-4, Castlegar | — |
| 2011-12 | W, 4-0, Golden | W, 4-3, Kimberley | L, 1-4, Beaver Valley | — |
| 2012-13 | W, 4-2, Columbia Valley | L, 2-4, Golden | — | — |
| 2013-14 | L, 1-4, Kimberley | — | — | — |
| 2014-15 | W, 4-1, Golden | L, 2-4, Kimberley | — | — |
| 2015-16 | L, 1-4, Kimberley | — | — | — |
Notes
- The RMJHL playoffs had three playoff rounds.
- The final 1998-99 RMJHL playoffs had two playoff rounds.
Records as of April 3, 2011.[6]
| Season | Gold Medal Game | Bronze Medal Game |
|---|---|---|
| 2006-07 | Statistics not available | |
| 2007-08 | — | W, 5-3, Victoria |
| 2010–11 | L, 3-5, Peninsula | — |
Notes
- The Ghostriders hosted the 2011 Cyclone Taylor Cup, in Fernie, British Columbia, at the Fernie Memorial Arena.
Alumni
Captains
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Awards and trophies
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Bourne Cup
KIJHL Championship
Coach Of the Year
Most Sportsmanlike
Most Valuable Player
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Rookie of the Year
Top Defenceman
Top Goaltender
Top Scorer
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References
- ^ KIJHL.ca, Final 2013-14 regular season standings.
- ^ KIJHL.ca – Year end standings.
- ^ KIJHL.ca, Current playoff bracket.
- ^ KIJHL.ca – 2013-14 playoff standings.
- ^ KIJHL.ca, League champions.
- ^ KIJHL.ca, Playoff Bracket 2011–2012.