West Toronto Nationals
West Toronto Nationals | |
---|---|
City | Toronto, Ontario |
League | Ontario Hockey Association |
Operated | 1929 | to 1936
Home arena | Mutual Street Arena |
Championships | |
Playoff championships | 1936 Memorial Cup Champions |
The West Toronto Nationals, also known as the "Westionals", were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1929 to 1936. Prior to that time, the team was known as the West Toronto Redmen, due to their red colour sweaters. Home games were played at Mutual Street Arena and later Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario.
West Toronto were the Eastern Canadian Champions in 1930. They moved on to play in the 1930 Memorial Cup, losing to the Regina Pats in two games by scores of 3-1 and 3-2.
In 1936, West Toronto won the J. Ross Robertson Cup as champions of the OHA, defeating the Kitchener Greenshirts in two games. The Nationals were led by the OHA's leading scorer John O'Flaherty, and winner of the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy. The Nationals moved on and won the George Richardson Memorial Trophy, to represent Eastern Canada in the Memorial Cup. West Toronto won the 1936 Memorial Cup, defeating the Saskatoon Wesleys in two games, by scores of 5-1 and 4-2.
NHL Alumni
Alumni who played for the team and later in the National Hockey League are Norm Collings, Roy Conacher, Jack Crawford, John Doran, Jimmy Fowler, Bob Gracie, Red Heron, Bill Jennings, John "Peanuts" O'Flaherty, George Parsons and Bill Thoms. Roy Conacher is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.