Charlottetown Abbies

The Charlottetown Abbies were a Junior "A" team based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. They played in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. Their home rink from 2003 to 2008 was the MacLauchlan Arena on the campus of UPEI. Before then, it was the Charlottetown Civic Centre (now Eastlink Centre).

Charlottetown Abbies
CityCharlottetown, Prince Edward Island
LeagueMaritime Junior A Hockey League
Island Junior Hockey League
Southeast New Brunswick Junior B Hockey League
Operated1972–2008
Home arenaCharlottetown Civic Centre
MacLauchlan Arena
ColoursYellow, Black, and Red
Franchise history
1972–1977Charlottetown Abbies
1977–1986Charlottetown Eagles
1986–2008Charlottetown Abbies
Previous franchise history
1968–1973Charlottetown Islanders
Circa 1971–1976Charlottetown Colonels
1976–1977Charlottetown Generals

History

In 1972, the Charlottetown Abbies were a Midget Hockey program with little competition. They applied for entry into the Island Junior Hockey League in 1972. The IJHL turned down their application on the basis that they were too weak for Junior B competition. The Abbies, undeterred, applied for entry into the Southeast New Brunswick Junior B Hockey League instead. The New Brunswick league allowed the Abbies to join and after a slow start the Abbies ended up finishing second in the regular season (to the Dieppe Voyageurs) and winning the league playoffs. To win the playoffs, the Abbies defeated the Bouctouche Seals 3-games-to-none (9-3, 9–3, forfeit) in the Semi-final and then defeated the Memramcook Legionnaires 3-games-to-none (8-1, 10–2, forfeit) in the League Final. The Abbies then failed to qualify for the 5-team New Brunswick provincial championship round robin because they lost the Southeast New Brunswick qualifier to the independent Moncton Flyers 2-games-to-none (4-3, 3-1). In 1973, the IJHL was promoted to Junior A and the Abbies were granted expansion into the league.

The Abbies were an institution in Junior hockey in Charlottetown for several decades. In the 70s the Island Junior Hockey League (IJHL) boasted two Charlottetown teams, the Generals who played out of the old Charlottetown Forum, and the Abbies who were based at the Simmons Sports Center. The league also included at one time or another the Kings County Kings, Summerside Crystals (Summerside Western Capitals), West Prince Bluefins, North River North Stars, and the Sherwood-Parkdale Metros. Eventually the two Charlottetown teams merged, maintaining the Abbies moniker. As costs became prohibitive for an Island wide league at the Junior A level in the late 80s, teams in the league folded. Eventually, in 1991 the Abbies and the Summerside Western Capitals left to join teams in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to form the Maritime Junior Hockey League.

In May 2008, it was announced that the Abbies' management had applied for a year's leave of absence from the Maritime Junior A Hockey League, citing financial problems.[1] The team almost relocated to Lewiston, Maine when the Lewiston Maineiacs (QMJHL) tried to relocate to Boisbriand, Quebec.

In May 2009, the commissioner of the MJAHL stated in a newspaper interview that the Abbies would not operate again.[2] On June 4, 2009, CBC reported the folding of the Abbies franchise.[3] The end of the Charlottetown Abbies means for the first time since 1972 that the City of Charlottetown does not have a Junior A team.

Logos

The Abbies have had many versions of the same logo until the 2007–08 season when they switched to their current script logo.

Main logo
2000–2003		 Main logo
2003–2006		 Main Logo
2006–2007

Season-by-season record
SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPResultsPlayoffs
1972-7312930-7540282nd SNBJHLWon League
1973-74297202-115178166th IJHL
1974-75407285-163247196th IJHL
1975-76396285-145278176th IJHL
1976-774012253-194224274th IJHL
1977-78392388-----542nd IJHLWon League
1978-79403154-21996661st IJHL
1979-803919146-210167443rd IJHL
1980-813413183-186197293rd IJHL
1981-824222173-336287472nd IJHL
1982-834210293-212301234th IJHL
1983-844019156-230200442nd IJHL
1984-853815185-175211353rd IJHL
1985-863613158-184202343rd IJHLLost Semi-final
1986-874226106-224174581st IJHL
1987-884216197-231253393rd IJHL
1988-894422157-245185562nd IJHL
1989-904030523203121651st IJHL
1990-914229832277167632nd IJHL
1991-924722169-276203533rd MJAHL
1992-9348201981199227494th MJAHL
1993-9448172713216253386th MJAHL
1994-95Did Not Participate
1995-9654182934217272437th MJAHL
1996-9756213023294324477th MJAHL
1997-9852262033237227585th MJAHL
1998-99484152-266141841st MJAHLWon League, Won FPC
1999-0052193120198247406th MJAHL
2000-0152282031215187605th MJAHL
2001-0252242440198194527th MJAHL
2002-035243513229130901st MJAHLWon League
2003-0452222424231238506th MJAHL
2004-0556261974207205635th MJAHL
2005-06562034021932404310th MJAHLLost Division QF
2006-0758947021453222012th MJAHLDNQ
2007-08582925-4215236628th MJAHL

National playdowns

1978

Charlottetown Eagles defeated Cole Harbour Colts (MVJHL) 4-games-to-none in Eastern Centennial Cup Semi-final
Guelph Platers (OPJHL) defeated Charlottetown Eagles 4-games-to-2 in Eastern Centennial Cup Final

1985

Cole Harbour Colts (MVJHL) defeated Charlottetown Eagles 4-games-to-2 in Callaghan Cup Final

1987

Dartmouth Fuel Kids (MVJHL) defeated Charlottetown Abbies 4-games-to-1 in Callaghan Cup Final

1990

Charlottetown Abbies defeated Avalon Jr. Capitals (SJJHL) in Callaghan Cup Semi-final
Amherst Ramblers (MVJHL) defeated Charlottetown Abbies 4-games-to-1 in Callaghan Cup Final

1991

Halifax Canadians (MVJHL) defeated Charlottetown Abbies 4-games-to-none in Callaghan Cup Semi-final

1999

Charlottetown Abbies win Fred Page Cup
Defeated Hawkesbury Hawks (CJHL 6-3
Defeated Valleyfield Braves (QJAAAHL) 5-2
Defeated Antigonish Bulldogs (MJAHL)
Defeated Hawkesbury Hawks (CJHL) 2-0 in Finals
Charlottetown Abbies lost 1999 Royal Bank Cup Final
Lost to Yorkton Terriers (SJHL) 2-1
Defeated Vernon Vipers (BCHL) 6-5
Lost to Estevan Bruins (SJHL) 5-4
Defeated Bramalea Blues (OPJHL) 5-1
Defeated Yorkton Terriers (SJHL) 6-5 2OT in Semi-final
Lost to Vernon Vipers (BCHL) 9-3 in Final

2003

Charlottetown Abbies finish 4th at Fred Page Cup
Lost to Cornwall Colts (CJHL) 3-2
Lost to Nepean Raiders (CJHL) 3-1
Defeated Lennoxville Cougars (QJAAAHL) 7-5
Charlottetown Abbies finish 5th at 2003 Royal Bank Cup as hosts
Lost to Lennoxville Cougars (QJAAAHL) 5-4 2OT
Defeated Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL) 3-2
Lost to Wellington Dukes (OPJHL) 1-0 OT
Lost to Humboldt Broncos (SJHL) 8-5

Notable alumni

Colonels/Generals

The Charlottetown Generals were members of the Island Junior Hockey League in the 1970s. The folded in the summer of 1977 after winning multiple league championships. The Generals folded due to financial trouble. The full name of the team was the Charlottetown Colonel Grays from their founding up until 1976 as they were affiliated with Colonel Gray High School in Charlottetown.

Season-by-season record
SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPResultsPlayoffs
1971-72261763-13096432nd IJBHL
1972-73402983-231125611st IJBHL
1973-743018102-178114383rd IJHLWon League
1974-754024142-202163501st IJHLWon League
1975-76403271-345138651st IJHLWon League
1976-77403262-331129662nd IJHLWon League

National playdowns

1974

Charlottetown Colonels defeated Moncton Hawks (NBJHL) 3-games-to-2 in Eastern Centennial Cup Quarter-final
Smiths Falls Bears (CJHL) defeated Charlottetown Colonels 4-games-to-1 in Eastern Centennial Cup Semi-final

1975

Gander Flyers (NJAHL) defeated Charlottetown Colonels 3-games-to-none in Atlantic Jr. A Final

1976

Charlottetown Colonels defeated St. John 77's (NBJHL) 4-games-to-2 in Eastern Centennial Cup Quarter-final
Charlottetown Colonels defeated Sydney Millionaires (EJHL) 4-games-to-1 in Eastern Centennial Cup Semi-final
Rockland Nationals (CJHL) defeated Charlottetown Colonels 4-games-to-none in Eastern Centennial Cup Final

1977

Charlottetown Generals defeated Sydney Millionaires (EJHL) in Eastern Centennial Cup Semi-final
Pembroke Lumber Kings (CJHL) defeated Charlottetown Generals 4-games-to-none in Eastern Centennial Cup Final

Notable alumni

Islanders

The Charlottetown Islanders were founded in 1968 to represent the province of Prince Edward Island in the Memorial Cup playoffs. From 1968 until 1971, the Islanders played in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. In 1970, Major Junior A and Tier II Junior A were created from the Junior A classification and the Islanders and their league found themselves in the Tier II level playing for the Centennial Cup. Their first year of Tier II saw them go deep and win the Eastern Canadian Championship in six games over the Detroit Jr. Red Wings of the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League, but lose the inaugural 1971 Centennial Cup 4-games-to-2 to the Alberta Junior Hockey League's Red Deer Rustlers. In 1971, the MJAHL folded and the Islanders opted to play an independent schedule in instead of joining the neighbouring Junior A leagues in New Brunswick or Newfoundland. For the 1971–72 season, the Islanders did not play a game until March 1972, playing a two-game exhibition series against the Hamilton Red Wings of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League (2-2 Tie and 4-3 Win) and then jumping directly into National Playdowns as PEI's only representative. In the playoffs, the Islanders dropped the Moncton Hawks of the New Brunswick Junior Hockey League 4-games-to-1 to advance to the Eastern Centennial Cup Final. In the final, they faced the Guelph CMC's of the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League and were swept in four games. The Islanders were disbanded prior to the start of the 1972–73 season.

Season-by-season record
SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPResultsPlayoffs
1968-693916167-152154392nd MJAHLLost Final
1969-70453663-323151751st MJAHLWon League
1970-71402695-229161571st MJAHLWon League
1971-72No League Play

National playdowns

1970

Charlottetown Islanders defeated Fredericton Chevies (NBJHL) 3-games-to-1 in Atlantic Jr. A Final
Charlottetown Islanders defeated Ottawa M&W Rangers (CJHL) 4-games-to-1 in Eastern Memorial Cup Quarter-final
Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) defeated Charlottetown Islanders 4-games-to-2 in Eastern Memorial Cup Semi-final

1971

Charlottetown Islanders defeated Moncton Hawks (NBJHL) 4-games-to-none in Eastern Centennial Cup Quarter-final
Charlottetown Islanders defeated Thunder Bay Marrs (TBJHL) 4-games-to-1 in Eastern Centennial Cup Semi-final
Charlottetown Islanders defeated Detroit Jr. Red Wings (SOJHL) 4-games-to-2 in Eastern Centennial Cup Final
Red Deer Rustlers (AJHL) defeated Charlottetown Islanders 4-games-to-2 in Centennial Cup Final

1972

Charlottetown Islanders defeated Moncton Hawks (NBJHL) 4-games-to-1 in Eastern Centennial Cup Semi-final
Guelph CMC's (SOJHL) defeated Charlottetown Islanders 4-games-to-none in Eastern Centennial Cup Final

Notable alumni
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See also

References
  1. "Abbies Taking a Break." Archived 2012-09-12 at Archive.today The Guardian, PEI, May 1, 2008. Accessed July 11, 2008.
  2. http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/city/article/682551
  3. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2009/06/04/pei-abbies-fold.html
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