Whitecourt Wolverines

The Whitecourt Wolverines are a junior "A" ice hockey team in North Division of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) based in Whitecourt, Alberta, Canada. The 2012–13 season was their inaugural season in Whitecourt.

Whitecourt Wolverines
CityWhitecourt, Alberta
LeagueAlberta Junior Hockey League
DivisionNorth
Founded2012 (2012)
Home arenaScott Safety Centre
ColoursRed, black, white[1]
              
Owner(s)Stark Sports Society[2] (Brent Stark)[3]
General managerShawn Martin[3]
Head coachShawn Martin[3]
WebsiteWhitecourt Wolverines
Franchise history
1976–2007Fort Saskatchewan Traders
2007–2012St. Albert Steel
2012–presentWhitecourt Wolverines

The Wolverines were founded on May 2, 2012, through the relocation of the St. Albert Steel from St. Albert.[4] The team plays out of the Scott Safety Centre, which has a seating capacity of 1,058.[4] Scott Safety Supply Services Ltd. is the sponsor of the arena[5] and a corporate sponsor of the team.[6]

History

The Whitecourt Wolverines junior "A" franchise was originally established for the 1976–77 season as the Fort Saskatchewan Traders.[7] The Traders won their first AJHL championship in 1978–79,[8] their third year in the league. After winning the championship, the team then defeated the Richmond Sockeyes of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League (BCJHL) in five games at the Doyle Cup, before falling to the Prince Albert Raiders in six games at the Abbott Cup, the eventual national champions at the 1979 Centennial Cup.[9][10] The Traders won their second league championship in 1983–84.[8]

Due in part to financial difficulties and low attendance, the AJHL approved a deal on March 15, 2007, to relocate the Traders to St. Albert for the 2007–08 season, ending the Traders' 31-year run in Fort Saskatchewan.[11] The team was renamed the St. Albert Steel, and became the second AJHL team to represent the city of St. Albert, replacing the St. Albert Saints who left for Spruce Grove in 2004.[7]

After five years in St. Albert, it was announced on March 29, 2012, that the team applied to relocate to Whitecourt for the 2012–13 season.[12] On May 2, 2012, the move was approved and the team would remain in the AJHL's North Division as the Whitecourt Wolverines.[4]

The twice relocated franchise took its team name from the then-current junior "B" Whitecourt Wolverines of the North West Junior Hockey League (NWJHL).[4] After five years in the NWJHL, four league championships, a provincial title, and a bronze medal at the Keystone Cup,[13][14][15] this junior "B" predecessor team folded to make way for the relocated junior "A" Wolverines.[4]

Scott Safety Centre, home of the Whitecourt Wolverines

The Jr. A Wolverines played their first game September 14, 2012, in a 4–2 loss to the Canmore Eagles on the road, with Colton Meaver scoring the Wolverines' first goal.[16] The team would win their first game the next day against the Okotoks Oilers in overtime.[17] Their first home had an over-capacity attendance of 1,283 on September 21. By the end of October, the team had an 11–7–1 record and was ranked 14th in the national Junior A rankings by the Canadian Junior Hockey League.[18] The team made the playoffs at the end of their first season with a fourth place finish in the division. The Wolverines then advanced to the division finals where they lost to the Spruce Grove Saints.

Wolverines' Mathieu Guertin and Colten Mayor each won the Ernie Love Trophy, awarded annually to the AJHL's scoring champion, in the team's first two seasons, respectively. Guertin accumulated 95 points in the inaugural 2012–13 season, while Mayor was the co-winner in the sophomore 2013–14 season, tying Spencer Dorowicz of the Olds Grizzlys with 75 points.[19]

Season-by-season record

For previous teams' records, see Fort Saskatchewan Traders and St. Albert Steel.

Note: GP = games played, W = wins, L = losses, OTL = overtime losses, Pts = points, GF = goals for, GA = goals against, PIM = penalties in minutes

SeasonGPWLOTLPtsGFGAPIMFinishPlayoffs
2012–136031218702272201,5074th, NorthWon Div. Quarterfinals, 3–2 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons
Won Div. Semifinals, 4–1 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs
Lost Div. Finals, 1–4 vs. Spruce Grove Saints[20]
2013–146026313552092171,6946th, NorthLost Div. Quarterfinals, 2–3 vs. Lloydminster Bobcats[21]
2014–156024288561812061,1327th, NorthLost Div. Quarterfinals, 1–3 vs. Lloydminster Bobcats
2015–16604212690256172—2nd, NorthWon Div. Quarterfinals, 3–0 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons
Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–4 vs. Lloydminster Bobcats
2016–17604113688254156—2nd of 8, North
3rd of 16, AJHL		Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–0 vs. Grande Prairie Storm
Won Div. Semifinals, 4–3 vs. Spruce Grove Saints
Won Div. Finals, 4–2 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons
Lost AJHL Finals, 0–4 vs. Brooks Bandits
2017–18603320773207156—3rd of 8, North
5th of 16, AJHL		Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–0 vs. Lloydminster Bobcats
Won Div. Semifinals, 4–3 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons
Lost Div. Finals, 0–4 vs. Spruce Grove Saints
2018–19602137244151226—7th of 8, North
13th of 16, AJHL		Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–3 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs
2019–20583217973191163—3rd of 8, North
6th of 15, AJHL		Won Div. Quarterfinals, 4–2 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons
Postseason cancelled

Personnel

Team captains
  • Jamie Johnson (2012)[22]
  • Jerome Raymond (2012–2013)[23]
  • Trace Elson (2013)[23]
  • Colten Mayor (2013–2014)[19]
  • Evan Warmington (2014)[24]
  • Ryan Grant (2017–2018)[25]

Head coaches
  • Joey Bouchard (2012–2016)[3]
  • Gord Thibodeau (2016–2019)[26]
  • Shawn Martin (2019–present)[27]

General managers
  • Joey Bouchard (2012–2016)[3]
  • Gord Thibodeau (2016–2019)[28]
  • Shawn Martin (2019–present)[29]

Team presidents
  • Brent Stark (2012–present)[3][30]

Honoured members

The number 22 was retired for Elias Lachance at the start of the 2011–12 season.[31] Lachance, who played for the Wolverines' predecessor junior "B" hockey team during its 2008–09 and 2009–10 seasons,[31] died in a car accident in 2011.[32]

Community

The Wolverines are engaged in two programs within the community under a "Team for Success" project where players mentor young students on reading and writing, and boys through issues experienced at the junior high level.[33] During their inaugural season, the team hosted a Hockey Hall of Fame exhibit that featured the Stanley Cup.[34] The proceeds from the event, sponsored by Scott Safety, benefitted the Whitecourt Minor Hockey Association and the Whitecourt Girl Guides.[35][36]

See also

References
  1. "Whitecourt Wolverines Name Coach". Alberta Junior Hockey League. May 9, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  2. "Wolverines / A.J.H.L. solidify club ownership". Whitecourt Wovlerines. November 23, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
  3. "Team Roster for Whitecourt Wolverines". Alberta Junior Hockey League. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  4. "AJHL Moving to Whitecourt, Alberta". Alberta Junior Hockey League. May 2, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  5. Ann Harvey (August 2, 2011). "Scott Safety Place is new name for Twin Arenas". Whitecourt Star. Canoe Sun Media. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  6. "About Scott Safety Supply Services". Scott Safety Supply Services Ltd. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  7. "History of the Alberta Junior Hockey League". Alberta Junior Hockey League. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  8. "AJHL Champions" (PDF). Alberta Junior Hockey League. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  9. "Doyle Cup Champions" (PDF). Alberta Junior Hockey League. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  10. "RBC Cup: 2012 Guide and Record Book". Hockey Canada. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  11. "St. Albert snaps up Fort Saskatchewan hockey team". CBC News. March 16, 2007. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  12. Jeff Hansen (March 28, 2012). "Steel requests to relocate". St. Albert Gazette. Great West Newspapers LP. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  13. Brigette Jobin (March 28, 2012). "League records set". Whitecourt Star. Canoe Sun Media. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  14. Remy Greer (April 8, 2012). "Wolverines beat Bisons 5-1 in provincial final". Okotoks Western Wheel. Great West Newspapers LP. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  15. Brigette Jobin (April 25, 2012). "Wolverines prove to be one of Canada's best". Whitecourt Star. Sun Media Corporation. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
  16. "Whitecourt Wolverines @ Canmore Eagles". Alberta Junior Hockey League. September 14, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  17. "Whitecourt Wolverines @ Okotoks Oilers". Alberta Junior Hockey League. September 15, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  18. "CJHL Announces Weekly Top 20 Rankings". Canadian Junior Hockey League. October 29, 2012. Archived from the original on February 2, 2013. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  19. "AJHL Duo Captures Scoring Title, Oil Barons Win Top Team Goaltender Award". Alberta Junior Hockey League. March 2, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  20. "Saints Win AJHL North Division Title". Alberta Junior Hockey League. April 6, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  21. "Bracket". Alberta Junior Hockey League. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  22. Johnna Ruocco (September 18, 2012). "Wolverines' roster and captains announced". Whitecourt Star. Canoe Sun Media. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  23. Chris Colwell (September 6, 2013). "Oh Captain, My Captain". XM 105. Fabmar Communications Ltd. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  24. "Evan Warmington Named Wolverines Captain". Whitecourt Wolverines. June 24, 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  25. http://www.whitecourtwolverines.ca/team/roster.html. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  26. "Whitecourt Wolverines | News Archives". www.whitecourtwolverines.ca. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  27. "Whitecourt Wolverines | News Archives". www.whitecourtwolverines.ca. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  28. "Whitecourt Wolverines | News Archives". www.whitecourtwolverines.ca. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  29. "Whitecourt Wolverines | News Archives". www.whitecourtwolverines.ca. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  30. "Wolverines Set to Host Hockey Hall of Fame". Alberta Junior Hockey League. October 10, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  31. "Team History". Whitecourt Wolverines. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  32. Stuart Thomson (September 29, 2011). "New foundation will honour former Wolverines player". Whitecourt Star. Canoe Sun Media. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
  33. Jasmine Franklin (November 12, 2012). "Wolverines players become mentors off the ice". Whitecourt Press. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  34. "Whitecourt Town Council Update". Town of Whitecourt. October 11, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  35. "Stanley Cup weekend spells success". Whitecourt Wovlerines. November 23, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
  36. Johnna Ruocco (October 14, 2012). "Town Council briefs - Oct. 9, 2012". Whitecourt Star. Canoe Sun Media. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
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