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Kingston Frontenacs | |
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City | Kingston, Ontario |
League | Ontario Hockey League |
Conference | Eastern |
Division | East |
Founded | 1989 (1989)–90 |
Home arena | Slush Puppie Place |
Colours | Black, gold and white[1] |
General manager | Kory Cooper |
Head coach | Troy Mann |
Affiliate | Cobourg Cougars |
Website | www.kingstonfrontenacs.com |
Franchise history | |
1945–1952 | Kingston Victorias |
1952–1973 | Kingston Frontenacs |
1973–1988 | Kingston Canadians |
1988–1989 | Kingston Raiders |
1989–present | Kingston Frontenacs |
Current uniform | |
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TheKingston Frontenacs are a Canadian majorjunior ice hockey team in theOntario Hockey League, based inKingston, Ontario. The Frontenacs play home games atSlush Puppie Place, which opened in 2008. The team's history predates the Ontario Hockey League, to a team known as the Kingston Victorias in 1945. This current Frontenacs franchise was founded in theOntario Hockey Association in1973–74, then known as theKingston Canadians until1987–88. The team was briefly known as theKingston Raiders in1988–89, and as the Frontenacs since.
The original Kingston Frontenacs were founded in 1897, named afterLouis de Buade de Frontenac, governor of New France, who establishedFort Frontenac on the site of present-day Kingston. The original Frontenacs were coached byJames T. Sutherland, played in the intermediate division of theOntario Hockey Association (OHA), and won the inauguralJ. Ross Robertson Cup during the 1898–99 season.[2]
The Kingston Frontenacs had ajunior ice hockey team in the OHA prior toWorld War I. This version of the Frontenacs won theJ. Ross Robertson Cup in the 1910–11 season.[3] National Hockey League alumni from this team areAlec Connell,Bill Cook,Allan Davidson, andFlat Walsh.[citation needed]
An Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) Sr. League team also existed from the 1910s to 1940s. National Hockey League alumni from this team areMickey Blake,Glen Brydson,Bill Cook,Gus Giesebrecht,Doug Stevenson,Charles Stewart,Carl Voss andFlat Walsh.[citation needed] Some members of this team then formed an entry in the Ontario Veteran's Hockey League duringWorld War II. National Hockey League alumni from this team areHub Macey,Gus Marker,Walt McCartney andEd Nicholson.[citation needed]
In 1952, the Kingston Victoria were renamed the Kingston Frontenacs. This team played at the Junior B level, then later at the Junior A level. This Frontenacs team lost in the 1963Sutherland Cup final to theSt. Marys Lincolns, 4 games to 1.[citation needed]
From 1959 to 1963, there was also aKingston Frontenacs team in theEastern Professional Hockey League.[citation needed]
The Kingston Canadians arrival in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) for the 1973–74 season was a result of theMontreal Junior Canadiens move to theQuebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in 1972. During the summer of 1972, the QMJHL had threatened a lawsuit against the OHA to force the Junior Canadiens to return to the Quebec-based league. To solve the problem, the OHA granted the Junior Canadiens franchise a "one-year suspension" of operations, while team ownership transferred the team and players into the QMJHL, renaming themselves theMontreal Bleu Blanc Rouge in the process.[4]
After a one-year hiatus, the OHA then reactivated the suspended franchise under new ownership and with new players, calling the team the Kingston Canadians.[4] The new Kingston team was essentially an expansion franchise promoted from the OHA'sTier II league, that had only common name to share with the old Junior Canadiens. The Tier II Frontenacs originated in theEastern Junior B Hockey League and date back to at least the early 1940s as the Kingston Victorias. However, in some OHA histories (such as the annual Media Guide) the Kingston team is still shown as the legitimate successors of the Junior Canadiens' legacy.[citation needed]
Following a change in ownership the club was renamedKingston Raiders for one season in 1988–89. Due to ownership problems, the team was sold again following that season.[5]
In 1989, the new ownership, including Wren Blair, Don Anderson and Bob Attersley, renamed the team Kingston Frontenacs after theEastern Professional Hockey League team. TheBoston Bruins-style uniforms and logos were revived from the old franchise. The city embraced and welcomed the new ownership. Wren Blair and Bob Attersley were both hockey legends in their own right. In 1997 Wren Blair would be honoured with the Bill Long Award for distinguished service in the OHL. The club was sold to the Springer family of Kingston in June 1998, with Doug Springer becoming the owner and governor.[6]
The Frontenacs franchise has the second-longest championship drought in the OHL (to theSudbury Wolves by one year), and the fourth-longest in theCanadian Hockey League. The Frontenacs won theLeyden Trophy as the OHL's East Division champions in the1994–95 and2015–16. In the1992–93 season, the Frontenacs reached the Eastern Conference Final but lost to the Peterborough Petes. In2017-18, Kingston reached the Eastern Conference final for the second time in club history, however, they lost to the Hamilton Bulldogs.[7]
During the inaugural season of theKingston Canadians in 1973–74,Jack Bownass was awarded theMatt Leyden Trophy as OHA Coach of the Year. Former NHL defencemanJim Morrison coached the team from 1975 to 1982, which was the longest stint a coach had when the club was known as the Canadians.[8]
Larry Mavety coached the Frontenacs for much of the team's history. He originally coached the team in 1988–89, when they were still known as theKingston Raiders. In 1989–90, the first season the franchise was known as the Frontenacs, he won theMatt Leyden Trophy as the OHL Coach of the Year. Mavety returned to Kingston in 1997 to become the head coach once again, and stayed in that position until midway through the 2002–03 season when he stepped down to focus on his general manager duties. After a slow start in the 2007–08 season, Mavety once again found himself coaching the Frontenacs until November 2008. Mavety remained as the general manager until the end of the 2010–11 season.[9]
A number of Frontenacs coaches have gone on to coach in theNational Hockey League; whileGary Agnew andDave Allison had short spells as NHL head coaches,Bruce Cassidy is the only Frontenacs coach to become a full-time NHL head coach.[10]
(Multiple years in parentheses, totals include all incarnations of the Kingston franchise)[citation needed]
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Paul Coffey is the only former member of the Kingston franchise to be inducted into theHockey Hall of Fame, getting the honour in 2004.[17] In 1977–78, Coffey played for the Kingston Canadians, as a late season addition from the North York Rangers. He played eight games with the Canadians.[18]
Several numbers have been honoured by the Kingston Canadians/Frontenacs. In 2019,Chris Clifford had his number 29 retired, joiningMike O'Connell,Brad Rhiness,Tony McKegney, andKen Linesman in receiving the honour.[19] In 2023, brothersAnthony Stewart andChris Stewart had their numbers raised to the rafters.[20]
Larry Mavety is the only builder to be honoured by the organization for his work as a coach and general manager. The coach and manager holds the Kingston Frontenacs all-time wins record with 246.[9]
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The Kingston franchise has had several players selected in the first round of the NHL draft.
Legend: OTL = Overtime loss, SL = Shootout loss
Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | OTL | SL | Points | Pct % | Goals For | Goals Against | Standing |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1960–61 | 20 | 8 | 9 | 3 | — | — | 19 | 0.475 | — | — | 4th EJBHL |
1961–62 | statistics unavailable | ||||||||||
1962–63 | 21 | 20 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 40 | 0.952 | 153 | 40 | 1st EJBHL |
1963–64 | 30 | 14 | 11 | 5 | — | — | 33 | 0.550 | 150 | 122 | 1st EJBHL |
1964–65 | 26 | 12 | 11 | 3 | — | — | 25 | 0.519 | — | — | 1st EJBHL |
1965–66 | 34 | 23 | 9 | 2 | — | — | 48 | 0.706 | 226 | 140 | 1st EJBHL |
1966–67 | statistics unavailable | ||||||||||
1967–68 | 31 | 13 | 14 | 4 | — | — | 30 | 0.484 | 155 | 135 | 4th EJBHL |
1968–69 | 30 | 15 | 13 | 2 | — | — | 32 | 0.533 | — | — | 3rd EJBHL |
1969–70 | 30 | 19 | 10 | 1 | — | — | 39 | 0.650 | 176 | 115 | 2nd EJBHL |
1970–71 | 30 | 14 | 11 | 5 | — | — | 33 | 0.550 | 183 | 170 | 3rd EJBHL |
1971–72 | statistics unavailable | ||||||||||
1972–73 | 44 | 13 | 30 | 1 | — | — | 27 | 0.307 | 152 | 273 | 12th OPJHL |
1973–74 | 70 | 20 | 43 | 7 | — | — | 47 | 0.336 | 256 | 378 | 10th in OHA |
1974–75 | 70 | 25 | 35 | 10 | — | — | 60 | 0.429 | 297 | 345 | 8th in OMJHL |
1975–76 | 66 | 33 | 24 | 9 | — | — | 75 | 0.568 | 357 | 316 | 3rd in Leyden |
1976–77 | 66 | 32 | 24 | 10 | — | — | 74 | 0.561 | 295 | 259 | 3rd in Leyden |
1977–78 | 68 | 27 | 32 | 9 | — | — | 63 | 0.463 | 288 | 323 | 4th in Leyden |
1978–79 | 68 | 26 | 38 | 4 | — | — | 56 | 0.412 | 265 | 306 | 5th in Leyden |
1979–80 | 68 | 35 | 26 | 7 | — | — | 77 | 0.566 | 320 | 298 | 4th in Leyden |
1980–81 | 68 | 39 | 26 | 3 | - | - | 81 | 0.596 | 334 | 273 | 3rd in Leyden |
1981–82 | 68 | 29 | 34 | 5 | — | — | 63 | 0.463 | 302 | 316 | 5th in Leyden |
1982–83 | 70 | 24 | 45 | 1 | — | — | 49 | 0.350 | 351 | 425 | 7th in Leyden |
1983–84 | 70 | 25 | 45 | 0 | — | — | 50 | 0.357 | 313 | 378 | 7th in Leyden |
1984–-85 | 66 | 18 | 47 | 1 | — | — | 37 | 0.280 | 239 | 380 | 7th in Leyden |
1985–86 | 66 | 35 | 28 | 3 | — | — | 73 | 0.553 | 297 | 257 | 4th in Leyden |
1986–87 | 66 | 26 | 39 | 1 | — | — | 53 | 0.402 | 287 | 316 | 4th in Leyden |
1987–88 | 66 | 14 | 52 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 0.212 | 246 | 432 | 7th in Leyden |
1988–89 | 66 | 25 | 36 | 5 | — | — | 55 | 0.417 | 278 | 313 | 7th in Leyden |
1989–90 | 66 | 42 | 21 | 3 | — | — | 87 | 0.659 | 300 | 232 | 2nd in Leyden |
1990–91 | 66 | 15 | 47 | 4 | — | — | 34 | 0.258 | 255 | 382 | 8th in Leyden |
1991–92 | 66 | 16 | 44 | 6 | — | — | 38 | 0.288 | 241 | 316 | 8th in Leyden |
1992–93 | 66 | 36 | 19 | 11 | — | — | 83 | 0.629 | 314 | 265 | 2nd in Leyden |
1993–94 | 66 | 30 | 28 | 8 | — | — | 68 | 0.515 | 265 | 259 | 5th in Leyden |
1994–95 | 66 | 40 | 19 | 7 | — | — | 87 | 0.659 | 284 | 224 | 1st in Eastern |
1995–96 | 66 | 29 | 31 | 6 | — | — | 64 | 0.485 | 266 | 267 | 5th in Eastern |
1996–97 | 66 | 25 | 35 | 6 | — | — | 56 | 0.424 | 257 | 277 | 4th in Eastern |
1997–98 | 66 | 35 | 27 | 4 | — | — | 74 | 0.561 | 330 | 275 | 3rd in Eastern |
1998–99 | 68 | 22 | 42 | 4 | — | — | 48 | 0.353 | 240 | 320 | 5th in East |
1999–2000 | 68 | 38 | 22 | 5 | 3 | — | 84 | 0.618 | 258 | 245 | 3rd in East |
2000–01 | 68 | 28 | 28 | 11 | 1 | — | 68 | 0.500 | 232 | 218 | 4th in East |
2001–02 | 68 | 18 | 37 | 9 | 4 | — | 49 | 0.360 | 197 | 272 | 5th in East |
2002–03 | 68 | 25 | 37 | 2 | 4 | — | 56 | 0.412 | 222 | 287 | 5th in East |
2003–04 | 68 | 30 | 28 | 7 | 3 | — | 70 | 0.515 | 210 | 221 | 2nd in East |
2004–05 | 68 | 28 | 33 | 4 | 3 | — | 63 | 0.463 | 219 | 242 | 4th in East |
2005–06 | 68 | 37 | 24 | — | 4 | 3 | 81 | 0.596 | 258 | 237 | 2nd in East |
2006–07 | 68 | 31 | 30 | — | 5 | 2 | 69 | 0.507 | 269 | 284 | 3rd in East |
2007–08 | 68 | 25 | 41 | — | 0 | 2 | 52 | 0.382 | 230 | 317 | 5th in East |
2008–09 | 68 | 18 | 40 | — | 6 | 4 | 46 | 0.338 | 200 | 278 | 5th in East |
2009–10 | 68 | 33 | 30 | — | 2 | 3 | 71 | 0.522 | 229 | 251 | 2nd in East |
2010–11 | 68 | 29 | 30 | — | 4 | 5 | 67 | 0.493 | 245 | 279 | 3rd in East |
2011–12 | 68 | 19 | 41 | — | 3 | 5 | 46 | 0.338 | 188 | 290 | 5th in East |
2012–13 | 68 | 27 | 35 | — | 3 | 3 | 60 | 0.441 | 217 | 273 | 3rd in East |
2013–14 | 68 | 39 | 23 | — | 3 | 3 | 84 | 0.618 | 301 | 255 | 3rd in East |
2014–15 | 68 | 32 | 28 | — | 5 | 3 | 72 | 0.529 | 196 | 197 | 3rd in East |
2015–16 | 68 | 46 | 17 | — | 3 | 2 | 97 | 0.713 | 252 | 189 | 1st in East |
2016–17 | 68 | 33 | 26 | — | 5 | 4 | 75 | 0.551 | 179 | 200 | 3rd in East |
2017–18 | 68 | 36 | 23 | — | 6 | 3 | 81 | 0.596 | 243 | 202 | 2nd in East |
2018–19 | 68 | 14 | 52 | — | 1 | 1 | 30 | 0.221 | 144 | 307 | 5th in East |
2019–20 | 62 | 19 | 39 | — | 2 | 2 | 42 | 0.339 | 198 | 285 | 5th in East |
2020–21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0 | 0 | Season cancelled |
2021–22 | 68 | 41 | 22 | — | 4 | 1 | 87 | 0.640 | 285 | 242 | 2nd in East |
2022–23 | 68 | 27 | 38 | — | 1 | 2 | 57 | 0.419 | 199 | 260 | 5th in East |
2023–24 | 68 | 33 | 31 | — | 4 | 0 | 70 | 0.515 | 247 | 272 | 4th in East |
2024–25 | 68 | 40 | 20 | — | 5 | 3 | 88 | 0.647 | 281 | 232 | 2nd in East |
Junior B Era
OPJHL Era
OHL Era
The original uniforms and logos of the OHL Frontenacs were revived from the EPHL franchise, which was affiliated with the Boston Bruins. The logo featured a yellow letter 'K' with a black outline, surrounded by black spokes leading to a yellow circle border with the name Kingston Frontenacs in black.[21]
In 2002, the team adopted a new logo with a stylizedCount Frontenac.[21]
In 2007, the Frontenacs unveiled a 3rd jersey, which was black, yellow, and white, and similar to theBoston Bruins jerseys from the early 1970s. The "K" logo was used on the front of the jersey. The Frontenacs began wearing these jerseys on February 22, 2008, which was the same night that they opened their new arena.[citation needed]
In 2009, the Frontenacs, along with all CHL teams unveiled new uniforms using RBK EDGE templates. In 2012, the Frontenacs began wearing a newly designed set of uniforms featuring a large K as a logo.[21]
The original home arena of the Frontenacs was theKingston Memorial Centre, with aseating capacity of 3,079 seated, and 3,300 including standing room. Built in 1950, its ice size has unique dimensions of 200' x 92'.[22]
The Kingston Frontenacs began play at their new downtown arena,Slush Puppie Place (then K-Rock Centre), in 2008.[23]