Barrie Flyers

The Barrie Flyers junior team was founded in 1945 by Leighton "Hap" Emms. The franchise was soon affiliated with the Boston Bruins of the NHL. Barrie quickly became a powerhouse in the OHA. They appeared in the Memorial Cup three times, losing the first time in 1948, then winning twice, in 1951 and 1953. The Emms family relocated the team to Niagara Falls in 1960 where the team continued to win and played for 12 seasons, then relocated to Sudbury to become the Sudbury Wolves.

Barrie won the right to play for the cup by defeating the Windsor Spitfires for the OHA championship, and the Montreal Nationales to win the Richardson Trophy as eastern Canadian representatives.

The Flyers were runners up for the Memorial Cup in 1948 played at Maple Leaf Gardens. They were swept by the Port Arthur West End Bruins (now Thunder Bay) in a best-of-seven series.

The series was very physical and bitter between the teams. After the third game, Emms threatened that the Flyers would not continue to play without a change in referees. The series ultimately continued with the same referees.

Game 1 Port Arthur 10 vs. Barrie 8

Game 2 Port Arthur 8 vs. Barrie 1

Game 3 Port Arthur 5 vs. Barrie 4

Game 4 Port Arthur 9 vs. Barrie 8 (OT)

File:Flyers51-.jpg

Barrie won the OHA championship defeating the Toronto Marlboros.

Canadian Amateur Hockey Association vice-president W. B. George oversaw the Flyers versus Quebec Citadels series for the George Richardson Memorial Trophy, to represent Eastern Canada in the 1951 Memorial Cup playoffs. When the Citadels refused to play game five in Barrie, George gave them an ultimatum to play or forfeit the series. Quebec decided to play too late to arrive by train, but arrived half an hour late after flying.{{cite news|title=Popular Valley Figure: W. B. George Retiring From KAS Post|date=September 24, 1960|newspaper=Ottawa Journal|location=Ottawa, Ontario|page=7|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67906943/w-b-george-1960/}}{{free access}}{{cite news|title=On-Off Junior Series Finally Settled|date=April 24, 1951|newspaper=Medicine Hat News|location=Medicine Hat, Alberta|page=3|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-apr-24-1951-2169940/}}{{free access}} George scheduled game seven on neutral ice at Maple Leaf Gardens, despite protests from Flyers' coach Hap Emms who claimed that his team only agreed to resume the series if game seven was played in Barrie.{{cite news|title=Smoke Still Rising: But Playoff Locations Settled|date=April 28, 1951|newspaper=Lethbridge Herald|location=Lethbridge, Alberta|page=17|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-apr-28-1951-2169944/}}{{free access}}

The Flyers won the Memorial Cup in 1951 played at Winnipeg and Brandon, Manitoba. They swept the Winnipeg Monarchs in a best-of-seven series.

Game 1 Barrie 5 vs. Winnipeg 1

Game 2 Barrie 5 vs. Winnipeg 1

Game 3 Barrie 4 vs. Winnipeg 3

Game 4 Barrie 9 vs. Winnipeg 5

Barrie won the right to play for the cup by defeating the St. Michael's Majors for the OHA championship. The Flyers won the Memorial Cup in 1953 played at Winnipeg and Brandon, Manitoba. They defeated the St. Boniface Canadiens in a best-of-seven series.

Game 1 Barrie 6 vs. St. Boniface 4

Game 2 Barrie 6 vs. St. Boniface 3

Game 3 Barrie 7 vs. St. Boniface 5

Game 4 Barrie 4 vs. St. Boniface 7

Game 5 Barrie 6 vs. St. Boniface 1

The Barrie Flyers were a dominant team during the late 1940s and early 1950s, and one of a few clubs to win multiple Memorial Cup championships. The Flyers won the Ontario championship 4 times, the Eastern Canadian championship 3 times, and the national championship twice.

Memorial Cup appearances

• 1948, Lost to Port Arthur West End Bruins
• 1951, CAHA Champions vs. Winnipeg Monarchs
• 1953, CAHA Champions vs. St. Boniface Canadiens

George Richardson Memorial Trophy appearances

• 1948, Champions vs. Montreal Nationales
• 1949, Lost to Montreal Royals
• 1951, Champions vs. Quebec Citadels
• 1953, Champions vs. Quebec Citadels

J. Ross Robertson Cup appearances{{cite book|title=Annual Report: Constitution, Regulations and Rules of Competition|publisher=Ontario Hockey Association|date=2006|location=Cambridge, Ontario|page=W-13}}

• 1947–48, OHA Champions vs. Windsor Spitfires
• 1948–49, OHA Champions vs. Toronto Marlboros
• 1950–51, OHA Champions vs. Toronto Marlboros
• 1952–53, OHA Champions vs. St. Michael's Majors
• 1955–56, Lost to Toronto Marlboros

• 1948-49 - Gil Mayer, Red Tilson Trophy Most Outstanding Player
• 1950-51 - Lorne Howes, Dave Pinkney Trophy Lowest Team Goals Against

List of Flyers' alumni who played in the National Hockey League (NHL):{{cite web|url=https://www.hhof.com/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayersByTeam.jsp?team=Barrie+Flyers|title=NHL Player Search—Barrie Flyers|website=Legends of Hockey|publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame|access-date=January 30, 2021}}

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• Barry Ashbee
• Bob Barlow
• Bob Beckett
• Bob Blackburn
• Ross Brooks
• Kelly Burnett
• Dick Cherry
• Don Cherry
• Real Chevrefils
• Murray Davison
• Marv Edwards
• Pierre Gagne
• Ray Gariepy
• Jeannot Gilbert
• Howie Glover
• Bill Knibbs
• Leo Labine
• Stan Long
• Wayne Maxner
• Gilles Mayer
• Don McKenney
• Sid McNabney
• Paul Meger
• Hillary Menard
• Doug Mohns
• Jim Morrison
• Tony Poeta
• Dan Poliziani
• George Ranieri
• Gerry Reid
• Dale Rolfe
• Wayne Rutledge
• Myron Stankiewicz
• Ron Stewart
• Alan "Skip" Teal
• Orval Tessier
• Jerry Toppazzini
• Ed Westfall
• Larry Zeidel

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{{Reflist}}

{{Defunct OHL}}

Category:1945 establishments in Ontario

Category:1960 disestablishments in Ontario

Category:Defunct Ontario Hockey League teams

Category:Ice hockey clubs established in 1945

Category:Sport in Barrie

Category:Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 1960

Category:Boston Bruins minor league affiliates

Category:Defunct ice hockey teams in Ontario