Calgary Centennials
{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey team (1966–1977)}}
{{redirect|Calgary Buffaloes|the former Alberta Junior Hockey League team of the same name|Calgary Buffaloes (AJHL)}}
{{infobox hockey team
| team = Calgary Centennials
| logo = CalgaryCentennials.png
| logosize = 75px
| league = Western Canada Hockey League
| operated = {{Start date|1966}}–1977
| arena = Stampede Corral
| colours = Red & White
| name1 = Calgary Buffaloes
| dates1 = 1966–67
| name2 = Calgary Centennials
| dates2 = 1967–77
| name3 = Billings Bighorns
| dates3 = 1977–82
| name4 = Nanaimo Islanders
| dates4 = 1982–83
| name5 = New Westminster Bruins
| dates5 = 1983–88
| name6 = Tri-City Americans
| dates6 = 1988-Present
}}
The Calgary Centennials were a junior ice hockey team that played in the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL) from 1966–1977. They played in Calgary, Alberta, Canada at the Stampede Corral.
History
A charter member of the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League in 1966, the franchise was known in its first season as the Calgary Buffaloes before becoming the Centennials (marking the Canadian Centennial that year) in the renamed WCHL for the 1967–68 season.
The franchise had a string of successful regular seasons in the early 1970s, winning three West division titles, however playoff success never followed. The Centennials only reached the WCHL finals once, falling in four straight to the Regina Pats in 1974.
Following the 1976–77 season, the Centennials were sold and relocated to Billings, Montana and became the Billings Bighorns. Calgarians would not have to wait long for another team, as the Winnipeg Monarchs were sold and relocated to Calgary to become the Calgary Wranglers for the 1978–78 season.
The Centennials franchise today is known as the Tri-City Americans, settling in Kennewick, Washington, after stops as the Billings Bighorns, Nanaimo Islanders, and New Westminster Bruins.
Season-by-season record
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| class="wikitable" | |||||||||
| align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd"
| Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
| align="center"
| 1966–67 | 56 | 4 | 47 | 5 | 178 | 426 | 13 | 7th Overall | Out of playoffs |
| align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| 1967–68 | 60 | 14 | 40 | 5 | 218 | 318 | 35 | 10th Overall | Out of playoffs |
| align="center"
| 1968–69 | 60 | 31 | 28 | 1 | 253 | 236 | 63 | 2nd West | Lost semi-final |
| align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| 1969–70 | 60 | 37 | 22 | 1 | 249 | 197 | 75 | 1st West | Lost semi-final |
| align="center"
| 1970–71 | 66 | 37 | 22 | 7 | 244 | 175 | 81 | 2nd West | Lost semi-final |
| align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| 1971–72 | 68 | 49 | 16 | 3 | 296 | 169 | 101 | 1st West | Lost semi-final |
| align="center"
| 1972–73 | 68 | 35 | 22 | 11 | 302 | 224 | 81 | 3rd West | Lost quarter-final |
| align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| 1973–74 | 68 | 41 | 18 | 9 | 328 | 236 | 91 | 1st West | Lost final |
| align="center"
| 1974–75 | 70 | 11 | 51 | 8 | 236 | 399 | 30 | 6th West | Out of playoffs |
| align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| 1975–76 | 72 | 22 | 45 | 5 | 284 | 381 | 49 | 6th West | Out of playoffs |
| align="center"
| 1976–77 | 72 | 22 | 34 | 15 | 329 | 397 | 59 | 4th Central | Lost quarter-final |
NHL alumni
{{div col |colwidth=15em}}
- Don Ashby
- Jeff Bandura
- Wayne Bianchin
- Brian Carlin
- Glen Cochrane
- John Davidson
- Ed Dyck
- Len Frig
- Danny Gare
- Rick Hodgson
- Jerry Holland
- Ron Homenuke
- Doug Horbul
- Kevin Krook
- Doug Lecuyer
- Craig Levie
- Bob Liddington
- Darryl Maggs
- Lanny McDonald
- Grant Mulvey
- Bob Nystrom
- Harvie Pocza
- Gary Rissling
- Mike Rogers
- Randy Rota
- Rick Shinske
- Roy Sommer
- Brian Spencer
- Mike Toal
- Perry Turnbull
- Jimmy Watson
{{div col end}}
See also
References
- [http://www.whl.ca whl.ca]
- [http://www.logoserver.com/WesternCHL.html logoserver.com]
- 2005–06 WHL Guide
{{Defunct WHL}}
Category:Ice hockey teams in Alberta
Category:Ice hockey clubs established in 1966
Category:Defunct Western Hockey League teams