- Brantford Alexanders
Hockey team |CAN_eng=1
team = Brantford Alexanders
logosize = 150px
city =Brantford, Ontario
league =Ontario Hockey League
operated = 1978-84
colours = Red & White
arena =Brantford Civic Centre
name1 = Windsor Spitfires
dates1 = 1946-53
name2 =Hamilton Tiger Cubs
dates2 = 1953-60
name3 =Hamilton Red Wings
dates3 = 1960-74
name4 =Hamilton Fincups
dates4 = 1974-76
name5 = St. Catharines Fincups
dates5 = 1976-77
name6 =Hamilton Fincups
dates6 = 1977-78
name7 =Brantford Alexanders
dates7 = 1978-84
name8 =Hamilton Steelhawks
dates8 = 1984-88
name9 =Niagara Falls Thunder
dates9 = 1988-96
name10 = Erie Otters
dates10 = 1996-PresentThe Brantford Alexanders were ajunior ice hockey team in theOntario Major Junior Hockey League andOntario Hockey League from 1978 to 1984. The team was based inBrantford, Ontario .History
The
Hamilton Fincups were relocated in 1978 becoming the Brantford Alexanders. The OMJHL junior team took the name of the OHA senior team which had played for two years prior, which in themselves were named for Brantford's most famous former resident, telephone pioneerAlexander Graham Bell . After two years in the OMJHL, the league changed names to the OHL and the Alexanders played four more seasons in Brantford, before moving back to Hamilton as the Steelhawks.The Alexanders made the playoffs for five straight years after missing out its first year in Brantford. The team narrowly missed out on winning its division in 1980-81 by a single point.
Brantford developed close rivalries with the
London Knights and theNiagara Falls Flyers . Their playoff nemeses were Windsor and Sault Ste. Marie. Two years in a row they were eliminated by the Spitfires, followed by three years in a row at the hands of the Greyhounds.There have been 29 alumni of the Alexanders to play in the
NHL . In 1982-83, Dave Gagner was awarded theBobby Smith Trophy for the OHA's Scholastic Player of the Year.Coaches
Playoffs
*1978-1979 Out of playoffs.
*1979-1980 Defeated Toronto Marlboros 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
Lost to Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 3 in semi-finals.
*1980-1981 Lost to Windsor Spitfires 8 points to 4 in division semi-finals
*1981-1982 Defeated London Knights 6 points to 2 in first round.
Lost to S.S. Marie Greyhounds 8 points to 6 in quarter-finals.
*1982-1983 Defeated London Knights 6 points to 0 in first round.
Lost to S.S. Marie Greyhounds 8 points to 2 in quarter-finals.
*1983-1984 Earned first round bye.
Lost to S.S. Marie Greyhounds 8 points to 4 in quarter-finals.Arena
The Brantford Alexanders played home games at the
Brantford Civic Centre from 1978 to 1984. The OHL All-Star game was hosted here in 1982.* [http://www.ohlarenaguide.com/alex.htm Brantford Civic Centre] - The OHL Arena & Travel Guide
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