LaSalle Vipers

GOJHL team
team_name = LaSalle Vipers
bg_color = OliveDrab
text_color =
logo_

division = Western
founded = 1970
history = 1970-1986: Windsor Royals
1986-1995: Windsor Bulldogs
1995-2001: Tecumseh Bulldogs
2001-2008: Tecumseh Chiefs
2008-Pres: LaSalle Vipers
alternate =
arena = Vollmer Culture and Recreation Complex
city = LaSalle, Ontario
team_colors = Black, Olive, and White
head_coach = John Nelson
general_manager = Kevin McIntosh
affiliates = Windsor Spitfires
Belle River Canadiens
sutherland_cup = 2008
bucklands =
schmalz_cup = The LaSalle Vipers are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in LaSalle, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.

History

The Tecumseh Chiefs originated as the newly-formed Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League's Windsor Royals. The Royals in 1986 were renamed the Bulldogs and moved up to Junior "B". The team was sold in 1995 and moved out of Windsor, Ontario into the Tecumseh area, and became known as the Chiefs.

In one the franchise's last games in the city of Windsor, the Bulldogs set a league record for futility by suffering the worst loss in Western Ontario Hockey League history. On January 20, 1995, the Leamington Flyers defeated the Bulldogs by a score of 30-3. [http://wohl.ca/download/records_wohl.htm] On February 20, 2008, the Chiefs remembered their former "rookie of the year" Mickey Renaud. Renaud, alumnus and captain of the Windsor Spitfires, died two days earlier after collapsing in his parents home in Tecumseh. After a memorial, the Chiefs announced that Renaud's number, 44, would be retired at the end of the season.

The 2007-08 season marked the Chiefs' best season since moving to Tecumseh. The Chiefs, members of the newly formed Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League became their first league regular season champions finishing first overall in their conference with 34 wins, 12 losses, and 2 losses in overtime.

After defeating the London Nationals to win their first Western Ontario crown since 1980, the Chiefs made it known to the press that they are considering a move to LaSalle, Ontario due to a lack of fan support. [http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/sports/story.html?id=f8530bcc-71c1-4981-87bd-2a1bc8c77b28]

The Chiefs entered the 2008 Sutherland Cup against the Thorold Blackhawks and the Elmira Sugar Kings. They finished the round robin in first place with 3 wins and 1 loss. They then faced the Sugar Kings in a best-of-seven series to determine the champion, defeating them in 4 straight games to win their first ever provincial title.

After 13 seasons in the town of Tecumseh and winning the 2008 Sutherland Cup Provincial Championship, the town of Tecumseh has announced that the franchise has elected not to return to their arena. [http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=0d361f7c-df34-444c-ac74-27ac0ade7dc0] The team is planning to relocate to LaSalle. This marks the third Greater Windsor Area location that the team has called home in 38 seasons.

On July 9, the ownership of the team held a press conference to enveil the LaSalle Vipers and their new logo. [http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=c77ea2cd-4bbc-408f-a1b7-d1aa617fa9d5] On September 10, the Vipers played their first game in LaSalle, losing 4-2 to the Leamington Flyers.

eason-by-Season Results

Sutherland Cup Appearances

:1980: Belleville Bobcats defeated Windsor Bulldogs "4-games-to-none":2008: Tecumseh Chiefs defeated Elmira Sugar Kings "4-games-to-none"

Notable Alumni

*Russ Adam
*Tie Domi
*Murray Eaves
*David Gagnon
*Rick Heinz
*Dan Jancevski
*Ed Jovanovski
*Tim Kerr
*Richard Kromm
*Mike Natyshak
*Joel Quenneville
*D. J. Smith
*Ryan Gelinas
*Kyle Wellwood
*Derek Wilkinson
*Mickey Renaud
*Stubby Clapp

External links

* [http://lasallevipers.pointstreaksites.com/ Vipers Webpage]