Brantford Alexanders

Brantford Alexanders
City	Brantford, Ontario
League	Ontario Hockey League
Operated	1978 (1978)–84
Home arena	Brantford Civic Centre
Colours	Red and white
Franchise history
1946–1953	Windsor Spitfires
1953–1960	Hamilton Tiger Cubs
1960–1974	Hamilton Red Wings
1974–1978	Hamilton/St. Catharines Fincups
1978–1984	Brantford Alexanders
1984–1988	Hamilton Steelhawks
1988–1996	Niagara Falls Thunder
1996–present	Erie Otters

The Brantford Alexanders were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League from 1978 to 1984. The team was based in Brantford, Ontario, Canada.

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 pioneer Alexander 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 the Niagara Falls Flyers. Their playoff nemeses were the Windsor Spitfires and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Two years in a row they were eliminated by the Spitfires, followed by three years in a row at the hands of the Greyhounds.

The Brantford Alexanders also had an official theme song recorded by County Line, called "Cowboys of the Ice".

There have been 29 alumni of the Alexanders to play in the NHL. In 1982–83, Dave Gagner was awarded the Bobby Smith Trophy for the OHA's Scholastic Player of the Year.

Coaches

1978–79 - Dave Draper 1979–80 - Ron Carroll 1980–81 - R. Carroll, D. Draper, Ken Gratton

1981–82 - Bep Guidolin, D. Draper 1982–83 - Dave Draper 1983–84 - Dave Draper

NHL alumni

Perry Anderson Bruce Bell Allan Bester Mark Botell Mike Bullard Shayne Corson Tony Curtale Dean De Fazio

Daryl Evans Dave Gagner Len Hachborn Dave Hannan Mike Hoffman Mark Hunter Jeff Jackson

Randy Ladouceur Jason Lafreniere Rick LaFerriere Mike Lalor Kevin LaVallee Paul Marshall Mike Millar

Ric Nattress Mark Plantery Bob Probert Chris Pusey Steve Smith Greg Terrion Rick Wamsley

Season-by-season results

Regular season

Season	Games	Won	Lost	Tied	Points	Pct %	Goals for	Goals against	Standing
1978–79	68	23	42	3	49	0.360	281	349	6th Emms
1979–80	68	31	35	2	64	0.471	412	398	3rd Emms
1980–81	68	34	34	0	68	0.500	350	354	2nd Emms
1981–82	68	25	41	2	52	0.382	293	313	5th Emms
1982–83	70	34	33	3	71	0.507	275	282	4th Emms
1983–84	70	39	28	3	81	0.579	303	235	2nd Emms

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.