Owen Sound Platers was a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Owen Sound, Ontario. The team played in the Ontario Hockey League from 1989 to 2000, then was sold to new owners who renamed the team the Owen Sound Attack.

Owen Sound Platers
CityOwen Sound, Ontario
LeagueOntario Hockey League
Operated1989 (1989)–2000
Home arenaJ.D. McArthur Arena, Bayshore Community Centre
ColoursBlack, white, gold and red
Franchise history
1968–1972Guelph CMC's
1972–1975Guelph Biltmore Madhatters
1975–1989Guelph Platers
1989–2000Owen Sound Platers
2000–presentOwen Sound Attack

History

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In 1989 the Holody's moved the Guelph Platers to Owen Sound, Ontario, retaining the name "Platers", as the Holody family owned a local electroplating company.[citation needed] The team played home games in the J. D. McArthur Arena at the Bayshore Community Centre.[1]

The city of Owen Sound would be a strong base for junior hockey with disproportionately high support from the smallest city in the OHL. The city had a two time Memorial Cup champion in the Owen Sound Greys in 1924 & 1927, and the Owen Sound Mercurys were a long-standing OHA Senior Hockey team and 1954 Allan Cup Champions.[citation needed]

Dave Siciliano coached the Platers to 39 wins in 68 games during the 1998–99 season, and a third-place finish in the Western Conference.[2] In the playoffs, the Platers won the first round four games to one versus the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, won the second round four games to two versus the Guelph Storm, then lost in the third round four games to one versus the London Knights.[3] The 1998–99 season marked the first time which the Platers advanced to the third round of the playoffs during the franchise's history in Owen Sound.[4]

Despite many mediocre seasons, support for the team has remained strong. When the Holody's decided to sell the team in 2000, several local Owen Sound business-people banded together to purchase the team. Owen Sound fans realized that losing the team would be a crisis for the city. After a bidding war and a summer-long legal battle with another suitor, the team remained in Owen Sound. The ownership group elected for a name change and came up with the "Owen Sound Attack".[citation needed]

Coaches

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List of coaches with multiple seasons in parentheses.[citation needed]

  • 1989–1991, Len McNamara (2)
  • 1991–1992, Rick Tarasuk
  • 1992–1993, Jerry Harrigan (3)
  • 1995–1996, Ric Seiling, John Lovell
  • 1996–1997, John Lovell (3)
  • 1997–1998, John Lovell, Dave Siciliano
  • 1998–1999, Dave Siciliano (3)
  • 1999–2000, Dave Siciliano, Brian O'Leary

Players

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Andrew Brunette won the 1992–93 Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy as the top scorer in the OHL with 62 Goals, 100 Assists and 162 Points. He also tied for the Canadian Hockey League's scoring lead. Brunette was selected by the Washington Capitals 174th overall in the 7th round of 1993 NHL Entry Draft.[citation needed]

Jamie Storr was the 1993–94 OHL Goaltender of the Year. Storr was the starting goalie for back-to-back World Junior Hockey Championship Gold medals in 1993 and 1994. In 1994 he was drafted 7th overall by the Los Angeles Kings.[citation needed]

Dan Snyder, a former captain of the Owen Sound Platers had his number 14 retired by the Owen Sound Attack in 2003. He is remembered in Owen Sound for his leadership on the ice, and off the ice. Snyder was twice voted his team's humanitarian of the year. The Ontario Hockey League renamed its Humanitarian of the Year award posthumously in honour of Dan Snyder, who died from injuries suffered in a vehicular accident with teammate Dany Heatley in 2003.[citation needed]

NHL alumni

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Nineteen alumni of the Owen Sound Platers graduated to play in the National Hockey League (NHL).[citation needed]

Team records

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Records listed for those achieved from 1989 to 2000.[citation needed]

Team records for a single season
Statistic Total Season
Most points 83 1998–99
Most wins 39 1998–99
Most goals for 330 1992–93
Fewest goals for 237 1999–2000
Fewest goals against 284 1993–94
Most goals against 373 1990–91
Individual player records for a single season
Statistic Player Total Season
Most goals Andrew Brunette 62 1992–93
Most assists Andrew Brunette 100 1992–93
Most points Andrew Brunette 162 1992–93
Most penalty minutes David Benn 219 1992–93
Best GAA (goalie) Jamie Storr 3.59 1993–94
Most wins (goalie) Curtis Sanford 30 1998-99
Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played

Season-by-season results

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Regular season

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Season Games Won Lost Tied OTL Points Pct % Goals
for
Goals
against
Standing
1989–90 66 28 31 7 - 63 0.477 265 305 4th Emms
1990–91 66 13 48 5 - 31 0.235 269 373 7th Emms
1991–92 66 23 41 2 - 48 0.364 260 315 6th Emms
1992–93 66 29 29 8 - 66 0.500 330 324 4th Emms
1993–94 66 34 30 2 - 70 0.530 303 284 4th Emms
1994–95 66 22 38 6 - 50 0.379 239 299 3rd Central
1995–96 66 29 32 5 - 63 0.477 274 313 4th Central
1996–97 66 27 37 2 - 56 0.424 258 318 4th Central
1997–98 66 27 34 5 - 59 0.447 270 312 4th Central
1998–99 68 39 24 5 - 83 0.610 312 293 2nd Midwest
1999–2000 68 21 35 6 6 54 0.353 237 292 5th Midwest

Playoffs

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  • 1989–90 Defeated Sudbury Wolves 4 games to 3 in first round.
    Lost to Niagara Falls Thunder 4 games to 1 in quarter-finals.
  • 1990–91 Out of playoffs.
  • 1991–92 Lost to London Knights 4 games to 1 in first round.
  • 1992–93 Defeated Niagara Falls Thunder 4 games to 0 in first round.
    Lost to S.S. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
  • 1993–94 Defeated Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 1 in division quarter-finals.
    Lost to Detroit Jr. Red Wings 4 games to 0 in division semi-finals.
  • 1994–95 Defeated Niagara Falls Thunder 4 games to 2 in division quarter-finals.
    Lost to Guelph Storm 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
  • 1995–96 Lost to Niagara Falls Thunder 4 games to 2 in division quarter-finals.
  • 1996–97 Lost to Barrie Colts 4 games to 0 in division quarter-finals.
  • 1997–98 Defeated Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 2 in division quarter-finals.
    Lost to Ottawa 67's 4 games to 1 in quarter-finals.
  • 1998–99 Defeated S.S. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
    Defeated Guelph Storm 4 games to 2 in conference semi-finals.
    Lost to London Knights 4 games to 1 in conference finals.
  • 1999–2000 Out of playoffs.

Uniforms and logos

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The Owen Sound platers used the same logo as the Guelph Platers from 1989 to 1995 (inset right) only changing the name of the city. Owen Sound modernized its logo for the 1995–96 season (top of page), and used it until the team was sold in 2000. The team colours remained the same throughout; black, gold, red and white. The home uniforms for Owen Sound were white background with black, red and gold trim. The away uniforms were black background, with red, gold and white trim.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ Bayshore Community Centre The OHL Arena & Travel Guide
  2. ^ "1998–99 Ontario Hockey League Standings". Hockey Database. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  3. ^ "1998–99 OHL Playoff Results". Hockey Database. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  4. ^ "By the Numbers". Owen Sound Attack. Owen Sound, Ontario. February 28, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2021.