Mount Royal Cougars men's ice hockey

Last updated
Mount Royal Cougars men's ice hockey
University Mount Royal University
Conference Canada West
First season1964–65
Head coach Bert Gilling
Since 2014–15 season
Assistant coachesDrake Brown
Tyler Fiddler
Grant Slessor
Arena Flames Community Arena
Calgary, Alberta
ColorsBlue, Silver, and White
     
Conference Tournament championships
1973, 1974, 1988, 1993, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2006, 2011
Conference regular season championships
1966, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2012

The Mount Royal Cougars men's ice hockey team is an ice hockey team representing the Mount Royal Cougars athletics program of Mount Royal University. The team is a member of the Canada West Universities Athletic Association conference and compete in U Sports. The Cougars play their home games at the Flames Community Arena in Calgary, Alberta. [1]

Contents

History

While operating as 'Mount Royal Junior College' in the 1950s, a team from the school competed in the Calgary Junior B Hockey League. Records from this time are spotty at best, however, in 1954 the Cougars won the league championship, eventually losing in the Alberta-British Columbia Junior B Championship to the Trail Smoke Eaters. The team disappears from league records after 1957. It's unclear whether or not the junior team was officially sanctioned by the school or if they were simply allowed to wear school colors.

In 1964, the Western Inter-College Conference (WICC) was formed for small schools in Western Canada who were looking for a way to field ice hockey teams. Mount Royal jumped at the chance, icing a varsity team for the inaugural year. Mount Royal won two league championships in the first five years, however, the school wasn't satisfied with their situation. In 1969, the Cougars left the WICC for the Highwood Hockey League. After winning the league title, they were again on the move and joined the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) in 1970. After getting knocked out in the semifinals, the Cougars won the regular season championship in 1972 but were ruled ineligible for the postseason as the team possessed overage players who did not qualify for the junior level. Instead, the team participated in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) postseason, the successor to the WICC. By winning the championship, the Cougars went on to the inaugural 4-West Championship, a tournament offered for the provincial college champions of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Mount Royal won the first three championships.

Since they were no longer eligible for the AJHL postseason, now Mount Royal College returned to the ACAC in 1972 and won back-to-back league titles. The team then suffered a severe decline and went winless for two seasons at the end of the decade. The terrible results caused the school to suspend the program for two years but the Cougars again failed to win a single game upon their return. By 1983, however, the team was on the road to recovery and Mount Royal rebuilt its program into a champion by the late-80s. Mount Royal won its first intermediate national championship in 1988 and then captured three over the span of four years around the turn of the century. Unfortunately, their final title in 2001 was the last intermediate championship held. Afterwards, the program was only able to win conference titles, which they did in both 2006 and 2011.

In 2012, by then known as 'Mount Royal University', the school transitioned to the senior level of college hockey and joined Canada West. [2] It didn't take long for the team to grow accustomed to the higher level and they posted their first winning season in 2015. The Cougars were also able to advance in the postseason for the first time that year, however, that was where the program plateaued. As of 2024, Mount Royal had reached the conference semifinals seven times but has yet to make a championship round appearance. Additionally, they have finished as high as 3rd in the standing four times but never as one of the top two seeds. [3]

Season-by-season results

An exhibition game between the Mount Royal and Air Force in 2016 10-03-16 Air Force Hockey vs Mount Royal (2910652).jpg
An exhibition game between the Mount Royal and Air Force in 2016

Junior and intermediate hockey

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, SOL = Shootout Losses, Pts = Points

U Sports Champion U Sports SemifinalistConference regular season championsConference Division ChampionsConference Playoff Champions
SeasonConferenceRegular SeasonConference Tournament ResultsNational Tournament Results
ConferenceOverall
GPWLTOTLSOLPts*FinishGPWLT%
1951–52??????????????
1952–53??????????????
1953–54AJBHL?????????????Won Championship series, 3–1 (Drumheller Miners)Lost Alberta-British Columbia Junior B Championship series, 0–2 (Trail Smoke Eaters)
1954–55AJBHL?????????????Won Championship, 16–0 (Killarney)
1955–56??????????????
1956–57CJBHL3416135404th?????Won Semifinal series, 2–0 (Calgary Tuxedo)
Won Championship series, 3–2 (Calgary West Hillhurst)
Program Suspended
1964–65 WICC ?????????????Only exhibition games played
1965–66WICC???????1st?????
1966–67WICC?????????????
1967–68WICC12840162nd12840.667
1968–69WICC191720341st191720.895
School became 'Mount Royal College'
1969–70HHL201451.7251st201451.725
1970–71 AJHL 5025187573rd5526227.536Lost Semifinal series, 1–4 (Red Deer Rustlers)
1971–72AJHL5035130701st5526227.536Won Alberta Provincial Championship, ? (NAIT)Won 4-West Semifinal, 12–4 (Cariboo)
Won 4-West Championship, 3–2 (Red River)
1972–73ACAC242130421st302730.900Won Semifinal series, 2–0 (NAIT)
Won Championship series, 2–0 (Red Deer)
Won 4-West Semifinal, 4–3 (Kelsey)
Won 4-West Championship, 7–5 (Red River)
1973–74ACAC241860362nd302460.800Won Semifinal series, 2–0 (SAIT)
Won Championship series, 2–0 (Red Deer)
Won 4-West Semifinal, 4–2 (Cariboo)
Won 4-West Championship, 5–3 (Red River)
1974–75ACAC241941393rd261961.750Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (Red Deer)
1975–76ACAC251690323rd2716110.593Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (NAIT)
1976–77ACAC241851372nd292171.741Won Semifinal series, 2–0 (NAIT)
Lost Championship series, 1–2 (Red Deer)
1977–78ACAC246171135th246171.271
1978–79ACAC24024005th240240.000
1979–80ACAC24024005th240240.000
Program Suspended
1982–83ACAC24024005th240240.000
1983–84ACAC2512130244th2712150.444Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (NAIT)
1984–85ACAC256190125th256190.240
1985–86ACAC251780342nd3019110.633Won Semifinal series, 2–0 (Camrose Lutheran)
Lost Championship series, 0–3 (NAIT)
1986–87ACAC2512112264th2813132.500Lost Semifinal series, 1–2 (NAIT)
1987–88ACAC241482462nd342392.706Won Semifinal series, 2–0 (Camrose Lutheran)
Won Championship series, 3–1 (Red Deer)
Won Pool A Round-robin, 11–4 (Cariboo), 10–9 (Collège Français)
Won Semifinal, 5–3 (Humber)
Won Championship, 7–6 (2OT) (Collège Français)
1988–89ACAC2410113233rd2610133.442Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (NAIT)
1989–90ACAC2412111252nd2612131.481Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (Red Deer)
1990–91ACAC251690323rd2716110.593Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (NAIT)
1991–92ACAC2513111274th2813141.482Lost Semifinal series, 0–3 (NAIT)
1992–93ACAC241851371st302451.817Won Semifinal series, 3–0 (Augustana)
Won Championship series, 3–0 (Red Deer)
1993–94ACAC221750341st302280.733Won Semifinal series, 3–0 (Augustana)
Lost Championship series, 2–3 (Red Deer)
1994–95ACAC251762361st302172.733Won Semifinal series, 2–0 (Red Deer)
Won Championship series, 2–1 (NAIT)
1995–96ACAC221750341st3222100.688Won Semifinal series, 3–2 (Red Deer)
Lost Championship series, 2–3 (NAIT)
1996–97ACAC221660321st261790.654Lost Semifinal series, 1–3 (NAIT)
1997–98ACAC241932401st322642.844Won Semifinal series, 2–1 (Red Deer)
Won Championship series, 2–0 (SAIT)
Won Round-robin, 9–1 (Cambrian), 9–3 (Seneca)
Won Championship, 4–3 (Cambrian)
1998–99ACAC2818100363rd4128130.683Won Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Augustana)
Won Semifinal series, 2–0 (SAIT)
Won Championship series, 3–2 (Red Deer)
Won Round-robin, 12–4 (Cambrian), 6–2 (Conestoga)
Won Championship, 6–0 (Conestoga)
1999–00ACAC282071412nd302091.683Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (NAIT)
2000–01ACAC282251451st363051.847Won Semifinal series, 2–0 (Red Deer)
Won Championship series, 3–0 (NAIT)
Won Round-robin, 12–1 (Sault), 14–1 (Conestoga)
Won Championship, 16–1 (Conestoga)
2001–02ACAC2814842344th3115124.548Lost Quarterfinal series, 1–2 (Augustana)
2002–03ACAC2814914335th3014151.483Lost Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Concordia)
2003–04ACAC28101422246th3110192.355Lost Quarterfinal series, 0–3 (MacEwan)
2004–05ACAC2414802304th3218140.563Won Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Alberta Augustana)
Lost Semifinal series, 2–3 (SAIT)
2005–06ACAC2413902282nd3419150.559Won Semifinal series, 3–2 (Alberta Augustana)
Won Championship series, 3–2 (SAIT)
2006–07ACAC2417610352nd281891.661Lost Semifinal series, 1–3 (NAIT)
2007–08ACAC2413803294th2915140.517Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (NAIT)
Lost Semifinal series, 0–3 (SAIT)
2008–09ACAC2820800403rd4027130.675Won Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Briercrest)
Won Semifinal series, 3–1 (NAIT)
Lost Championship series, 2–3 (SAIT)
School became 'Mount Royal University'
2009–10ACAC2821520322nd312182.710Lost Semifinal series, 0–3 (Concordia)
2010–11ACAC2820800403rd4028120.700Won Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Briercrest)
Won Semifinal series, 3–1 (NAIT)
Won Championship series, 3–2 (SAIT)
2011–12ACAC2822231481st332463.773Lost Semifinal series, 2–3 (NAIT)
TotalsGPWLT/SOL %Championships
Regular Season ? ? ? ? ?2 WICC Championships, 1 HHL Championship, 1 AJHL Championship, 9 ACAC Championships
Conference Post-season ? ? ? ? ?2 AJBHL Championships, 1 CJBHL Championship, 10 ACAC Championships
Regular Season and Postseason Record ? ? ? ? ?3 4-West Championships, 4 CCAA Championships

Senior hockey

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, SOL = Shootout Losses, Pts = Points

U Sports Champion U Sports SemifinalistConference regular season championsConference Division ChampionsConference Playoff Champions
SeasonConferenceRegular SeasonConference Tournament ResultsNational Tournament Results
ConferenceOverall
GPWLTOTLSOLPts*FinishGPWLT%
2012–13 Canada West 2871920167th287210.250
2013–14Canada West28111430255th3112190.387Lost Quarterfinal series, 1–2 (Manitoba)
2014–15Canada West28171001353rd3420131.603Won Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Saskatchewan)
Lost Semifinal series, 1–2 (Calgary)
2015–16Canada West2817830373rd3219130.594Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (British Columbia)
Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (Alberta)
2016–17Canada West28151120324th3217150.531Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Manitoba)
Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (Saskatchewan)
2017–18Canada West28121411266th3214171.453Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Manitoba)
Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (Alberta)
2018–19Canada West28121150295th3214180.438Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (British Columbia)
Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (Alberta)
2019–20Canada West2818802384th3119102.645Lost Quarterfinal series, 1–2 (British Columbia)
2020–21Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021–22Canada West2013610273rd251690.640Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Regina)
Lost Semifinal series, 1–2 (British Columbia)
2022–23Canada West2819540424th3120110.645Lost Quarterfinal series, 1–2 (Saskatchewan)
2023–24Canada West2821601433rd322381.734Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (MacEwan)
Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (Calgary)
TotalsGPWLT/SOL %Championships
Regular Season3001621335.548
Conference Post-season4019210.475
U Sports Postseason0000
Regular Season and Postseason Record3401811545.540

Note: Games not counted towards University Cup appearances are not included. [3]

See also

Mount Royal Cougars women's ice hockey

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calgary Mustangs (ice hockey)</span> Canadian junior A ice hockey team

The Calgary Mustangs were a junior A ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). They played in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, at the Father David Bauer Olympic Arena. They were known as the Calgary Royals from 1990 until 2010. On May 4, 2019, it was announced that the Mustangs had elected to take a leave of absence for the 2019–20 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calgary Canucks</span> Ice hockey team in Calgary, Alberta

The Calgary Canucks are a junior A ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). They play in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, with home games at the Ken Bracko Arena. They have won the AJHL championship ten times and one national championship. The team was selected to host the 2025 Centennial Cup National Junior A championship tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grande Prairie Storm</span> Ice hockey team in Alberta, Canada

The Grande Prairie Storm is a junior A ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) based in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada, with home games at Bonnetts Energy Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brooks Bandits</span> Junior ice hockey team

The Brooks Bandits are a Junior ice hockey team in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) based in Brooks, Alberta. The teams plays its home games at the Centennial Regional Arena. The team was formerly in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), until they joined the BCHL in February 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonnyville Pontiacs</span> Ice hockey team in Bonnyville, Alberta

The Bonnyville Pontiacs are a Junior A ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Bonnyville, Alberta, Canada at the R. J. Lalonde Arena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spruce Grove Saints</span> Ice hockey team in Spruce Grove, Alberta

The Spruce Grove Saints are a Junior ice hockey team in the BCHL. They play in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada, with home games at the Grant Fuhr Arena. The team was originally a member of the AJHL and joined the BCHL in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camrose Kodiaks</span> Junior ice hockey team

The Camrose Kodiaks are a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). They play in Camrose, Alberta, Canada, with home games in the EnCana Arena, which has a seating capacity for approximately 2300 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olds Grizzlys</span> Ice hockey team in Olds, Alberta

The Olds Grizzlys are a junior A ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Olds, Alberta, Canada with home games at the Olds & District Sports Complex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lloydminster Bobcats</span> Ice hockey team in Saskatchewan, Canada

The Lloydminster Bobcats are a Canadian junior A ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). They play home games in the Lloydminster Centennial Civic Centre on the Saskatchewan side of the biprovincial city of Lloydminster, which straddles that province's border with Alberta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort McMurray Oil Barons</span> Ice hockey team in Fort McMurray, Alberta

The Fort McMurray Oil Barons are a Junior A ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). They play in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada at the Centerfire Place. The Oil Barons have won three AJHL playoff championships, three regular season titles, and one National Junior A Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden Rockets</span> Ice hockey team in Golden, British Columbia

The Golden Rockets are a Junior 'A' ice hockey team based in Golden, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Eddie Mountain Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL). The Rockets play their home games at Golden Arena, nicknamed the "Plywood Palace". Lucille Hayward is the team's President, Jared Houseman is the General Manager and Coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princeton Posse</span> Junior ice hockey team

The Princeton Posse are a junior ice hockey team based in Princeton, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Bill Ohlhausen Division of the Okanagan/Shuswap Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL). They play their home games at Princeton & District Multipurpose Arena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Albert Steel</span> Ice hockey team in St. Albert, Alberta

The St. Albert Steel were an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). They played in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada at Servus Place with a seating capacity of 2,044. The team relocated to Whitecourt in the 2012 off-season to become the Whitecourt Wolverines.

The 2010–11 OJHL season is the 17th season of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) and the first since the league existed as two separate bodies in 2009–10. The thirty-one teams of the North, South, East and West Divisions will play 50-game schedules.

The 2010–11 CCHL season was the 50th season of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL). The twelve teams of the CCHL played a 62-game schedule.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Royal Cougars</span> Athletic teams of Mount Royal University

The Mount Royal Cougars are the men's and women's athletic teams that represent Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Cougars field eight varsity teams with four men's teams and four women's teams that compete in the Canada West Universities Athletic Association of U Sports. The Cougars were previously members of the Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference of the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association prior to the move to CIS in 2012.

The Mount Royal College Cougars were a junior "A" ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

The 2017–18 BCHL season was the 56th season of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). The seventeen teams from the Interior, Island and Mainland divisions played 58-game schedules. The 2017 BCHL Showcase, hosted in Chilliwack, shortly after the start of the season from September 20 to 24, 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Royal Cougars women's ice hockey</span> Canadian university ice hockey team

The Mount Royal Cougars women's ice hockey program represents Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta in the sport of ice hockey in the Canada West Universities Athletic Association conference of U Sports. The Cougars have won one national championship, in 2023. Prior to joining Canada West, the Cougars were a member of the Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference, winning five conference championships.

The MacEwan Griffins men's ice hockey team is an ice hockey team representing the MacEwan Griffins athletics program of MacEwan University. The team is a member of the Canada West Universities Athletic Association conference and compete in U Sports. The Griffins play their home games at the Downtown Community Arena in Edmonton, Alberta.

References

  1. "Flames Community Arenas". GEC Architecture. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  2. "History of Canada West". Canada West. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Canada West Men's Hockey History". Canada West. Retrieved October 24, 2024.