This article needs additional citations for verification .(January 2024) |
Spruce Grove Saints | |
---|---|
City | Spruce Grove, Alberta |
League | British Columbia Hockey League |
Conference | Interior |
Division | East |
Founded | 1963 |
Home arena | Grant Fuhr Arena |
Colours | Navy blue, white and gold |
Owner(s) | Silent Ice (Dan Leckelt, Lindsay Leckelt, Ryan Smyth) |
General manager | Rob Sklaruk |
Head coach | Ryan Marsh |
Website | sgsaints |
Franchise history | |
1963–1965 | Edmonton Canadians |
1965–1972 | Edmonton Movers |
1972–1974 | Edmonton Mets |
1974–1977 | Spruce Grove Mets |
1977–2004 | St. Albert Saints |
2004–present | Spruce Grove Saints |
Previous franchise history | |
1963–1972 | Edmonton Maple Leafs |
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.
Prior to their 2024 departure, the Saints' franchise was the only franchise remaining from the inception of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). The franchise began as the Edmonton Movers in 1963 before it merged with the Edmonton Maple Leafs organization to become the Edmonton Mets for the 1972–73 season. It then relocated to Spruce Grove as the Spruce Grove Mets for the 1974–75 season. During its first stint in Spruce Grove, the Mets won the 1975 Centennial Cup as Canadian Jr. A national champions and two league championships. After three years in Spruce Grove, the franchise relocated again to nearby St. Albert to become the St. Albert Saints in 1977. The franchise captured four AJHL championships during its time in St. Albert.
After 27 years in St. Albert, arena issues caused the franchise to return to Spruce Grove as the Spruce Grove Saints in 2004. Since returning to Spruce Grove, the team has won five AJHL playoff championships and five regular season titles, but have not advanced to the National Junior A Championship after failing to advance past the Doyle Cup or Western Canada Cup qualifiers.
On January 20, 2024, it was announced that the team, along with four other AJHL teams, would join the BCHL in the 2024-2025 season. [1] The AJHL responded to the announcement by cancelling most of the five teams' remaining scheduled matches except those between each other. It was then decided that the five Alberta-based teams would play out the rest of the 2023-24 season as a separate division under the aegis of the BCHL. [2]
Over 50 former Saints' players have gone on to play in the National Hockey League, including Mark Messier, Stu Barnes, Mike Comrie, and Steven Reinprecht.
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T/OTL = Ties/Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Season | GP | W | L | T/OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2004–05 | 64 | 42 | 16 | 6 | 90 | 208 | 147 | 2nd North | Won Preliminary series, 3–0 vs. Lloydminster Blazers Lost Quarterfinals, 2–4 vs. Drayton Valley Thunder |
2005–06 | 60 | 39 | 18 | 3 | 81 | 197 | 160 | 3rd North | Won Preliminary series, 3–0 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders Won Quarterfinals, 4–3 vs. Drayton Valley Thunder Lost Semifinals, 2–4 vs. Camrose Kodiaks |
2006–07 | 60 | 32 | 20 | 8 | 72 | 213 | 186 | 3rd North | Won Preliminary series, 3–2 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs Lost Quarterfinals, 1–4 vs. Grande Prairie Storm |
2007–08 | 62 | 34 | 16 | 12 | 80 | 248 | 203 | 3rd North | Won Preliminary series, 3–0 vs. Lloydminster Bobcats Won Quarterfinals, 4–3 vs. Grande Prairie Storm Lost Semifinals, 1–4 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons |
2008–09 | 62 | 46 | 7 | 9 | 101 | 274 | 139 | 1st North | Won Div. Semifinals, 4–1 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons Won Div. Finals, 4–0 vs. Olds Grizzlys Lost AJHL Finals, 0–4 vs. Grande Prairie Storm |
2009–10 | 60 | 52 | 4 | 4 | 108 | 252 | 99 | 1st North | Won Div. Semifinals, 4–0 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs Won Div. Finals, 4–1 vs. Camrose Kodiaks Won AJHL Championship, 4–3 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons Lost Doyle Cup, 3–4 vs. Vernon Vipers (BCHL) |
2010–11 | 60 | 48 | 8 | 4 | 100 | 233 | 106 | 1st North | Won Div. Semifinals, 4–0 vs. Lloydminster Bobcats Won Div. Finals, 4–0 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons Won AJHL Championship, 4–1 vs. Camrose Kodiaks Lost Doyle Cup, 3–4 vs. Vernon Vipers (BCHL) |
2011–12 | 60 | 46 | 6 | 8 | 100 | 214 | 129 | 1st North | Won Div. Semifinals, 4–0 vs. Drayton Valley Thunder Lost Div. Finals, 3–4 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons |
2012–13 | 60 | 35 | 16 | 9 | 79 | 181 | 157 | 1st North | Won Div. Semifinals, 4–2 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders Won Div. Finals, 4–1 vs. Whitecourt Wolverines Lost AJHL Finals, 1–4 vs. Brooks Bandits |
2013–14 | 60 | 47 | 10 | 3 | 97 | 235 | 135 | 1st North | Won Div. Semifinals, 4–3 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders Won Div. Finals, 4–3 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons Won AJHL Championship, 4–0 vs. Drumheller Dragons Did not advance in 2014 Western Canada Cup |
2014–15 | 60 | 48 | 7 | 5 | 101 | 254 | 121 | 1st North | Won Div. Semifinals, 4–2 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders Won Div. Finals, 4–2 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs Won AJHL Championship, 4–2 vs. Brooks Bandits Did not advance in 2015 Western Canada Cup |
2015–16 | 60 | 49 | 7 | 4 | 101 | 263 | 123 | 1st North | Won Div. Semifinals, 4–0 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders Won Div. Finals, 4–1 vs. Lloydminster Bobcats Lost AJHL Finals, 1–4 vs. Brooks Bandits |
2016–17 | 60 | 40 | 18 | 2 | 82 | 198 | 145 | 3rd North | Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–0 vs. Drayton Valley Thunder Lost Div. Semifinals, 3–4 vs. Whitecourt Wolverines |
2017–18 | 60 | 47 | 10 | 3 | 97 | 262 | 138 | 1st of 8, North 2nd of 16, AJHL | Won Div. Semifinals, 4–0 vs. Grande Prairie Storm Won Div. Finals, 4–0 vs. Whitecourt Wolverines Won AJHL Championship, 4–1 vs. Okotoks Oilers Lost Doyle Cup, 4–1 vs. Wenatchee Wild (BCHL) |
2018–19 | 60 | 40 | 17 | 3 | 83 | 204 | 141 | 3rd of 8, North 4th of 16, AJHL | Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–1 vs. Drayton Valley Thunder Won Div. Semifinals, 4–0 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs Won Div. Finals, 4–2 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders Lost AJHL Finals, 4–0 vs. Brooks Bandits |
2019–20 | 58 | 43 | 13 | 2 | 88 | 246 | 155 | 2nd of 8, North 4th of 15, AJHL | Won Div. Quarterfinals, 4–2 vs. Grande Prairie Storm Postseason cancelled |
The Western Canada Cup was a postseason tournament between the playoff champions of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL), Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), and a previously selected host team from one of the leagues. It ran from 2013 to 2017 with the top two teams qualifying for the Royal Bank Cup Junior A national championship tournament. It replaced the Doyle Cup, which had been the qualifier for the AJHL and BCHL champions, and the ANAVET Cup, which had been the qualifier for the MJHL and SJHL champions. The qualifying system reverted the Doyle and ANAVET Cups in 2018.
The tournament began with round-robin play between the five team followed by the top two teams playing in championship game and the third and fourth place teams playing in a semifinal game. The loser of the championship game then faced the winner of the semifinal game for the runner-up qualifier. The winner of the championship and the runner-up game advanced to the Royal Bank Cup.
Year | Round-robin | Record | Standing | Semifinal | Championship game | Runner-up game |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | L, 2–4 vs. Dauphin Kings (Host) L, 1–3 vs. Coquitlam Express (BCHL) OTW, 3–2 vs. Yorkton Terriers (SJHL) W, 5–3 vs. Winnipeg Blues (MJHL) | 2–2–0 (W–L–OTL) | 3rd of 5 | W, 5–3 vs. Coquitlam Express | — | L, 2–4 vs. Dauphin Kings |
2015 | L, 3–11 vs. Penticton Vees (BCHL) OTL, 3–4 vs. Melfort Mustangs (SJHL) L, 4–5 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons (Host) L, 2–4 vs. Portage Terriers (MJHL) | 0–4 (W–L) | 5th of 5 | Did not advance |
The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) is an association of Canadian junior A ice hockey leagues and teams and was formed in November 1993, emerging from the Canada West Association of Junior 'A' Hockey. The champion of the Canadian Junior Hockey League wins the Centennial Cup.
The Centennial Cup is an annual ice hockey tournament organized by Hockey Canada and the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), which determines the national champion of junior A ice hockey. It consists of a ten-team round robin featuring the winners of all nine CJHL member leagues as well as a pre-selected host city.
The Prince Albert Raiders are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team based in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Founded in 1971 as a member of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, the Raiders have been members of the Western Hockey League since 1982. They play in the East Division of the Eastern Conference and host games at the Art Hauser Centre.The Raiders are two-time Ed Chynoweth Cup winners, and won the Memorial Cup as Canadian junior champions in 1985.
The Humboldt Broncos are a Canadian junior "A" ice hockey team from Humboldt, Saskatchewan. Established in 1970, the Broncos play in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. The Broncos have won the SJHL ten times while winning the ANAVET Cup seven times to advance to the Centennial Cup, which they have won on two occasions in 2003 and 2008.
The Doyle Cup was an ice hockey trophy won through a best-of-7 series conducted annually by the Canadian Junior Hockey League to determine the Pacific region berth in the Centennial Cup, the national Junior A championship. From 1971 to 2021, the series was played between the Fred Page Cup champions of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) and the Enerflex Cup champions of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), except from 2013 to 2017 when it was replaced by the four-province Western Canada Cup. Its future status is uncertain because of format changes to the national championship and the BCHL's withdrawal from the CJHL after the 2020–21 season. The current trophy was donated in 1984 by Pete Doyle, a Penticton, British Columbia businessman, replacing the Pacific Centennial Cup that two leagues competed for from 1971 to 1984.
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 Brooks Bandits are a Junior ice hockey team in the 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.
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.
The Abbott Memorial Cup, commonly referred to as the Abbott Cup, was awarded annually from 1919 through 1999 to the Junior "A" ice hockey Champion for Western Canada.
The St. Albert Saints were a junior ice hockey franchise based in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada, for twenty-seven seasons from 1977 to 2004. Before 1977, the team played in nearby Spruce Grove as the Spruce Grove Mets, and in 2004 the team again moved to Spruce Grove where they now play as the Spruce Grove Saints. In all its incarnations, the team has been a part of the junior 'A' Alberta Junior Hockey League.
The Inaugural 1996 Royal Bank Cup is the 26th Junior "A" 1996 ice hockey National Championship for the Canadian Junior A Hockey League.
The 1975 Centennial Cup is the fifth Tier II Junior "A" 1975 ice hockey National Championship for the Canadian Junior A Hockey League.
The 2009 Royal Bank Cup is the 39th Junior "A" 2009 ice hockey National Championship for the Canadian Junior Hockey League. 2009 marked the 14th year the Royal Bank Cup has been awarded and the 39th year of modern Junior "A" hockey.
The 2010 Royal Bank Cup was the 40th Junior "A" 2010 ice hockey National Championship for the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The 2010 Royal Bank Cup marked the 40th consecutive year a national championship has been awarded to this skill level since the breakaway of Major Junior hockey in 1970.
The 2011 Royal Bank Cup was the 41st Junior "A" 2011 ice hockey National Championship for the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The 2011 Royal Bank Cup marked the 41st consecutive year a national championship has been awarded to this skill level since the breakaway of Major Junior hockey in 1970.
The Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) is an Alberta-based Junior A ice hockey league that belongs to the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL). It was formed as a five-team league in 1964. The 2023–24 season began with 16 teams, however 5 teams did not finish the season after it was announced that they planned to join the BCHL in the 2024–25 season. The regular season league champions receive the Dave Duchak Trophy. The playoff champions receive the Inter Pipeline Cup. The winner of the AJHL playoffs continues on to play in the Centennial Cup tournament, which determines Canadian Junior A champion.
The Chilliwack Chiefs are a junior hockey team based in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). They play their home games at the Chilliwack Coliseum which was vacated after the Chilliwack Bruins of the Western Hockey League (WHL) were sold and moved to Victoria, where they became known as the Victoria Royals.
The 2012 Royal Bank Cup was the 42nd Junior "A" 2012 ice hockey National Championship for the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The 2012 Royal Bank Cup marked the 42nd consecutive year a national championship had been awarded to this skill level since the breakaway of Major Junior hockey in 1970.
The Western Canada Cup (WCC); was the Junior 'A' ice hockey championship for western Canada from 2013 to 2017. The annual five-team event consisted of the host team and the champions from the four western leagues, and was used to determine the two Western seeds for the national championship, known at that time as the RBC Cup.
The 2018 Royal Bank Cup was the 48th Canadian junior A Ice Hockey National Championship for the Canadian Junior Hockey League and the 48th consecutive year a national championship was awarded to this skill level since the breakaway of Major Junior hockey in 1970. The tournament was played at the Prospera Centre in Chilliwack, British Columbia.