St. Stephen Aces

Last updated
St. Stephen Aces
St. Stephen Aces logo.jpg
City St. Stephen, New Brunswick
League Maritime Junior Hockey League
DivisionEastLink North (Roger Meek)
Founded2014
Folded2019
Home arena Garcelon Civic Centre
ColoursNavy blue, green, and light grey
   
Franchise history
2014–2016County Aces
2016–2019St. Stephen Aces
2019–present Fredericton Red Wings

The St. Stephen Aces [1] [2] were a Canadian junior ice hockey franchise from St. Stephen, New Brunswick. The team was a member of the Maritime Junior Hockey League and played in the Eastlink North Division. They played their home games in the Garcelon Civic Centre in St. Stephen, New Brunswick.

Contents

History

The County Aces were founded in 2014 as an expansion team in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League [3] The Aces were part of the Roger Meek (later renamed the EastLink North) Division and were the Maritime Junior A Hockey League's 12th team, bringing balance to the two divisions (6 teams each). [4]

In their first two seasons, the Aces were one of the top draws at the gate despite their on ice struggles.

After playing their last game in the EastLink North Division Semifinal on March 23, 2019, rumours began to swirl around the future of the franchise in St. Stephen. Ownership kept the fans and community waiting to hear about the future of the team, although people in the community (including Mayor Allan MacEachern) felt the future did not look good for the team. [5] On April 10, 2019, a local group came together, with the support of the town council, to try and purchase the team and keep it in St. Stephen. However, by that time an announcement was set for April 15 in Fredericton, and neither the League nor the team responded to the requests for a meeting. [6]

On April 15, the Maritime Junior A Hockey League announced that the St. Stephen Aces had been sold to Global Centre Ice Inc. of Fredericton. The deal had been pitched to the League in March 2019, and the League had voted at that time in favour of the deal. The team was renamed as Fredericton Junior A Red Wings, with plans to begin play at Fredericton's Grant-Harvey Centre in the Fall of 2019. [7]

Season-by-season record

Regular season

Legend: OTL=Overtime loss, SOL=Shootout loss

SeasonDivisionGamesWonLostOTLSOLPointsGoals
For
Goals
Against
Standing
DivisionMHL
2014–15 Roger Meek48640021410627312th12th
2015–16 Eastlink North48103620221242426th12th
2016–17 50162563411832164th8th
2017–18 50123602261122156th12th
2018–19 50202730431381744th9th

Playoffs

SeasonQuarter-finalSemi-finalFinal
2014–15 Did not qualify
2015–16 Did not qualify
2016–17 0-4 Miramichi Timberwolves Eliminated
2017–18 Did not qualify
2018–19 0-4 Summerside Western Capitals Eliminated

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fredericton</span> Capital city of New Brunswick, Canada

Fredericton is the capital city of the Canadian province of New Brunswick. The city is situated in the west-central portion of the province along the Saint John River, also known by its Indigenous name of Wolastoq, which flows west to east as it bisects the city. The river is the dominant natural feature of the area. One of the main urban centres in New Brunswick, the city had a population of 63,116 and a metropolitan population of 108,610 in the 2021 Canadian census. It is the third-largest city in the province after Moncton and Saint John.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Hockey League</span> Ice hockey league in the United States and Canada

The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Starting with the 2024–25 season, 32 of the 33 with only the Utah NHL Team currently having no affiliation. NHL teams will have official affiliations with an AHL team. When NHL teams do not have an AHL affiliate, players are assigned to AHL teams affiliated with other NHL franchises. Twenty-six AHL teams are located across the United States whereas the remaining six are situated in Canada. The league offices are located in Springfield, Massachusetts, and its current president is Scott Howson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Hockey League</span> Sports league

The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitutes the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada, alongside the Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. Teams play for the Ed Chynoweth Cup, with the winner moving on to play for the Memorial Cup, Canada's national junior championship. WHL teams have won the Memorial Cup 19 times. Many players have been drafted from WHL teams, and have found success at various levels of professional hockey, including the National Hockey League (NHL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League</span> Sports league in Canada

The Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League. Officially the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League until 2023, the league includes teams in Quebec and the Maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.

Daniel Frederick Grant was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger, who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for parts of fourteen seasons from 1966 to 1979, most notably for the Minnesota North Stars. In his career, Grant notched 263 goals and 535 points while playing for the Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota North Stars, Detroit Red Wings and the Los Angeles Kings, and played in three All-Star Games. He married Linda Simpson in 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North American Hockey League</span> US Tier II junior ice hockey league

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is in its 49th season of operation in 2023–24. It is the only Tier II junior league sanctioned by USA Hockey, and acts as an alternative for those who would not or did not make the roster of a team in the Major Junior Canadian Hockey League (CHL) nor Tier I United States Hockey League (USHL). The NAHL is one of the oldest junior hockey leagues in the United States and is headquartered in Addison, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. John's Maple Leafs</span> Defunct American Hockey League team

The St. John's Maple Leafs were a minor ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, at Memorial Stadium from 1991 to 2001, and at Mile One Stadium from 2001 to 2005. The team was also colloquially known as the "Baby Leafs" after their parent NHL team, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint John Flames</span> Ice hockey team

The Saint John Flames were a Canadian ice hockey team in the American Hockey League from 1993 to 2003 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. The Calgary Flames bought and relocated the Utica Devils, to be their AHL affiliate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maritime Junior Hockey League</span> Canadian Junior A ice hockey league

The Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) is a Junior A ice hockey league under Hockey Canada, a part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. It consists of six teams from New Brunswick, which make up the EastLink North Division, five teams from Nova Scotia, and one team from Prince Edward Island which make up the Eastlink South Division. The winner of the MHL playoffs competes for the Centennial Cup against the winners of the 8 other tier 2 junior A leagues across Canada. Prior to the pandemic the MHL champions would participate in the Fred Page Cup. This tournament involved the Bogart Cup champions from the CCHL(Ontario), the Kent Cup champions from the MHL(Maritimes) and the winner of the La Coupe Napa of the QJHL(Québec) as well as a pre determined host. The winner would move on to compete for the Canadian National Junior A Championship. However with the departure of the BCHL whom ended affiliation with the CJHL in March 2021 as well as Hockey Canada in June 2023 becoming an independent league. No Centennial Cup qualifying tournaments such as the Kent Cup have been played since 2022 and instead all the league champions have directly advanced to the Centennial Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League</span> Canadian developmental junior ice hockey league

The Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League (GMHL) is a Canadian developmental junior ice hockey league. The league has primarily had teams in the Greater Toronto Area, Central Ontario, Northeastern Ontario, and Quebec.

The West Kent Steamers are a Junior A Ice Hockey team from Bouctouche, New Brunswick. They play their home games at the 1,100 seat J.K. Irving Regional Centre in Bouctouche, New Brunswick. The team is a member of the Maritime Hockey League and play in the Eastlink North Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlottetown Abbies</span> Ice hockey team in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

The Charlottetown Abbies were a Tier II Junior "A" team based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. They played in the IJHL and the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. Their home rink from 2003 to 2008 was the MacLauchlan Arena on the campus of UPEI. Before then, it was the Charlottetown Civic Centre.

The Edmundston Blizzard are a junior ice hockey team from Edmundston, New Brunswick, Canada. They play in the Maritime Junior Hockey League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodstock Slammers</span> Ice hockey team in Woodstock, New Brunswick

The Woodstock Slammers were a junior "A" hockey team based in Woodstock, New Brunswick. They played as part of the Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL). The team played their home games at the Carleton Civic Centre, formally known to fans as "Slammerland" or "Slammertown, Canada". The Slammers were a relatively successful team in their 18 year history, winning a NB Junior B League title and Don Johnson Cup (2000), three Kent Cups, one Fred Page Cup (2012) and a silver medal at the RBC Cup (2012). In 2018, the franchise relocated to Grand Falls, New Brunswick, changing their name to the Grand Falls Rapids.

The New Brunswick Junior Hockey League (NBJHL) was a Canadian Junior ice hockey league in the province of New Brunswick. The NBJHL was in competition for the Callaghan Cup and Centennial Cup as a Junior A league.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Brunswick Junior Hockey League (2012–)</span>

The New Brunswick Junior Hockey League (NBJBHL) is a Canadian Junior ice hockey league in the Province of New Brunswick. The NBJHL is a member of Hockey New Brunswick and Hockey Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manny McIntyre</span> Canadian professional athlete

Vincent Churchill "Manny" McIntyre was a Canadian professional athlete who played both ice hockey and baseball. He is an inductee of the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame, Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Grand Falls Rapids are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Grand Falls, New Brunswick. They are in the Maritime Junior Hockey League's Eastlink North Division along with five other Maritime clubs. The Rapids play their home games at the Centre E. & P. Senechal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fredericton Red Wings</span> Canadian junior hockey club

The Fredericton Junior Red Wings are a Canadian junior ice hockey franchise from Fredericton, New Brunswick. The team is a member of the Maritime Junior Hockey League and plays in the EastLink North Division. They play their home games at the Grant-Harvey Centre in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

The 2019–20 Maritime Junior Hockey League season was the 53rd season in league history. The season consisted of 52 games played by each MHL team.

References

  1. "Quizzes | Free Online Quizzes | PCHquizzes".
  2. "Junior A Hockey headed for Charlotte County | CBC News".
  3. "Wqdy.fm". Archived from the original on 2014-03-10. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  4. "Maritime Hockey League powered by GOALLINE.ca". themhl.ca. Archived from the original on 2014-03-10.
  5. "St. Stephen mayor baffled by lack of answers from junior hockey team on its future | CTV News Atlantic". atlantic.ctvnews.ca. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 2019-04-15.
  6. "Details scarce on future of St. Stephen hockey club | Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. 2019-04-10. Retrieved 2019-04-15.
  7. "St. Stephen Aces hockey team finds new home — as the Fredericton Red Wings - New Brunswick | Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. 2019-04-15. Retrieved 2019-04-15.