Walpole Island Wild

Last updated
Walpole Island Wild
Wallaceburg Lakers.png
City Wallaceburg, Ontario
League Provincial Junior Hockey League
Founded1972
Home arena Walpole Island Sports Complex.
Colours Turquoise, Black, and White
   
General managerTyler Jacobs
Head coachLouie Blackbird
Franchise history
1972–2019Wallaceburg Lakers
2019–2023Wallaceburg ThunderHawks
2023–presentWalpole Island Wild
Championships
League champions1632

The Walpole Island Wild are a Canadian Junior ice hockey club based in Walpole Island, Ontario. They play in the Provincial Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.

Contents

History

Lakers' goalie during 2013-14 season. Wallaceburg goalie 2013.JPG
Lakers' goalie during 2013-14 season.
Lakers' skater during 2014-15 season. Wallaceburg Lakers player green 2014.jpg
Lakers' skater during 2014-15 season.

The Wallaceburg Thunderhawks have made the All-Ontario Final once since 1972, in 1999 they lost the Clarence Schmalz Cup to the Glanbrook Rangers. From the 1997-98 season to the 2000-2001 season the Lakers made it to the Great Lakes Junior C Finals. Winning the League Championship in 1998-99 season. The Lakers Revamped themselves in the 2006-2007 season, with Head Coach Mark Davis returning to the club, as they knocked off the 4th seeded Dresden Jr. Kings in a 6 game series for their first series win in 5 years, They would lose in the League Semi-finals to the League Champion Essex 73's in a hard fought 5 game series. In 2007-2008 The Lakers won the north division title and breezed past the Blenheim Blades in the first round 4-0. Round 2 brought on the Mooretown Flags which also brought a 4 game sweep. The Lakers would then face their rivals from Essex the 3 time defending League champions. The Lakers battled their hearts out right to the end but were no match for the 73's as Essex swept the finals in 4 games and claimed their 4th straight League Title.

On December 28, 2008, tragedy struck the Wallaceburg Lakers organization as they lost a valuable member of their team. 19-year-old Tristan Carswell (Forward, #16) died suddenly in his sleep. In the first game the Wallaceburg Lakers played following the death of Carswell, the Lakers coach asked in a pre-game speech for Tristan to send down a message to let them know he's still with them. The Lakers proceeded to score a goal 16 seconds into the game, and then again with 16 seconds remaining in the game. His jersey was retired at a ceremony February 4, 2009 in a game against Dresden.

During a tumultuous off-season in 2019, the ownership group of the Lakers dubiously applied to the Ontario Hockey Association for relocation to Tilbury, Ontario. [1] The move was rejected by the OHA.

Season-by-season record

SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPResultsPlayoffs
1972-734220193-197179434th GLJHLWon semi-final 3-0 (Kings)
Lost final 1-4 (Flyers)
1973-744316225-233258377th GLJHLLost semi-final 1-4 (73's)
1974-754226133-249167553rd GLJHLLost quarter-final 1-3 (Bulldogs)
1975-764219194-215211424th GLJHLLost semi-final 1-4 (73's)
1976-774213254-203249306th GLJHLDNQ
1977-784220193-259266434th GLJHLLost semi-final 0-3 (73's)
1978-794024142-275232503rd GLJHLLost quarter-final 1-2 (Kings)
1979-804217205-257219394th GLJHLLost quarter-final 1-4 (73's)
1980-814017194-183244385th GLJHLLost quarter-final 1-3 (Flyers)
1981-823812260-195240247th GLJHLLost quarter-final 2-3 (Kings)
1982-83392775-234157592nd GLJHLWon semi-final 4-1 (Kings)
Lost final 1-4 (Flyers)
1983-84406313-144288157th GLJHLDNQ
1984-854013225-187197318th GLJHLLost quarter-final 0-3 (73's)
1985-864011236-183224288th GLJHLLost quarter-final 2-3 (Kings)
1986-873982821153235198th GLJHLDNQ
1987-8838231311215180484th GLJHLLost quarter-final 1-4 (Jets)
1988-8940102631148246249th GLJHLLost Div quarter-final 1-4 (Jets)
1989-9040151933182165369th GLJHLDNQ
1990-91Did Not Participate
1991-92411372197367511th GLJHLDNQ
1992-934004000104341011th GLJHLDNQ
1993-9438826221282382010th GLJHLDNQ
1994-9542334321112861111th GLJHLDNQ
1995-96391225111211972610th GLJHLDNQ
1996-9739191262167161464th GLJHLLost quarter-final 2-4 (Sharks)
1997-9846211771173140505th GLJHLWon quarter-final 4-0 (Flyers)
Won semi-final 4-1 (Canadiens)
Lost final 1-4 (73's)
1998-994032701209109652nd GLJHLWon quarter-final 4-1 (Flags)
Won semi-final 4-2 (73's)
Won League 4-3 (Canadiens)
Won CSC semi-final 4-1 (Bulldogs)
Lost CSC Final 0-4 (Rangers)
1999-003929730191110612nd GLJHLWon quarter-final 4-1 (Sharks)
Won semi-final 4-1 (Comets)
Lost final 3-4 (Canadiens)
2000-0140241411152138503rd GLJHLWon quarter-final 4-2 (Kings)
Won semi-final 4-2 (73's)
Lost final 0-4 (Canadiens)
2001-0240151861131143377th GLJHLLost quarter-final 1-4 (Sharks)
2002-034052744125208189th GLJHLDNQ
2003-044082912107192199th GLJHLDNQ
2004-05404341169215109th GLJHLDNQ
2005-0640335118328789th GLJHLDNQ
2006-0740191722168142425th GLJHLWon quarter-final 4-2 (Kings)
Lost semi-final 1-4 (73's)
2007-0839241122187127523rd GLJHLWon quarter-final 4-0 (Blades)
Won semi-final 4-0 (Flags)
Lost final 0-4 (73's)
2008-09401819-3166179396th GLJHLLost quarter-final 2-4 (Flags)
2009-10402710-3191128573rd GLJHLWon quarter-final 4-0 (Flyers)
Won semi-final 4-1 (Kings)
Lost-final 0-4 (Canadiens)
2010-1140308-2168113621st GLJHLWon quarter-final 4-1 (Blades)
Lost semi-final 2-4 (Sharks)
2011-1240929-2129216209th GLJHLDNQ
2012-13401127-2125210249th GLJHLDNQ
2013-1440534-194234119th GLJHLDNQ
2014-1540631-387190159th GLJHLDNQ
2015-1640337-08825169th GLJHLDNQ
2016-17403361-7825379th StobbsDNQ
2017-1840337006726169th StobbsDNQ
2018-1940137025622649th StobbsDNQ
Wallaceburg ThunderHawks
2019-2040435016920499th of 9 StobbsDNQ
2020-21Season Lost due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021-22325242164184138th of 9 StobbsLost Div. Quarter finals 0-4 (Canadiens)
2022-23424353091262118th of 8 StobbsLost Div. Quarter finals 0-4 (73's)
Walpole Island Wild
2023-24426360073249128th of 8 Stobbs Lost Div. Quarter finals 0-4 (Canadiens)
2024-25424362180264108th of 8 Stobbs
16th of 16 Conf
61st of 63 PJHL
Lost Div. Quarter finals 0-4 (73's)
Lakers' skater during 2013-14 season. Wallaceburg skater 2013.JPG
Lakers' skater during 2013-14 season.
Lakers' goalie during 2014-15 season. Wallaceburg Lakers goalie green 2014.jpg
Lakers' goalie during 2014-15 season.

Clarence Schmalz Cup appearances

1999: Glanbrook Rangers defeated Wallaceburg Lakers 4-games-to-none

References

  1. "Lakers want to move to Tilbury from Wallaceburg".