West Kent Steamers

Last updated
West Kent Steamers
City Bouctouche, New Brunswick, Canada
League Maritime Junior Hockey League
DivisionEastlink North
Founded2004 (Halifax Wolverines)
Home arena J.K. Iriving Centre
Colours     
Owner(s)Larry Creaser
General managerOlivier Filion
Head coachOlivier Filion
Franchise history
2004-2008Halifax Wolverines
2008-2014Bridgewater Lumberjacks
2014-2023South Shore Lumberjacks
2023-presentWest Kent Steamers

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.

Contents

History

The Maritime Junior A Hockey League (MHL) had its origin in the Metro Valley Junior Hockey League, founded in 1967 as a Junior "B" level hockey league consisting of six teams, all of them based in Nova Scotia. In 1977, the Metro Valley League acquired Junior "A" status and in 1983 expanded to New Brunswick with the addition of the Moncton Hawks.

In 1991, two franchises from Prince Edward Island, based in Summerside and Charlottetown, joined the newly dubbed "Maritime Junior A Hockey League". The Summerside Western Capitals won the League's first ever National Title against South Surrey Eagles from British Columbia.

A tenth team, the Miramichi Timberwolves, was added for the 2000–2001 season. At the end of the 2001–02 season, the League approved the transfer of a team to Yarmouth. The Yarmouth Mariners began play in September 2002 and are now the biggest rival of the South Shore Lumberjacks . In early 2003, the league governors approved expansion into Woodstock, New Brunswick, with the Woodstock Slammers beginning play in the 2003–04 season.

The League got its second national Championship when the Halifax Oland Exports won the 2002 Royal Bank Cup on home ice. In the spring of 2004, the Weeks Hockey Organization bought the club, moved it to New Glasgow, and renamed it the Pictou County Weeks Crushers. On that same day, Halifax was granted an expansion franchise, the Halifax Wolverines.

In 2014 the League approved to add an expansion team in St. Stephen named the St. Stephen Aces. The League has hosted the Royal Bank Cup and Centennial Cup seven times, winning twice. MHL teams have also won seven Fred Page Cups as the Junior "A" Eastern Canadian Champions to earn the right to compete for the Royal Bank Cup.

The origin of the Lumberjacks goes back to April 15, 2008, when the owners of the Halifax Wolverines announced their plans to move to Bridgewater. Following a contest to come up with a name for the new team, the franchise was dubbed the "Bridgewater Lumberjacks." However, by 2014 the Lumberjacks were struggling, and in serious jeopardy of being dissolved or relocated. In November 2014, the MHL stepped in and temporarily took over the management of the team until a new owner was found. Larry Creaser, supported by an experienced group of hockey people and enthusiastic volunteers, assumed ownership and complete financial control of the Lumberjacks. The team was renamed the "South Shore Jr. A Lumberjacks" in an effort to expand the fan base of the team to nearby communities. Seats at the games were once again the "hottest ticket in town". The last home game of the season sold out with an attendance in excess of 1500 fans.

In 2023, the Maritime Hockey League Board of Governors approved the relocation of the team to Bouctouche New Brunswick, where they will begin play in the 2023-24 season.

In September 2024, the Steamers signed the first female player in franchise history, goaltender Rhyah Stewart. [1]

Season-by-season record

SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPResultsPlayoffs
2004-05561438221482543212th MJAHLDNQ
2005-06561634061922553811th MJAHLDNQ
2006-0758341905247210736th MJAHLLost Division Final
2007-08581833-71662424310th MJAHL
2008-09531826-9164202459th MJAHLLost Division Mini Series
2009-10502123-6179213487th MJAHLLost Division Semi-final
2010-11522426-2219237508th MHLLost Division Semi-final
2011-12521536-11662583110th MHLDNQ
2012-13521039-0144255239th MHLLost Division Mini Series
2013-1452540-71232691711th MHLDNQ
2014-15481629-31441693510th MHLDNQ
2015-1648242121138142514th of 6 South
9th of 12 MHL 		Won Div. Semifinals 4-3 (Bearcats)
Lost Div. Finals 1-4 (Crushers)
2016-1750173012171122375th of 6 South
10th of 12 MHL 		DNQ
2017-1850311522193132662nd of 6 South
4th of 12 MHL 		Won Div. Semifinals 4-3 (Ramblers)
Lost Div. Finals 1-4 (Jr. Mariners)
2018-1950272030211200573rd of 6 South
6th of 12 MHL 		Won Div. Semifinals 4-3 (Ramblers)
Lost Div. Finals 2-4 (Jr. Mariners)
2019-2052262231211200565th of 6 South
9th of 12 MHL 		DNQ
2020-21346260279142147th of 7 South
12th of 12 MHL 		DNQ
2021-22397282279142186th of 6 South
12th of 12 MHL 		DNQ
2022-2352103921130250236th of 6 South
12th of 12 MHL 		DNQ
West Kent Steamers
2023-2452341620187151702nd of 6 North
3rd of 12 MHL 		Lost Div. Semifinals 1-4 (Miramichi Timberwolves)

Franchise records

These are franchise records held by previous team rosters. Figures are updated after each completed MHL regular season.

Team Records for a single season
StatisticTotalSeason
Most Points732006-07
Most Wins342006-07
Most Goals For2472006-07
Fewest Goals For1232013-14
Fewest Goals Against2022008-09
Most Goals Against2692013-14

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Palmeter, Paul (September 10, 2024). "Antigonish teen to become one of first females to play in junior A hockey league". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . Retrieved September 12, 2024.
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