Windsor Royals (ice hockey)

Last updated
Windsor Oxen
Windsor Royals.gif
City Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
League Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League
DivisionFred Fox
Foundedc. 1967
Home arena West Hants Recreation & Heritage Centre
Colours Black, Burgundy and White
   
General managerDavid Keith
Head coachJosh Dill
Franchise history
1967–2012Windsor Royals
2012–2025Valley Maple Leafs
2025–currentWindsor Oxen

The Windsor Oxen are a Canadian Junior ice hockey club from Windsor, Nova Scotia. They were members of the Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League and were 1998, 2001, and 2008 Don Johnson Cup Maritime Junior B champions.

Contents

History

Founded in 1967 as a member of the Metro Valley Junior B Hockey League, the team became a Junior A team in 1977 but folded only two years later. They were the Metro Valley League's first ever champion in 1968. After a five-year hiatus, the Royals came back to help the Mainland Junior B Hockey League and since 1984 have been a prominent member of the league.

The Royals are one of three teams to have won the Don Johnson Cup as Maritime Junior B Champions 3 times. The other two are the Sackville Blazers and the St. John's Jr. 50's.

In 1998, the Royals were the Nova Scotia Junior B Champions. With the win, the Royals went to Summerside, Prince Edward Island to compete for the Don Johnson Cup. They made it all the way to the finals, where they met the New Brunswick Junior B Hockey League's Richibucto Bears and defeated them 4-2 to win their first Maritime Championship.

In 2001, the Royals were selected to be the host site of the Don Johnson Cup. As host site, they were allowed to compete in the competition despite not winning their league. They would go on to defeat their own league champion, the Strait Pirates, 3-1 in the championship game to win their second Maritime Junior B Championship.

In 2008, the Royals won their league and moved on to the Don Johnson Cup. In their first game, they lost to the St. John's Jr. Celtics 7-4. In Game 2, they then beat Dieppe-Memramcook Voyageurs (a Junior B team) from the New Brunswick Junior C Hockey League 6-3. Windsor then lost 4-3 to the Island Junior Hockey League's Kensington Vipers 4-3, but beat the host team Sherwood Falcons 6-2 in the same day. All five teams finished the round robin 2-2-0, but by virtue of goal differential the Royals finished first. On April 19, in the semi-final the Royals defeated Dieppe-Memramcook 3-1 and on April 20 they again beat Sherwood 4-1 to clinch their third Don Johnson Cup.

In 2012, the team took a one-year leave of absence, and did not make a return the following year. The Windsor Royals are now defunct. The Valley Maple Leafs though have filled their void and now play in the Town of Windsor in the same arena

Following the 2024-25 season the franchise was re-branded to the Windsor Oxen after being purchase by local ownership.

Season-by-season record

SeasonGPWLOTLSOLGFGAPResultsPlayoffs
Windsor Oxen
2025-26

Season Statistics

1995-1996 NS Jr. B Hockey League Champions

Pos.PlayerGamesGoalsAssistsPointsHometown
FLee Druken33203151Digby, NS
FDarryl Banfield31232346St. John's, NL
FMike Fletcher34201434Rawdon, NS
FGuy Poirier20101828Glace Bay, NS
FDevon Veinot32111728Sweets Corner, NS
DKevin Lynch3381927Windsor, NS
FDarren Ashby34141327Wolfville, NS
FEvan Caldwell34161026New Minas, NS
FChris Walker32121325Spryfield, NS
DJimmy Johnson3351924Wolfville, NS
DJason Blanchard3471724Sweets Corner, NS
FJeff Hull31111324North Sydney, NS
FChris Hatchard3461016Windsor, NS
DEmile Beliveau3341014Moncton, NB
FJamie Boyd293811Windsor, NS
FShane Reaugh116511South Shore, NS
DMark Phillips282911Wolfville, NS
DChris Stott32189Labrador City, NL
FCharlie Aalders6112Wolfville, NS
Preceded by Don Johnson Cup Champions
1998
Succeeded by
Preceded by Don Johnson Cup Champions
2001
Succeeded by
Preceded by Don Johnson Cup Champions
2008
Succeeded by