Detroit Jr. Red Wings (SOJHL)

Detroit Jr. Red Wings
City	Detroit, Michigan
League	Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League
Operated	1958 (1958)-2003
Home arena	Olympia Stadium
Colors	Red and White
General manager	Tom Wilson
Head coach	Tom Wilson
Parent club(s)	Detroit Red Wings
Franchise history
1958-1964	Detroit Jr. Wings
1964-1970	Detroit Olympia
1970-1975	Detroit Jr. Red Wings
1975-1983	Detroit Jr. Wings
1984-2003	Detroit Compuware Ambassadors

The Detroit Jr. Red Wings are a defunct Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey team that was based out of Detroit, Michigan. They played out of the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League and were the feeder team for the National Hockey League's Detroit Red Wings.

History

The Jr. Red Wings started out in 1958 as a member of the Border Cities Junior B Hockey League. When the league folded in 1964, the team went back to the United States to play in the Michigan Junior Hockey League. During this time, 1964–1970, the team was known as the Detroit Olympia.

After the last great schism of Canadian junior hockey in 1970, the Detroit Jr. Red Wings became the first team to ever be crowned Tier II Junior "A" Central Canadian Champions, winners of the very first Dudley Hewitt Cup. The Championship allowed them entry into the 1971 Centennial Cup Playdowns. The team was led by league Most Valuable Player and Scoring Leader Mark Howe, son of hockey legend Gordie Howe.

In the 1974-75 season the Junior Wings defeated the Minnesota Junior Stars in the finals to capture the American Junior A National Championship. The Junior Wings were headed up by Tom Wilson (General Manager) who had put together a team that included such notables as Ken Morrow of New York Islander fame (4 Stanley Cups and an Olympic Gold Medal (1980) and Mark Wells (1980 Olympic Team).

Through the 1976-77 season, the team played out of Olympia Stadium with a facilities next to the Red Wings. They entered the newly formed Great Lakes Jr Hockey League later known as the North American Hockey League in 1976. In the 1976-77 season Wilson was GM and ex IHL referee veteran Skeets Harrison was head coach.Dave Feamster(Chicago Blackhawks)led the 1976 team that later sent the bulk of its roster to D-1 College Hockey. They played at The Olympia until 1983, when they went on hiatus. They seem to have come back a year later as the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors.

Notable alumni

• Ken Morrow - 1980 U.S. Olympic Team/New York Islanders
• Mark Wells - 1980 U.S. Olympic Team
• Mark Howe - Philadelphia Flyers
• Gordie Roberts - Hartford Whalers
• Ron Serafini - Oakland Seals
• Gordie Buynak - St. Louis Blues
• Marty Howe - Boston Bruins
• Dave Feamster - Chicago Blackhawks
• Tom Wilson - Coach/General Manager
• Pat Peake - Washington Capitals

Season-by-Season results

Season	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	P	Results	Playoffs
1958-59	12	6	6	0	46	64	18*	3rd BCJBHL
1959-60	30	21	6	3	149	93	45	1st BCJBHL
1960-61	32	27	5	0	176	85	54	1st BCJBHL
1961-62	30	19	11	0	155	111	38	2nd BCJBHL
1962-63	35	23	11	1	157	116	47	2nd BCJBHL
1963-64	30	14	16	0	148	134	28	4th BCJBHL
1964-68	Statistics Not Available
1968-69	32	9	21	2	76	105	20	7th BCJHL
1969-70	34	32	2	0	279	55	64	1st MJHL
1970-71	44	26	12	6	279	197	58	2nd SOJAHL	Won League, Won DHC
1971-72	56	35	16	5	333	225	75	2nd SOJAHL	Lost Final
1972-73	60	19	37	4	237	318	42	6th SOJAHL
1973-74	62	31	25	6	293	278	68	5th SOJAHL
1974-75	61	15	37	9	202	276	39	6th SOJAHL
1975-76	NAHL Standings Not Available
1976-77	48	30	12	6	287	197	66	2nd NAHL
1977-78	49	33	12	4	320	212	70	2nd NAHL
1978-79	50	27	17	6	317	242	60	2nd NAHL
1979-80	46	22	21	3	226	229	47	4th NAHL
1980-81	54	35	16	3	395	244	73	3rd NAHL
1981-82	46	25	18	3	259	232	53	3rd NAHL
1982-83	45	15	24	6	212	246	36	4th NAHL

(*) During the 1958-59 Season, the Jr. Red Wings played three 4-point games.

Playoffs

• 1971 Won League, Lost Hewitt-Dudley Memorial Trophy final

Detroit Jr. Red Wings defeated Welland Sabres 3-games-to-none with 2 ties

Detroit Jr. Red Wings defeated Guelph CMC's 3-games-to-2 with 2 ties SOJHL CHAMPIONS

Detroit Jr. Red Wings defeated Ottawa M&W Rangers (CJHL) 4-games-to-2

Charlottetown Islanders (MJAHL) defeated Detroit Jr. Red Wings 4-games-to-3

• 1972 Lost Final

Detroit Jr. Red Wings defeated Welland Sabres 4-games-to-1

Detroit Jr. Red Wings defeated Chatham Maroons 4-games-to-3

Guelph CMC's defeated Detroit Jr. Red Wings 4-games-to-1

• 1973 Lost Quarter-final

Guelph CMC's defeated Detroit Jr. Red Wings 4-games-to-none

• 1974 Lost Semi-final

Windsor Spitfires defeated Detroit Jr. Red Wings 4-games-to-none

• 1975 Lost Semi-final

Windsor Spitfires defeated Detroit Jr. Red Wings 4-games-to-1

External links

• OHA Website