Port Stanley Lakers

The Port Stanley Lakers were a junior team based in Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada.

History
The Port Stanley Lakers were founded in 1989 as members of the Western Ontario Junior D Hockey League. A large league comprised of the remnants of multiple other Southern Ontario Junior leagues. In 1991, this league renamed itself the OHA Junior Development League.

In 1994, the Lakers finished first amongst all OHAJDL teams in the regular season with a stellar record of 36 wins, 2 losses, and 2 ties. They made it all the way to the league finals in the playoffs and found themselves nose-to-nose with the Mitchell Hawks. The Hawks were not to be denied as they swept the Lakers aside 4-games-to-none to win the OHA Cup as league champions.

The 1995 season saw the Lakers pull off a rock solid performance, finishing second overall. They pushed all the way to the OHAJDL finals once again. Their opponents this time around were the Thamesford Trojans. The Trojans defeated the Lakers 4-games-to-2 to win the OHA Cup.

The next season, the Lakers entered the playoffs and met the Lambeth Lancers in the first round. The Lancers meant business and defeated the Lakers 4-games-to-2 to put them out of the playoffs.

The Lakers finished the 1996-97 season in fifth place overall. In the first round of the playoffs, they met the Thamesford Trojans. They defeated the Trojans 4-games-to-none. In the second round, the Lakers were defeated by the Mount Brydges Bulldogs 4-games-to-2.

The Lakers showed great promise in the 1997-98 season, finishing second overall. They entered the playoffs against the Lambeth Lancers, whom they defeated 4-games-to-1. In the second round, the Lakers were up against the Thamesford Trojans who they also beat in five games. In the conference final, Port Stanley ran into the Exeter Hawks. In a drawn out series, the Hawks bested the Lakers in the seventh game to win the series 4-games-to-3 and deny the Lakers a chance at the OHA Cup.

The 1999-00 proved to be one for the ages for the Port Stanley Lakers. After finishing first overall in the OHAJDL with a record of 31 wins and 9 losses, the Lakers pushed deep into the playoffs. Their first opponents were the Lambeth Lancers, who the Lakers defeat 4-games-to-2. In the second round, the Lakers came up against the Thamesford Trojans and swept them 4-games-to-none. The conference finals were next and the Lakers were up against a tough Lucan Irish squad. The Irish couldn't handle the Lakers, as Port Stanley took the series 4-games-to-1. This earned the Lakers their first OHAJDL final since 1995. The Lakers challenged the Burford Bulldogs and defeated them 4-games-to-1 to win their franchises first ever OHA Cup.

The 2000-01 season marked the end of an era of domination for the Lakers. This was the last season for many that they would ride amongst the top teams in the standings. After finishing first overall in the league, the Lakers entered the playoffs against the North Middlesex Stars. The Lakers swept the Stars 4-games-to-none. In the second round of the playoffs, the Lakers met the Seaforth Centenaires. The underdog Centenaires took the Lakers to game seven and defeated them in an upset.

In 2004, the Lakers met Thamesford in the first round of the playoffs and defeated them 4-games-to-none. In the second round, they met Lambeth and defeated them 4-games-to-2. In the conference final, the Lakers met the Exeter Hawks and were swept in four games.

During the off-season, the Lakers moved to West Elgin and became the West Lorne Lakers.

Playoffs

 * 1994 Lost final
 * Mitchell Hawks defeated Port Stanley Lakers 4-games-to-none in final


 * 1995 Lost final
 * Thamesford Trojans defeated Port Stanley Lakers 4-games-to-2 in final


 * 1996 Lost conference quarter-final
 * Lambeth Lancers defeated Port Stanley Lakers 4-games-to-2 in conf. quarter-final


 * 1997 Lost conference semi-final
 * Port Stanley Lakers defeated Thamesford Trojans 4-games-to-none in conf. quarter-final
 * Mount Brydges Bulldogs defeated Port Stanley Lakers 4-games-to-2 in conf. semi-final


 * 1998 Lost conference final
 * Port Stanley Lakers defeated Lambeth Lancers 4-games-to-1 in conf. quarter-final
 * Port Stanley Lakers defeated Thamesford Trojans 4-games-to-1 in conf. semi-final
 * Exeter Hawks defeated Port Stanley Lakers 4-games-to-3 in conf. final


 * 2000 Won League
 * Port Stanley Lakers defeated Lambeth Lancers 4-games-to-2 in conf. quarter-final
 * Port Stanley Lakers defeated Thamesford Trojans 4-games-to-none in conf. semi-final
 * Port Stanley Lakers defeated Lucan Irish 4-games-to-1 in conf. final
 * Port Stanley Lakers defeated Burford Bulldogs 4-games-to-1 in final


 * 2001 Lost conference semi-final
 * Port Stanley Lakers defeated North Middlesex Stars 4-games-to-none in conf. quarter-final
 * Seaforth Centenaires defeated Port Stanley Lakers 4-games-to-3 in conf. semi-final


 * 2004 Lost conference final
 * Port Stanley Lakers defeated Thamesford Trojans 4-games-to-none in conf. quarter-final
 * Port Stanley Lakers defeated Lambeth Lancers 4-games-to-2 in conf. semi-final
 * Exeter Hawks defeated Port Stanley Lakers 4-games-to-none in conf. final