Barrie Flyers



''This is about the junior team. For the senior team of the same name, please see Barrie Flyers (1966-1979).''

The Barrie Flyers were a junior and team playing in the Ontario Hockey Association in Barrie, Ontario.

History
They played in the Ontario Hockey Association's junior A series from 1945-46 through 1959-60.

The Flyers won the league title in 1947-48, 1948-49, 1950-51, and 1952-53.

They won the Memorial Cup in 1950-51 and 1952-53. They lost that final in 1947-48.

The Flyers were sponsored by the Boston Bruins, who had to get the permission of the Toronto Maple Leafs to do so. Barrie was within 50 miles of Toronto and so was in the Leafs' exclusive zone.

Hap Emms, who ran the Flyers, was opposed to Sunday hockey on religious grounds. In Toronto, the St. Michael's Majors and Toronto Marlboros, both Leafs' farm teams, played every Sunday. Emms refused to involve the Flyers in those games.

In retaliation, in 1953, the Maple Leafs withdrew permission for the Bruins to sponsor the Flyers in 1953. This continued for two seasons as the Flyers slumped.

In 1955 Emms agreed to let the Flyers play on Sundays in Toronto but held to his convictions and appointed an assistant coach to run the team on Sundays instead of him. The Bruins returned to sponsor the team and moved their players from the Galt Rockets.

The franchise was moved to Niagara Falls in 1960.

Players
The Barrie Flyers sent 37 young men onto the ranks of the National Hockey League. The best known only played one game for the Boston Bruins. His name is Don Cherry.

Award Winners

 * 1948-49 - Gil Mayer, Red Tilson Trophy Most Outstanding Player
 * 1950-51 - Lorne Howes, Dave Pinkney Trophy Lowest Team Goals Against

Photo


This remarkable photo was taken in 1951 when the Boston Bruins, the NHL parent team of the Flyers, came to town for an exhibition game. It shows, from back to front, the Bruins then the Flyers and then all their farm teams down to the Pee Wees in front.