Mississauga Steelheads | |
---|---|
City: | Mississauga, Ontario |
League: | Ontario Hockey League |
Conference: | Eastern |
Division: | Central |
Operated: | 2007–2012 |
Home Arena: | Hershey Centre |
Colours: | Light blue, navy blue and white |
Affiliate(s): | Mississauga Chargers |
Franchise history | |
1906–62: | Toronto St. Michael's Majors |
1996–2007: | Toronto St. Michael's Majors |
2007–2012: | Mississauga St. Michael's Majors |
2012-present: | Mississauga Steelheads |
The Mississauga St. Michael's Majors were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League, based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The team was originally known as the Toronto St. Michael's Majors, whose hockey program was founded and operated by St. Michael's College School in 1906. The current franchise was revived in 1996, and was relocated to Mississauga in 2007 after spending 10 years in Toronto. The team was renamed to the Mississauga Steelheads following the 2011–12 season.
History[]
St. Michael's revived its hockey program for the 1997–98 season in the Ontario Hockey League. The recent version of the Majors played for 10 seasons, until being relocated as the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors.
Originally owned by St. Michael's College School, the team was owned by Eugene Melnyk, who is the current owner of the Ottawa Senators and former CEO of Biovail Corporation. Melnyk pursued several deals to get a new arena for his team, but none came to fruition. One of Melnyk's foiled plans included purchasing Maple Leaf Gardens.
On July 12, 2006, Eugene Melnyk bought the Mississauga IceDogs. After the 2006–07 season, Melnyk sold the IceDogs to Bill Burke, and moved the Majors to the Hershey Centre in Mississauga. [1] [2] The IceDogs, in turn, moved to Jack Gatecliff Arena in St. Catharines, Ontario and are now known as the Niagara IceDogs.[3]
Although the team struggled at the box office early, they have steadily increased their attendance in three seasons at the Hershey Centre. That promises to continue improving with the news that in the 2010-11 season, the Majors hosted the 2011 Memorial Cup.
On May 14, 2012 the Majors were officially sold to Mississauga businessman Elliot Kerr. The franchise will be re-branded with a new name and logo, both which will announced in the upcoming weeks, while the old name and its associated logos will be returning to the St. Michael's College School. It was announced that the team will be called the Steelheads with the new logo debuting later on.
Coaches[]
Dave Cameron returned to the Majors organization after a stint in the AHL. Cameron previously coached with the club in Toronto from 2000 to 2004. Cameron would later leave to take on an assistant coach position with the Ottawa Senators due to his success in the OHL.
James Boyd, the associate GM/coach was promoted to be Cameron's replacement.
- 2007–11 Dave Cameron
- 2011-12 James Boyd
Retired Jerseys[]
The Mississauga St. Michael's Majors have retired four numbers
- 3 - Red Kelly
- 5 - Ted Lindsay
- 9 - Dave Keon
- 12 - Dick Duff
Season-by-season results[]
Regular season[]
Legend: OL = Overtime loss, SL = Shootout loss
Season | Games | Won | Lost | OL | SL | Points | Pct % | Goals for |
Goals against |
Standing |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2007–08 | 68 | 31 | 32 | 2 | 3 | 67 | 0.493 | 203 | 243 | 3rd Central |
2008–09 | 68 | 39 | 26 | 1 | 2 | 81 | 0.596 | 229 | 208 | 2nd Central |
2009–10 | 68 | 42 | 20 | 4 | 2 | 90 | 0.662 | 222 | 175 | 2nd Central |
2010–11 | 68 | 53 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 108 | 0.794 | 287 | 170 | 1st Central |
2011–12 | 68 | 33 | 26 | 1 | 7 | 74 | 0.537 | 201 | 219 | 5th Central |
Playoffs[]
- 2007–08 – Lost to Niagara IceDogs 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
- 2008–09 – Defeated Barrie Colts 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
Lost to Brampton Battalion 4 games to 2 in conference semi-finals. - 2009-10 - Defeated Peterborough Petes 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
Defeated Ottawa 67's 4 games to 3 in conference semi-finals.
Lost to Barrie Colts 4 games to 1 in conference finals. - 2010-11 - Defeated Belleville Bulls 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
Defeated Sudbury Wolves 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.
Defeated Niagara IceDogs 4 games to 1 in conference finals.
Lost to Owen Sound Attack 4 games to 3 in OHL finals.
Finished Memorial Cup round-robin in second place.
Defeated Kootenay Ice 3-1 in semi-final game.
Lost to Saint John Sea Dogs 3-1 in final game. - 2011–12 – Lost to Barrie Colts 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
Uniforms and logos[]
The primary logo for the Majors displayed "St. Michael's" written in script, with a Majors underscore written in light blue. The Majors colours were light blue, navy blue & white. The Majors hockey uniforms featured a different logo, a large letter "M" on the front, with the school crest (inset right) on the upper left chest, and the St. Michael's cloverleaf patch on the shoulders.
Home uniforms had a white background, navy blue shoulders and arms, with light blue trim. Road uniforms had a light blue background, with navy blue shoulders, and white trim. The Majors also used a third jersey with a stylized "M" on the front, and without the navy blue shoulders.
To celebrate the Majors 10th season back in the league, the team launched a new 3rd jersey with the shoulder cloverleaf logo on the front. The jersey is also baby blue in colour. After the move, the Majors' logo was changed slightly to a more modernized look, and new jerseys were unveiled.
Arena[]
The Mississauga St. Michael's Majors play home games at the Hershey Centre in northeast Mississauga, near the junction of Highway 401 & Highway 403. The Hershey Centre hosted the OHL All-Star Game in 2000. The arena also hosted the 2011 Memorial Cup from May 19-29.
- Capacity = 5,420
- Ice Size = 200' x 85'