Westfort Hurricanes

The Westfort Hurricanes were a Canadian Junior ice hockey club from Fort William, Ontario. The Herks were members of the Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League and were Abbott Cup finalists once.

Westfort Hurricanes
CityFort William, Ontario
LeagueThunder Bay Junior A Hockey League
Midwest Junior Hockey League
Can-Am Junior Hockey League
Operated1940 (1940)-July 6, 1980
Home arenaFort William Gardens
ColoursUnknown
Head coachUnknown
Franchise history
1940-1961Fort William Hurricane-Rangers
1961-1966Fort William Hurricanes
1966-1972Westfort Hurricanes
1972-1975Thunder Bay Westfort Hurricanes
1975-1978Degagne Hurricanes
1978-1980Degagne Buccaneers
Previous franchise history
1978merged with Thunder Bay Beavers and Fort William Canadians

History

In 1972, the Hurricanes broke away from the Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League to join the St. Paul, Minnesota-based Can-Am Junior Hockey League. A year later, that league became the Midwest Junior Hockey League. The Herks stayed on board for one Midwest Junior season before returning to the TBJHL.

Dave Siciliano coached the Hurricanes during the 1973–74 season.[1] His team completed the regular season in first place with 45 wins in 60 games.[2] In the 1974 Centennial Cup playoffs, the Hurricanes defeated the Wexford Raiders four games to three in the first round,[3] then were defeated four games to three by the Smiths Falls Bears in the second round.[4]

The MWJHL later merged and solidified the United States Hockey League. The Buccaneers folded on July 6, 1980, when the TBAHA left them with no league to play in.

Season-by-season standings
SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPResults
1940-41185112-89106123rd TBJHL
1941-42161510-11013301st TBJHL
1942-4310910-7131181st TBJHL
1943-45Did Not Participate
1945-468170-155225th TBJHL
1946-476411-312592nd TBJHL
1947-489351-395973rd TBJHL
1948-4912381-526773rd TBJHL
1949-50181170-10986222nd TBJHL
1950-512111100-10085223rd TBJHL
1951-523015141-140127313rd TBJHL
1952-532911180-129161223rd TBJHL
1953-543410231-114180214th TBJHL
1954-55298201-97143174th TBJHL
1955-56333273-8816793rd TBJHL
1956-57302280-9524143rd TBJHL
1957-58224171-6612693rd TBJHL
1958-59246144-82128163rd TBJHL
1959-60201370-9476261st TBJHL
1960-61245154-77108143rd TBJHL
1961-62282242-7718663rd TBJHL
1962-63289172-92127203rd TBJHL
1963-64268126-87103223rd TBJHL
1964-65221192-9318944th TBJHL
1965-66303261-11222674th TBJHL
1966-67297193-118172174th TBJHL
1967-683211192-13418727.54th TBJHL
1968-69362385-196129511st TBJHL
1969-703013143-156160292nd TBJHL
1970-713013143-133156292nd TBJHL
1971-722714112-----302nd TBMJHL
1972-73315215-94178154th CAJHL
1973-746045141-430258912nd MWJHL
1974-75271944-164106421st TBJHL
1975-76301965-163117432nd TBJHL
1976-77251492-168122302nd TBJHL
1977-78282062-----421st TBJHL
1978-79251663-----351st TBJHL
1979-803424100-216163481st TBJHL

Playoffs
  • 1971 Lost final
Westfort Hurricanes defeated Fort William Canadians 3-games-to-2
Thunder Bay Marrs defeated Westfort Hurricanes 4-games-to-1
  • 1972 Lost semi-final
Minnesota Jr. Stars defeated Westfort Hurricanes 2-games-to-none
  • 1973 Lost quarter-final/Canadian TBAHA Semi-final
Thunder Bay Centennials defeated Westfort Hurricanes 4-games-to-2
Thunder Bay Hurricanes defeated Thunder Bay Eagles (TBJHL) 3-games-to-none
Thunder Bay Hurricanes defeated Fort William Canadians (TBJHL) 4-games-to-none JACK ADAMS TROPHY CHAMPIONS
Thunder Bay Hurricanes defeated Wexford Raiders (OPJHL) 4-games-to-3
Smiths Falls Bears (CJHL) defeated Thunder Bay Hurricanes 4-games-to-3
  • 1975 Lost final
Thunder Bay Hurricanes defeated Thunder Bay Beavers 4-games-to-2
Thunder Bay Eagles defeated Thunder Bay Hurricanes 4-games-to-1
  • 1976 Lost semi-final
Thunder Bay Beavers defeated Thunder Bay Hurricanes 4-games-to-2
  • 1977 Lost final
Degagne Hurricanes defeated Thunder Bay Beavers 3-games-to-none and 1 tie
Thunder Bay Eagles defeated Degagne Hurricanes 4-games-to-1
Degagne Hurricanes defeated Thunder Bay Beavers 3-games-to-none
Degagne Hurricanes defeated Atikokan Voyageurs 4-games-to-none TBJHL CHAMPIONS
Guelph Platers (OPJHL) defeated Degagne Hurricanes 4-games-to-none
  • 1979 Lost final
Thunder Bay North Stars defeated Degagne Buccaneers 4-games-to-1
  • 1980 Lost final
Thunder Bay North Stars defeated Degagne Buccaneers 4-games-to-none with 1 tie

Championships

TBJHL Champions:

1942, 1943, 1952, 1960, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1974*, 1978

Abbott Cup Finalists:

1970

Dudley Hewitt Cup/Eastern Centennial Cup Semi-final Champion

1974

(*) denotes: Herks played in MWJHL, rejoined TBJHL for playoffs.

Notable alumni

Fort William Hurricane-Rangers [5]

Fort William Hurricanes [6]

Westfort Hurricanes [7]

Thunder Bay Westfort Hurricanes [8]

References
  1. "Dave Siciliano Hockey Stats and Profile". Hockey Database. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  2. "1973–74 Midwest Junior Hockey League Standings". Hockey Database. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  3. "Bears, Hurricanes in east final". Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ontario. April 19, 1974. p. 24.icon of an open green padlock
  4. "Bears shoot way to Cup finals". Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ontario. May 2, 1974. p. 29.icon of an open green padlock
  5. http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayersByTeam.jsp?team=Fort+William+Rangers
  6. http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayersByTeam.jsp?team=Fort+William+Hurricanes
  7. http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayersByTeam.jsp?team=Westfort+Hurricanes
  8. http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayersByTeam.jsp?team=Thunder+Bay+Hurricanes
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