Red Deer Rustlers

The Red Deer Rustlers were a Junior A ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League based in Red Deer, Alberta. They captured the inaugural Centennial Trophy in 1971. Their eight AJHL championships remains the second most in league history, behind the Calgary Canucks nine championships.

Division titles won: 1982–83, 83–84, 84–85, 88–89
Regular season titles won: 1970–71, 73–74, 79–80, 84–85, 88–89
League Championships won: 1970, 71, 72, 74, 80, 85, 87, 89
Doyle Cup Titles: none (captured 3 AB/BC titles before the creation of the Doyle Cup)
Centennial Trophy Titles: 1971, 80
Red Deer Rustlers
CityRed Deer, Alberta
LeagueAlberta Junior Hockey League
DivisionSouth
Operated1967 (1967)–89

History

The Rustlers joined the AJHL in 1967 on the orders of the Alberta Amateur Hockey Association, which blocked their attempt at joining the Western Canada Hockey League as an expansion team.[1] The Rustlers would quickly rise to the top of the AJHL, capturing four league titles in five years between 1970 and 1974. In 1971, they captured the first Centennial Trophy as Canadian Junior A national champions.[2] The Rustlers repeated that feat in 1980.

During this time, the Rustlers developed many players who would go on to play major-junior or college hockey, while 20 ultimately played in the National Hockey League. Among them were all six members of the Sutter family to play in the NHL: Brian, Darryl, Duane, Brent, Ron and Rich.[3] Gary Sutter, the seventh, and only, brother not to play in the NHL turned down an invitation to play for the Rustlers in 1972.[4]

In 1989, after winning their eighth league championship, the Rustlers were expelled from the league for violating its by-laws.[5] The team remained suspended until 1992 when it officially folded, making room for the Red Deer Rebels, as the central Alberta city finally joined the WHL.

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

SeasonGPWLTGFGAPointsFinishPlayoffs
1967–68----------
1968–69----------
1969–705026168222185602nd overallWon championship
1970–715030119216172691st overallWon championship and Centennial Trophy
1971–724833150264174662nd overallWon championship
1972–736043152366234882nd overallLost final
1973–746039183329240811st overallWon championship
1974–756026322267299545th overall
1975–766031281358319633rd overall
1976–776041181375267832nd overall
1977–786028320309308565th overall
1978–796016440243352326th overall
1979–806049923922141001st overallWon championship and Centennial Trophy
1980–816032280278250643rd North
1981–826034233288261712nd South
1982–836035223317261731st South
1983–846034251300266691st SouthLost final
1984–856039201275222791st SouthWon championship
1985–86†----------
1986–876031281302306632nd SouthWon championship
1987–886041172357246842nd South
1988–896039183285202811st SouthWon championship

†Team granted a one-year leave of absence in 1985–86. They would re-emerge in 1986-87 under new ownership.

Playoffs
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Mount Royal College 4-games-to-1
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Lethbridge Sugar Kings 4-games-to-1 AJHL CHAMPIONS
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Penticton Broncos (BCJHL) 4-games-to-3 ALTA/BC CHAMPIONS
Red Deer Rustlers defeated St. Boniface Saints (MJHL) 4-games-to-none ABBOTT CUP CHAMPIONS
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Charlottetown Islanders (MJAHL) 4-games-to-2 CENTENNIAL CUP CHAMPIONS
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Lethbridge Sugar Kings 4-games-to-3
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-1 AJHL CHAMPIONS
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Vernon Essos (BCJHL) 4-games-to-2 ALTA/BC CHAMPIONS
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Humboldt Broncos (SJHL) 4-games-to-1 ABBOTT CUP CHAMPIONS
Guelph CMC's (SOJHL) defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-none
  • 1973 Lost final
Red Deer Rustlers defeated The Pass Red Devils 4-games-to-2
Calgary Canucks defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-3
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Edmonton Mets 4-games-to-none
Red Deer Rustlers defeated The Pass Red Devils 4-games-to-1 AJHL CHAMPIONS
Kelowna Buckaroos (BCJHL) defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-1
  • 1975 DNQ
  • 1976 Lost semi-final
Spruce Grove Mets defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-2
  • 1977 Lost semi-final round robin
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-2
Third in semi-final round robin (1-3) vs. Calgary Canucks and Taber Golden Suns
  • 1978 Lost quarter-final
St. Albert Saints defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-3
  • 1979 Lost quarter-final
Calgary Canucks defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-none
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Sherwood Park Crusaders 3-games-to-none
Red Deer Rustlers defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-1
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-1 AJHL CHAMPIONS
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Penticton Knights (BCJHL) 4-games-to-none ALTA/BC CHAMPIONS
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Prince Albert Raiders (SJHL) 4-games-to-2 ABBOTT CUP CHAMPIONS
First in 1980 Centennial Cup round robin (3-1)
Red Deer Rustlers defeated North York Rangers (OPJHL) 3-2 in final CENTENNIAL CUP CHAMPIONS
  • 1981 Lost quarter-final
St. Albert Saints defeated Red Deer Rustlers 3-games-to-1
  • 1982 Lost semi-final
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-none
Calgary Spurs defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-1
  • 1983 Lost semi-final
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Olds Grizzlys 4-games-to-1
Calgary Canucks defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-2
  • 1984 Lost final
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Hobbema Hawks 4-games-to-1
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Calgary Spurs 4-games-to-1
Fort Saskatchewan Traders defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-none
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Olds Grizzlys 4-games-to-none
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Calgary Spurs 4-games-to-none
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Sherwood Park Crusaders 4-games-to-2 AJHL CHAMPIONS
Penticton Knights (BCJHL) defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-1
  • 1986 Did Not Participate
  • 1987 Won League, lost Doyle Cup
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Calgary Spurs 4-games-to-3
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-3
Red Deer Rustlers defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-2 AJHL CHAMPIONS
Richmond Sockeyes (BCJHL) defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-3
  • 1988 Lost semi-final
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Olds Grizzlys 4-games-to-2
Calgary Canucks defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-none
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Calgary Spurs 4-games-to-1
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Olds Grizzlys 4-games-to-1
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-1 AJHL CHAMPIONS
Vernon Lakers (BCJHL) defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-2

NHL alumni

See also

References

General

Footnotes

  1. "AJHL history: the 1960s". Alberta Junior Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2006-04-22. Retrieved 2006-12-16.
  2. AJHL Annual Guide & Record Book 2006-07. Hockey Now Communications Ltd. 2006. p. 70.
  3. AJHL Annual Guide & Record Book 2006-07. Hockey Now Communications Ltd. 2006. p. 98.
  4. Francis, Eric (2004-02-06). "Big brother is watching". Calgary Sun. Retrieved 2006-12-16.
  5. "AJHL history: the 1980s". Alberta Junior Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2006-04-22. Retrieved 2006-12-16.
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