Mississauga Chargers
The Mississauga Chargers are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Ontario Junior A Hockey League. They are the product of a 1990 merger of two former Metro Junior B franchises, the Thornhill Thunderbirds and the Markham Connection. After the 1990 merger the team spent one year in Markham known as the Markham Thunderbirds, and in 1991 they returned to their Thornhill Thunderbirds name for one season. In 1992, the team moved to Mississauga. As a member of the Metro Junior A Hockey League they participated for 3 seasons. They left for the OPJHL in 1995. They have had a glim past few years, but in the 2007–08 season they saw a rare light when team captain Bruce Crawford lead the entire OPJHL in scoring (41-57-98).
| Mississauga Chargers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Mississauga, Ontario, Canada |
| League | Ontario Junior Hockey League |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Home arena | Port Credit Arena |
| Colours | Black, red, white |
| Owner(s) | Lloyd Stockley |
| General manager | Tony Clarke |
| Head coach | Joe Washkurak |
| Affiliates | Mississauga Steelheads (OHL) Mississauga Jets (GTHL) |
| Franchise history | |
| 1980-1984 | Weston Dukes |
| 1984-1987 | King City Dukes |
| 1987 | North York Civics |
| 1987-1988 | Richmond Hill Dukes |
| 1988-1990 | Thornhill Thunderbirds |
| 1990 | Merged with Markham Connections |
| 1990-1991 | Markham Thunderbirds |
| 1991-1992 | Thornhill Thunderbirds |
| 1992-1994 | Mississauga Senators |
| 1994-Present | Mississauga Chargers |
History
Richmond Hill/Thornhill franchise
This franchise had begun in 1981 as the Weston Dukes, becoming the King City Dukes in 1984, and becoming the Richmond Hill Dukes in 1987 for one season. The team moved to Thornill in 1988, and was named the Thunderbirds for two seasons before the merger.
Markham Travelways/Connection franchise
In 1983 the North York Flames moved to Markham, and were named as the Travelways. In 1989 they were renamed the Markham Connection after the Travelways bus sponsor was sold.
Season-by-season results
The Thornhill franchise
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | Playoffs |
| Weston Dukes | ||||||||||
| 1980-81 | 42 | 14 | 22 | 6 | - | 183 | 201 | 34 | 10th Metro B | DNQ |
| 1981-82 | 34 | 11 | 19 | 4 | - | 148 | 202 | 26 | 10th Metro B | |
| 1982-83 | 35 | 3 | 25 | 7 | - | 149 | 255 | 13 | 12th Metro B | |
| 1983-84 | 42 | 16 | 19 | 7 | - | 198 | 216 | 39 | 7th Metro B | Lost quarter-final |
| King City Dukes | ||||||||||
| 1984-85 | 36 | 15 | 21 | 0 | - | 192 | 195 | 30 | 8th Metro B | |
| 1985-86 | 37 | 12 | 22 | 3 | - | 205 | 243 | 27 | 9th Metro B | DNQ |
| 1986-87 | 37 | 17 | 17 | 3 | - | 202 | 223 | 37 | 8th Metro B | Lost quarter-final |
| Richmond Hill Dukes | ||||||||||
| 1987-88 | 37 | 9 | 24 | 4 | - | 178 | 244 | 22 | 11th Metro B | DNQ |
| Thornhill Thunderbirds | ||||||||||
| 1988-89 | 38 | 19 | 13 | 6 | - | 190 | 172 | 44 | 3rd Metro B | |
| 1989-90 | 44 | 27 | 9 | 8 | - | 246 | 147 | 62 | 3rd Metro B | Won League |
| Markham Thunderbirds | ||||||||||
| 1990-91 | 44 | 18 | 20 | 6 | - | 176 | 171 | 42 | 8th Metro B | |
| Thornhill Thunderbirds | ||||||||||
| 1991-92 | 44 | 36 | 6 | 2 | - | 245 | 113 | 74 | 1st Metro A | |
| Mississauga Senators | ||||||||||
| 1992-93 | 48 | 25 | 18 | 5 | - | 212 | 177 | 55 | 5th Metro A | |
| 1993-94 | 50 | 17 | 31 | 2 | - | 213 | 260 | 36 | 12th Metro A | DNQ |
| Mississauga Chargers | ||||||||||
| 1994-95 | 50 | 23 | 24 | 3 | - | 249 | 271 | 49 | 7th Metro A | |
| 1995-96 | 50 | 30 | 15 | 5 | - | 258 | 203 | 65 | 3rd OPJHL-Me | |
| 1996-97 | 51 | 29 | 19 | 3 | - | 234 | 220 | 62 | 3rd OPJHL-Me | |
| 1997-98 | 51 | 15 | 29 | 3 | 4 | 178 | 265 | 37 | 4th OPJHL-Me | |
| 1998-99 | 51 | 6 | 41 | 3 | 1 | 161 | 321 | 16 | 12th OPJHL-W | |
| 1999-00 | 49 | 19 | 24 | 2 | 4 | 190 | 220 | 44 | 7th OPJHL-W | |
| 2000-01 | 49 | 25 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 216 | 194 | 58 | 4th OPJHL-W | |
| 2001-02 | 49 | 18 | 23 | 4 | 4 | 174 | 164 | 44 | 7th OPJHL-W | |
| 2002-03 | 49 | 24 | 19 | 3 | 3 | 189 | 203 | 54 | 6th OPJHL-W | |
| 2003-04 | 49 | 25 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 214 | 225 | 53 | 5th OPJHL-W | |
| 2004-05 | 49 | 14 | 32 | 2 | 1 | 197 | 260 | 31 | 8th OPJHL-W | |
| 2005-06 | 49 | 16 | 29 | 4 | 0 | 173 | 221 | 36 | 8th OPJHL-W | Lost Conf. QF |
| 2006-07 | 49 | 15 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 179 | 272 | 31 | 7th OPJHL-W | Lost Conf. QF |
| 2007-08 | 49 | 22 | 23 | - | 4 | 213 | 245 | 48 | 7th OPJHL-W | |
| 2008-09 | 49 | 11 | 33 | - | 5 | 186 | 300 | 27 | 9th OJHL-M | |
| 2009-10 | 56 | 18 | 34 | - | 4 | 207 | 273 | 40 | 12th OJAHL | DNQ |
| 2010-11 | 50 | 12 | 34 | - | 4 | 184 | 299 | 28 | 7th OJHL-W | DNQ |
| 2011-12 | 49 | 11 | 38 | - | 0 | 140 | 282 | 22 | 7th OJHL-S | DNQ |
| 2012-13 | 55 | 22 | 29 | - | 4 | 194 | 228 | 48 | 6th OJHL-S | DNQ |
| 2013-14 | 53 | 25 | 26 | - | 2 | 169 | 206 | 52 | 4th OJHL-S | Lost Conf. QF |
| 2014-15 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2015-16 | 54 | 10 | 41 | 0 | 3 | 177 | 158 | 23 | 6th of 6 South Div 10th of 11 SW Conf 21st of 22 OJHL | DNQ |
| 2016-17 | 54 | 16 | 34 | 2 | 2 | 159 | 238 | 36 | 6th of 6 South Div 10th of 11 SW Conf 18th of 22 OJHL | DNQ |
| 2017-18 | 54 | 19 | 29 | 4 | 2 | 133 | 178 | 44 | 6th of 6 South Div 9th of 11 SW Conf 17th of 22 OJHL | DNQ |
Playoffs
- 1990 Won League
- Thornhill Thunderbirds defeated Bramalea Blues 4-games-to-2
- Thornhill Thunderbirds defeated Henry Carr Crusaders 4-games-to-2
- Thornhill Thunderbirds defeated Wexford Raiders 4-games-to-3 METJHL CHAMPIONS
- 1991 Lost Preliminary
- Kingston Voyageurs defeated Markham Thunderbirds 2-games-to-1
- 1992 Lost semi-final
- Thornhill Thunderbirds defeated Pickering Panthers 4-games-to-none
- Wexford Raiders defeated Thornhill Thunderbirds 4-games-to-2
- 1993 Lost quarter-final
- St. Michael's Buzzers defeated Mississauga Senators 4-games-to-2
- 1994 DNQ
- 1995 Lost quarter-final
- Caledon Canadians defeated Mississauga Chargers 4-games-to-none
Markham Travelways/Connections franchise
| Markham Travelways/Connections | |
|---|---|
| City | Markham, Ontario, Canada (1983-1990) North York, Ontario, Canada (1974-1983) |
| League | Metro Junior B Hockey League |
| Operated | 1974-1990 |
| Franchise history | |
| 1974-1977 | North York Rangers |
| 1977-1983 | North York Flames |
| 1983-1989 | Markham Travelways |
| 1989-1990 | Markham Connections |
| 1990 | Merged with Thornhill Thunderbirds |
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | Playoffs |
| North York Rangers | ||||||||||
| 1974-75 | 38 | 12 | 21 | 5 | - | 170 | 201 | 29 | 10th Metro B | |
| 1975-76 | 36 | 7 | 23 | 6 | - | 153 | 208 | 20 | 12th Metro B | |
| 1976-77 | 36 | 15 | 17 | 4 | - | 192 | 172 | 34 | 10th Metro B | |
| North York Flames | ||||||||||
| 1977-78 | 35 | 8 | 19 | 8 | - | 167 | 177 | 24 | 12th Metro B | |
| 1978-79 | 44 | 22 | 18 | 4 | - | 265 | 235 | 48 | 7th Metro B | |
| 1979-80 | 42 | 24 | 11 | 7 | - | 290 | 201 | 55 | 3rd Metro B | |
| 1980-81 | 42 | 24 | 14 | 4 | - | 223 | 178 | 52 | 4th Metro B | |
| 1981-82 | 36 | 13 | 16 | 7 | - | 177 | 191 | 33 | 7th Metro B | |
| 1982-83 | 36 | 6 | 26 | 4 | - | 153 | 251 | 16 | 11th Metro B | |
| Markham Travelways | ||||||||||
| 1983-84 | 42 | 14 | 24 | 4 | - | 186 | 225 | 34 | 10th Metro B | DNQ |
| 1984-85 | 36 | 23 | 11 | 2 | - | 218 | 185 | 48 | 4th Metro B | |
| 1985-86 | 37 | 23 | 6 | 8 | - | 245 | 172 | 54 | 3rd Metro B | Lost semi-final |
| 1986-87 | 37 | 19 | 11 | 7 | - | 171 | 146 | 45 | 4th Metro B | Lost semi-final |
| 1987-88 | 37 | 19 | 12 | 6 | - | 196 | 154 | 44 | 5th Metro B | Lost final |
| 1988-89 | 40 | 12 | 25 | 3 | - | 150 | 229 | 27 | 9th Metro B | |
| Markham Connection | ||||||||||
| 1989-90 | 44 | 12 | 27 | 5 | - | 192 | 291 | 29 | 9th Metro B | |
- 1990 Lost Preliminary
- Oshawa Legionaires defeated Markham Connections 3-games-to-none
Notable alumni
Other Mississauga teams
Before the Chargers, the Mississauga Torspos played in the Metro Junior B league from 1985 until 1988. Also, in 1992, the Central Junior "B" league Streetsville Derbys were known as the Mississauga Derbys for the 1992–93 season, before retaining their original name.