Drumheller Falcons
Drumheller Falcons | |
---|---|
City | Drumheller, Alberta |
League | Alberta Junior Hockey League |
Division | South |
Franchise history | |
1967-1970 | Ponoka Stampeders |
1971-1983 | Drumheller Falcons |
The Drumheller Falcons were a Junior A ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League based in Drumheller, Alberta.
The Falcons joined the AJHL 1971 as the league's seventh team after acquiring the assets of the Ponoka Stampeders franchise that ceased operations a year previous. The Falcons generally struggled throughout its history, though the team did reach the AJHL final in 1974-75 where they lost four games to three to the Spruce Grove Mets. One year later, the Falcons would take a three year leave of absence.
The Falcons returned in 1979, however were consistently overmatched, winning just 29 games total between 1979 and 1983. The Falcons folded midway through the 1982-83 season having lost every game they played that year. The Falcons still hold the record for longest losing streak spanning two seasons at 35; a record stopped only by the team's demise.
Four Falcons alumni went on to play in the National Hockey League: Merlin Malinowski, Jim Nill, Bryan Maxwell and John Hilworth.
Drumheller would not get a second chance in the AJHL until 2003, when the Drumheller Dragons were founded as an expansion team.
Season-by-season record
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
1971-72 | 48 | 16 | 32 | 0 | 190 | 319 | 32 | 7th overall | Out of playoffs |
1972-73 | 60 | 29 | 29 | 2 | 331 | 350 | 58 | 3rd overall | |
1973-74 | 60 | 21 | 36 | 3 | 232 | 309 | 45 | 5th overall | |
1974-75 | 60 | 42 | 17 | 1 | 342 | 260 | 85 | 2nd overall | Lost final |
1975-76 | 60 | 19 | 40 | 1 | 289 | 425 | 39 | 5th overall | |
1979-80 | 59 | 9 | 49 | 1 | 185 | 399 | 19 | 8th overall | Out of playoffs |
1980-81 | 60 | 10 | 50 | 0 | 227 | 415 | 20 | 4th South | Out of playoffs |
1981-82 | 60 | 10 | 50 | 0 | 230 | 427 | 20 | 5th South | Out of playoffs |
1982-83† | 26 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 64 | 223 | 0 | 5th South | Out of playoffs |
†Folded with a record of 0-24-0. The team forfeited two games following its demise.
Playoffs
- 1972 DNQ
- 1973 Lost Semi-final
- Calgary Canucks defeated Drumheller Falcons 4-games-to-1 with 1 tie
- 1974 DNQ
- 1975 Lost Final
- Drumheller Falcons defeated Taber Golden Suns 4-games-to-1
- Spruce Grove Mets defeated Drumheller Falcons 4-games-to-3
- 1976 DNQ
- 1977-79 Did Not Participate
- 1980 DNQ
- 1981 Lost Quarter-final
- Calgary Spurs defeated Drumheller Falcons 3-games-to-none
- 1982 DNQ
- 1983 Did Not Finish Season
See also
References
- Alberta Junior Hockey League website
- AJHL Annual Guide & Record Book 2006-07