The Hamilton Tiger Cubs were a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) from 1953 to 1960. The team was based in Hamilton, Ontario, playing home games at the Hamilton Forum.
History In 1953, the Windsor Spitfires were sold and relocated becoming the Hamilton Tiger Cubs. The Tiger Cubs played home games at the Hamilton Forum.
In the 1953–54 OHA season, goaltender Dennis Riggin received the Dave Pinkney Trophy for the lowest team goals against average.
In the 1957–58 OHA season, centre Murray Oliver received the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHA's most valuable player. In the same season, the Tiger Cubs reached the OHA finals for the J. Ross Robertson Cup, and were defeated by the Toronto Marlboros four games to none, with a tied game.
The Tiger Cubs had three last-place finishes in the OHA standings within five seasons as of 1960, and were rumored to become the Red Wings. Renamed the Hamilton Red Wings as of the 1960–61 OHA season, they were affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings.
Notable alumni Jerry Sullivan was an All-American centre for the Michigan Tech Huskies in 1962. Defenceman Henry Åkervall played for the Canada men's national team at the 1964 Winter Olympics.Hank Akervall Bio, Stats, and Results | Olympics at Sports-Reference.com
Brian Kilrea later coached junior hockey, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003. Pat Quinn coached several teams in the National Hockey League and the Canada men's national team, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2016.
List of National Hockey League or World Hockey Association alumni:
Dave Amadio Don Blackburn Cummy Burton Bob Dillabough Lloyd Haddon Jack Hendrickson Larry Hillman Larry Jeffrey Brian Kilrea Lowell MacDonald Pit Martin Billy McNeill Stu McNeill Hillary Menard John Miszuk Dan Olesevich Murray Oliver Nick Polano Pat Quinn George Ranieri Dennis Riggin Wayne Rivers Len Ronson Brian Smith Bob Wall Carl Wetzel Howie Young
Season-by-season results Regular season and playoffs results:
Legend: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Memorial Cup championsOHA championsOHA finalists
Season Regular season Playoffs Finish1953–545831243650.5602222083rd OHAWon quarterfinal (Guelph Biltmores) 3–0Lost semifinal (Toronto Marlboros) 3–0–11954–554921235470.4801811735th OHALost quarterfinal (Guelph Biltmores) 3–01955–564813305310.3231712507th OHADid not qualify1956–575224262500.4811701915th OHALost quarterfinal (Toronto Marlboros) 3–11957–585227187610.5872001762nd OHAWon quarterfinal (Peterborough Petes) 3–1–1Won semifinal (Toronto St. Michael's Majors) 2–1–2Lost OHA final (Toronto Marlboros) 4–0–11958–595411358300.2781672297th OHADid not qualify1959–604810344240.2501582517th OHADid not qualify
References