The Amherst Ramblers are a Junior A Hockey League team based in Amherst, Nova Scotia. The team is a member of the Maritime Junior Hockey League and are in the EastLink South Division. All home games are played out of the 2,500 seat Amherst Stadium. The season usually runs from mid-September to mid March every year.
| Amherst Ramblers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| League | Maritime Junior Hockey League |
| Division | Eastlink South Division |
| Founded | 1966 (Berwick Bruins) |
| Home arena | Amherst Stadium |
| Colours | Black, purple, and white |
| General manager | Phillip Fife |
| Head coach | Phillip Fife |
| Franchise history | |
| 1966-1967 | Berwick Shell Junior Bruins |
| 1967-1994 | Amherst Ramblers |
| 1994-1998 | Amherst Mooseheads |
| 1998-Present | Amherst Ramblers |
History
editThe Amherst Ramblers were founded in 1966 as the Berwick Shell Junior Bruins, and were founding members of the "Metro Valley Junior Hockey League". The league, then a junior B league, was eventually renamed the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. In 1967 the Bruins were relocated to Amherst and renamed the Amherst Ramblers.
The Ramblers have been known by two different names since moving to Amherst. Between 1994 and 1998 the team was known as the Moosheads. The logo consisted of a large letter "A" and the moose from Moosehead beer - similar in design to the current Halifax Mooseheads logo.
The Ramblers are known to draw some of the largest crowds in the Maritime Hockey League, and have placed third in average attendance the last few years, only behind the Yarmouth Mariners and the Weeks Crushers.
The Ramblers hosted the Centennial Cup (now known as Royal Bank Cup) in 1993, and they also hosted the Fred Page Cup in 2019.
Season-by-season record
edit| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | Playoffs | |
| 1973-74 | 33 | 13 | 6 | 4 | - | 142 | 153 | 30 | 7th MVJHL | ||
| 1974-75 | Statistics Not Available | ||||||||||
| 1975-76 | 32 | 14 | 14 | 4 | - | 142 | 153 | 32 | 4th MVJHL | ||
| 1976-77 | 32 | 7 | 24 | 1 | - | 109 | 198 | 15 | 8th MVJHL | ||
| 1977-78 | 36 | 16 | 17 | 3 | - | 167 | 173 | 35 | 5th MVJHL | ||
| 1978-79 | 35 | 9 | 23 | 3 | - | 156 | 217 | 21 | 6th MVJHL | ||
| 1979-80 | Statistics Not Available | ||||||||||
| 1980-81 | 39 | 13 | 24 | 2 | - | 218 | 360 | 28 | 4th MVJHL | ||
| 1981-82 | 40 | 14 | 23 | 3 | - | 205 | 278 | 31 | 5th MVJHL | ||
| 1982-83 | 40 | 9 | 29 | 3 | - | -- | -- | 19 | 5th MVJHL | ||
| 1983-84 | 40 | 12 | 28 | 0 | - | 231 | 333 | 24 | 5th MVJHL | ||
| 1984-85 | 40 | 11 | 26 | 3 | - | 163 | 229 | 25 | 4th MVJHL | ||
| 1985-86 | 40 | 9 | 28 | 3 | - | 176 | 276 | 21 | 4th MVJHL | ||
| 1986-87 | 40 | 4 | 31 | 5 | - | 145 | 316 | 13 | 6th MVJHL | ||
| 1987-88 | 40 | 14 | 20 | 5 | - | 202 | 224 | 33 | 5th MVJHL | ||
| 1988-89 | 38 | 10 | 19 | 9 | - | 189 | 227 | 29 | 5th MVJHL | ||
| 1989-90 | 40 | 21 | 13 | 6 | - | 243 | 205 | 48 | 4th MVJHL | Won League | |
| 1990-91 | 40 | 27 | 9 | 4 | - | 301 | 175 | 58 | 1st MVJHL | ||
| 1991-92 | 46 | 19 | 16 | 11 | - | 236 | 213 | 49 | 5th MJAHL | ||
| 1992-93 | 48 | 25 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 268 | 220 | 57 | 2nd MJAHL | Won League | |
| 1993-94 | 47 | 20 | 23 | 3 | 1 | 223 | 255 | 44 | 4th MJAHL | ||
| 1994-95 | 48 | 20 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 207 | 246 | 44 | 5th MJAHL | ||
| 1995-96 | 54 | 28 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 251 | 230 | 58 | 4th MJAHL | ||
| 1996-97 | 56 | 19 | 31 | 2 | 4 | 269 | 307 | 44 | 8th MJAHL | ||
| 1997-98 | 52 | 19 | 31 | 1 | 1 | 236 | 297 | 40 | 8th MJAHL | ||
| 1998-99 | 48 | 14 | 30 | 4 | - | 191 | 277 | 32 | 7th MJAHL | ||
| 1999-00 | 52 | 8 | 41 | 3 | 0 | 159 | 279 | 19 | 9th MJAHL | ||
| 2000-01 | 52 | 18 | 32 | 1 | 1 | 195 | 271 | 38 | 9th MJAHL | ||
| 2001-02 | 52 | 25 | 20 | 3 | 4 | 202 | 180 | 57 | 4th MJAHL | ||
| 2002-03 | 52 | 29 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 273 | 203 | 65 | 3rd MJAHL | ||
| 2003-04 | 52 | 20 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 190 | 253 | 43 | 8th MJAHL | ||
| 2004-05 | 56 | 25 | 24 | 6 | 1 | 212 | 210 | 57 | 7th MJAHL | ||
| 2005-06 | 56 | 33 | 18 | 0 | 5 | 218 | 203 | 71 | 3rd MJAHL | Lost Final | |
| 2006-07 | 58 | 35 | 17 | 0 | 6 | 268 | 208 | 76 | 5th MJAHL | Lost Division Semifinal | |
| 2007-08 | 58 | 30 | 23 | - | 5 | 169 | 180 | 65 | 7th MJAHL | ||
| 2008-09 | 54 | 30 | 19 | - | 5 | 193 | 167 | 65 | 6th MJAHL | ||
| 2009-10 | 50 | 20 | 28 | - | 2 | 148 | 42 | 8th MJAHL | Lost Preliminary | ||
| 2010-11 | 52 | 22 | 27 | - | 3 | 174 | 211 | 47 | 9th MHL | DNQ | |
| 2011-12 | 52 | 31 | 15 | - | 6 | 201 | 160 | 68 | 3rd MHL | Lost Division Final | |
| 2012-13 | 52 | 32 | 14 | - | 6 | 216 | 153 | 70 | 4th MHL | Lost Division Final | |
| 2013-14 | 52 | 31 | 18 | - | 3 | 202 | 162 | 65 | 4th MHL | Lost Division Semifinal | |
| 2014-15 | 48 | 12 | 32 | - | 4 | 163 | 260 | 28 | 11th MHL | DNQ | |
| 2015-16 | 48 | 17 | 29 | 1 | 1 | 142 | 187 | 36 | 5th of 6 South 10th of 12 MHL |
DNQ | |
| 2016-17 | 50 | 31 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 201 | 174 | 67 | 4th of 6 South 5th of 12 MHL |
Won Div. Semifinal 4-3 (Crushers) Lost Div. Finals, 1-4 (Bearcats) | |
| 2017-18 | 50 | 27 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 181 | 158 | 66 | 3rd of 6 South 5th of 12 MHL |
Lost Div. Semifinal 3-4 (Lumberjacks) | |
| 2018-19 | 50 | 36 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 204 | 134 | 75 | 2nd of 6 South 3rd of 12 MHL |
Lost Div. Semifinal 3-4 (Lumberjacks) | |
| 2019-20 | 52 | 30 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 202 | 188 | 61 | 2nd of 6 South 5th of 12 MHL |
Playoffs Cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic | |
| 2020-21 | 34 | 22 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 135 | 103 | 49 | 2nd of 6 South 2nd of 12 MHL |
||
| 2021-22 | 37 | 19 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 106 | 114 | 42 | 2nd of 6 South 6th of 12 MHL |
Lost Div. Semifinals 1-4 (Truro Bearcats} | |
| 2022-23 | 52 | 16 | 30 | 4 | 2 | 143 | 201 | 38 | 5th of 6 South 11th of 12 MHL |
Did Not Qualify for Post Season | |
| 2023-24 | 52 | 27 | 20 | 3 | 2 | 204 | 216 | 59 | 2nd of 6 South 5th of 12 MHL |
Won Div. Semifinals 4-2 (Pictou Crushers} Lost Div.Finals 2-4 (Summerside Western Capitals) | |
Fred Page Cup
editThe Ramblers competed in their 1st ever Fred Page Cup in 2019. They came 3rd.
Eastern Canada Championships
MHL - QAAAJHL - CCHL - Host
Round robin play with 2nd vs 3rd in semi-final to advance against 1st in the finals.
| Year | Round Robin | Record | Standings | Semi-Final | Gold Medal Game |
| 2019 (Host) |
L, Ottawa Jr. Senators 1-4 W, Yarmouth Mariners 5-3 L, Princeville Titans 0-5 |
1-2-0 | 3rd of 4 | L, Ottawa Jr. Senators 3-4 | Did not qualify |
Notable alumni
edit- Bill Riley
- Mal Davis
- Joey MacDonald
- Bill Chapman
- Mark Lee
- Keith Blenkhorn
- Zack MacEwen
See also
edit