The Lakefield Chiefs are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Lakefield, Ontario, Canada. They played in the Central Ontario Junior C Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association until the 2016–17 season when this league became the Orr Division of the Provincial Junior Hockey League
| Lakefield Chiefs | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Lakefield, Ontario |
| League | Provincial Junior Hockey League |
| Conference | East |
| Division | Tod |
| Founded | Circa 1980 |
| Home arena | Lakefield-Smith Community Centre |
| Colours | Red, Yellow, and White |
| General manager | Nick O'Brien |
| Head coach | Jamie Arcand |
| Championships | |
| League champions | EJDHL: 1978 and 1979 CJCHL: 1987, 1989, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018 |
| Clarence Schmalz Cups | 1987, 2000, 2014, 2018 |
| OHA Cups | 1978, 1979 |
History
edit
The Lakefield Chiefs emerged in the late 1970s as members of the Eastern Junior D Hockey League.
In the 1977–78 season, the Chiefs were Eastern league champions and faced off against the Western Ontario Junior D Hockey League Champions the Exeter Hawks. In a long and tight series, the Chiefs won game 7 and the series 4-games-to-3 to win their first OHA Cup as provincial champions.
A year later, the Chiefs were again the Eastern league champions. The Chiefs defeated the Western Ontario league's St. George Dukes 4-games-to-2 to clinch their second straight OHA Cup as Ontario Junior "D" Champions.
In 1980, the Lakefield Chiefs were promoted to join the Central Lakeshore Junior C Hockey League. Around 1986, the league merged with the Quinte-St. Lawrence Junior C Hockey League and became the Central Ontario Junior C Hockey League. That same year, the Chiefs won the Central Lakeshore championship.
In 1987, the Chiefs won the Central Ontario league championship. They moved on to the provincial championships and found themselves in the Clarence Schmalz Cup final against the Niagara & District Junior C Hockey League's Norwich Merchants. The Chiefs came out victorious, winning the series 4-games-to-2 to win their first Clarence Schmalz Cup.
Over the next eleven seasons, the Chiefs won three league titles. They won in 1989, 1997, and 1999. In 2000, the Lakefield Chiefs won their third league championship in four years. This year was different. They pushed deep into provincial playdowns and found themselves again in the Clarence Schmalz Cup finals. Their opponent ended up being the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League's Belle River Canadiens. The Chiefs defeated them to win their second All-Ontario title at the Junior "C" level 4-games-to-2.
The Chiefs won their league again in 2004.
In 2005–06, the Chiefs finished the season in fourth place. In the league quarter-final, the Chiefs defeated the Georgina Ice 3-games-to-none. In the league semi-final, the Chiefs ran into the top seeded Port Perry Mojacks. The Mojacks defeated the Chiefs 4-games-to-1 to move on to the league final.
The 2006–07 season, the Chiefs won the regular season crown to earn the top seed in the playoffs. In the league semi-final, the Chiefs played against the Uxbridge Bruins and swept them 4-games-to-none. In the league final, the Chiefs also swept the Port Perry Mojacks 4-games-to-none to win the league championship. They moved on to the provincial quarter-finals where they were pitted against the Empire B Junior C Hockey League's Amherstview Jets. The Chiefs beat the Jets 4-games-to-2 to advance further. In the provincial semi-final, the Chiefs ran into the Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League's Penetang Kings. The Chiefs were swept 4-games-to-none by the Kings.
On February 8, 2024, the PJHL announced a conference realignment that would take place starting the 2024-25 season. Lakefield, along with North Kawartha would move from the Orr division into the Tod division.[citation needed]
Season-by-season results
edit| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | Playoffs | |
| 1978-79 | Statistics unavailable | Won League Won OHA Cup, 4-3 (Hawks) | |||||||||
| 1979-80 | 24 | 15 | 9 | 0 | - | -- | -- | 30 | 1st of 4 CJDHL | Won League Won OHA Cup, 4-2 (Dukes) | |
| 1980-81 | 36 | 12 | 21 | 3 | - | 165 | 217 | 27 | 7th of 10 COJCHL | ||
| 1981-83 | Statistics unavailable | ||||||||||
| 1983-84 | 34 | 20 | 8 | 6 | - | -- | -- | 46 | 3rd of 9 COJCHL | ||
| 1984-85 | Statistics unavailable | Lost final (Eagles) | |||||||||
| 1986-87 | Statistics unavailable | Won League (Cougars) Lost CSC SF, 0-4 (Bulls) | |||||||||
| 1986-87 | Statistics unavailable | Won League (Dukes) Won CSC SF, 4-3 (Bulls) Won CSC Final, 4-2 (Merchants) | |||||||||
| 1987-88 | 32 | 27 | 3 | 2 | - | 271 | 114 | 56 | 1st of 11 COJCHL | ||
| 1988-89 | 40 | 27 | 7 | 6 | - | 293 | 182 | 60 | 1st of 11 COJCHL | Won League, 4-2 (Dukes) Lost CSC SF, 2-4 (Bulls) | |
| 1989-90 | 36 | 12 | 22 | 2 | - | 177 | 243 | 26 | 6th of 7 COJCHL | ||
| 1990-91 | 36 | 19 | 17 | 0 | - | 142 | 161 | 38 | 4th of 7 COJCHL | ||
| 1991-92 | 34 | 5 | 26 | 0 | 3 | 130 | 193 | 13 | 6th of 6 COJCHL | ||
| 1992-93 | 40 | 22 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 236 | 180 | 47 | 4th of 6 COJCHL | ||
| 1993-94 | 29 | 13 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 137 | 135 | 29 | 4th of 6 COJCHL | ||
| 1994-95 | 36 | 16 | 16 | 1 | 3 | 158 | 174 | 36 | 5th of 7 COJCHL | ||
| 1995-96 | 42 | 12 | 27 | 3 | 0 | 162 | 252 | 27 | 5th of 6 COJCHL | ||
| 1996-97 | 40 | 22 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 182 | 136 | 50 | 2nd of 6 COJCHL | Won League Won CSC QF (Rebels) Lost CSC SF, 0-4 (Rangers) | |
| 1997-98 | 40 | 25 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 241 | 167 | 52 | 2nd of 6 COJCHL | ||
| 1998-99 | 40 | 27 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 218 | 136 | 58 | 1st of 6 COJCHL | Won semi-final, 4-0 (Merchants) Won League, 4-2 (Bruins) Won CSC QF, 4-1 (Pirates) Lost CSC SF, 1-4 (Rangers) | |
| 1999-00 | 40 | 38 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 303 | 102 | 77 | 1st of 6 COJCHL | Won semi-final, 4-0 (Bruins) Won League, 4-0 (Ice) Won CSC QF, 4-0 (Rebels) Won CSC SF, 4-2 (Riverhawks) Won CSC Final, 4-2 (Canadiens) | |
| 2000-01 | 40 | 29 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 183 | 118 | 62 | 1st of 6 COJCHL | Won semi-final, 4-0 (Mojacks) Lost final, 2-4 (Bruins) | |
| 2001-02 | 42 | 23 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 182 | 119 | 51 | 3rd of 6 COJCHL | Won semi-final, 4-0 (Mojacks) Lost final, 2-4 (Bruins) | |
| 2002-03 | 38 | 17 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 147 | 119 | 39 | 3rd of 5 COJCHL | Won semi-final, 4-2 (Bruins) Lost final, 3-4 (Ice) | |
| 2003-04 | 38 | 21 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 157 | 130 | 50 | 2nd of 5 COJCHL | Won semi-final, 4-3 (Bruins) Won League, 4-3 (Ice) Won CSC QF, 4-2 (Rebels) Lost CSC SF, 1-4 (Peach Kings) | |
| 2004-05 | 40 | 26 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 163 | 103 | 54 | 2nd of 5 COJCHL | Lost semi-final, 2-4 (Mojacks) | |
| 2005-06 | 42 | 20 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 148 | 171 | 40 | 4th of 5 COJCHL | Won quarter-final, 3-0 (Ice) Lost semi-final, 1-4 (Mojacks) | |
| 2006-07 | 40 | 21 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 169 | 150 | 48 | 1st of 5 COJCHL | Won semi-final, 4-0 (Bruins) Won League, 4-0 (Mojacks) Won CSC QF, 4-2 (Jets) Lost CSC SF, 0-4 (Kings) | |
| 2007-08 | 40 | 27 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 160 | 111 | 54 | 1st of 5 COJCHL | Won semi-final, 4-0 (Bruins) Lost final, 0-4 (Ice) | |
| 2008-09 | 40 | 19 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 171 | 173 | 43 | |Won semi-final, 4-0 (Mojacks) Lost final, 0-4 (Bruins) | ||
| 2009-10 | 40 | 10 | 29 | - | 1 | 154 | 203 | 21 | 5th of 5 COJCHL | Won quarter-final, 3-0 (Ice) Lost semi-final, 2-4 (Bruins) | |
| 2010-11 | 40 | 16 | 21 | - | 3 | 178 | 211 | 35 | 5th of 5 COJCHL | Lost quarter-final, 2-3 (Merchants) | |
| 2011-12 | 40 | 27 | 10 | - | 3 | 208 | 141 | 57 | 1st of 6 COJCHL | Won semi-final, 4-1 (Ice) Lost final, 2-4 (Eagles) | |
| 2012-13 | 40 | 28 | 8 | - | 4 | 184 | 102 | 60 | 2nd of 6 COJCHL | Won semi-final, 4-0 (Eagles) Won League, 4-1 (Bruins) Lost CSC QF, 3-4 (Pirates) | |
| 2013-14 | 40 | 35 | 4 | - | 1 | 217 | 99 | 71 | 1st of 6 COJCHL | Won semi-final, 4-0 (Mojacks) Won League, 4-1 (Bruins) Won CSC QF, 4-3 (Pirates) Won CSC SF, 4-0 (Peach Kings) Won CSC Final, 4-0 (73's) | |
| 2014-15 | 42 | 29 | 12 | - | 1 | 193 | 123 | 59 | 2nd of 7 COJCHL | Lost semi-final, 0-4 (Eagles) | |
| 2015-16 | 42 | 21 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 151 | 133 | 45 | 5th of 7 COJCHL | Won quarter-final, 4-0 (Merchants) Lost semi-final, 2-4 (Eagles) | |
| 2016-17 | 41 | 32 | 7 | 2 | - | 188 | 108 | 66 | 1st of 7 Orr Div. PJHL |
Won Div. SF, 4-2 (Pirates) Won Div. Final, 4-0 (Eagles) Lost Conf. Final, 2-4 (Panthers) | |
| 2017-18 | 41 | 33 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 225 | 98 | 70 | 1st of 7 Orr Div. PJHL |
Won Div SF, 4-0 (Knights) Won Div. Final, 4-1 (Mojacks) Won Conf. Finals, 4-3 (Panthers) Won League Semifinal 4-3 (Siskins) Won League Final, 4-1 (Rangers) Clarence Schmalz Cup Champions | |
| 2018-19 | 42 | 30 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 184 | 95 | 64 | 2nd of 7 Orr Div. PJHL |
Lost Div Semis, 3-4 (Knights) | |
| 2019-20 | 42 | 25 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 176 | 84 | 54 | 3rd of 7 Orr Div. PJHL |
Lost Div Semis, 3-4 (Knights) | |
| 2020-21 | Season Lost due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||||||||||
| 2021-22 | 32 | 12 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 95 | 119 | 29 | 6th of 7 Orr Div. PJHL |
Won Div Quarters, 4-2 (Bruins) L Div Semis 2-4 (Merchants) | |
| 2022-23 | 42 | 10 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 96 | 179 | 22 | 7th of 7 Orr Div. PJHL |
Lost Div Quarters, 1-4 (Ice) | |
| 2023-24 | 42 | 20 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 160 | 176 | 44 | 4th of 7 Orr Div. PJHL |
Won Div Quarters, 4-0 (Lumberjacks) Lost Div Semifinals, 1-4 (Eagles) | |
Schmalz Cup Finals appearances
edit- 1987: Lakefield Chiefs defeated Norwich Merchants 4-games-to-2
- 2000: Lakefield Chiefs defeated Belle River Canadiens 4-games-to-2
- 2014: Lakefield Chiefs defeated Essex 73's 4-games-to-none
- 2018: Lakefield Chiefs defeated Glanbrook Rangers 4-games-to-1
OHA Cup Finals appearances
edit- 1978: Lakefield Chiefs defeated Exeter Hawks 4-games-to-3
- 1979: Lakefield Chiefs defeated St. George Dukes 4-games-to-2
2017–18 Team Staff
edit- President - Don Dunford
- General Manager - Tyler Revoy
- Head Coach - Jamie Arcand
- Assistant Coach - Shawn Dunbar
- Assistant Coach - Jason Hinze
- Assistant Coach - Nick O'Brien
- Trainer - Blair Nelson / Jared Ellis