Owen Sound Platers

Owen Sound Platers was a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Owen Sound, Ontario. The team played in the Ontario Hockey League from 1989 to 2000, then was sold to new owners who renamed the team the Owen Sound Attack.

Owen Sound Platers
City	Owen Sound, Ontario
League	Ontario Hockey League
Operated	1989 (1989)–2000
Home arena	J.D. McArthur Arena, Bayshore Community Centre
Colours	Black, white, gold and red
Franchise history
1968–1972	Guelph CMC's
1972–1975	Guelph Biltmore Madhatters
1975–1989	Guelph Platers
1989–2000	Owen Sound Platers
2000–present	Owen Sound Attack

History

In 1989 the Holody's moved the Guelph Platers to Owen Sound, Ontario, retaining the name "Platers", as the Holody family owned a local electroplating company. The team played home games in the J. D. McArthur Arena at the Bayshore Community Centre.

The city of Owen Sound would be a strong base for junior hockey with disproportionately high support from the smallest city in the OHL. The city had a two time Memorial Cup champion in the Owen Sound Greys in 1924 & 1927, and the Owen Sound Mercurys were a long-standing OHA Senior Hockey team and 1954 Allan Cup Champions.

Dave Siciliano coached the Platers to 39 wins in 68 games during the 1998–99 season, and a third-place finish in the Western Conference. In the playoffs, the Platers won the first round four games to one versus the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, won the second round four games to two versus the Guelph Storm, then lost in the third round four games to one versus the London Knights. The 1998–99 season marked the first time which the Platers advanced to the third round of the playoffs during the franchise's history in Owen Sound.

Despite many mediocre seasons, support for the team has remained strong. When the Holody's decided to sell the team in 2000, several local Owen Sound business-people banded together to purchase the team. Owen Sound fans realized that losing the team would be a crisis for the city. After a bidding war and a summer-long legal battle with another suitor, the team remained in Owen Sound. The ownership group elected for a name change and came up with the "Owen Sound Attack".

Coaches

List of coaches with multiple seasons in parentheses.

• 1989–1991, Len McNamara (2)
• 1991–1992, Rick Tarasuk
• 1992–1993, Jerry Harrigan (3)
• 1995–1996, Ric Seiling, John Lovell
• 1996–1997, John Lovell (3)
• 1997–1998, John Lovell, Dave Siciliano
• 1998–1999, Dave Siciliano (3)
• 1999–2000, Dave Siciliano, Brian O'Leary

Players

Andrew Brunette won the 1992–93 Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy as the top scorer in the OHL with 62 Goals, 100 Assists and 162 Points. He also tied for the Canadian Hockey League's scoring lead. Brunette was selected by the Washington Capitals 174th overall in the 7th round of 1993 NHL Entry Draft.

Jamie Storr was the 1993–94 OHL Goaltender of the Year. Storr was the starting goalie for back-to-back World Junior Hockey Championship Gold medals in 1993 and 1994. In 1994 he was drafted 7th overall by the Los Angeles Kings.

Dan Snyder, a former captain of the Owen Sound Platers had his number 14 retired by the Owen Sound Attack in 2003. He is remembered in Owen Sound for his leadership on the ice, and off the ice. Snyder was twice voted his team's humanitarian of the year. The Ontario Hockey League renamed its Humanitarian of the Year award posthumously in honour of Dan Snyder, who died from injuries suffered in a vehicular accident with teammate Dany Heatley in 2003.

NHL alumni

Nineteen alumni of the Owen Sound Platers graduated to play in the National Hockey League (NHL).

• Sean Avery
• Andrew Brunette
• Jeff Christian
• Ryan Christie
• Todd Hlushko
• Greg Jacina
• Brent Johnson
• Jason MacDonald
• Adam Mair
• Kirk Maltby
• Chris Minard
• Wayne Primeau
• Curtis Sanford
• Dan Snyder
• Jamie Storr
• Scott Walker
• Kevin Weekes
• Sean Whyte
• Joel Ward

Team records

Records listed for those achieved from 1989 to 2000.

Team records for a single season
Statistic	Total	Season
Most points	83	1998–99
Most wins	39	1998–99
Most goals for	330	1992–93
Fewest goals for	237	1999–2000
Fewest goals against	284	1993–94
Most goals against	373	1990–91

Individual player records for a single season
Statistic	Player	Total	Season
Most goals	Andrew Brunette	62	1992–93
Most assists	Andrew Brunette	100	1992–93
Most points	Andrew Brunette	162	1992–93
Most penalty minutes	David Benn	219	1992–93
Best GAA (goalie)	Jamie Storr	3.59	1993–94
Most wins (goalie)	Curtis Sanford	30	1998-99
Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played

Season-by-season results

Regular season

Season	Games	Won	Lost	Tied	OTL	Points	Pct %	Goals for	Goals against	Standing
1989–90	66	28	31	7	-	63	0.477	265	305	4th Emms
1990–91	66	13	48	5	-	31	0.235	269	373	7th Emms
1991–92	66	23	41	2	-	48	0.364	260	315	6th Emms
1992–93	66	29	29	8	-	66	0.500	330	324	4th Emms
1993–94	66	34	30	2	-	70	0.530	303	284	4th Emms
1994–95	66	22	38	6	-	50	0.379	239	299	3rd Central
1995–96	66	29	32	5	-	63	0.477	274	313	4th Central
1996–97	66	27	37	2	-	56	0.424	258	318	4th Central
1997–98	66	27	34	5	-	59	0.447	270	312	4th Central
1998–99	68	39	24	5	-	83	0.610	312	293	2nd Midwest
1999–2000	68	21	35	6	6	54	0.353	237	292	5th Midwest

Playoffs

• 1989–90 Defeated Sudbury Wolves 4 games to 3 in first round.
  Lost to Niagara Falls Thunder 4 games to 1 in quarter-finals.
• 1990–91 Out of playoffs.
• 1991–92 Lost to London Knights 4 games to 1 in first round.
• 1992–93 Defeated Niagara Falls Thunder 4 games to 0 in first round.
  Lost to S.S. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
• 1993–94 Defeated Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 1 in division quarter-finals.
  Lost to Detroit Jr. Red Wings 4 games to 0 in division semi-finals.
• 1994–95 Defeated Niagara Falls Thunder 4 games to 2 in division quarter-finals.
  Lost to Guelph Storm 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
• 1995–96 Lost to Niagara Falls Thunder 4 games to 2 in division quarter-finals.
• 1996–97 Lost to Barrie Colts 4 games to 0 in division quarter-finals.
• 1997–98 Defeated Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 2 in division quarter-finals.
  Lost to Ottawa 67's 4 games to 1 in quarter-finals.
• 1998–99 Defeated S.S. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
  Defeated Guelph Storm 4 games to 2 in conference semi-finals.
  Lost to London Knights 4 games to 1 in conference finals.
• 1999–2000 Out of playoffs.

Uniforms and logos

The Owen Sound platers used the same logo as the Guelph Platers from 1989 to 1995 (inset right) only changing the name of the city. Owen Sound modernized its logo for the 1995–96 season (top of page), and used it until the team was sold in 2000. The team colours remained the same throughout; black, gold, red and white. The home uniforms for Owen Sound were white background with black, red and gold trim. The away uniforms were black background, with red, gold and white trim.