Essex 73's

Essex 73's

City	Essex, Ontario
League	Provincial Junior Hockey League
Conference	Southern
Division	Bill Stobbs
Founded	1973
Home arena	Essex Centre Sports Complex
Colors	Orange, Black, and White
General manager	Scott Miller
Head coach	Cam Crowder

League Champions	1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1986, 1987, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Clarence Schmalz Cups	1975, 1977, 1978, 2002, 2005, 2009, 2015

The Essex 73's are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Essex, Ontario. The 73's are members of the Provincial Junior Hockey League and the Ontario Hockey Association. Prior to becoming members of the PJHL in 2016 the 73's won the GLJHL playoff championship 20 times and the Clarence Schmalz Cup as Provincial Junior C Champions 7 times.

History

The Essex 73’s have competed in the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League since the 1973–74 season. In total, the club has won 20 Great Lakes Junior C League Championships and 7 All-Ontario Junior C titles. By both measures, they are the most successful team in Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League history. Their 7 Clarence Schmalz Cup (CSC) wins and 14 CSC finals appearances are both Ontario Junior C records.

Essex goalie warming up during 2012 playoffs.

73's goalie in 40th anniversary commemorative jersey during 2013 Schmalz Cup finals.

With Dave Prpich behind the bench, the 73’s won four league titles in a row from 1974–75 to 1978–79, including three All-Ontario Championships in that span. The 73’s would claim two more Great Lakes League Championships in the 1980s in 1985–86 and 1986–87.

After some struggles in the early to mid-1990s, the 73’s got back into winning form, taking the title for the first time in ten years. In 1997–98 the team won the Great Lakes League Championship by defeating the Wallaceburg Lakers in the league final. Their loss to the Kincardine Bulldogs in the All-Ontario semifinals marked the 73's most successful season in a decade.

In the 2001–02 season general manager Al Lemay brought aboard head coach Tony Piroski, who coached the team from 2001 to 2010. The 73's had great success under Piroski, and in his first season the 73’s won the Great Lakes League and the All-Ontario Title, defeating the Uxbridge Bruins in the finals.

On September 27, 2003, 19-year-old forward Glen Ivancic was fatally stabbed in Windsor. A banner #25 hung from the rafters at the Essex Memorial Arena for years before it was given to his parents.

Essex players warming up during 2012 playoffs.

The team reached the All-Ontario Junior C Finals five straight seasons (tying an Ontario Junior C Record), defeating the Grimsby Peach Kings in 2005 but losing to the Penetang Kings in 2006 and 2007. In 2008 they faced the offensive powerhouse Alliston Hornets and were defeated in a memorable game 7 overtime loss in Essex. The 2008–09 season saw the 73's finish with a remarkable 59 wins, 1 overtime loss, 1 regulation loss, and 1 shoot-out loss (including play-offs). The team finished with 31 wins and 0 losses at home in their final season in the historic Essex Memorial Arena. The 73's returned to the finals in 2009 to face Alliston for the second straight year and the 73's fifth consecutive Clarence Schmalz Cup Finals appearance. Essex overwhelmed Alliston on their way to a four-game sweep to win the provincial title. In nine seasons under Piroski the 73's won 7 Great Lakes League Championships and claimed the Clarence Schmalz Cup 3 times as All-Ontario Champions.

The 73's re-hired Les Garrod to the team in the 2010–11 season; the team would finish 2nd place to the Belle River Canadiens and go out in the first round to the Wheatley Sharks in 7 games. It would be the first time in 15 years (1996–97) that the team did not make it out of the First round. Garrod and staff resigned at the end of the season.

The 73's brought aboard former Windsor Spitfire Scott Miller for the 2011 season as the club's general manager and hired former Lasalle Vipers assistant Gil Langois as head coach. This tandem delivered four consecutive Great Lakes League Championships and three Clarence Schmalz Cup Finals appearances, including one OHA Junior C Championship. In 2013 the 73's swept both Ayr and the familiar Niagara champion Grimsby before losing in the CSC finals 4 games to 1 to the Picton Pirates. 2014 featured a more difficult road to the CSC finals with a high-scoring 7-game quarterfinal against Dorchester along with a 5-game semifinal victory over the Western League champion Wingham Ironmen before the 73's were swept in the Schmalz Cup finals by the Lakefield Chiefs. In 2015 the 73's defeated Exeter in four games and Ayr in five qualifying for their third straight CSC appearance. In three closely contested games versus the Empire B champion Port Hope Panthers, the 73's built up a 3-0 series lead, but the Panthers stormed back, winning the next three games, setting up a winner-take-all game 7 in Port Hope. A lone second-period goal was the difference between the teams as the 73's clinched their seventh CSC All-Ontario Championship and first since 2009.

In the summer of 2016 the eight junior "C" leagues amalgamated under the Provincial, and the GLJHL became the Bill Stobbs Division of the new league. The PJHL league champions will become the CSC All-Ontario Champions.

General managers

1973-74 - Herb Rounding
1974-83 - Mike Sadler
1983-87 - Mickey Mcdermott
1987-88 - Mike Quinlan
1988-89 - Don Leonard
1989-90 - Dan Mills
1990-91 - Mike Klyn
1991-93 - Don Mcdermott
1993-94 - Tom Mailloux

1994-95 - Glen O'neil
1995-97 - Les Garrod
1997-02 - Al Lemay
2002-03 - Jim Rauth
2003-05 - Al Lemay
2005-10 - Mark Barnett
2010-11 - Les Garrod
2011–Present - Scott Miller

Coaches

1973–74 - Jim Peck
1974-79 - Dave Prpich
1979-80 - Dave Moore
1980-82 - Dave Prpich
1982-84 - Bill Bellaire
1984-87 - Mike Quinlan
1987-89 - Dan Mills
1989-90 - Lee Jones
1990-91 - Mike Klym
1991-93 - Don Mcdermott

1993-94 - Rod Isbister
1994-95 - Glen O'neil
1995-98 - Les Garrod
1998-99 - Mike Gomes
1999-01 - Les Garrod
2001-10 - Tony Piroski
2010-11 - Glen Holden
2011-16 - Gil Langois
2016–present - Cam Crowder

Season-by-season results

Season	GP	W	L	T	OTL	GF	GA	P	Results	Playoffs
1973-74	44	34	6	4	-	357	160	72	1st GLJHL	Lost "C" Final (Leamington)
1974-75	42	33	8	1	-	292	155	67	1st GLJHL	Won League (Leamington) Won CSC SF (New Hamburg) Won CSC Final (Lindsay)
1975-76	42	30	9	3	-	297	159	63	1st GLJHL	Won League (Dresden) Won CSC SF (Clinton) Lost CSC Final (Dunnville)
1976-77	42	27	11	4	-	236	164	58	1st GLJHL	Won League (Dresden) Won CSC SF (Listowel) Won CSC Final (Bowmanville)
1977-78	42	39	2	1	-	377	105	79	1st GLJHL	Won League (Dresden) Won CSC QF (Listowel) Won CSC SF (Flamborough) Won CSC Final (Bowmanville)
1978-79	40	25	13	2	-	291	222	52	2nd GLJHL	Lost Semi-final (Leamington)
1979-80	42	25	13	4	-	280	215	54	2nd GLJHL	Lost Final (Leamington)
1980-81	42	32	7	3	-	325	165	67	1st GLJHL	Won League (Leamington) Won CSC QF (Wingham) Won CSC SF (Woodstock) Lost CSC Final (Bowmanville)
1981-82	39	23	13	3	-	241	177	49	3rd GLJHL	Lost Final (Leamington)
1982-83	40	19	17	4	-	244	232	42	4th GLJHL	Lost Quarter-final (Belle River)
1983-84	39	14	20	5	-	221	204	33	6th GLJHL	Lost Quarter-final (Leamington)
1984-85	40	26	11	3	-	254	161	55	2nd GLJHL	Lost Final (Belle River)
1985-86	40	25	9	6	-	229	144	56	1st GLJHL	Won League (Mooretown) Won CSC QF (Hanover) Lost CSC SF (Norwich)
1986-87	38	26	11	1	0	236	163	53	2nd GLJHL	Won League (Dresden) Lost CSC QF (Hanover)
1987-88	39	18	15	4	2	210	167	42	6th GLJHL	Lost Semi-final (Leamington)
1988-89	38	19	15	2	2	210	184	44	7th GLJHL	Lost Division Semi-final (Leamington)
1989-90	40	9	30	1	0	129	260	19	10th GLJHL	DNQ
1990-91	42	19	19	2	2	190	195	42	6th GLJHL	Lost Quarter-final (Amherstburg)
1991-92	41	22	15	3	1	203	169	48	4th GLJHL	Lost Semi-final (Belle River)
1992-93	40	14	24	1	1	166	224	30	9th GLJHL	DNQ
1993-94	40	16	22	2	0	206	232	34	8th GLJHL	DNQ
1994-95	41	10	26	3	2	133	204	25	10th GLJHL	DNQ
1995-96	41	16	18	7	0	150	145	39	8th GLJHL	DNQ
1996-97	40	20	16	2	2	161	162	44	6th GLJHL	Lost Quarter-final (Kingsville)
1997-98	45	27	12	6	0	210	132	60	3rd GLJHL	Won League (Wallaceburg) Lost CSC SF (Kincardine)
1998-99	39	31	7	1	0	213	122	63	3rd GLJHL	Lost Semi-final (Wallaceburg)
1999-00	43	17	20	2	4	139	153	40	5th GLJHL	Lost Semi-final (Belle River)
2000-01	40	22	12	6	0	153	143	50	4th GLJHL	Lost Semi-final (Belle River)
2001-02	40	30	8	0	2	159	97	62	1st GLJHL	Won League (Wheatley-Southpoint) Won CSC SF (Woodstock) Won CSC Final (Uxbridge)
2002-03	40	33	4	3	0	161	91	69	1st GLJHL	Won League (Wheatley-Southpoint) Lost CSC SF (Grimsby)
2003-04	40	33	3	4	0	152	77	70	1st GLJHL	Lost Final (Dresden)
2004-05	40	32	5	1	2	206	81	67	1st GLJHL	Won League (Dresden) Won CSC SF (Wingham) Won CSC Final (Grimsby)
2005-06	40	25	11	3	1	160	99	54	4th GLJHL	Won League (Wheatley-Southpoint) Won CSC SF (Simcoe) Lost CSC Final (Penetang)
2006-07	40	32	4	2	2	182	90	68	1st GLJHL	Won League (Belle River) Won CSC SF (Grimsby) Lost CSC Final (Penetang)
2007-08	40	33	3	2	2	216	91	70	1st GLJHL	Won League (Wallaceburg) Won CSC SF (Grimsby) Lost CSC Final (Alliston)
2008-09	40	39	0	-	1	202	73	79	1st GLJHL	Won League (Dresden) Won CSC SF (Norwich) Won CSC Final (Alliston)
2009-10	40	29	9	-	2	187	101	60	2nd GLJHL	Lost Semi-final (Belle River)
2010-11	39	26	12	-	1	167	120	53	3rd GLJHL	Lost Quarter-final (Wheatley)
2011-12	40	33	6	-	1	185	124	67	1st GLJHL	Won League (Belle River) Lost CSC SF (Grimsby)
2012-13	40	32	6	-	2	205	89	66	1st GLJHL	Won League (Wheatley) Won CSC QF (Ayr) Won CSC SF (Grimsby) Lost CSC Final (Picton)
2013-14	40	34	3	-	3	212	95	71	1st GLJHL	Won League (Belle River) Won CSC QF (Dorchester) Won CSC SF (Wingham) Lost CSC Final (Lakefield)
2014-15	40	33	5	-	2	193	85	68	1st GLJHL	Won League (Amherstburg) Won CSC QF (Exeter) Won CSC SF (Ayr) Won CSC Final (Port Hope)
2015-16	40	34	3	1	2	216	74	71	1st GLJHL	Won Quarterfinal, 4-0 (Alvinston) Won Semifinals, 4-0 (Mooretown) Won League, 4-3 (Amherstburg) Won CSC QF, 4-0 (Dorchester) Lost CSC SF, 4-0 (Ayr)

2016-2017 Team Staff

Essex goalie warming up during 2013 playoffs. Wearing black road jersey.

President - Gord Andry
Past President - Kris Wojnarowski
Director of Hockey Operations - Rick Schuchard
General Manager - Scott Miller
Assistant Manager - Steve Caldwell
Head Coach - Cam Crowder
Assistant Coach - Craig Miller
Assistant Coach - Cam Sinclair
Goalie Coach - Brian Spearing
Equipment Manager - Tyson Tatomir
Dressing Room Manager - Frank Matthys
Trainer - Adam Ripley

Clarence Schmalz Cup Appearances

1975: Essex 73's defeated Lindsay Muskies 4-games-to-3

1976: Dunnville Terriers defeated Essex 73's 4-games-to-2

1977: Essex 73's defeated Bowmanville Eagles 4-games-to-2

1978: Essex 73's defeated Bowmanville Eagles 4-games-to-1

1981: Bowmanville Eagles defeated Essex 73's 4-games-to-2

2002: Essex 73's defeated Uxbridge Bruins 4-games-to-3

2005: Essex 73's defeated Grimsby Peach Kings 4-games-to-3

2006: Penetang Kings defeated Essex 73's 4-games-to-1

2007: Penetang Kings defeated Essex 73's 4-games-to-1

2008: Alliston Hornets defeated Essex 73's 4-games-to-3

2009: Essex 73's defeated Alliston Hornets 4-games-to-none

2013: Picton Pirates defeated Essex 73's 4-games-to-1

2014: Lakefield Chiefs defeated Essex 73's 4-games-to-none

2015: Essex 73's defeated Port Hope Panthers 4-games-to-3

Notable alumni

External links

73's Website

Provincial Junior Hockey League

Carruthers	Alliston Hornets Caledon Golden Hawks Fergus Devils Huntsville Otters Midland Flyers Orillia Terriers Penetang Kings Schomberg Cougars Stayner Siskins (See also: GMOHL)

Pollock	Goderich Flyers Hanover Barons Kincardine Bulldogs Mitchell Hawks Mount Forest Patriots Walkerton Hawks Wingham Ironmen (See also: WOJCHL)

Bloomfield	Dundas Blues Dunnville Jr. Mudcats Glanbrook Rangers Grimsby Peach Kings Hagersville Hawks Niagara Riverhawks Port Dover Sailors Simcoe Storm (See also: NDJCHL)

Doherty	Ayr Centennials Burford Bulldogs Delhi Travellers New Hamburg Firebirds Norwich Merchants Paris Mounties Tavistock Braves Wellesley Applejacks Woodstock Navy-Vets (See also: MWJCHL)

Orr	Clarington Eagles Georgina Ice Lakefield Chiefs Little Britain Merchants North Kawartha Knights Port Perry Mojacks Uxbridge Bruins (See also: COJCHL)

Tod	Amherstview Jets Campbellford Rebels Gananoque Islanders Napanee Raiders Picton Pirates Port Hope Panthers (See also: EBJCHL)

Stobbs	Amherstburg Admirals Blenheim Blades Dresden Jr. Kings Essex 73's Lakeshore Canadiens Mooretown Flags Petrolia Flyers Wallaceburg Lakers Wheatley Sharks (See also: GLJCHL)

Yeck	Aylmer Spitfires Dorchester Dolphins Exeter Hawks Lambeth Lancers Lucan Irish Mount Brydges Bulldogs North Middlesex Stars Port Stanley Sailors Thamesford Trojans (See also: SOJHL)

Clarence Schmalz Cup Ontario Hockey Association Ontario Hockey Federation Hockey Canada

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