Galt Red Wings

Galt Red Wings

City	Galt, Ontario
League	Ontario Hockey Association
Operated	1944 (1944)-47
Home arena	Galt Arena Gardens
Parent club(s)	Detroit Red Wings
Franchise history
1943-44	Galt Canadians
1944-47	Galt Red Wings
1947-49	Galt Rockets
1949-55	Galt Black Hawks

The Galt Jr. A Red Wings were a junior ice hockey team based in Galt, Ontario, now a part of the city of Cambridge. They played in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1944 to 1947 and were operated as an affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. Their home arena was the Galt Arena Gardens.

The team was previously the Galt Kist Canadians during the 1943-44 season. The team gained NHL sponsorship, becoming the Galt Jr. A Red Wings. The sponsorship lasted for three seasons, with Galt finishing near the top of the league each year. New ownership renamed the team the Galt Rockets in 1947. Much of the team's success was due to its coach, Al Murray, who guided the team during its first three years. Murray had played in the NHL with the New York Americans.

During the 1944-45 season, future Hockey Hall of Famer Gordie Howe suited up for the team, but only played in one regular-season game due to league rules.^[1] That game occurred in Galt, before 1,848 fans on Saturday, Nov. 18, 1944 against Hamilton; Howe scored three points. This has become somewhat of a historical footnote as Howe was deemed ineligible to play for the team following that game. Howe's only points in Galt were thrown out when Hamilton withdrew from the league. A day after that Hamilton game it was reported that both Howe and teammate Terry Cavanagh (later mayor of Edmonton) would he ineligible to play until further notice after their transfers were held up. Howe explained what happened next. "Terry got his (transfer) and I never did. Hamilton got thrown out of the league, and I did too."

The Galt Red Wings reached the league finals for the J. Ross Robertson Cup in 1945, but lost to Toronto St. Michael's Majors in four games.

Under coach Normie Himes, another former NHLer with the New York Americans, the Red Wings returned to the finals again in 1946-47, led by future Hall of Fame goaltender, Terry Sawchuk, but lost the finals again in four games to the Majors.

NHL Alumni

From the Galt Red Wings, fourteen players graduated to play in the National Hockey League.

Yearly Results

Season	Team	Games	Won	Lost	Points	Pct %	Goals For	Goals Against	Standing
1943-44	Canadians	26	15	11	30	0.577	125	97	2nd Group 2
1944-45	Red Wings	20	12	8	24	0.600	83	91	2nd OHA (tie)
1945-46	Red Wings	28	22	6	44	0.786	187	96	2nd OHA
1946-47	Red Wings	36	27	9	54	0.750	232	99	3rd OHA

References

Rutherford, Kristina (2012). "Ice Aged". Sportsnet Magazine. 2 (6): 61–64.

Notes

↑ Rutherford 2012, p. 64.

External links

www.cambridgehockey.com - The History of Cambridge Hockey by Todd Jones
Galt Arena Gardens - OHL Arena & Travel Guide
Ontario Hockey League Official web site
Canadian Hockey League Official web site

Defunct OHA / OMJHL teams

Belleville Bulls Brantford Alexanders Barrie Flyers Brampton Battalion Brantford Lions Galt Black Hawks Galt Canadians Galt Red Wings Galt Rockets Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters Guelph Indians Guelph Royals Hamilton Fincups Hamilton Lloyds Hamilton Majors Hamilton Red Wings Hamilton Steelhawks Hamilton Szabos Hamilton Tiger Cubs Hamilton Whizzers Kitchener Canucks Kitchener Greenshirts Kingston Canadians Kingston Raiders London Nationals Montreal Junior Canadiens Niagara Falls Flyers North Bay Centennials Oshawa Generals^† Owen Sound Greys Plymouth Whalers Port Colborne Recreationists St. Catharines Black Hawks St. Catharines Falcons St. Catharines Fincups St. Catharines Teepees Stratford Kroehlers Stratford Midgets Toronto Aura Lee Toronto Lions Toronto Marlboros Toronto Native Sons Toronto St. Michael's Majors Toronto Varsity Blues Toronto Young Rangers Waterloo Hurricanes West Toronto Nationals Windsor Spitfires^†

Metro Junior A League teams (1961-1963) Brampton 7Ups Oshawa Generals‡ Toronto Knob Hill Farms Toronto Marlboros‡ Toronto Neil McNeil Maroons Toronto St. Michael's Majors‡ Unionville Seaforths Whitby Dunlops Whitby Mohawks

† Formerly defunct franchise, currently active; ‡ Franchise transferred into OHA.

CHL Memorial Cup WHL QMJHL J. Ross Robertson Cup OHA history OHA standings OHL seasons

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