Couchiching Terriers

The Couchiching Terriers were a Junior A ice hockey team from Rama, Ontario, Canada from Lake Couchiching. The team originated in neighbouring Orillia, Ontario, and played in the Ontario Junior A Hockey League. The Terriers were 1985 Centennial Cup National Champions and three time Dudley Hewitt Cup Central Canadian Champions (1984, 1985, 1986). The team folded in 2010 when offered a buyout from the league.

Couchiching Terriers
CityOrillia, Ontario, Canada (1940s-1997)
Rama, Ontario, Canada (1997-2010)
LeagueOntario Junior Hockey League
Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
Mid-Ontario Junior B Hockey League
Georgian Bay Junior Hockey League
OperatedCirca 1940s-2010
Home arenaOrillia Community Centre Arena
Mnjikaning Arena Sports Ki
ColoursBlack, Red, and White
     
General managerRoy Micks
Head coachBart Crashley
AffiliatesBarrie Colts (OHL)
Alliston Hornets (GMOHL)
Franchise history
19xx-1986Orillia Travelways
1987-1989Orillia Laidlaws
1989-1997Orillia Terriers
1997-2010Couchiching Terriers

History

The Junior A team that now boasts the name "Terriers" was previously known as the Orillia Travelways and was a member of the Mid-Ontario Junior B Hockey League from at least 1971 to 1978. The Mid-Ontario league was discontinued in 1978 and the Travelways were added to the Central Junior B Hockey League at that time. They moved up to the Tier II Junior A ranks for the first time in 1981, joining the Ontario Junior Hockey League, and won the 1985 Centennial Cup as the best Junior A team in Canada.

They are not connected with the Orillia Terriers, a different club which competed in the OHA Senior A and Intermediate A ranks from 1968 to 1982.

Orillia was the league's top team, winning three straight playoff championships, but dropped out in 1986 when faulty trusses forced the closing of the Orillia Community Centre. During their absence the Junior A league collapsed, so the team returned to the Central Junior B league in 1987 under the name "Laidlaws" (their sponsor, the Travelways bus line was acquired by Laidlaw transportation). When Laidlaw dropped the sponsorship, they returned to their "Terriers" name in 1989 and returned to Tier II in 1993 when the Central loop became the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League. The Terriers won the new league's first playoff championship in 1994.

At the time of their folding, the Terriers were the official farm team of the Barrie Colts and the parent club of the Alliston Hornets. The Terriers folded due to financial troubles combined with a lack of arena time. The rink in Rama wanted too much money for ice time, so the Terriers wished to move back to Orillia—their original home. Not enough ice time was available at the Orillia rink due to minor hockey needs. The Terriers also wanted to move to Orillia due to the town's deeper interest in junior hockey. Ticket sales in recent years in Rama were weak, but in Orillia, where the Terriers played a handful of games, the arena was near, if not full.

The Terriers played in the 2007-08 .

Season-by-season results

SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPResultsPlayoffs
Orillia Travelways
1970-71342833-258124591st MOJBHL
1971-72402893-280177591st MOJBHL
1972-73409292-137224206th MOJBHL
1973-74399291-142271195th MOJBHLDNQ
1974-753912234-150203284th MOJBHLLost Semi-final
1975-763617154-179177383rd MOJBHL
1976-774018202-166182383rd MOJBHLLost Semi-final
1977-783211192-170178244th MOJBHL
1978-794420195-----455th CJBHL
1979-804426153-245201553rd CJBHL
1980-814416217-201242396th CJBHL
1981-825011372-2143352410th OJHL
1982-834825185-226196553rd OJHL
1983-844225134-280196542nd OJHLWon League, Won DHC
1984-85483972-346168801st OJHLWon League, Won DHC, Won MCC
1985-865035150-305205701st OJHLWon League, Won DHC
1986-87Did Not Participate
Orillia Laidlaws
1987-884316225-2212353710th CJBHL
1988-89423084-306166642nd CJBHL
Orillia Terriers
1989-9042151611-191183417th CJBHL
1990-914227105-238165591st CJBHL
1991-924214199-2212203712th CJBHL
1992-934823214-2732625110th CJAHL
1993-94403523-252112741st OPJHL-EWon League
1994-954818255-193243426th OPJHL-E
1995-965023270-222233483rd OPJHL-P
1996-975025214-201194563rd OPJHL-P
Couchiching Terriers
1997-9851232071220213545th OPJHL-P
1998-9951371040299193782nd OPJHL-C
1999-0049351220258152722nd OPJHL-N
2000-014937732358176791st OPJHL-N
2001-0249301531236163642nd OPJHL-N
2002-0349212341178184475th OPJHL-N
2003-0449182452181191435th OPJHL-N
2004-0549123232146224296th OPJHL-N
2005-0648172281146177435th OPJHL-NLost Conf. QF
2006-07Did Not Participate
2007-08492915-5214159635th OPJHL-N
2008-0949393-7267110851st OJHL-P
2009-10563519-2243190725th OJAHLLost Quarter-final

Playoffs

  • 1982 DNQ
  • 1983 Lost Final
Orillia Travelways defeated Markham Waxers 4-games-to-3
Orillia Travelways defeated Newmarket Flyers 4-games-to-3
North York Rangers defeated Orillia Travelways 4-games-to-none
Orillia Travelways defeated Markham Waxers 4-games-to-none
Orillia Travelways defeated North York Rangers 4-games-to-none
Orillia Travelways defeated Dixie Beehives 4-games-to-1 OJHL CHAMPIONS
Orillia Travelways defeated Rayside-Balfour Canadians (NOJHL) 3-games-to-1 BUCKLAND CUP CHAMPIONS
Orillia Travelways defeated Pembroke Lumber Kings (CJHL) 4-games-to-none DUDLEY HEWITT CUP CHAMPIONS
Weyburn Red Wings (SJHL) defeated Orillia Travelways 4-games-to-3
Orillia Travelways defeated Whitby Lawmen 4-games-to-1
Orillia Travelways defeated Markham Waxers 4-games-to-none
Orillia Travelways defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-none OJHL and BUCKLAND CUP CHAMPIONS
First in 1985 Centennial Cup round robin (3-0) DUDLEY HEWITT CUP CHAMPIONS
Orillia Travelways defeated Penticton Knights (BCJHL) 4-2 in final CENTENNIAL CUP CHAMPIONS
Orillia Travelways defeated Newmarket Flyers 4-games-to-1
Orillia Travelways defeated Markham Waxers 4-games-to-1 OJHL CHAMPIONS
Orillia Travelways defeated Onaping Falls Huskies (NOJHL) 4-games-to-2 BUCKLAND CUP CHAMPIONS
Orillia Travelways defeated Brockville Braves (CJHL) 4-games-to-3 DUDLEY HEWITT CUP CHAMPIONS
Third in 1986 Centennial Cup round robin (1-2)
Penticton Knights (BCJHL) defeated Orillia Travelways 7-3 in semi-final

Notable alumni

Preceded by
Weyburn Red Wings
Centennial Cup Champions
1985
Succeeded by
Penticton Knights
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