Whitecourt Wolverines (2008–2012)

The Whitecourt Wolverines were a junior "B" ice hockey team based in Whitecourt, Alberta, Canada. They were members of the North West Junior Hockey League (NWJHL) and played their home games out of the Scott Safety Centre.[1]

Whitecourt Wolverines
CityWhitecourt, Alberta, Canada
LeagueNWJHL
Founded2007
Home arenaScott Safety Centre[1]
ColoursBlack, Vegas Gold, White
     
General managerCanada Brent Stark[2]
Head coachCanada Normand Lacombe[2]
Websitewww.whitecourtwolverines.com
Franchise history
2008–2012Whitecourt Wolverines

History

Founded in August 2007, the Wolverines played their inaugural season in 2007–08, appearing in the league finals, losing in the seventh game to the Peace River Navigators.[1]

The Wolverines have appeared in the NWJHL finals in each of its five seasons. Its four consecutive championships from 2008–09 to 2011–12 is a league record for consecutive championships by a team.[3] The team also holds the league record for most championships by a team.[3]

The Wolverines won silver medals in the 2008–09 and 2009–10 Hockey Alberta Junior "B" Provincial Championships,[1] losing to the Russ Barnes Trophy winners Lloydminster Bandits and Beaumont Chiefs respectively. After losing in the bronze medal game in 2010–11,[4] the team defeated the host Okotoks Bisons in the gold medal game in 2011–12 to win its first provincial title.[5] The team proceeded to the Keystone Cup tournament where it took home the bronze medal.[6]

On May 2, 2012, shortly after its first Keystone Cup appearance, the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) announced it approved a request to relocate the St. Albert Steel from St. Albert to Whitecourt for play in the 2012–2013 season. As a result, the junior "B" Wolverines disbanded and relinquished its team name to the relocated AJHL franchise, the Whitecourt Wolverines.[7]

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes

Season GP W L OTL Pts GF GA PIM Finish Playoffs
2007–08Lost in final, 3-4 (Navigators)[1]
2008–0935323064247921,2251st, NWJHLNWJHL champions, 4-0 (Huskies)[8]
2009–10[9]35341068228801,344[10]1st, NWJHLNWJHL champions, 4-0 (Wheelers)
2010-11[11]3533206621650730[12]1st, NWJHLNWJHL champions, 4-2 (Navigators)
2011–12[13]36278155211881,159[14]3rd, NWJHLNWJHL champions, 4-0 (Navigators)[15]

Awards and trophies

NWJHL championship

  • 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12[16]

Provincial championship

Keystone Cup western Canada championship

  • Bronze medal: 2011–12[6]

Honoured members

The number 22 was retired for Elias Lachance at the start of the 2011–12 season.[17] Lachance, who played for the Wolverines during its 2008–09 and 2009–10 seasons,[17] died in a car accident in 2011.[18]

See also

References
  1. "About Us". Whitecourt Wolverines. Retrieved 2012-03-31.
  2. "Front Office". Whitecourt Wolverines. Retrieved 2012-03-31.
  3. Brigette Jobin (2012-03-28). "League records set". Whitecourt Star. Sun Media Corporation. Retrieved 2012-03-31.
  4. "Alberta Hockey provincials update". Whitecourt Wolverines. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
  5. Remy Greer (2012-04-08). "Wolverines beat Bisons 5-1 in provincial final". Okotoks Western Wheel. Great West Newspapers LP. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
  6. Brigette Jobin (2012-04-25). "Wolverines prove to be one of Canada's best". Whitecourt Star. Sun Media Corporation. Retrieved 2012-04-27.
  7. "AJHL Moving to Whitecourt, Alberta". Alberta Junior Hockey League. 2012-05-02. Retrieved 2012-05-03.
  8. "Wolverines win NWJHL Championship in four straight". North West Junior Hockey League. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  9. "North West Junior Hockey League: 2009–10 Standings". North West Junior Hockey League. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  10. "North West Junior Hockey League: Individual Team Stats, 2009–10 (Whitecourt Wolverines)". North West Junior Hockey League. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  11. "North West Junior Hockey League: 2010-11 Standings". North West Junior Hockey League. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  12. "North West Junior Hockey League: Individual Team Stats, 2010-11 (Whitecourt Wolverines)". North West Junior Hockey League. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  13. "North West Junior Hockey League: 2011-12 Standings". North West Junior Hockey League. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  14. "North West Junior Hockey League: Individual Team Stats, 2011-12 (Whitecourt Wolverines)". North West Junior Hockey League. Retrieved 2012-10-09.
  15. "Bracket". North West Junior Hockey League. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  16. "Wolverines win N.W.J.H.L championship". Whitecourt Wolverines. 2012-03-23. Retrieved 2012-03-31.
  17. "Team History". Whitecourt Wolverines. Retrieved 2012-10-09.
  18. Stuart Thomson (2011-09-29). "New foundation will honour former Wolverines player". Whitecourt Star. Canoe Sun Media. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
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