The Hamilton Red Wings were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1960 to 1974. The team was based in Hamilton, Ontario, at the Barton Street Arena, also known as the Hamilton Forum.

History

The Hamilton Tiger Cubs were renamed in 1960 becoming the Hamilton Red Wings as they wanted to gain increased ticket sales to emphasize the affiliation with the parent Detroit Red Wings which dated back to 1953. The team played for 14 seasons before being renamed the Hamilton Fincups as they had an ownership change as well as the partnership with Detroit was terminated in the late 60's. The Red Wings of 1962 were coached by Eddie Bush, and managed by Jimmy Skinner (1954-55 Stanley Cup Champion Coach). The team finished second overall in the OHA standings, then lost only 1 game in the post-season run to the Memorial Cup. In the playoffs Hamilton defeated the St. Catharines Teepees, Niagara Falls Flyers, and the Metro Jr. A. champs Toronto St. Michael's Majors 4 games to 1, winning the J. Ross Robertson Cup. The Red Wings then swept the series against the Quebec Citadelles for the George Richardson Memorial Trophy to win the Eastern Canadian Championship. The Red Wings would play the Western Canadian champion Edmonton Oil Kings for the Memorial Cup. The first game of the 1962 Memorial Cup was played on home ice at the Barton Street Arena which Hamilton won 5-2. The next three games were played at the Guelph Memorial Gardens. Hamilton won game two 4-2. Edmonton won game three 5-3. Hamilton shutout Edmonton 3-0 in game four. The fifth and deciding game was played in the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. The Red Wings defeated the Oil Kings 7-4 to win the series and the Memorial Cup, 4 games to 1. Five years later the Red Wings made it to the OHA finals again in 1967, but were swept 4 games to 0 by the Toronto Marlboros. Once the sponsorship money from the Detroit Red Wings ended at the conclusion of the 1966-67 season the franchise went in a free for all and owner Nick Durbano who had cash flow issues and little interest to maintain a competitive team. Durbano finally found a buyer in the summer of 1974.

Players

The two most famous Hamilton Red Wings alumni are "Little M" Pete Mahovlich, and 1972 Summit Series hero Paul Henderson. Many Hamilton Red Wings went on to play for the Detroit NHL team.

NHL alumni

• Gerry Abel • Ron Anderson • Cam Botting • Gord Brooks • Jerry Butler • Bryan Campbell • Gary Coalter • Joe Contini • Bart Crashley • Bob Dillabough • Gary Doak • Gary Geldart • Ed Gilbert • Larry Gould • Gerry Gray • Ron Harris • Buster Harvey • Ed Hatoum • Earl Heiskala • Paul Henderson • Greg Hickey • Pat Hickey • Paul Hoganson • Larry Jeffrey • Rick Jodzio • Mike Keating • Rick Kehoe • Roger Lafreniere • Danny Lawson • Rene Leclerc • Real Lemieux • Nick Libett • Lowell MacDonald • Pete Mahovlich • Jim Mair • Randy Manery • Ken Mann • Bob Manno • Gary Marsh • Pit Martin • Dale McCourt • Howie Menard • John Miszuk • Jim Moxey • Bob Neely • Jim Niekamp • Randy Osburn • Jimmy Peters • Greg Redquest • Glen Richardson • Zac Rinaldo • Wayne Rivers • Jim Rutherford • Jim Schoenfeld • Ron Sedlbauer • Ric Seiling • Rick Smith • Sandy Snow • Fred Speck • Cam Talbot • Mike Veisor • Bob Wall • Jim Watson • Brian Watts • Tom Williams • Ron Wilson

Yearly results