The Barrie Flyers were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1945 to 1960, from Barrie, Ontario. The Flyers played home games at the Barrie Arena from 1945 to 1960.[1]
The Barrie Flyers junior team was founded in 1945 by Leighton "Hap" Emms. The franchise was soon affiliated with the Boston Bruins of the NHL. Barrie quickly became a powerhouse in the OHA. They appeared in the Memorial Cup three times, losing the first time in 1948, then winning twice, in 1951 and 1953. The Emms family relocated the team to Niagara Falls in 1960 where the team continued to win and played for 12 seasons, then relocated to Sudbury to become the Sudbury Wolves.
Barrie won the right to play for the cup by defeating the Windsor Spitfires for the OHA championship, and the Montreal Nationales to win the Richardson Trophy as eastern Canadian representatives.
The Flyers were runners up for the Memorial Cup in 1948 played at Maple Leaf Gardens. They were swept by the Port Arthur West End Bruins (now Thunder Bay) in a best-of-seven series.
The series was very physical and bitter between the teams. After the third game, Emms threatened that the Flyers would not continue to play without a change in referees. The series ultimately continued with the same referees.
Game 1 Port Arthur 10 vs. Barrie 8Game 2 Port Arthur 8 vs. Barrie 1Game 3 Port Arthur 5 vs. Barrie 4Game 4 Port Arthur 9 vs. Barrie 8 (OT)
Barrie won the OHA championship defeating the Toronto Marlboros.
Canadian Amateur Hockey Association vice-president W. B. George oversaw the Flyers versus Quebec Citadels series for the George Richardson Memorial Trophy, to represent Eastern Canada in the 1951 Memorial Cup playoffs. When the Citadels refused to play game five in Barrie, George gave them an ultimatum to play or forfeit the series. Quebec decided to play too late to arrive by train, but arrived half an hour late after flying.[2][3] George scheduled game seven on neutral ice at Maple Leaf Gardens, despite protests from Flyers' coach Hap Emms who claimed that his team only agreed to resume the series if game seven was played in Barrie.[4]
The Flyers won the Memorial Cup in 1951 played at Winnipeg and Brandon, Manitoba. They swept the Winnipeg Monarchs in a best-of-seven series.
Game 1 Barrie 5 vs. Winnipeg 1Game 2 Barrie 5 vs. Winnipeg 1Game 3 Barrie 4 vs. Winnipeg 3Game 4 Barrie 9 vs. Winnipeg 5
Barrie won the right to play for the cup by defeating the St. Michael's Majors for the OHA championship. The Flyers won the Memorial Cup in 1953 played at Winnipeg and Brandon, Manitoba. They defeated the St. Boniface Canadiens in a best-of-seven series.
Game 1 Barrie 6 vs. St. Boniface 4Game 2 Barrie 6 vs. St. Boniface 3Game 3 Barrie 7 vs. St. Boniface 5Game 4 Barrie 4 vs. St. Boniface 7Game 5 Barrie 6 vs. St. Boniface 1
The Barrie Flyers were a dominant team during the late 1940s and early 1950s, and one of a few clubs to win multiple Memorial Cup championships. The Flyers won the Ontario championship 4 times, the Eastern Canadian championship 3 times, and the national championship twice.
Memorial Cup appearances
George Richardson Memorial Trophy appearances
J. Ross Robertson Cup appearances[5]
List of Flyers' alumni who played in the National Hockey League (NHL):[6]
