Collingwood Blues (2020)

Collingwood Blues
CityCollingwood, Ontario
LeagueOJHL
DivisionNorth
Founded2019
Home arenaEddie Bush Memorial Arena
Colours       
General managerMike Tarantino
Head coachAndrew Campoli
Websitecwoodblues.com
Franchise history
1974-2019Kingston Voyageurs
2019–2020Collingwood Colts

The Collingwood Blues are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) based in Collingwood, Ontario, and the 2024 Centennial Cup national championship team.

History

The team came into being with sale and relocation of the Kingston Voyageurs to Collingwood after the 2018–19 OJHL season.[1] The Kingston Voyageurs had been a league staple since 1974.[2] After the 2019–20 OJHL season, the team was rebranded the Collingwood Blues.[3]

The 2020–21 OJHL season was cancelled due to public health restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4][5]

The Blues won consecutive league championships in 2023 and 2024.[6][7] They went on to win the 2024 Centennial Cup national championship tournament in 2024.[8][9]

Arena

The team plays its home games at the Eddie Bush Memorial Arena in Collingwood.[10] In 2024, the team entered a 10-year agreement with the Town of Collingwood to continue its use of facility, following protracted negotiations.[11] The agreement included the option to renew for a further 10 years.[12]

Season-by-season results

The team won its second consecutive league championship in 2024 and went on to win the national championship 2024 Centennial Cup.[13][14]

Season statistics
Season GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts Finish Playoffs
2019–20 54 27 17 1 9 164 155 64 2nd of 5 North Div
5th of 11 NW Conf
10th of 22 OJHL		 Lost Conf. Quarters 3-4 (Spirit)
2020–21 Season cancelled
2021–22 54 28 20 1 4 170 140 61 2nd of 5 North Div
4th of 10 NW Conf
11th of 21 OJHL		 Lost Conf. Quarters 2-0 (Tigers)
Lost Conf Semifinals 0-2 (Panthers)
2022–23 54 44 9 0 1 226 113 89 1st of 10 NW Conf
2nd of 21 OJHL		 Won Conf. Quarters 4-0 (Spirit)
Won Conf Semifinals 4-0 (Menace)
Won Conf Finals 4-1 (Cougars)
Won League Finals 4-1 (Golden Hawks)
advance to Centennial Cup
2023–24 56 49 6 0 1 284 88 99 1st of 12 NW Conf
1st of 24 OJHL		 Won Conf. Quarters 4-0 (99ers)
Won Conf Semifinals 4-1 (Blades)
Won Conf Finals 4-0 (Flyers)
Won League Finals 2-4 (Golden Hawks)
Won national championship 1-0 (Melfort Mustangs)

Source: "Collingwood Blues hockey team [2021-2025 OJHL] statistics and history". hockeydb.com. Retrieved October 10, 2024.

National championships

Main article: Centennial Cup

In 2022, the Centennial Cup moved to a 10-team format, including the champions from each of the nine leagues that make up the CJHL, and the host team, thus eliminating the intervening regional contests for the ANAVET Cup, the Fred Page Cup and the Doyle Cup.[15] The format consists of a 4-game round-robin with two groups of five teams, followed by a six-team single-elimination play-off.[16]

2023 Centennial Cup

Main article: 2023 Centennial Cup
2023 National championship
Centennial Cup
Tournament details
CityPortage la Prairie
Venue(s)Stride Place
Dates11-21 May 2023
Teams10
Host teamPortage Terriers
Final positions
ChampionsBrooks Bandits
Runner-upBattlefords North Stars
Tournament statistics
Games played25
MVPAiden Fink
Official website
Hockey Canada
← 2022
2024 →

The 2023 Centennial Cup tournament took place at Stride Place in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba from 11 – 21 May 2023. It was the second year of the 10-team format, including the championship teams of nine CJHL affiliate leagues and the host team, the Portage Terriers.[17] The Portage Terriers and city of Portage la Prairie were to be the host for the 2020 Centennial Cup, but were renamed as the 2023 host when the 2020 tournament was cancelled at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.[18][19]

Round-robin Record Standing Quarterfinal Semifinal Championship
OTW, Steinbach Pistons (ManJHL), 2-1
W, Battlefords North Stars (SJHL), 3-1
W, Kam River Fighting Walleye (SIJHL), 4-1
L, Portage Terriers (Host), 3-4		 2-1-1-0 3rd of 5
Pool B		 Lost - 2-4
Ottawa Jr. Senators
(CCHL)		 Did not Qualify Did not Qualify

2024 Centennial Cup

Main article: 2024 Centennial Cup
2024 National championship
Centennial Cup
Tournament details
CityOakville, Ontario
Venue(s)Sixteen Mile Sports Complex
Dates9–19 May 2024
Teams10
Host teamOakville Blades
Final positions
ChampionsCollingwood Blues
Runner-upMelfort Mustangs
Tournament statistics
Games played25
MVPJulien Gervais
Official website
Hockey Canada
← 2023
2025 →

The 2024 Centennial Cup was hosted by the Oakville Blades at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville, Ontario from 9 – 19 2024.[20][21]

Round-robin Record Standing Quarterfinal Semifinal Championship
W, Calgary Canucks (AJHL), 5-4
W, Greater Sudbury Cubs (NOJHL), 10-2
W, Longueuil Collège Français (QJHL), 8-0
W, Navan Grads (CCHL), 3-2		 4-0-0-0 1st of 5
Group A		 Earned bye Won 5-2
Miramichi Timberwolves		 Won 1-0
Melfort Mustangs
Centennial Cup
National Junior A Champions

References

  1. ^ Ian MacAlpine (March 6, 2019). "Kingston Voyageurs may move to Collingwood". Kingston Whig-Standard. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  2. ^ "Kingston Voyageurs are no more". Kingstonist - Kingston News. March 21, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  3. ^ Engel, Erika (February 22, 2020). "Collingwood Colts will be Collingwood Blues next year". CollingwoodToday.ca. Village Media. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  4. ^ Lockhart, Brian (April 22, 2021). "That's it for Junior A hockey - League calls it quits". Toronto Star. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  5. ^ Steiner, Laura (April 13, 2021). "OJHL announces cancellation of 2020–21 season". Milton Reporter. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  6. ^ Engel, Erika (April 29, 2023). "Collingwood Blues earn OJHL title, punch ticket to Centennial Cup". OrilliaMatters.com. Village Media. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  7. ^ Engel, Erika (April 30, 2024). "Collingwood Blues win OJHL playoffs again". CollingwoodToday.ca. Village Media. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  8. ^ O'Flanagan, Rob (May 19, 2024). "Mustangs fall short in Centennial Cup final". Melfort Journal. Postmedia. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  9. ^ "Collingwood Blues edge Melfort Mustangs to win Centennial Cup". TSN. Bell Media. Canadian Press. May 20, 2024. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  10. ^ "Breaking: Collingwood Colts awarded tenancy of Eddie Bush Arena". CollingwoodToday.ca. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  11. ^ Owen, Jessica (July 30, 2024). "'It's like a phone book': Blues contract negotiations continue". CollingwoodToday.ca. Village Media. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  12. ^ Owen, Jessica (September 24, 2024). "Town and Collingwood Blues net new contract". CollingwoodToday.ca. Village Media. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  13. ^ Owen, Jessica (May 2, 2023). "Parade planning underway to celebrate Blues as OJHL champs". CollingwoodToday.ca. Village Media. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  14. ^ Carneiro, Alessandra (May 19, 2024). "Collingwood Blues crowned Centennial Cup champions". CTV News Barrie. Bell Media. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  15. ^ Willberg, David (March 22, 2022). "The 2022 Centennial Cup in Estevan will be the biggest ever with 10 teams". sasktoday.ca. Harvard Media. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  16. ^ Willberg, David (May 16, 2022). "The field is set for the Centennial Cup in Estevan". sasktoday.ca. Harvard Media. Retrieved July 28, 2024. The top three teams from each pool will advance to the playoff round. The top seed gets a direct bye to the semifinal, while the second and third place teams move onto the quarter-finals.
  17. ^ Foster, River (May 29, 2022). "2023 Centennial Cup officially coming to Portage". PembinaValleyOnline. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  18. ^ Sawatzky, Mike (June 19, 2023). "Portage la Prairie earns praise for hosting 'best' Centennial Cup ever". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  19. ^ Punkari, Lucas (May 21, 2023). "Bandits win third straight Centennial Cup". Brandon Sun. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  20. ^ Bernasiewicz, Lukas (May 7, 2024). "Centennial Cup ready to hit the ice". Oakville News. Village Media. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  21. ^ Brown, Ben (April 29, 2024). "Centennial Cup estimated to bring $5 million for Oakville businesses". Oakville News. Village Media. Retrieved August 16, 2024.

Further reading