Melville Millionaires

For the baseball team, see Melville Millionaires (baseball).

Melville Millionaires
CityMelville, Saskatchewan
LeagueSJHL
DivisionViterra
Founded1908
Home arenaCN Community Centre
ColoursBlue, White and Red
General managerDoug Johnson
Head coachDoug Johnson

The Melville Millionaires are a Canadian junior "A" ice hockey based in Melville, Saskatchewan. They are members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). They play their home games in the CN Community Centre which has a seating capacity of 2,100. The Melville Millionaires and the Yorkton Terriers are archrivals. The team colours are blue and white. Games are broadcast on radio station CJGX AM 940. The Millionaires also fielded a senior hockey team in the 1910s, which won the 1915 Allan Cup.

History

Melville Millionaires, Senior Champions of Saskatchewan, 1923–24.

An earlier version of the Melville Millionaires played senior hockey during the 1910s in the Southern Saskatchewan Hockey League, winning the league championship in 1915 and taking over the title of Allan Cup champions.[1] The team subsequently won two challenges but lost the final challenge of the season to the Winnipeg Monarchs.[2]

A popular story on why the team was named the "Millionaires" comes from a rumour that Charles Melville Hayes, Melville's namesake who perished in the 1912 sinking of the Titanic, was aboard the ship with a group of millionaires who were potential investors in Melville. But the true origin has more to do with the players on the team assembled to win the Allan Cup by local hockey pioneer and postmaster Goldie Smith, with several critics of the time reportedly grumbling that Melville would need to be a town of millionaires to attract the level of talent they did. Smith liked the name, and it stuck.

Smith is credited with discovering Eddie Shore, who was part of a Millionaires team that won the 1923-24 Saskatchewan senior championship. About ten years later, Smith was working for the Detroit Red Wings when he spotted the talent of another hockey legend, Sid Abel.[3]

Eddie Shore with the Melville Millionaires.

The team's original arena, Melville Stadium, was damaged in a fire in 1949 and burned down completely in 1962. A new arena was subsequently built, but only stood for two years before it too was destroyed in a fire.[4]

The modern version of the team joined the SJHL in 1970.

Future National Hockey League all-star Ron Hextall was a member of the Millionaires during the 1980–81 season. On February 27, 1981, Hextall faced 105 shots against the five-time league champion Prince Albert Raiders in a 21–2 loss. The game reporter said "Hextall was Brilliant..." through his 84-save effort, claiming the "score could have gone up to 34 or 35."[5]

The current home of the Millionaires opened in 2011 as the Horizon Credit Union Centre, part of the $26.5 million Melville Communiplex project. It was renamed the CN Community Centre in 2023.[6]

Season-by-season standings

Season GP W L T OTL GF GA P Results Playoffs
1970-71 36 22 13 1 - 237 190 45 3rd SJHL
1971-72 44 32 12 0 - 242 140 51 2nd SJHL
1972-73 48 23 25 0 - 231 223 46 6th SJHL
1973-74 50 21 29 0 - 203 231 42 5th SJHL North
1974-75 58 34 21 3 - 300 258 71 2nd SJHL North
1975-76 58 42 15 1 - 393 267 85 1st SJHL South
1976-77 60 37 22 1 - 343 236 75 3rd SJHL South
1977-78 60 21 39 0 - 230 329 42 5th SJHL South
1978-79 60 35 23 2 - 286 291 72 1st SJHL South
1979-80 60 29 30 1 - 296 322 59 4th SJHL South Lost 1st round
1980-81 60 11 49 0 - 208 456 22 6th SJHL South
1981-82 60 23 35 2 - 274 329 48 4th SJHL South Lost quarter-final
1982-83 64 30 31 3 - 330 355 63 4th SJHL Lost quarter-final
1983-84 64 38 26 0 - 345 315 76 3rd SJHL Lost quarter-final
1984-85 64 27 34 3 - 315 326 57 6th SJHL Lost 1st round
1985-86 60 24 33 3 - 246 292 51 6th SJHL
1986-87 64 24 40 0 - 241 302 48 8th SJHL Lost 1st round
1987-88 60 26 27 7 - 281 283 59 6th SJHL
1988-89 64 29 33 2 - 310 322 60 5th SJHL South
1989-90 68 31 33 4 - 259 274 66 4th SJHL South Lost 1st round
1990-91 68 40 21 7 - 245 221 87 2nd SJHL South Lost quarter-final
1991-92 64 38 23 3 - 261 221 79 3rd SJHL South Lost semi-final
1992-93 64 43 12 9 - 285 188 95 1st SJHL Lost final
1993-94 68 39 24 5 - 325 288 83 2nd SJHL South Lost semi-final
1994-95 64 28 34 2 - 280 318 58 5th SJHL South Lost 1st round
1995-96 64 11 48 5 - 168 305 27 7th SJHL South DNQ
1996-97 64 15 43 6 - 211 320 36 7th SJHL South DNQ
1997-98 64 25 35 4 - 258 301 54 5th SJHL South Lost 1st round
1998-99 66 34 30 2 - 271 239 70 5th SJHL South Lost quarter-final
1999-00 60 44 13 3 - 255 180 91 1st SJHL South Lost semi-final
2000-01 62 39 20 3 0 248 204 81 2nd SJHL Sherwood Lost quarter-final
2001-02 64 22 34 5 3 197 250 52 5th SJHL Sherwood DNQ
2002-03 60 23 26 7 4 237 219 57 4th SJHL Sherwood Lost final
2003-04 60 37 18 3 2 282 191 79 1st SJHL Sherwood Lost quarter-final
2004-05 55 18 31 5 1 152 204 42 6th SJHL Sherwood DNQ
2005-06 55 29 20 3 3 182 165 64 3rd SJHL Sherwood Lost quarter-final
2006-07 58 28 19 0 11 178 178 67 2nd SJHL Sherwood Lost final
2007-08 58 34 22 - 2 205 159 70 4th SJHL Lost semi-final
2008-09 56 37 16 - 3 201 142 77 3rd SJHL
2009-10 58 29 26 - 3 204 190 61 8th SJHL Lost Preliminary
2010-11 58 24 30 - 4 185 230 52 10th SJHL Lost Preliminary
2011-12 58 29 21 - 8 213 196 66 3rd of 6 Sherwood Div
7th SJHL		 Lost in semi-finals
2012-13 54 35 14 2 3 203 141 75 2nd of 6 Sherwood Div
3rd SJHL		 Lost in semi-finals
2013-14 56 34 16 4 2 181 158 74 2nd of 4 Viterra Div
4th SJHL		 Lost in Finals
2014-15 56 26 26 2 2 142 145 56 1st of 4 Viterra Div
7th of 12 SJHL		 Lost quarter-finals, 2-4 (Hawks)
2015-16 58 16 39 1 2 147 231 35 4th of 4 Viterra Div
12th of 12 SJHL		 DNQ
2016-17 58 22 33 3 0 133 186 47 4th of 4 Viterra Div
11th of 12 SJHL		 DNQ
2017-18 58 23 31 2 2 155 188 50 3rd of 4 Viterra Div
10th of 12 SJHL		 Lost Play In Rd, 1-2 (Red Wings)
2018-19 58 16 32 - 6 150 224 42 4th of 4 Viterra Div

11th of 12 SJHL

DNQ
2019-20 58 16 36 - 2 140 220 38 4th of 4 Viterra Div

12th of 12 SJHL

DNQ
2020-21 6 4 2 - 0 24 19 8 SJHL season cancelled March 23, 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021-22 57 17 30 - 9 146 222 44 3rd of 4 Viterra Div

10th of 12 SJHL

DNQ
2022-23 56 14 36 - 5 152 247 34 4th of 4 Viterra Div

12th of 12 SJHL

DNQ
2023-24 56 32 23 - 2 183 179 65 1st of 4 Viterra Div
5th of 12 SJHL		 Lost Quarterfinals, 0-4 (North Stars)

Playoffs

  • 1971 Lost semi-final
Weyburn Red Wings defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-2
  • 1972 Lost final
Melville Millionaires defeated Regina Blues 4-games-to-none
Melville Millionaires defeated Prince Albert Raiders 4-games-to-2
Humboldt Broncos defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-1
  • 1973 Lost quarter-final
Humboldt Broncos defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-2
  • 1974 DNQ
  • 1975 Lost quarter-final
Battleford Barons defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-2
  • 1976 Lost semi-final
Melville Millionaires defeated Estevan Bruins 4-games-to-3
Weyburn Red Wings defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-2
  • 1977 Lost final
Melville Millionaires defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4-games-to-2
Melville Millionaires defeated Weyburn Red Wings 4-games-to-1
Prince Albert Raiders defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-2
  • 1978 DNQ
  • 1979 Lost semi-final
Melville Millionaires defeated Weyburn Red Wings 4-games-to-3
Moose Jaw Canucks defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-none
  • 1980 Lost quarter-final
Moose Jaw Canucks defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-1
  • 1981 DNQ
  • 1982 Lost quarter-final
Yorkton Terriers defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-none
  • 1983 Lost semi-final
Melville Millionaires defeated Swift Current Broncos 4-games-to-none
Yorkton Terriers defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-1
  • 1984 Lost semi-final
Melville Millionaires defeated Estevan Bruins 4-games-to-1
Weyburn Red Wings defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-3
  • 1985 Lost quarter-final
Battlefords North Stars defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-3
  • 1986 Lost quarter-final
Estevan Bruins defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-none
  • 1987 Lost quarter-final
Humboldt Broncos defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-1
  • 1988 Lost quarter-final
Yorkton Terriers defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-1
  • 1989 DNQ
  • 1990 Lost quarter-final
Humboldt Broncos defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-1
  • 1991 Lost quarter-final
Weyburn Red Wings defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-3
  • 1992 Lost semi-final
Melville Millionaires defeated Weyburn Red Wings 4-games-to-2
Estevan Bruins defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-1
  • 1993 Lost final
Melville Millionaires defeated Weyburn Red Wings 4-games-to-none
Melville Millionaires defeated Estevan Bruins 4-games-to-1
Flin Flon Bombers defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-3
  • 1994 Lost semi-final
Melville Millionaires defeated Yorkton Terriers 4-games-to-none
Weyburn Red Wings defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-2
  • 1995 Lost Preliminary
Estevan Bruins defeated Melville Millionaires 2-games-to-none
  • 1996 DNQ
  • 1997 DNQ
  • 1998 Lost Preliminary
Notre Dame Hounds defeated Melville Millionaires 2-games-to-1
  • 1999 Lost quarter-final
Melville Millionaires defeated Lebret Eagles 2-games-to-none
Estevan Bruins defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-none
  • 2000 Lost semi-final
Second in round robin (3-1) vs. Notre Dame Hounds and La Ronge Ice Wolves
Melville Millionaires defeated Estevan Bruins 4-games-to-1
Weyburn Red Wings defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-2
  • 2001 Lost quarter-final
Lebret Eagles defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-2
  • 2002 DNQ
  • 2003 Lost final
Melville Millionaires defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4-games-to-2
Melville Millionaires defeated Yorkton Terriers 4-games-to-2
Humboldt Broncos defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-none
  • 2004 Lost quarter-final
Yorkton Terriers defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-2
  • 2005 DNQ
  • 2006 Lost quarter-final
Third in round robin (1-2-1) vs. Notre Dame Hounds and Yorkton Terriers
Notre Dame Hounds defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-none
  • 2007 Lost final
First in round robin (3-0-1) vs. Estevan Bruins and Yorkton Terriers
Melville Millionaires defeated Weyburn Red Wings 4-games-to-2
Melville Millionaires defeated Yorkton Terriers 4-games-to-3
Humboldt Broncos defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-1
  • 2008 Lost semi-final
First in round robin (2-0-1) vs. Kindersley Klippers and Weyburn Red Wings
Melville Millionaires defeated Yorkton Terriers 4-games-to-none
Kindersley Klippers defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-2
  • 2009 Lost final
Melville Millionaires defeated Yorkton Terriers 4-games-to-3
Melville Millionaires defeated Weyburn Red Wings 4-games-to-2
Humboldt Broncos defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-1
  • 2010 Lost Preliminary
Yorkton Terriers defeated Melville Millionaires 3-games-to-1
  • 2011 Lost Preliminary
Estevan Bruins defeated Melville Millionaires 3-games-to-2
  • 2012 Lost semi-final
Quarter-finals Melville Millionaires defeated Yorkton Terriers 4-games-to-1
Semi-finals Weyburn Red Wings defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-3
  • 2013 Lost semi-final
Quarter-finals Melville Millionaires defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4-games-to-3
Semi-finals Yorkton Terriers defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-2
  • 2014 Lost finals
Quarter-finals Melville Millionaires defeated Kindersley Klippers 4-games-to-none
Semi-finals Melville Millionaires defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-1
Finals Yorkton Terriers defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-none

Notable NHL alumni

Notable Olympian alumni

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Story Behind the Team". www.melvillemillionaires.ca. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  2. ^ CraigBaird (February 23, 2022). "The History Of Melville". Canadian History Ehx. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  3. ^ "Sid Abel: 100 Greatest NHL Players | NHL.com". www.nhl.com. January 1, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  4. ^ "Tourism Melville - History". www.melville.ca. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  5. ^ Prince Albert Raiders 21, Melville Millionaires 2. Regina Leader-Post, February 28, 1981, Pg E2.
  6. ^ "City of Melville announces new naming rights of Communiplex & Convention Center". GX94 Radio. October 4, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2024.