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Woodstock Slammers

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The Woodstock Slammers were a junior "A" hockey team based in Woodstock, New Brunswick . They played as part of the Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL). The team played their home games at the Carleton Civic Centre , formally known to fans as "Slammerland" or "Slammertown, Canada". The Slammers were a relatively successful team in their 18 year history, winning a NB Junior B League title and Don Johnson Cup (2000), three Kent Cups (2006, 2010, 2012), one Fred Page Cup (2012) and a silver medal at the RBC Cup (2012). In 2018, the franchise relocated to Grand Falls, New Brunswick , changing their name to the Grand Falls Rapids .

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51-860: Prior to 2003, the Slammers were a junior B team in the New Brunswick Junior B Hockey League . In 2000, they won their only league championship against the Richibucto Bears and moved on to the Don Johnson Cup , the Maritime Junior B Championships. Even if they had lost the NBJBHL finals, the Slammers would have attended as they were granted the hosting rights. They played against the Cape Breton Alpines of

102-703: A Junior A Hockey League team based in Amherst, Nova Scotia . The team is a member of the Maritime Junior Hockey League and are in the EastLink South Division. All home games are played out of the 2,500 seat Amherst Stadium . The season usually runs from mid-September to mid March every year. The Amherst Ramblers were founded in 1966 as the Berwick Shell Junior Bruins, and were founding members of

153-490: A new Junior B league, the NBJBHL. Tri-County River Cats won the first three (2010–12) league titles. With the collapse of the New Brunswick Junior C Hockey League in 2011 Hampton Hurricanes joined the league which was reorganized as a mixed Junior B and Junior C circuit. It was renamed the New Brunswick Junior Hockey League (NBJHL) for the 2012–13 season. Junior C league winners compete at

204-669: Is a Canadian Junior ice hockey league in the Province of New Brunswick . The NBJHL is a member of Hockey New Brunswick and Hockey Canada . The original New Brunswick Junior Hockey League folded in 2003. That league was formed in the 1980s from the five regional Jr. B leagues of New Brunswick when the New Brunswick Junior Hockey League folded in 1983. In the summer of 2009, five teams (Blacks Harbour Silver Kings, Grand Lake Wild Moose, Moncton Vito's, Port City Ice Dawgs, Tri-County River Cats) formed

255-743: The Grand Falls Rapids . The earliest rivalry for the Slammers was with the Richibucto Bears of the New Brunswick Junior B Hockey League. In the 2000 NBJBHL playoffs, the Slammers defeated the defending Don Johnson Cup champion Bears to go to the championship tournament themselves. The Slammers won the Don Johnson Cup and, three years later, left the defunct NBJBHL to join the MJAHL, while their rivals moved to

306-819: The Maritime-Hockey North Junior C Championship . Expansion came for the 2013–14 with the addition of the Fundy Cobras and Kent Coyotes. A year late the league accepted another pair of new teams, the Sackville Storm and the Sunny Corner Thunder. The 2015–16 season saw the league split into the Don Johnson division - with some interlocking games against the Island Junior Hockey League - and

357-722: The New Brunswick Junior C Hockey League . Beginning with their first season in the Roger Meek Division, the Slammers have built up healthy rivalries between themselves and the Miramichi Timberwolves , Campbellton Tigers and Dieppe Commandos within New Brunswick. Their close proximity and competition for prominence in their division has evolved into three of the toughest rivalries in the MHL. The Slammers-Commandos rivalry became particularly intense in

408-695: The Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League , the Summerside Red Wings of the Island Junior Hockey League , the Conception Bay North Jr. Stars of the St. John's Junior Hockey League , and their rivals from Richibucto. The Slammers made the finals and defeated Cape Breton 4–1 to win their only Don Johnson Cup as Maritime Junior B Champions. The Slammers are the second of only three New Brunswick teams to have won

459-709: The Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League , ending an 11-week reign. On February 4, the Slammers clinched the MHL President's Cup championship as the best team in the regular season, defeating the Miramichi Timberwolves 5–2 in Miramichi. This President's Cup was the third straight for the Slammers, setting a franchise record and giving them home ice advantage throughout the playoffs. The Slammers then went on through

510-602: The Titan de Princeville 5–3 and the Nepean Raiders 3–2 to finish the round-robin in first place (3–0–0) and advanced straight to the finals. Facing Nepean in the finals, the Slammers finished the first 40 minutes of the game in a tie with the Raiders. 2:19 into the third period Sam Caldwell beat Matt Zawadzki to give the Slammers the 3–2 lead. The Slammers then killed three penalties thanks in large part to shot blocking and

561-642: The "Metro Valley Junior Hockey League". The league, then a junior B league, was eventually renamed the Maritime Junior A Hockey League . In 1967 the Bruins were relocated to Amherst and renamed the Amherst Ramblers. The Ramblers have been known by two different names since moving to Amherst. Between 1994 and 1998 the team was known as the Moosheads. The logo consisted of a large letter "A" and

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612-423: The 2005–06 Fred Page Cup, the Slammers changed their jerseys. Their home jersey became white with a green band on the arms from shoulder to elbow. Below this band were three stripes, a thick gold one between two thinner black stripes. At the bottom of the jersey was the same three stripe configuration with a band of green below it. The away jersey was green with black bands from shoulder to elbow. The two stripes below

663-600: The 2006 Fred Page Cup hosted in Pembroke, Ontario . They finished 0–3–0, losing to the Hawkesbury Hawks 3–0, Pembroke Lumber Kings 4–3 and the Joliette Action (the eventual Fred Page Champions) 7–6. However, this season was the best the Slammers had seen in many years and Tatarnic had cemented his place as coach and his place in Slammers' history. In the 2007–08 season, the Slammers finished third in

714-767: The 2011–12 season due to the rivalry between Slammer's captain Andrew Langan and his brother Ryan Langan playing in Dieppe. Possibly the best known and most fierce rivalry in Maritime Junior A Hockey, the Summerside Western Capitals – Woodstock Slammers rivalry has its roots in the 2009–10 Championship. That year, the Slammers and Capitals met in the Meek Division Final which the Slammers won, ending Summerside's hopes of repeating as League and Fred Page Champions. The next year (2010–11),

765-612: The 2012–13 season, the Slammers finished fifth in the MHL and second in the Meek division. In the playoffs, the Slammers made it to the Meek division finals before being ousted in four games by the Summerside Western Capitals. The summer of 2013 brought major changes for the Slammers. For nearly a month following the season rumors began to circulate that the Slammers would be folding. On May 29, president McCain made an announcement stating that there would be changes over

816-561: The 2nd and 3rd place teams playing off in a semi-final to advance to a final against the 1st place team. Below are the results of the games in which the Slammers played. Canadian Junior A National Championship The RBC Cup is the Annual National Junior A Hockey Championship, played between the winners of the Fred Page Cup (Eastern Champions), Dudley Hewitt Cup (Central Champions), ANAVET Cup (Western Champions),

867-813: The Crushers has continued ever since. The Bay State Breakers and Woodstock Slammers rivalry began in 2007 after the Slammers defeated the Breakers at the Woodchuck Classic in Burlington, Vermont . The Breakers, originating in Rockland, Massachusetts , and playing out of the Eastern Junior Hockey League were a strong American team and attended an annual fall exhibition series hosted by the Slammers. The Bay State Breakers lead

918-516: The Don Johnson Cup, the first being the Richibucto Bears the year before and the latest being the Moncton Jr. Vitos in 2012. Entering the Maritime Junior A Hockey League in the 2003–04 season, the Slammers performed poorly as the newest members of the League. In both of their first two seasons, the Slammers finished 11th in the league and did not qualify for the playoffs. The community support made

969-615: The Doyle Cup (Pacific Champions) and a host team. It consists of round-robin play with the top four teams playing off in semi-finals, followed by a final played between the winners. Below are the results of the games in which the Slammers played. There is no information currently available to the public regarding the captains of the Woodstock Slammers prior to joining the MJAHL. New Brunswick Junior B Hockey League The New Brunswick Junior Hockey League ( NBJBHL )

1020-722: The Maritime-Hockey North division. In the Spring of 2012, the Moncton Vito's dropped the fifth game of the NBJBHL finals to Tri-County to give the River Cats their third straight provincial title. Just like in 2010, the River Cats declined the right to play for the Don Johnson Cup , the Atlantic Junior B Championship. The Vito's went in their place and after a 1-3-0 record in the round robin, advanced to

1071-522: The Pembroke Lumber Kings 7–4 to finish the tournament once again with a 0–3–0 record. Following another banner year in 2010–11, the Slammers again finished first in the newly renamed Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) to claim their third President's Cup. This year, Summerside played the spoiler, defeating the Slammers in the seventh and final game of their Meek division final, further entrenching their divisional rivalry. The 2010–11 season

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1122-685: The Royal Bank Cup, beating the Portage Terriers 4–1. This achievement was overshadowed however by a check from behind on Andrew Schriver, the Slammers' game one goal scorer, which resulted in a season-ending injury. The Slammers went on to lose 2–1 to the Penticton Vees and 7–4 to the Soo Thunderbirds , finishing the preliminary round with a 1–3–0 record, tied with the Portage Terriers. Woodstock's victory over

1173-538: The Slammers moved on to the playoffs, defeating their Meek division rivals Summerside to move on to the finals. They defeated the Weeks Crushers to win their second MHL title under coach "Tarts". The Slammers travelled to Brockville, Ontario , for their second Fred Page Cup tournament in team history. They faced the host Brockville Braves and lost 6–0, then lost to the Terrebonne Cobras 6–2 and

1224-462: The Slammers undefeated streak in 2009–10. It was the Weeks Crushers who handed the Slammers their first overtime loss of the season, which, although it did not technically end their streak, was a blemish on an otherwise excellent record to that date. That same season, the Slammers and Crushers met in the MJAHL finals with the Slammers winning the series and the Kent Cup (their second). The rivalry with

1275-502: The Terriers earlier in the week, along with more goals scored and a higher plus-minus allowed the Slammers to reach the semifinals for the first time at the Royal Bank Cup. In the semifinals, the Slammers faced the host Humboldt Broncos. Down 2–0 early the Slammers rallied behind defenceman Tim Campbell's two goals to repeatedly tie the game. Their work paid off just 35 seconds into overtime when Ben MacSwain beat Humboldt's Matt Hrynkiw for

1326-408: The black band were gold above white, each of equal width. At the bottom of the jersey, there were a gold and white pair of stripes with a black band below them. These jerseys also had the original Slammers logo on them. On January 16, 2009, the Slammers unveiled their first third jersey. It was an all-black sweater with white and green stripes on the collar, green, black, white stripes at the bottom of

1377-510: The dismissal was not for a performance reason, but simply due to budgetary reasons. On March 23, 2018, the team announced that they would be taking a one year leave of absence from the Maritime Hockey League for the 2018–19 season. However, on May 16, 2018, the league announced franchise's relocation to Grand Falls, New Brunswick , for the start of the 2018–19 MHL season. On June 6, 2018, the team announced they would be called

1428-458: The final minutes of the third period in a 4–3 game in favour of Summerside. While the combatants fought, no one else seemed interested in fighting, instead shouting at each other from a short distance. Then, a Summerside player approached the Woodstock bench, where he speared a player on the bench. This produced a bench-clearing brawl, which resulted in nine suspensions (totaling 28 games) between

1479-553: The first team in the league to be ranked as the number one team in the country ( Canadian Junior Hockey League ) by points starting on October 24, 2011. The Slammers eventually reached 23 games without a loss before finally falling to the Amherst Ramblers 4–1 in regulation on November 26, 2011. Despite this loss, the Slammers remained the number one junior "A" team in the country until January 9, 2012, when they lost two games due to injuries and suspensions and were overtaken by

1530-616: The first two rounds, sweeping both the Campbellton Tigers and Summerside Western Capitals in four straight games each to win the Meek Division for the fourth time since 2005. They then took on the Yarmouth Mariners in the Kent Cup finals. The Slammers took a three to one lead in the series, then lost the next two games, leading to game seven in Woodstock's Carleton Civic Centre. The capacity crowd watched as

1581-476: The game and the Slammers' third Kent Cup championship. From April 25 to 29, the Slammers joined the Nepean Raiders , Titan de Princeville and host Kanata Stallions in Kanata for the 2012 Fred Page Cup . On April 25, the Slammers won their first Fred Page tournament game in franchise history, beating the host team 4–3 with the game winner being scored with only 3:00 remaining in the third. The Slammers then beat

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1632-423: The jersey itself going from white to black. In the 2011–12 season the Slammers joined numerous sports teams across the world in unveiling their own vintage-style third jersey. It is a green jersey with white stripes running down the arms. Outside these stripes are a series of stripes coloured black, green, white, black, green, white, black and green starting at the collar. The collar itself has laces (in keeping with

1683-439: The league and made it to the Kent Cup finals for the second time in three years, losing to the Yarmouth Mariners . The 2009–10 season saw the Slammers set two MJAHL records, first for most points in a season (92) and second for the longest undefeated streak (26 straight wins). Both records had previously been held by the now defunct Charlottetown Abbies . After finishing first in the regular season for their second President's Cup

1734-478: The logo was changed from a forward facing head to a head in profile. This new jersey brought the Slammers total up to two regular jerseys and two alternates. Legend : OTL =Overtime loss, SOL =Shootout loss Eastern Canada Junior A Championships The Eastern Canadian Junior A Hockey Championship is played annually between the winners of the MHL , QJHL , CCHL , and a Host team. It consists of round-robin play with

1785-616: The moose from Moosehead beer - similar in design to the current Halifax Mooseheads logo. The Ramblers are known to draw some of the largest crowds in the Maritime Hockey League , and have placed third in average attendance the last few years, only behind the Yarmouth Mariners and the Weeks Crushers . The Ramblers hosted the Centennial Cup (now known as Royal Bank Cup ) in 1993, and they also hosted

1836-421: The new move to the "A" league work during the hard years. Following the first two seasons in the MJAHL, Jason Tatarnic was hired as the new head coach of the team. That same season the Slammers went from last in the League to finishing first, capturing their first ever President's Cup as the first place team at the end of the season. They then went on to capture their first ever Kent Cup championship and headed for

1887-411: The next three seasons. McCain stated that he would be stepping down over the next three years with the town of Woodstock stepping into a greater role with the team. However, the biggest change for the team was the dismissal of the coaching staff. Jason Tatarnic ended his tenure with the team with a record of 371 wins and 194 losses, three Kent Cups and a Fred Page Cup championship. President McCain stated

1938-619: The outstanding performance of goaltender Matt Murphy (who stopped 42 of 44 shots) to win the game and their first ever Fred Page Cup . Arriving in Humboldt, Saskatchewan for the Royal Bank Cup , the Slammers lost their first game 4–1 to the host Humboldt Broncos with their lone goal coming from defenceman Andrew Schriver at 11:74 of the third period — the first Slammers goal at a national championship. The Slammers followed this milestone with another, getting their first ever victory at

1989-1101: The playoff rounds. In the semi-final, the Vito's defeated the 4-0-0 host St. John's Jr. Caps 5-4 in overtime. In the final, the Vito's defeated the 4-1-0 East Hants Penguins of the Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League 2-1 in overtime to become the first New Brunswick team to win the Atlantic Junior B championship in a decade and the first-ever from the new NBJBHL. C: Hampton Hurricanes C: Hampton Hurricanes Western Valley Panthers 4–3 C: Hampton Hurricanes Western Valley Panthers 4–1 C: Western Valley Panthers Grand Lake Moose 4–3 C: Western Valley Panthers Southern Sting 4–2 C: Southern Sting Western Valley Panthers 4–2 C: Tri-County River Cats Southern Sting 4–2 C: Tri-County River Cats Western Valley Panthers 4–0 C: none C: none C: Western Valley Panthers Tri-County River Cats 3–0 C: Tri-County River Cats Western Valley Panthers 4-2 C: Tri-County River Cats Western Valley Panthers 4-1 Amherst Ramblers The Amherst Ramblers are

2040-429: The series of exhibition matches by one victory, gained on November 30, 2012. When the Slammers joined the MJAHL in 2003 they brought their old junior B sweaters with them. These sweaters were copies of the 1998–2007 Dallas Stars jerseys, with the stripes of gold and green forming a star shape. These earliest jerseys had the original Slammers logo (the hammer-wielding Thor above the word "Slammers") on them. Following

2091-426: The sleeves with a green band below and the same configuration at the bottom of the jersey. The logo was replaced with the current main logo, depicting Thor's face and head from the front. This was the Slammers main logo beginning in the 2010–11 season up until the present. The third jersey from the 2009–10 season was tweaked for use as the regular jersey beginning in the 2010-11 season until the present. The home jersey

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2142-531: The team honoured former captain Justin Bowers by retiring his #9 jersey, the third number to be retired by the team since 2003. They then watched their team lose a one-goal lead at the end of the third period, leading to a 3–3 tie and overtime. Just 2:57 into the third overtime period, assistant captain Robert Visca beat Mariner's goalie Charles Grant (the eventual playoff MVP) with a wrap around to win

2193-571: The third period the Slammers lost the lead and the game 4–3, ending their season as the number two team in Canadian junior "A" hockey, their best finish in franchise history. During the 2011–12 season the Slammers expanded the military night tradition to include a game on Remembrance Day which paid homage to Canadian Service personnel who fought and died in the line of duty throughout the history of Canada, as well as another game in February, bringing

2244-474: The total to three games per season. In the same year, the Slammers welcomed their own incarnation of the now famous Green Men , the main difference between the two being the Woodstock group's addition of a third member. They attended most home games at the Civic Centre and, as with their Vancouverite predecessors, sat near the visitor's penalty box, where they could taunt the penalized players within. In

2295-444: The two teams combined for 170 penalty minutes, with 15 minor penalties, 6 major penalties, two ten-minute misconducts and 9 game misconducts being handed out by the official. Furthermore, suspensions were given to three Summerside players (totaling 18 games), two Woodstock players (one totaling 10 games, the other 8 games) and both teams' head coaches (Summerside 5 games, Woodstock 2 games). The Crushers – Slammers rivalry goes back to

2346-475: The two teams met once again in the Meek Division Final, with the Capitals taking the series in seven games. During these past three seasons, the Capitals and Slammers have fought hard for Meek Division supremacy (both figuratively and literally), leading to numerous on-ice altercations at almost every game. The most notorious fight took place on September 26, 2008, in Woodstock. A fight broke out at center ice in

2397-463: The two teams, as well as fines for both head coaches and both teams. Another major episode of the rivalry took place on December 16, 2011, in Woodstock. Following a goal by the Slammers, a fight broke out in front of the Summerside net. The fighting then escalated to include all the players on the ice (even the goalies) and a player from each bench who jumped the boards to enter the fray. In total,

2448-426: The vintage design) and the bottom of the jersey has a white then black stripe (in descending order) to the bottom of the jersey. The logo is a circle containing the team name around the Slammer's Head logo, with extending tabs that proclaim the teams establishing year as 2003. At the start of the 2012–13 season, the Slammers introduced yet another alternate jersey, this one identical to the regular away jersey. However,

2499-444: The win. This upset moved the Slammers into the Canadian Junior "A" National Championship finals for the first time in their history and made them only the second team to make the finals in their first appearance at the Royal Bank Cup tournament. Playing against the Penticton Vees in the finals, the Slammers came back from another 2–0 deficit and took a 3–2 lead into the third period. However, after receiving three straight penalties in

2550-423: Was also the inaugural year for the Slammers' military night, a game night devoted to honouring the soldiers from the Canadian military. During the night of the game, soldiers from CFB Gagetown in Oromocto, New Brunswick , are bussed to the Carleton Civic Centre for the game. In the 2011–12 season the Slammers once again made history. Going 13–0–0 to start their season, the Slammers set another MHL record, becoming

2601-417: Was made white with a thick green stripe across the center of the jersey and the elbow of both arms. Above and below this thick stripe are thin stripes of black. The bottom of the jersey has a black stripe above a green stripe above a white stripe. A green maple leaf was added to each shoulder to denote the team's location in Canada . The away jerseys is inverted, the black stripes being replaced with white ones,

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