The Buffalo Regals were an American junior "B" ice hockey team based in the Buffalo suburb of Cheektowaga, New York. They played in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL). The organization also had several youth hockey teams.
| Buffalo Regals | |
|---|---|
| City | Cheektowaga, New York, United States |
| League | Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League |
| Division | Golden Horseshoe |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Folded | 2021 |
| Home arena | Holiday Twin Rinks |
| Colors | Navy, red, white |
| General manager | John Evoy (2018–19) |
| Head coach | Tyler Casillo (2019–20) |
| Affiliate | Buffalo Jr. Sabres (OJHL) |
| Franchise history | |
| 1987–2011 | Wheatfield Jr. Blades |
| 2011–2013 | Buffalo Blades |
| 2013–2018 | Buffalo Regals |
| 2018–2019 | Lockport Regals |
| 2019–2021 | Buffalo Regals |
History
editFounded in 1987, the Wheatfield Jr. Blades played out of the Northeastern Junior Hockey League from 1987 until 1997. In 1997, the Blades jumped to the Tier III Junior B Empire Junior Hockey League (EmJHL). In the 2005–06 season, the Blades elected to field two teams, one to play in the EmJHL and another to play in the Canadian Junior B Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League (GHJHL). Each team's primary players were different, but listed the other team's players as affiliates. In the 2006–07 Season, the Blades sold their EmJHL team to the Buffalo Stars.
Before the 2011–12 season, the team was renamed the Buffalo Blades and managed by Jerry Shorthouse and John Bruno. As the Buffalo Blades, the team would only win nine times in 101 games. In 2013, the team was bought by a group with close ties to the local minor hockey association and the team was renamed the Regals.
It was announced on September 2, 2014 that the Regals would not play the 2014–15 season after the OJHL's Buffalo Jr. Sabres ended an agreement to transfer players between the two teams, causing the Regals to lose a valuable source of talent and unable to field a team.[1] Prior to the 2015–16 season, the Regals failed to file the appropriate reinstatement paper work with USA Hockey in order to play the season.[2]
The Regals returned to the GOJHL in time for the 2016–17 season. However, on 21 November, after 24 games, all of which were lost in regulation, the GOJHL announced over social media that the Regals had been removed from the league after the team did not travel to play the Welland Jr. Canadians. One day later, the statement was deleted and the Regals played a home game against the Ancaster Avalanche, which they lost 7–0.[3] GM Mike Answeeney said: "It's back to normal as far as I’m concerned... We're going to show up for every game scheduled."[4]
The team moved to Cornerstone Arena in nearby Lockport, New York, prior to the 2018–19 season and rebranded as the Lockport Regals. The team returned to using the Buffalo name at the start of the 2019–20 season and moved to the Holiday Twin Rinks in Cheektowaga, New York. The 2019–20 postseason was curtailed by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the following GOJHL season never took place due to the pandemic-related restrictions. The Regals were the only GOJHL team not listed to return for the 2021–22 season, and then they later resigned from the GOJHL.[5]
Season results
edit| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Pts | Regular Season Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–88 | 22 | 14 | 16 | 2 | — | — | — | 30 | 4th NEJHL | Lost final |
| 1988–89 | 44 | 10 | 33 | 1 | — | — | — | 21 | 5th NEJHL | |
| 1989–90 | 47 | 9 | 35 | 3 | — | — | — | 21 | 5th NEJHL | |
| 1990–91 | 59 | 33 | 23 | 3 | — | — | — | 69 | 2nd NEJHL | Lost final, Won Nationals |
| 1991–92 | 53 | 31 | 19 | 3 | — | — | — | 65 | 2nd NEJHL | Lost final |
| 1992–93 | 58 | 32 | 23 | 3 | — | — | — | 67 | 1st NEJHL | Won League |
| 1993–94 | 55 | 36 | 17 | 2 | — | — | — | 74 | 1st NEJHL | Won League |
| 1994–95 | 54 | 34 | 16 | 4 | — | — | — | 72 | 1st NEJHL | Won League |
| 1995–96 | 56 | 30 | 23 | 3 | — | — | — | 63 | 1st NEJHL | Won League |
| 1995–96 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 78 | — | GHJHL Interleague | |
| 1996–97 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NEJHL | |
| 1996–97 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 133 | — | GHJHL Interleague | |
| 1997–98 | 33 | 29 | 12 | 2 | — | — | — | 60 | 2nd EmJHL | Lost final |
| 1998–99 | 54 | 37 | 14 | 3 | — | — | — | 77 | 1st EmJHL | Won League |
| 1999–00 | 28 | 15 | 12 | 1 | — | — | — | 31 | 4th EmJHL | Won League |
| 2000–01 | 30 | 23 | 7 | 0 | — | 163 | 83 | 46 | 1st EmJHL | Won League |
| 2001–02 | 34 | 32 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 65 | 1st EmJHL | Lost final |
| 2002–03 | 32 | 21 | 8 | 3 | — | 153 | 91 | 45 | 3rd EmJHL | Lost in Round Robin |
| 2003–04 | 38 | 31 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | 63 | 1st EmJHL | Won League |
| 2004–05 | 44 | 31 | 10 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 1st EmJHL-West | |
| 2005–06 | 42 | 2 | 34 | 3 | 3 | 91 | 212 | 10 | 19th EmJHL | |
| 2005–06 | 49 | 8 | 37 | 3 | 1 | 131 | 301 | 20 | 8th GHJHL | Lost quarter-final |
| 2006–07 | 49 | 8 | 39 | 0 | 2 | 184 | 294 | 18 | 8th GHJHL | Lost quarter-final |
| 2007–08 | 49 | 5 | 42 | 2 | 0 | 128 | 303 | 12 | 8th GOJHL-GH | |
| 2008–09 | 52 | 19 | 28 | — | 5 | 152 | 214 | 43 | 7th GOJHL-GH | |
| 2009–10 | 51 | 13 | 32 | — | 6 | 173 | 263 | 32 | 7th GOJHL-GH | Lost Conference Quarter-final |
| 2010–11 | 51 | 4 | 45 | — | 2 | 105 | 334 | 10 | 8th GOJHL-GH | |
| 2011–12 | 50 | 8 | 40 | — | 2 | 130 | 295 | 18 | 8th GOJHL-GH | Lost Conference Quarter-final |
| 2012–13 | 51 | 1 | 49 | — | 1 | 110 | 421 | 3 | 8th GOJHL-GH | Lost Conference Quarter-final |
| 2013–14 | 49 | 4 | 44 | — | 1 | 112 | 264 | 9 | 9th GOJHL-GH | Did not qualify |
| 2014–15 | Leave of absence | |||||||||
| 2015–16 | ||||||||||
| 2016–17 | 50 | 3 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 536 | 6 | 9th GH Conf 27 of 27 GOJHL |
Did not qualify |
| 2017–18 | 50 | 2 | 43 | 0 | 5 | 98 | 319 | 9 | 9th GH Conf 26 of 26 GOJHL |
Did not qualify |
| 2018–19 | 48 | 8 | 38 | 1 | 1 | 120 | 298 | 18 | 8th GH Conf 25 of 25 GOJHL |
Did not qualify |
| 2019–20 | 50 | 10 | 34 | 2 | 4 | 127 | 225 | 26 | 8th GH Conf 24 of 26 GOJHL |
Did not qualify |
References
edit- ^ Potrecz, Bill (September 3, 2014). "Regals opt out for a season". St. Catharines Standard. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
- ^ "GOJHL Buffalo Regals Fold Because Of Paperwork". The Junior Hockey News. August 24, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
- ^ "Future of Team Clouded". St. Catharines Standard. November 23, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
- ^ Potrecz, Bill (November 23, 2016). "Regals beef up roster". St. Catharines Standard. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
- ^ "GOJHL unveils regular season schedule". blackburnnews.com. August 23, 2021.