# Melville Millionaires

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

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. The team subsequently won two challenges but lost the final challenge of the season to the Winnipeg Monarchs.
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.
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.
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."
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.

## 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 | 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

* Wade Brookbank
* Tim Cheveldae
* Brett Clark
* Wilf Cude
* Mike Eagles
* John Ferguson Sr.
* Bill Flett
* Shaun Heshka
* Ron Hextall
* Jim Hiller
* Chris Kunitz
* Brian Propp
* Eddie Shore
* Richard Zemlak

## Notable Olympian alumni

* Ted Hargreaves - Bronze medalist, Canadian men's national hockey team, 1968 Winter Olympics