# Burlington Cougars

The Burlington Cougars are a Canadian junior "A" ice hockey team from Burlington, Ontario. They are a part of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.

## History

Founded in the early 1950s, the Burlington Mohawks found their footing in the Central Junior B Hockey League. After seven seasons in the league and two league championships, the team was transferred to the Niagara District Junior B Hockey League.
In the Niagara League, the Mohawks (briefly renamed Industrials from 57 to 60) won both the 1963 and 1964 league championships before dropping down to Junior C in 1967.
In 1970, the Mohawks jumped back up to the Junior B level in the Mid-Ontario Junior B Hockey League. They were in the league for one season before the Ontario Hockey Association shifted them back to the Central Junior B Hockey League.
The Mohawks were renamed the Cougars in 1976 and stayed in the Central League for twenty-two seasons, from 1971 until 1993.
In 1981, the Cougars won their first Central League championship since 1958. They went on to face the Stratford Cullitons of the Mid-Western Junior Hockey League in the Sutherland Cup final. The Cougars won the series 8-points-to-4 to defeat the Cullitons and claim their only Sutherland Cup.
In 1987, the Cougars won their fourth and final Central League championship.
In 1993, the Central League was promoted to become the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League, the Cougars made the jump with the league. The Cougars have yet to win an OPJHL title.
The Cougars moved their home rink from Central Arena on Drury Lane to The Wave Twin Rinks on Mainway and have since returned to Central Arena.

## Season-by-season results

| Season | GP | | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Pts | Results | Playoffs |
| 1953–54 | 28 | 16 | 9 | 3 | — | 167 | 140 | 35 | 3rd OHA Gr. | |
| 1954–55 | 30 | 19 | 10 | 1 | — | 164 | 129 | 39 | 3rd CJBHL | |
| 1955–56 | 27 | 20 | 7 | 0 | — | 165 | 87 | 40 | 2nd CJBHL | |
| 1956–57 | 27 | 22 | 4 | 1 | — | 158 | 83 | 45 | 1st CJBHL | Won League |
| 1957–58 | 30 | 21 | 9 | 0 | — | 156 | 105 | 42 | 1st CJBHL | Won League |
| 1958–59 | 30 | 18 | 11 | 1 | — | 142 | 111 | 37 | 4th CJBHL | |
| 1959–60 | 31 | 18 | 10 | 3 | — | — | — | 39 | 2nd CJBHL | |
| 1960–61 | 29 | 11 | 16 | 2 | — | 175 | 193 | 24 | 5th CJBHL | |
| 1961–62 | 29 | 9 | 20 | 0 | — | 104 | 190 | 18 | 5th CJBHL | |
| 1962–63 | 30 | 14 | 9 | 7 | — | - | - | 35 | 3rd NDJBHL | |
| 1963–64 | 30 | 16 | 8 | 6 | — | 187 | 131 | 38 | 3rd NDJBHL | Won League |
| 1964–65 | 30 | 14 | 12 | 4 | — | 161 | 163 | 32 | 4th NDJBHL | |
| 1965–66 | 30 | 13 | 16 | 1 | — | 147 | 148 | 27 | 5th NDJBHL | |
| 1966–67 | 29 | 23 | 6 | - | — | - | - | 46 | 1st NDJBHL | |
| 1967–69 | Statistics not available | Statistics not available | Statistics not available | Statistics not available | Statistics not available | Statistics not available | Statistics not available | Statistics not available | Statistics not available | Statistics not available |
| 1969–70 | 30 | 19 | 10 | 1 | — | 206 | 149 | 39 | 3rd IntJCHL | |
| 1970–71 | 34 | 17 | 13 | 4 | — | 145 | 152 | 38 | 4th MOJBHL | |
| 1971–72 | 42 | 28 | 12 | 2 | — | 246 | 167 | 58 | 1st CJBHL | Won League |
| 1972–73 | 42 | 31 | 6 | 5 | — | 256 | 147 | 67 | 1st CJBHL | Won League |
| 1973–74 | 42 | 26 | 13 | 3 | — | 271 | 162 | 55 | 3rd CJBHL | |
| 1974–75 | 42 | 25 | 6 | 9 | — | — | — | 59 | 2nd CJBHL | |
| 1975–76 | 36 | 24 | 10 | 2 | — | 195 | 138 | 50 | 1st CJBHL | |
| 1976–77 | 42 | 25 | 13 | 4 | — | 209 | 151 | 54 | 3rd CJBHL | |
| 1977–78 | 42 | 21 | 16 | 5 | — | — | — | 47 | 3rd CJBHL | |
| 1978–79 | 44 | 38 | 4 | 2 | — | 277 | 124 | 78 | 2nd CJBHL | |
| 1979–80 | 44 | 31 | 11 | 2 | — | 213 | 167 | 64 | 2nd CJBHL | |
| 1980–81 | 44 | 36 | 7 | 1 | — | 339 | 157 | 73 | 1st CJBHL | Won League, won SC |
| 1981–82 | 40 | 29 | 9 | 2 | — | 292 | 165 | 60 | 2nd CJBHL | |
| 1982–83 | 42 | 26 | 14 | 2 | — | 199 | 157 | 54 | 3rd CJBHL | |
| 1983–84 | 40 | 16 | 20 | 4 | — | 180 | 207 | 36 | 5th CJBHL | |
| 1984–85 | 40 | 21 | 12 | 7 | — | 205 | 177 | 49 | 3rd CJBHL | |
| 1985–86 | 48 | 27 | 15 | 6 | — | 277 | 220 | 60 | 4th CJBHL | |
| 1986–87 | 42 | 23 | 14 | 5 | — | 257 | 192 | 51 | 3rd CJBHL | Won League |
| 1987–88 | 43 | 31 | 10 | 2 | — | 274 | 145 | 64 | 2nd CJBHL | |
| 1988–89 | 42 | 22 | 12 | 8 | — | 224 | 168 | 52 | 5th CJBHL | |
| 1989–90 | 42 | 24 | 14 | 4 | — | 201 | 171 | 52 | 5th CJBHL | |
| 1990–91 | 42 | 22 | 16 | 4 | — | 192 | 186 | 48 | 6th CJBHL | |
| 1991–92 | 42 | 21 | 15 | 6 | — | 173 | 140 | 48 | 7th CJBHL | |
| 1992–93 | 49 | 33 | 13 | 3 | — | 274 | 212 | 70 | 3rd CJBHL | |
| 1993–94 | 42 | 27 | 12 | 3 | — | 255 | 180 | 58 | 2nd OPJHL-W | |
| 1994–95 | 49 | 26 | 19 | 4 | — | 267 | 212 | 57 | 4th OPJHL-W | |
| 1995–96 | 50 | 20 | 28 | 2 | — | 184 | 199 | 43 | 4th OPJHL-Mi | |
| 1996–97 | 51 | 14 | 34 | 3 | — | 188 | 273 | 32 | 4th OPJHL-Mi | |
| 1997–98 | 51 | 24 | 22 | 5 | 0 | 217 | 207 | 53 | 3rd OPJHL-Mi | |
| 1998–99 | 51 | 29 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 256 | 203 | 61 | 4th OPJHL-W | |
| 1999–00 | 49 | 23 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 166 | 174 | 52 | 6th OPJHL-W | |
| 2000–01 | 49 | 12 | 31 | 4 | 2 | 147 | 233 | 30 | 10th OPJHL-W | |
| 2001–02 | 49 | 14 | 31 | 4 | 0 | 171 | 244 | 32 | 9th OPJHL-W | |
| 2002–03 | 49 | 29 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 227 | 201 | 61 | 4th OPJHL-W | |
| 2003–04 | 49 | 18 | 26 | 4 | 1 | 151 | 205 | 41 | 6th OPJHL-W | |
| 2004–05 | 49 | 26 | 17 | 1 | 5 | 202 | 169 | 58 | 5th OPJHL-W | |
| 2005–06 | 49 | 26 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 167 | 156 | 57 | 5th OPJHL-W | Lost Conf. Quarter-final |
| 2006–07 | 49 | 30 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 259 | 158 | 67 | 5th OPJHL-W | Lost Conf. Quarter-final |
| 2007–08 | 49 | 24 | 20 | — | 5 | 230 | 188 | 53 | 5th OPJHL-W | |
| 2008–09 | 49 | 33 | 10 | — | 6 | 217 | 160 | 72 | 3rd OJHL-M | |
| 2009–10 | 50 | 39 | 8 | — | 3 | 313 | 183 | 81 | 1st CCHL-W | Lost semi-final |
| 2010–11 | 50 | 38 | 8 | — | 4 | 287 | 184 | 80 | 1st OJHL-W | Lost quarter-final |
| 2011–12 | 49 | 20 | 29 | — | 0 | 161 | 205 | 40 | 4th OJHL-W | Lost Division Semi-final |
| 2012–13 | 55 | 25 | 27 | — | 3 | 200 | 229 | 53 | 3rd OJHL-W | Lost Conf. Quarter-final |
| 2013–14 | 53 | 10 | 37 | — | 6 | 138 | 272 | 26 | 5th OJHL-W | Did not qualify |
| 2014–15 | 54 | 11 | 41 | — | 2 | 151 | 307 | 24 | 6th OJHL-W | Did not qualify |
| 2015–16 | 54 | 40 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 249 | 175 | 83 | 2nd of 5 West Div. 3rd of 11 SW Conf. 5th of 22 OJHL | Won Conf. Quarter-finals, 4–1 (Jr. Canadiens) Won Conf. Semifinals, 4–3 (Blades) Lost Conf. Finals, 2–4 (Raiders) |
| 2016–17 | 54 | 34 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 215 | 141 | 71 | 2nd of 5 West Div. 2nd of 11 SW Conf. 3rd of 22 OJHL | Won Conf. Quarter-finals, 4–1 (Patriots) Lost Conf. Semifinals, 1–4 (Blades) |
| 2017–18 | 54 | 18 | 28 | 2 | 6 | 169 | 224 | 44 | 4th of 5 West Div. 10th of 11 SW Conf. 17th of 22 OJHL | Did not qualify |
| 2018–19 | 54 | 27 | 22 | 3 | 2 | 185 | 171 | 59 | 3rd of 6 West Div. 6th of 11 SW Conf. 14th of 22 OJHL | Lost Conf. Quarter-finals, 3–4 (Jr. Sabres) |
| 2019-20 | 54 | 34 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 226 | 153 | 76 | 2nd of 6 West Div. 2nd of 11 NW Conf. 5th of 21 OJHL | Lost Conf. Quarter-finals, 2–4 (Jr. Sabres) |
| 2020-21 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 |
| 2021-22 | 54 | 39 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 230 | 139 | 76 | 1st of 6 West Div. 2nd of 10 NW Conf. 2nd of 21 OJHL | Won Conf. Quarter-finals, 2–0 (Blades) Lost Conf. Semifinals, 0–2 (Menace) |
| 2022-23 | 54 | 38 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 157 | 162 | 79 | 3rd of 10 NW Conf. 5th of 21 OJHL | Won Conf. Quarter-finals, 4–0 (Royals) Won Conf. Semifinals, 4-0 (Raiders) Lost Conf Finals 1-4 (Blues) |
| 2023-24 | 56 | 29 | 20 | 1 | 6 | 212 | 191 | 65 | 7th of 12 NW Conf. 15th of 24 OJHL | Lost Conf. Quarter-finals, 1-4 (menace) |

### Playoffs

* 1994 Lost quarter-final
    Burlington Cougars defeated Georgetown Raiders 4-games-to-none
    Oakville Blades defeated Burlington Cougars 4-games-to-none
* 1995 Lost Preliminary
    Brampton Capitals defeated Burlington Cougars 4-games-to-1
* 1996 Did not qualify
* 1997 Did not qualify
* 1998 Lost Preliminary
    Oakville Blades defeated Burlington Cougars 4-games-to-2
* 1999 Lost Division Quarter-final
    Georgetown Raiders defeated Burlington Cougars 3-games-to-1
* 2000 Lost Division Semi-final
    Burlington Cougars defeated Milton Merchants 4-games-to-3
    Georgetown Raiders defeated Burlington Cougars 4-games-to-3
* 2001 Did not qualify
* 2002 Did not qualify
* 2003 Lost Division Quarter-final
    Oakville Blades defeated Burlington Cougars 4-games-to-none
* 2004 Lost Division Quarter-final
    Oakville Blades defeated Burlington Cougars 4-games-to-none
* 2005 Lost Division Quarter-final
    Milton Icehawks defeated Burlington Cougars 4-games-to-1
* 2006 Lost Division Quarter-final
    Oakville Blades defeated Burlington Cougars 4-games-to-1
* 2007 Lost Division Quarter-final
    Georgetown Raiders defeated Burlington Cougars 4-games-to-2
* 2008 Lost Division Quarter-final
    Brampton Capitals defeated Burlington Cougars 3-games-to-none
* 2009 Lost Division Semi-final
    Burlington Cougars defeated Milton Icehawks 3-games-to-none
    Oakville Blades defeated Burlington Cougars 4-games-to-1
* 2010 Lost CCHL Semi-final
    Burlington Cougars defeated North York Rangers 4-games-to-none
    Burlington Cougars defeated Streetsville Derbys 4-games-to-none
    Newmarket Hurricanes defeated Burlington Cougars 4-games-to-none
* 2011 Lost quarter-final
    Burlington Cougars defeated Hamilton Red Wings 4-games-to-none
    Oakville Blades defeated Burlington Cougars 4-games-to-2
* 2012 Lost Division Semi-final
    Burlington Cougars defeated Milton Icehawks 3-games-to-1
    Georgetown Raiders defeated Burlington Cougars 4-games-to-1

## Sutherland Cup appearances

1981: Burlington Cougars defeated Stratford Cullitons 8-points-to-4

## Notable alumni

* Kevin Bieksa
* Tim Bothwell
* Eric Cairns
* Greg Carey
* Paul Crowley
* Dan Currie
* Bob Dillabough
* Steve Durbano
* Paul Henderson
* Larry Jeffrey
* Jeff Johnson (running back - CFL)
* Josh Jooris
* Rick Lanz
* Mark Lawrence
* Lowell MacDonald
* Pit Martin
* Scott McKay
* John Miszuk
* Lance Nethery
* Danny Olesevich
* Murray Oliver
* Pat Quinn
* Dennis Ribant (pitcher - MLB)
* Wayne Rivers
* Ron Sedlbauer
* Fred Speck
* Steve Valiquette
* Mark Visheau
* Chad Wiseman
* Dino Felicetti