# Brockville Braves

The Brockville Braves are a Junior ''A'' ice hockey team based in Brockville, Ontario. The Braves compete in the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) as a member of the West Division and have won two Bogart Cups and two Fred Page Cups since their founding in 1963. They are one of the ''Original Four'' CCHL teams, and they play their home games at the Brockville Memorial Centre.
Such NHLers as Larry Robinson and Wayne Simmonds, amongst other famous players, have both played for the Braves.

## History

The Brockville Braves (est. 1963) are the oldest continuously operated franchise in the CCHL. In 1979, the team received national attention after being left homeless from an arena collapse. They played their home games at Cardinal and Rockland.
It took until 1986 for the Brockville Braves to win a CJHL championships. They clinched the Bogart Cup on a late April night, defeating their nemesis Pembroke 8-7 in the finals. Braves' goalie Jacques Breault was the hero, as with 22 seconds to go in the game, turned away a penalty shot by the league's all-time leading scorer Luc Chabot. Although losing to Orillia in the Ontario playdowns, the team was a memorable one. Notable members of this team were all-time Braves leading scorer Larry Mitchell, Breault, Paul Duford, Tim Dubas, Dan Nummikoski, Steve Rachwal, Chad Badawey and Rob White.
Since that championship, the team has experienced more bad times than good. The late 1980s and early 1990s were not good to the Braves, who failed to make the playoffs multiple times.
In 1997, times began to change for the better again. The Braves competed in and won in Quebec, the Fred Page Cup, the Eastern Canadian Junior "A" championship. This allowed for their team to compete in the event and give them the experience they needed for the next season. The Braves regained their league title in 1998, bringing the club around full circle.
Former NHLer Todd Gill purchased the Brockville Braves and has been the head coach since 2006-07. He helped bring the Fred Page Cup to Brockville for the first time for 2010. Gill played in the NHL from 1984 to 2003 playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, Phoenix Coyotes, and St. Louis Blues. Former Braves head coach Mike McCourt was recently named head coach of the OHL's Niagara Ice Dogs for 2009-10. McCourt was head coach with Brockville from 2003 to 2006.
In 2009-2010, the Braves established a league record for most consecutive wins with 26. Brockville completed easy series wins over Kemptville (4-0) and Ottawa (4-0) to win a berth in the finals against the Pembroke Lumber Kings - as predicted by many CJHL followers. However, it was Pembroke that made CJHL history by winning four-consecutive Art Bogart Cup championships knocking off the Braves in 5 games. Despite, the finals loss to the Lumber Kings, the Braves won the Fred Page Cup against the Lumber Kings in an all-league finals tilt as the Braves won 5-1. At the Royal Bank Cup in Dauphin, Manitoba, the Braves broke a Royal Bank Cup record the highest margin of victory by defeating the Oakville Blades 11-2. (The previous record was held by the 1999 Vernon Vipers, who defeated the Charlottetown Abbies 9-3 in the championship game in Yorkton, SASK). The Braves would still have to win their last game against the La Ronge Ice Wolves, in which they did 6-3 to earn a berth in the semi-finals against the defending RBC champions, Vernon Vipers. Vernon went on to win the game 2-0, leaving the Braves out.
In 2014, the Brockville Braves were sold to former CCHL goaltender Dustin Traylen, who became the general manager. The previous owner was Todd Gill, who sold the Braves because he got a coaching job with the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League in 2011.

## Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1963-64 | 32 | 11 | 20 | 1 | - | -- | -- | 23 | 7th OHDJHL | Lost quarter-final |
| 1964-65 | 36 | 16 | 16 | 4 | - | 165 | 141 | 36 | 7th CJHL | Lost quarter-final |
| 1965-66 | 36 | 19 | 16 | 1 | - | 188 | 175 | 39 | 5th CJHL | Lost quarter-final |
| 1966-67 | 50 | 19 | 25 | 6 | - | 173 | 218 | 44 | 3rd CJHL | Lost semi-final |
| 1967-68 | 40 | 25 | 11 | 4 | - | 193 | 152 | 54 | 1st CJHL | Lost semi-final |
| 1968-69 | 40 | 13 | 24 | 3 | - | 166 | 183 | 29 | 4th CJHL | Lost semi-final |
| 1969-70 | 40 | 22 | 13 | 5 | - | 180 | 156 | 49 | 2nd CJHL | |
| 1970-71 | 48 | 16 | 29 | 3 | - | 174 | 244 | 35 | 4th CJHL | |
| 1971-72 | 48 | 24 | 22 | 2 | - | 198 | 181 | 50 | 3rd CJHL | |
| 1972-73 | 55 | 26 | 27 | 2 | - | 273 | 290 | 54 | 3rd CJHL | |
| 1973-74 | 50 | 16 | 29 | 5 | - | 234 | 322 | 37 | 5th CJHL | |
| 1974-75 | 50 | 10 | 36 | 4 | - | 218 | 329 | 24 | 6th CJHL | |
| 1975-76 | 50 | 17 | 23 | 10 | - | 204 | 212 | 44 | 4th CJHL | |
| 1976-77 | 50 | 17 | 20 | 13 | - | 252 | 270 | 47 | 5th CJHL | |
| 1977-78 | 48 | 10 | 32 | 6 | - | 165 | 268 | 26 | 5th CJHL | |
| 1978-79 | 48 | 9 | 38 | 1 | - | 205 | 349 | 19 | 5th CJHL | |
| 1979-80 | 50 | 10 | 35 | 5 | - | 209 | 391 | 25 | 5th CJHL | |
| 1980-81 | 50 | 20 | 24 | 6 | - | 183 | 223 | 46 | 4th CJHL | |
| 1981-82 | 50 | 19 | 27 | 4 | - | 237 | 281 | 42 | 5th CJHL | |
| 1982-83 | 48 | 22 | 18 | 8 | - | 248 | 198 | 52 | 3rd CJHL | |
| 1983-84 | 54 | 26 | 20 | 8 | - | 315 | 245 | 60 | 2nd CJHL | |
| 1984-85 | 54 | 37 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 364 | 237 | 76 | 2nd CJHL | |
| 1985-86 | 60 | 41 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 360 | 285 | 84 | 1st CJHL | Won League |
| 1986-87 | 52 | 16 | 29 | 3 | 4 | 213 | 309 | 39 | 7th CJHL | |
| 1987-88 | 56 | 35 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 335 | 224 | 75 | 3rd CJHL | |
| 1988-89 | 56 | 37 | 14 | 0 | 5 | 322 | 230 | 79 | 2nd CJHL | |
| 1989-90 | 56 | 38 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 377 | 256 | 82 | 2nd CJHL | |
| 1990-91 | 50 | 12 | 32 | 1 | 5 | 139 | 327 | 30 | 9th CJHL | |
| 1991-92 | 57 | 13 | 41 | 1 | 2 | 211 | 346 | 29 | 9th CJHL | |
| 1992-93 | 57 | 19 | 29 | 4 | 5 | 235 | 297 | 47 | 8th CJHL | |
| 1993-94 | 57 | 24 | 28 | 3 | 8 | 279 | 275 | 59 | 7th CJHL | |
| 1994-95 | 54 | 26 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 222 | 219 | 56 | 8th CJHL | |
| 1995-96 | 56 | 25 | 27 | 2 | 0 | 249 | 247 | 52 | 2nd in West | |
| 1996-97 | 53 | 28 | 18 | 7 | 0 | 234 | 206 | 63 | 3rd in West | |
| 1997-98 | 56 | 36 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 283 | 222 | 84 | 1st in West | Won League, won FPC |
| 1998-99 | 54 | 39 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 294 | 190 | 82 | 1st in West | |
| 1999-00 | 56 | 39 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 285 | 221 | 83 | 1st in West | |
| 2000-01 | 55 | 9 | 43 | 3 | 0 | 167 | 295 | 22 | 5th in West | |
| 2001-02 | 55 | 12 | 35 | 11 | 0 | 213 | 302 | 35 | 5th in West | |
| 2002-03 | 55 | 21 | 27 | 7 | 0 | 226 | 274 | 50 | 2nd in West | |
| 2003-04 | 55 | 27 | 21 | 6 | 1 | 223 | 219 | 61 | 5th | |
| 2004-05 | 57 | 34 | 13 | 8 | 2 | 214 | 162 | 78 | 3rd in West | |
| 2005-06 | 59 | 29 | 22 | 5 | 3 | 213 | 201 | 66 | 3rd in West | Lost quarter-final |
| 2006-07 | 55 | 28 | 20 | 6 | 1 | 201 | 190 | 63 | 2nd in West | Lost quarter-final |
| 2007-08 | 60 | 38 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 270 | 196 | 80 | 3rd CJHL | Lost semi-final |
| 2008-09 | 60 | 36 | 20 | - | 4 | 240 | 185 | 76 | 4th CJHL | |
| 2009-10 | 62 | 52 | 8 | - | 2 | 308 | 140 | 106 | 1st CJHL | Lost final, won FPC |
| 2010-11 | 62 | 44 | 15 | - | 3 | 233 | 160 | 91 | 3rd CCHL | Lost semi-final |
| 2011-12 | 62 | 41 | 17 | - | 4 | 242 | 186 | 86 | 3rd CCHL | Lost quarter-final |
| 2012-13 | 62 | 35 | 20 | - | 7 | 215 | 192 | 77 | 6th CCHL | Lost quarter-final |
| 2013-14 | 62 | 35 | 24 | - | 3 | 216 | 200 | 73 | 5th CCHL | Lost quarter-final |
| 2014-15 | 62 | 31 | 25 | 3 | 3 | 215 | 219 | 68 | 6th CCHL | Lost quarter-final |
| 2015-16 | 62 | 40 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 197 | 161 | 83 | 3rd of 6 West 4th of 12 CCHL | Won quarterfinal, 4-0 (Grads) Lost semifinals 0-4 (Canadians) |
| 2016-17 | 62 | 33 | 26 | 1 | 2 | 179 | 162 | 69 | 5th of 6 West 6th of 12 CCHL | Lost quarterfinal, 1-4 (Jr. Senators) |
| 2017-18 | 62 | 38 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 210 | 160 | 80 | 2nd of 6 West 3rd of 12 CCHL | Won quarterfinal 4-0 (Lasers) Lost semifinals 3-4 (Jr. Senators) |
| 2018-19 | 62 | 41 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 202 | 149 | 87 | 2nd of 6 West 3rd of 12 CCHL | Won quarterfinal 4-1 (Bears) Lost semifinals 0-4 (Jr. Senators) |
| 2019-20 | 62 | 36 | 16 | 10 | - | 213 | 173 | 82 | Playoff cancelled due to covid-19 pandemic | Playoff cancelled due to covid-19 pandemic |
| 2020-21 | Season cancelled due to covid-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to covid-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to covid-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to covid-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to covid-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to covid-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to covid-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to covid-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to covid-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to covid-19 pandemic |
| 2021-22 | 55 | 36 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 202 | 149 | 74 | 1st of 6 West 3rd of 12 CCHL | Won quarterfinal 4-3 (Bears) Lost semifinals 1-4 (Hawks) |
| 2022-23 | 55 | 29 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 166 | 154 | 66 | 4 of 6 West 7th of 12 CCHL | Won quarterfinal 4-3 (Grads) Lost semifinals 1-4 (Bears) |
| 2023-24 | 55 | 8 | 40 | 5 | 2 | 136 | 272 | 23 | 6 of 6 West 12th of 12 CCHL | Did Not Qualify for Post Season |

## Fred Page Cup

Eastern Canada Championships MHL - QAAAJHL - CCHL - Host Round robin play with 2nd vs 3rd in semi-final to advance against 1st in the finals.
| Year | Round Robin | Record | Standing | Semifinal | Gold Medal Game |
| 2010 | W, Woodstock Slammers 6-0 W, Pembroke Lumber Kings 2-1 W, Terrebonne Cobras 5-2 | 3-0-0 | 1st of 4 | n/a | W, Pembroke Lumber Kings 5-1 Fred Page Cup Champions advance to Royal Bank Cup |
| 1998 | ?, Restigouche River Rats ?-? ?, Coaticook Frontaliers ?-? ?, Kanata Valley Lasers ?-? | ?-?-? | ?? of 4 | n/a | W, Restigouche River Rats 4-1 Fred Page Cup Champions advance to Royal Bank Cup |
| 1997 * | OTL, Longueuil Collège Français 5-6 OTW, Summerside Western Capitals 5-4 ?, Kanata Valley Lasers ?-? | 1-2-0 | 3rd of 4 | L, Longueuil Collège Français ?-? | n/a |

## Royal Bank Cup

CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Dudley Hewitt Champions - Central, Fred Page Champions - Eastern, Western Canada Cup Champions - Western, Western Canada Cup - Runners Up and Host Round robin play with top 4 in semi-final and winners to finals.
| Year | Round Robin | Record | Standing | Semifinal | Gold Medal Game |
| 2010 | W, Oakville Blades 11-2 L, Dauphin Kings 2-3 L, Vernon Vipers 2-4 W, La Ronge Ice Wolves 6-3 | 2-2 | 3rd of 5 | L, Vernon Vipers 0-2 | n/a |
| 1998 | OTL, Nanaimo Clippers 4-3 L, Weyburn Red Wings 1-5 L, Milton Merchants 2-5 L, South Surrey Eagles 2-9 | 0-4 | 5th of 5 | |

## Championships

    CJHL Bogart Cup Championships: 1986, 1998
    Eastern Canadian Fred Page Cup Championships: 1998, 2010
    CJAHL Royal Bank Cup Championships: None

## Notable alumni

* Terry Carkner
* Brian Chapman
* Chris Clifford
* Mark Cornforth
* Todd Gill
* Brett Harkins
* Murray Kuntz
* Hank Lammens
* Kevin MacDonald
* Paul MacLean
* Larry Robinson
* Ray Sheppard
* Wayne Simmonds
* Gord Smith
* Trevor Stienburg