# Rockland Nationals

The Rockland Nationals (French: National de Rockland), officially Le club de hockey du National (The Nationals Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Nats, are a Junior ''A'' ice hockey team based in Rockland, Ontario. The Nationals compete in the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) as a member of the East Division. Since 2017, the team has played its home games at Clarence-Rockland Arena, originally known as the CIH Arena.
Founded in 1968 as the Ottawa M&W Rangers, they are one of the oldest continuously operating junior ice hockey team worldwide. The current Rockland Nationals began play in 2017–18, after the Gloucester Rangers relocated to Rockland after nearly 50 years in Gloucester.
The Nationals have made it to the playoffs five times in six seasons. As of the 2024–25 season, they are one of the most successfull teams in the CCHL, and their arena has been well-attended during Nats home games.

## History

The franchise dates back to the 1968 expansion Ottawa M.&.W (MacIntosh & Watts) Rangers and made their home in Leitrim in south Ottawa. In 1972, the M&W Rangers became the Gloucester Rangers and played out of the Earl Armstrong Arena. The 1972–73 season was coached by Derek Holmes, and included Mark Aubry as a player. The Rangers won their first Art Bogart Cup as league champions in 1981 by defeating the Pembroke Lumber Kings. The 1995 Centennial Cup (now Royal Bank Cup) was awarded to the City of Gloucester and the Gloucester Rangers. The Rangers, who were up by a goal in the championship game against the Calgary Canucks of the AJHL. The Canucks tied the game in the dying seconds and won the Centennial Cup in overtime. After their last playoff appearance of the 20th century, the Rangers fell on hard times missing the playoffs multiple times.
In 2002, new owners decided to change the colours to Black, Purple, and Silver. The team rebuilt with blockbuster trades with cross-town rivals and defending league champions Ottawa Junior Senators. However, the Rangers came close to winning the 2004 league championship by one goal in a sudden death game 7 to Nepean. In October 2004, coaching staff walking out of the organization over disagreements with management and ownership leaving the team with a shortage of players throughout the season through trades and releases. The team was sold to a group of Orleans businessmen in April 2005, who re-branded the team as the Orleans Blues, but couldn't move to Orleans, Ontario because of an inadequate arena, and therefore were forced to change back to the Gloucester Rangers for the 2008-09 season.
In late September 2016, Paul Jennings sold the Gloucester Rangers to a group of partners being André Chaput, André Charlebois & Amélie Lecompte, Jean-Robert Léger and Robert Bourdeau. Paul Jennings purchased the Orleans Blues franchise from Chaput in 2007. The Gloucester Rangers finished the 2016–17 season and relocated to the 2,500-seat Clarence-Rockland Arena to become the Rockland Nationals after playing at the aging Earl Armstrong for nearly 50 years. In 2020, the ownership team changed with the sale of André Chaput’s share to Luc Lavictoire.
The Nats played their inaugural home opener on September 8, 2017 and won the game 3–1 against their regional rival Navan Grads with an attendance of 1,200.
The Nats qualified for the playoffs in their inaugural season in Rockland following a 3–2 victory on the last game of the 2017–18 season in Pembroke against the Lumber Kings. They however lost in the first round 4 games to 1 against the Ottawa Junior Senators.
On September 7, 2018, a franchise record crowd of 1,500 fans attended the 2018–19 Rockland Nationals home opener as the Nats invited former Ottawa Senators legend Chris Neil and Ryan Dzingel to make ceremonial puck drop before the game. Rockland was able to pull a 4–1 win over the Navan Grads.
In the 2019–20 season, the Nationals finished first place in the East Division with a record of 39–19–1. The playoffs were later canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so is the entire 2020–21 CCHL season.
In the 2023–24 season, Rockland qualified for the playoffs for the 5th time in franchise history. They won the first round against the Renfrew Wolves 4 games to 2, but lost in the semi-finals against the eventual champions, the Navan Grads 4 games to 1.
On September 8, 2024, the Nationals won the first edition of the RE/MAX Cup against their long-time rivals, the Hawkesbury Hawks when the Clarence-Rockland Arena hosted the 3-day tournament.

## Team identity

The Rockland Nationals organization is located in a bilingual marketplace and operates in both English and French. The City of Clarence-Rockland provides services in English and French and the Rockland census metropolitan area contains a mix of anglophones and francophones. A bilingual version of the Canadian national anthem is sung before home games, and all announcements are in both languages. It has been estimated that 60 percent of Nats fans who attend games are francophone.
The team's public address announcer is François Rochon and their in-game DJ is Alexis Marcotte, also known as ALECKSY as his stage name. ALECKSY served as the former in-game DJ for the Ottawa Titans of the Frontier League from 2022 to 2024. After each Nats' goal, he sounds the goal horn button, which is a Nathan Airchime K3LA, used by several diesel trains in North America.

### Rivalries
#### Navan Grads

The Nationals have developed strong rivalries with two of the eight original CCHL franchises, with whom they frequently shared divisions and competed in postseason play. The oldest is with the Navan Grads, who first faced the Nationals as the Gloucester Rangers in 1974. The teams met three times in the playoffs, including one Bogart Cup Final round. Featuring one of the two closest teams in the league, the rivalry is due to the 26-kilometre drive from Clarence-Rockland Arena to the Navan Memorial Centre.

#### Hawkesbury Hawks

The team's other rivals are the Hawkesbury Hawks, who since their CCHL debut in 1974, have played the former Gloucester Rangers more than any other team in both regular season play and the playoffs combined. Since the arrival of the current Rockland Nationals in 2017, the rivalry returned and is also known as the Battle of Highway 17, in result of both arenas located alongside Highway 17, which starts after Trim Road in Orleans, all the way to East Hawkesbury.

## Broadcasting

Nationals games can be heard on flohockey.tv, via the FloSports streaming platform. The team's play-by-play broadcaster is Richard Gauthier, who has also served as the public address announcer for the Ottawa Titans of the Frontier League. Gauthier brings over 40 years of experience in sports media as a play-by-play broadcaster and public address announcer for various sports.

## 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 | OTL | T | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1968-69 | 40 | 11 | 22 | 7 | - | 145 | 202 | 29 | 5th CJHL | |
| 1969-70 | 40 | 30 | 6 | 4 | - | 198 | 108 | 64 | 1st CJHL | Won League |
| 1970-71 | 48 | 26 | 12 | 10 | - | 235 | 158 | 62 | 2nd CJHL | Won League |
| 1971-72 | 48 | 27 | 20 | 1 | - | 234 | 188 | 55 | 2nd CJHL | |
| 1972-73 | 55 | 30 | 20 | 5 | - | 293 | 233 | 65 | 2nd CJHL | |
| 1973-74 | 50 | 25 | 19 | 6 | - | 297 | 252 | 56 | 4th CJHL | |
| 1974-75 | 50 | 14 | 27 | 9 | - | 241 | 289 | 37 | 5th CJHL | |
| 1975-76 | 50 | 26 | 21 | 3 | - | 271 | 203 | 55 | 2nd CJHL | |
| 1976-77 | 50 | 24 | 21 | 5 | - | 241 | 231 | 53 | 3rd CJHL | |
| 1977-78 | 48 | 30 | 13 | 5 | - | 261 | 204 | 65 | 2nd CJHL | |
| 1978-79 | 48 | 23 | 23 | 2 | - | 210 | 235 | 48 | 3rd CJHL | |
| 1979-80 | 50 | 33 | 12 | 5 | - | 284 | 187 | 71 | 2nd CJHL | |
| 1980-81 | 50 | 28 | 15 | 7 | - | 248 | 191 | 63 | 3rd CJHL | Won League |
| 1981-82 | 50 | 11 | 36 | 3 | - | 191 | 266 | 25 | 6th CJHL | |
| 1982-83 | 48 | 15 | 28 | 5 | - | 189 | 241 | 35 | 6th CJHL | |
| 1983-84 | 53 | 21 | 16 | 6 | - | 233 | 235 | 48 | 6th CJHL | |
| 1984-85 | 54 | 18 | 33 | 1 | 2 | 234 | 328 | 39 | 6th CJHL | |
| 1985-86 | 60 | 35 | 21 | 1 | 3 | 311 | 247 | 74 | 4th CJHL | |
| 1986-87 | 54 | 28 | 21 | 2 | 3 | 260 | 248 | 61 | 3rd CJHL | |
| 1987-88 | 56 | 25 | 27 | 1 | 3 | 275 | 271 | 54 | 6th CJHL | |
| 1988-89 | 55 | 10 | 39 | 1 | 5 | 203 | 316 | 26 | 9th CJHL | |
| 1989-90 | 56 | 34 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 325 | 281 | 72 | 4th CJHL | |
| 1990-91 | 54 | 32 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 347 | 276 | 71 | 3rd CJHL | |
| 1991-92 | 57 | 40 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 360 | 233 | 85 | 3rd CJHL | |
| 1992-93 | 56 | 30 | 18 | 3 | 5 | 308 | 261 | 68 | 5th CJHL | |
| 1993-94 | 57 | 37 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 324 | 245 | 78 | 1st CJHL | Won League |
| 1994-95 | 55 | 32 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 263 | 219 | 69 | 3rd CJHL | |
| 1995-96 | 54 | 35 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 249 | 177 | 71 | 3rd in East | |
| 1996-97 | 54 | 26 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 209 | 221 | 56 | 3rd in East | |
| 1997-98 | 56 | 26 | 21 | 9 | 3 | 223 | 217 | 64 | 2nd in East | |
| 1998-99 | 54 | 7 | 43 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 149 | 287 | 5th in East | Did not qualify |
| 1999-00 | 55 | 11 | 41 | 4 | 0 | 26 | 177 | 307 | 5th in East | Did not qualify |
| 2000-01 | 55 | 14 | 35 | 6 | 0 | 37 | 192 | 278 | 4th in East | Lost quarter-final 4-1 to Cornwall |
| 2001-02 | 55 | 6 | 43 | 7 | 0 | 19 | 162 | 331 | 5th in East | Did not qualify |
| 2002-03 | 55 | 27 | 17 | 11 | 2 | 67 | 246 | 210 | 3rd in East | Lost semi-final 4-3 to Nepean |
| 2003-04 | 55 | 30 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 188 | 167 | 64 | 4th | Lost final 4-3 to Nepean |
| 2004-05 | 57 | 24 | 26 | 1 | 6 | 194 | 204 | 55 | 3rd in East | Lost quarter-final 4-3 to Hawkesbury |
| 2005-06 | 57 | 16 | 37 | 1 | 3 | 172 | 262 | 36 | 5th in East | Did not qualify |
| 2006-07 | 55 | 26 | 21 | 6 | 2 | 184 | 190 | 60 | 2nd in East | Lost quarter-final 4-2 to Nepean |
| 2007-08 | 60 | 14 | 38 | 4 | 4 | 188 | 301 | 36 | 10th CJHL | Did not qualify |
| 2008-09 | 60 | 26 | 26 | - | 8 | 198 | 247 | 60 | 8th CJHL | Lost quarter-final 4-0 to Nepean |
| 2009-10 | 62 | 35 | 21 | - | 6 | 277 | 225 | 76 | 4th CJHL | Lost quarter-final 4-2 to Ottawa |
| 2010-11 | 62 | 35 | 25 | - | 2 | 263 | 244 | 72 | 4th CCHL | Lost semi-final 4-0 to Pembroke |
| 2011-12 | 62 | 13 | 46 | - | 3 | 186 | 325 | 29 | 12th CCHL | Did not qualify |
| 2012-13 | 62 | 19 | 35 | - | 8 | 166 | 246 | 46 | 10th CCHL | Did not qualify |
| 2013-14 | 62 | 23 | 32 | - | 7 | 219 | 280 | 53 | 9th CCHL | Did not qualify |
| 2014-15 | 62 | 31 | 30 | - | 1 | 199 | 223 | 63 | 3rd of 6 East 9th of 12 CCHL | Won Prelim. Playin, 2-0 (73's) Lost Quarterfinals, 0-4 (Junior Senators) |
| 2015-16 | 62 | 5 | 52 | 3 | 2 | 116 | 305 | 15 | 6th of 6 East 12th of 12 CCHL | Did not qualify |
| 2016-17 | 62 | 22 | 34 | 3 | 3 | 141 | 204 | 50 | 4th of 6 East 10th of 12 CCHL | Did not qualify |
| Rockland Nationals - CCHL |||||||||||
| 2017-18 | 62 | 28 | 28 | 6 | - | 186 | 204 | 62 | 4th of 6 East 8th of 12 CCHL | Lost Quarterfinals 1-4 (Canadians) |
| 2018-19 | 62 | 40 | 17 | 5 | - | 205 | 151 | 85 | 2nd of 6 East 4th of 12 CCHL | Won Quarterfinals, 4-1 (Hawks) Lost Semifinals, 1-4 (Canadians) |
| 2019-20 | 62 | 39 | 19 | 4 | - | 254 | 183 | 82 | 1st of 6 East 2nd of 12 CCHL | - |
| 2020-21 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | - | 28 | 25 | 8 | Season canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic | - |
| 2021-22 | 55 | 24 | 24 | 7 | - | 166 | 188 | 55 | 4th of 6 East 9th of 12 CCHL | Lost Tie-Break Game, 1-0 (Bears) |
| 2022-23 | 55 | 20 | 23 | 12 | - | 172 | 203 | 52 | 5th of 6 East 10th of 12 CCHL | Did not qualify |
| 2023-24 | 55 | 32 | 19 | 4 | - | 202 | 175 | 68 | 3rd of 6 East 4th of 12 CCHL | Won Quarterfinals 4-2 (Wolves) Lost Semifinals 1-4 (Grads) |

## Attendance

As of March 14, 2025
| Season | Games | Total | Average |
| 2017–18 | 29 | 9,210 | 318 |
| 2018–19 | 29 | 11,987 | 413 |
| 2019–20 | 29 | 11,052 | 381 |
| 2020–21 | DID NOT PLAY DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC | DID NOT PLAY DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC | DID NOT PLAY DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC |
| 2021–22 | 26 | 7,498 | 288 |
| 2022–23 | 25 | 11,063 | 443 |
| 2023–24 | 26 | 10,491 | 404 |
| 2024–25 | 26 | 14,931 | 574 |

## Championships

    CJHL Bogart Cup Championships: 1970, 1971, 1981, 1994 (Gloucester Rangers)
Centennial Cup Champions: 1976 (Gloucester Rangers)
    Eastern Canadian Fred Page Cup Championships: None
    CJAHL Royal Bank Cup Championships: None

## Notable alumni

* Mark Aubry
* John Barrett
* Dan Boyle
* Josh Bower
* Todd Charlesworth
* Mathieu Dandenault
* P.C. Drouin
* Blake Dunlop
* Jerome Dupont
* Robert Esche
* Todd Flichel
* Mark Fraser
* Garry Galley
* Steve Guenette
* Derek Holmes
* Mitch Lamoureux
* Gary Laskoski
* Claude Loiselle
* Larry Robinson
* Moe Robinson
* Andre Savage
* Larry Trader
* Bob Warner
* Steve Washburn
* Sean Whyte