# Navan Grads

The Navan Grads are a Junior ''A'' ice hockey team based in Navan, Ontario. The Grads compete in the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) as a member of the East Division. The club was founded in 1974, and they play their home games at the Navan Memorial Centre.

## History

In the Summer of 1974, the residents of Navan banded together and purchased the rights of the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League's Rockland Boomers. They moved them to Navan, and the Grads were born. In 1989, the board of directors for the Navan Grads felt that the region of Cumberland would be better suited with a team that reflected the region. The team's name from then on was the "Cumberland Grads" from 1989 to 2017.
In the Summer of 1991, the Grads became the 10th team in the Central Junior A Hockey League and have been a member of the CJHL ever since. The Grads best season came in 2002-03 when the team finished 1st overall and were major contenders to qualify for the Fred Page Cup. The Grads won their first-ever playoff series against the Kanata Stallions defeating them 4 games to 0. The Ottawa Junior Senators upset the Grads 4 games to 2 in the semi-finals, when game 6 went to triple overtime and Ottawa scored the game-winning goal on a penalty shot in the third overtime period. Craig Nooyan, Christian Boucher, Jason Murfitt, Jonathon Matsumoto, Brent Patry, Brendan MacIntyre, and Craig Baxter were among several returning players for 2003-04. The Grads wound up finishing second overall, and suffered a first-round upset to the Kanata Stallions in seven games, in spite of having led the series 3 games to 1.
Assistant coach Mark Grady took over Bruce Johnson's duties as head coach in 2004-05. Claude Giroux made his rookie debut with the Grads in 2005, and he was selected by the QMJHL's Gatineau Olympiques after having been passed over at the Ontario Hockey League 2005's draft.
The Grads missed the playoffs multiple times since then or have failed to make it past the first round in the CJHL playoffs.
In 2024, the Navan Grads made it to the playoffs, and have won their first Bogart Cup in history against the Smiths Falls Bears in five games.
On March 14, 2025, a franchise record crowd of 1,214 people attended the game against the Carleton Place Canadians, in the honor of the team's long time owner Steve Barban passing in October 2024. It was also the largest crowd in the arena's history.

## Rivalries
### Rockland Nationals

The rivalry between the Navan Grads and the Rockland Nationals is the oldest in the CCHL, featuring two clubs that first played against each other back in 1974 (when the Nationals were known as the Gloucester Rangers). Since the arrival of the current Rockland Nationals in 2017, the cause of the rivalry is due to the 26-kilometre drive from Navan Memorial Centre to the Clarence-Rockland Arena. The Grads have won 14 games against Rockland, while the Nationals have won 24 games against Navan, respectively.
The Grads and the Nats have faced each other once in the playoffs, when Navan have defeated Rockland in the 2024 Bogart Cup semi-finals 4 games to 1.

## 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 |
| 1981-82 | 35 | 16 | 17 | 2 | - | 228 | 221 | 34 | 4th EO-NWest | |
| 1982-83 | 36 | 16 | 16 | 4 | - | 197 | 201 | 36 | 3rd EO-AEng | |
| 1983-85 | 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 |
| 1985-86 | 35 | 27 | 8 | 0 | - | 251 | 149 | 54 | 2nd EO-AEng | |
| 1986-87 | 40 | 18 | 17 | 5 | - | 212 | 201 | 41 | 2nd EO-Metro | |
| 1987-91 | 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 |
| 1991-92 | 57 | 15 | 39 | 1 | 2 | 217 | 344 | 33 | 8th CJHL | |
| 1992-93 | 57 | 10 | 43 | 2 | 2 | 223 | 370 | 24 | 9th CJHL | |
| 1993-94 | 57 | 10 | 45 | 1 | 1 | 235 | 419 | 22 | 10th CJHL | |
| 1994-95 | 54 | 13 | 29 | 6 | 6 | 219 | 302 | 38 | 9th CJHL | |
| 1995-96 | 54 | 22 | 30 | 2 | - | 234 | 272 | 46 | 8th CJHL | |
| 1996-97 | 54 | 16 | 31 | 7 | - | 197 | 278 | 39 | 9th CJHL | |
| 1997-98 | 56 | 19 | 20 | 13 | 4 | 203 | 239 | 55 | 8th CJHL | |
| 1998-99 | 54 | 18 | 33 | 3 | - | 194 | 270 | 39 | 9th CJHL | |
| 1999-00 | 56 | 22 | 27 | 7 | - | 214 | 261 | 51 | 9th CJHL | |
| 2000-01 | 55 | 12 | 35 | 8 | - | 177 | 273 | 32 | 9th CJHL | |
| 2001-02 | 55 | 23 | 26 | 5 | 1 | 230 | 242 | 52 | 6th CJHL | |
| 2002-03 | 55 | 36 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 298 | 179 | 78 | 1st CJHL | Lost semi-final |
| 2003-04 | 55 | 35 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 250 | 173 | 76 | 2nd CJHL | Lost quarter-final |
| 2004-05 | 57 | 23 | 30 | 2 | 2 | 178 | 222 | 50 | 7th CJHL | |
| 2005-06 | 57 | 23 | 29 | 5 | 0 | 183 | 214 | 51 | 4th in East | Lost quarter-final |
| 2006-07 | 55 | 11 | 37 | 5 | 2 | 158 | 247 | 29 | 5th in East | DNQ |
| 2007-08 | 60 | 34 | 20 | 3 | 3 | 221 | 182 | 74 | 4th CJHL | |
| 2008-09 | 60 | 38 | 16 | - | 6 | 244 | 187 | 82 | 3rd CJHL | Lost quarter-final |
| 2009-10 | 62 | 29 | 26 | - | 7 | 205 | 204 | 65 | 7th CJHL | Lost quarter-final |
| 2010-11 | 62 | 21 | 34 | - | 7 | 179 | 252 | 49 | 11th CCHL | DNQ |
| 2011-12 | 62 | 21 | 35 | - | 6 | 190 | 258 | 48 | 10th CCHL | DNQ |
| 2012-13 | 62 | 18 | 38 | - | 6 | 189 | 275 | 42 | 11th CCHL | DNQ |
| 2013-14 | 62 | 21 | 31 | - | 10 | 170 | 217 | 52 | 10th CCHL | DNQ |
| 2014-15 | 62 | 15 | 43 | 2 | 2 | 139 | 271 | 34 | 5th of 6 East 11th of 12 CCHL | DNQ |
| 2015-16 | 62 | 36 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 258 | 185 | 79 | 2nd of 6 East 5th of 10 CCHL | Lost quarterfinals, 0-4 (Braves) |
| 2016-17 | 62 | 24 | 34 | 2 | 2 | 194 | 216 | 52 | 3rd of 6 East 9thof 10 CCHL | Did not qualify for playoffs |
| 2017-18 | 62 | 9 | 52 | 1 | 0 | 130 | 272 | 19 | 6th of 6 East 12th of 12 CCHL | Did not qualify for playoffs |
| 2018-19 | 62 | 25 | 28 | 6 | 3 | 168 | 191 | 59 | 4th of 6 East 8th of 12 CCHL | Lost quarterfinals, 0-4 (Canadians) |
| 2018-19 | 62 | 25 | 28 | 6 | 3 | 168 | 191 | 59 | 4th of 6 East 8th of 12 CCHL | Lost quarterfinals, 0-4 (Canadians) |
| 2019-20 | 62 | 29 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 168 | 191 | 59 | 4th of 6 East 9th of 12 CCHL | Did not qualify for playoffs |
| 2020-21 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions |
| 2021-22 | 55 | 27 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 211 | 196 | 58 | 3rd of 6 East 7th of 12th CCHL | Lost quarterfinals, 2-4 (Hawks) |
| 2022-23 | 55 | 38 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 213 | 150 | 81 | 2nd of 6 East 2nd of 12th CCHL | Lost quarterfinals, 3-4 (Braves) |
| 2023-24 | 55 | 41 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 235 | 144 | 87 | 1st of 6 East 1st of 12th CCHL | Won quarterfinals, 4-2 (Lumber Kings) Won Semifinals 4-1 (Nationals) Won Finals 4-2 (Bears) Advance to Centennial Cup |

## Attendance

As of March 16, 2025
| Season | Games | Total | Average |
| 2017–18 | 28 | 6,860 | 245 |
| 2018–19 | 29 | 5,695 | 196 |
| 2019–20 | 29 | 5,449 | 188 |
| 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 | 25 | 4,120 | 165 |
| 2022–23 | 26 | 4,229 | 163 |
| 2023–24 | 26 | 3,614 | 139 |
| 2024–25 | 26 | 5,290 | 203 |

## Centennial Cup

Canadian Jr. A National Championships Maritime Junior Hockey League, Quebec Junior Hockey League, Central Canada Hockey League, Ontario Junior Hockey League, Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, Superior International Junior Hockey League, Manitoba Junior Hockey League, Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, Alberta Junior Hockey League, and Host. The BCHL declared itself an independent league and there is no BC representative. Round-robin play in two 5-team pools with top three in pool advancing to determine a Champion.
| Year | Round-robin | Record | Standing | Quarterfinal | Semifinal | Championship |
| 2024 | W, Longueuil Collège Français (QJHL), 5-1 W, Greater Sudbury Cubs (NOJHL), 5-1 OTL, Calgary Canucks (AJHL), 3-4 L, Collingwood Blues (OJHL), 2-3 | 2-0-1-1 | 3rd of 5 Group A | Lost 4-8 Miramichi Timberwolves | did not qualified | did not qualified |

## Championships

    CCHL Bogart Cup Championships: 2023-2024
    Eastern Canadian Fred Page Cup Championships: None
    CJAHL Royal Bank Cup Championships: None

## Notable alumni

* Matt Bradley
* Claude Giroux
* Jon Matsumoto
* Daniel Taylor
* Jason Akeson
* Eric O'Dell