Sault Ste . Marie Greyhounds The Sault Ste . Marie Greyhounds ( aka Soo Greyhounds ) are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League . The Greyhounds play home games at the Essar Centre . The present team was founded in 1962 as a team in the Northern Ontario Hockey Association . The Greyhounds name has been used by several ice hockey teams based in Sault Ste . Marie , Ontario since 1919 . Early years . The first Greyhounds team formed in 1919 , playing in the now defunct Upper - Peninsula League . The team ' s coach was George MacNamara . He suggested the team be called the Greyhounds since , " " a greyhound is much faster than a wolf . " " That reference was to the already established rival club , the Sudbury Wolves . A couple seasons later , the Greyhounds switched to the Northern Ontario Hockey Association Senior " A " division . The team won the Senior A championship in 1921 , 1923 , 1924 and 1925 . The 1924 Greyhounds also won the Allan Cup , the only team from Sault Ste . Marie to do so . The senior Greyhounds folded in 1927 , and were replaced the following season by a junior team of the same name , competing in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League . The juniors won the league championship four consecutive years from 1928 to 1931 , and a fifth title in 1942 . Junior hockey in Sault Ste . Marie came to an abrupt end in 1945 when the Gouin Street Arena was destroyed by fire . The senior Greyhounds team was revived in 1948 . The new team played out of a temporary home at Pullar Stadium until the Memorial Gardens opened in 1949 . The senior Greyhounds won the NOHA championship four times in 1950 , 1951 , 1952 and 1955 . This team folded , along with the league after the 1958 – 59 season . Modern era . The current Greyhounds Junior A franchise was founded in 1962 as a member of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League . The team ' s founders were Angelo Bumbacco , Lloyd Prokop , Phil Suraci , Pat Esposito and Dr . Bill Kelly . The Greyhounds played for ten seasons in the NOJHL . They were extremely successful , never having a losing season , and winning the league championship three times . In 1972 , the Greyhounds entered the Ontario Hockey Association as a Major Junior A expansion team . The original directors were joined by Frank Caputo and Frank Sarlo . Wayne Gretzky , 1977 – 78 . In 1977 , the Sault Ste . Marie Greyhounds picked a 16 year old Wayne Gretzky , with the third pick in the Ontario Midget Draft . Gretzky requested to wear # 9 for his idol Gordie Howe , but that number was already taken by linemate Brian Gualazzi . Gretzky then chose # 19 instead . After a few games , coach Muzz MacPherson suggested wearing two nines would be better than one . From that season on , Gretzky has always worn the legendary # 99 . In 63 games that year , he set the Greyhounds all - time record , scoring 70 goals and had 112 assists for a total of 182 points . Gretzky would have won the scoring title , except for a 192 point season by Bobby Smith . Gretzky was awarded the Emms Family Award as the rookie of the year , and the William Hanley Trophy as most gentlemanly player . Memorial Cup , 1985 . After winning the OHL championship , the Greyhounds travelled to Shawinigan , Quebec to compete in the Memorial Cup tournament , for the national junior hockey title . The Greyhounds played against the host team Shawinigan Cataractes , the QMJHL champion Verdun Junior Canadiens , and the WHL champion Prince Albert Raiders . The Greyhounds were led by future NHL ers , Jeff Beukeboom , Chris Felix , Derek King , Wayne Presley , Bob Probert and Rob Zettler . Leading scorers in the regular season were Wayne Groulx , Graeme Bonar and Sault Ste . Marie native Mike Oliverio . The Greyhounds won the first game on May 11 in Shawinigan versus the home team , by a score 4 - 3 , in front of 3 , 276 fans . Televising games from the Aréna Jacques Plante in Shawinigan proved difficult due to roof support pillars around the ice surface . After two games in Shawinigan , the remainder of the tournament was played in the Centre Marcel Dionne in Drummondville , Quebec . The Greyhounds won their first game in Drummondville 6 - 3 over Verdun , with two goals from Derek King . Their first loss of the tournament came in game three , losing 8 - 6 to the Prince Albert Raiders . With the loss , the Cataractes , Raiders and Greyhounds would all finish the round - robin with two wins and a loss . Shawinigan earned a spot in the finals on best goals for and against difference , with Sault Ste . Marie and Prince Albert to have a rematch in the semi - final game . On May 16 , the Greyhounds lost again to the Raiders . < br clear = " all " > Memorial Cup , 1991 . The Greyhounds season of 1990 – 91 marked an incredible turnaround from seventh place the season before , to finishing first place and winning the Emms division . The Greyhounds swept both playoff series and earned a second round bye to reach the OHL finals against the defending champions , the Oshawa Generals . The J . Ross Robertson Cup finals had many subplots due to the big trade between the clubs in the previous season . Added to the mix was Joe Busillo , an overager picked up from Oshawa , who won the Memorial Cup with the Generals the previous year . Fans from the Soo were still very bitter towards Lindros , who was now the captain of the Generals . The Soo crowd loudly jeered Lindros every time he was on the ice during the championship series . The Greyhounds upset the heavily favoured defending champions in a six game series , winning the last game on home ice . The Greyhounds were led in scoring by Colin Miller , Tony Iob , and future NHL ers Adam Foote and tough guy Denny Lambert . Other members to move onto the NHL included Drew Bannister , Bob Boughner , Ralph Intranuovo , Brad Tiley and goaltenders Kevin Hodson and Mike Lenarduzzi . The 1991 Memorial Cup was hosted by the QMJHL in Quebec City at the Colisée de Québec . Their opponents would be the WHL champion Spokane Chiefs , and the QMJHL finalists Drummondville Voltigeurs and the champion Chicoutimi Saguenéens . The Greyhounds did not win a game in the tournament , but gained valuable experience for next season . < br clear = " all " > Memorial Cup , 1992 . The 1991 – 92 Greyhounds repeated as winners of the Emms division . Sault Ste . Marie earned a first round bye in the playoffs , then defeated the Kitchener Rangers and Niagara Falls Thunder to return to the league finals . The Greyhounds won their third J . Ross Robertson Cup by defeating their northern counterparts , the North Bay Centennials in a seven game series . The Greyhounds were led by captain Rick Kowalsky , and in scoring by Jarrett Reid ' s 53 goals and also had two players with 100 point seasons , Colin Miller and Ralph Intranuovo . The Soo also gained a midseason boost and more toughness , acquiring future NHLer Chris Simon in a trade with the Ottawa 67 ' s . The 1992 Memorial Cup was hosted by the WHL in Seattle , Washington at the Seattle Center Coliseum . Their opponents would be the WHL champion Kamloops Blazers , the QMJHL champion Verdun Collège Français , and the host Seattle Thunderbirds . The Greyhounds reversed their fortunes of the previous Memorial Cup , winning all three games of the round - robin , advancing directly to the tournament finals . Their opponent in the finals would be the Kamloops Blazers . The Greyhounds came back from an early 3 - 0 deficit 15 minutes into the game to tie the score at 3 - 3 . Kamloops scored early in the third period for a 4 - 3 lead . Chris Simon then tied the game for Sault Ste . Marie with four minutes remaining to play . The game looked to be headed for overtime , until Kamloops ' Zac Boyer scored on a breakaway with 14 . 6 seconds remaining to seal the victory for the Blazers . < br clear = " all " > Memorial Cup , 1993 . In the 1992 – 93 , the Greyhounds won their third consecutive Emms division title . They narrowly beat out the Detroit Junior Red Wings by having more wins in the regular season despite both teams earning 81 points . The OHL revived the idea of a Super Series from six years previous to determine which team would host the Memorial Cup of 1993 . The Greyhounds assured themselves of a third consecutive trip to the Memorial Cup , by sweeping the series versus the Leyden division champion Peterborough Petes . Jarrett Reid led Sault Ste . Marie in scoring through the playoffs , with 19 goals and 16 assists in 18 games . After the Super Series ended , the regular playoffs started . Sault Ste . Marie earned the first round bye , then defeated the Owen Sound Platers and the Junior Red Wings to reach the finals against the Petes . This time , the Petes prevailed 4 games to 1 , spoiling the Greyhounds chances of a third consecutive J . Ross Robertson Cup . Joing the Greyhounds and Petes in the Memorial Cup would be the WHL champion Swift Current Broncos and the QMJHL champion Laval Titan . The Greyhounds and the Petes both finished the Memorial Cup round - robin with two wins and a loss . Sault Ste . Marie earned a berth in the finals by having beaten the Petes in the round robin . The two teams would meet again in the tournament finals , playing in front a hometown crowd of 4 , 757 spectators at the Memorial Gardens on May 23 . Sault Ste . Marie led 3 - 0 after the first period , and held on to win their first Memorial Championship , beating the Petes 4 - 2 . The victory party continued on Queen St . late into the evening . < br clear = " all " > Recent years . The Greyhounds followed up their Memorial Cup winning season with a strong 1993 – 94 campaign finishing second place in the division . The Soo reached the semi - finals , but lost the Junior Red Wings in six games . After the season , coach Ted Nolan departed for the Hartford Whalers . The following 1994 – 95 season , the Greyhounds finished last place in the league during a rebuilding season . In attempt to generate more sales , the Greyhounds redesigned their logo . It proved to be unpopular with the fans , and the team discontinued its use after the 1998 – 99 season , and went back to the classic logo . Centre Joe Thornton was the 1995 – 96 OHL rookie of the year and was the first player in the history of the franchise to be drafted first overall in the NHL Entry Draft . He was selected by the Boston Bruins . In the 2001 – 02 season , former Greyhound defenceman Craig Hartsburg took over as head coach after coaching stints in the NHL . Hartsburg was named the OHL coach of the year that season , then left the team to join the coaching staff of the Philadelphia Flyers . Replacing Hartsburg was former Greyhound netminder , and part - owner of the team , John Vanbiesbrouck . Vanbiesbrouck was forced to resign as coach during the season as a result of racist comments he had made about team captain , Trevor Daley . Hartsburg returned as coach midway through the 2004 – 05 season . After playing at the Sault Memorial Gardens from 1962 to 2006 , the Greyhounds moved into their new home , The Steelback Centre , for the 2006 – 07 season . In June 2008 , the arena was renamed The Essar Centre , following the purchase of naming rights by Essar Steel Algoma . In the 2007 – 08 OHL season , the Greyhounds had their best regular season since 1985 , going 44 - 18 - 2 - 4 , with a long undefeated streak to begin the year . The Greyhounds also had their longest post season run since 1994 , making it to the conference finals before losing to the Kitchener Rangers in 5 games . In the 2008 – 09 season , assistant coach Denny Lambert assumed head coaching duties after Craig Hartsburg left to become head coach of the NHL ' s Ottawa Senators . Assistant coach Toots Kovacs also left the team , and was replaced by Mike Stapleton and Nick Warriner . The Greyhounds missed the playoffs for the first time since 2004 . After several trades in the organization have shown a shift to rebuilding the team , Dave Torrie ( General Manager ) , took over Head Coaching duties with the firing of Denny Lambert in January 2011 . Later that same year Dave Torrie was also relieved of his duties and replaced with Kyle Dubas as General Manager . The fans also welcomed back Mike Stapleton as new Head Coach for next season , but was fired and replaced on December 3 , 2012 by Sheldon Keefe , who is the present Head Coach . After the 2014 - 15 OHL season , the Greyounds had taken the Hamilton Spectator Trophy while setting a franchise record in regular season points . During the 2015 playoffs , the Greyhounds had their run ended by Connor McDavid and the Erie Otters in the Western Conference Finals . After one of the teams best seasons , head coach Sheldon Keefe had signed with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL . On July 10 , 2015 , Drew Bannister had been named head coach of the Greyhounds . Championships . While in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League , the Greyhounds won the McNamara Trophy as playoff champions in 1967 , 1970 , and 1972 . The Greyhounds were also regular season champions six times and playoff finalists 4 times . The Greyhounds also joined the Oshawa Generals and Peterborough Petes as the only OHL teams to make three consecutive appearances in the Memorial Cup . Since joining the OHL , Sault Ste . Marie has won a total of 8 division titles , four Hamilton Spectator Trophy titles , three J . Ross Robertson Cup titles , and one Memorial Cup title . Coaches . Terry Crisp was twice voted the OHL Coach of the Year , winning the Matt Leyden Trophy in 1982 - 83 and 1984 - 85 . Craig Hartsburg won the same award in 2001 - 02 . " List of coaches with multiple seasons in parentheses . " Players . Since the Sault Ste . Marie joined the OHA in 1972 , the Greyhounds have sent 77 alumni onto play in the NHL . Three of those ( Paul Coffey , Ron Francis and Wayne Gretzky ) have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame . Hockey Hall of Fame members . There are six members of the Hockey Hall of Fame that have played for a team known as the Sault Ste . Marie Greyhounds . Bill Cook and Bun Cook played for the Greyhounds of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association ( NOHA ) between 1921 – 1925 . Bill Cook was inducted in 1952 , while Bun wasn ' t inducted until 1995 in the defunct Veteran category . Tony Esposito played for the Greyhounds of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League ( NOJHL ) during the 1962 – 63 season , and was inducted into the Hall in 1988 . The current junior Greyhounds have three alumni inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame , they are Wayne Gretzky , Paul Coffey , and Ron Francis , who were respectively inducted in 1999 , 2004 , and 2007 . Yearly results . Regular season . Legend : OTL = Overtime loss , SL = Shootout loss Uniforms and logos . The Greyhounds colours are predominantly red and white . Black and silver trim were added in the late 1980s , as well as four stars above the logo . Sault Ste . Marie has used their classic red circle logo with the running greyhound for all but four seasons of their existence . From 1995 to 1999 the Greyhounds redesigned their logo ( inset right ) , to what became known by fans as the " Ugly Dog " or " Snoopy " logo . Due to public backlash and a fan petition for its removal , the team discontinued its use and went back to the classic logo . For the 2009 - 10 switchover to the Reebok Edge jersey system , the Greyhounds returned to their classic jerseys from the 1970s and early 80s , including removing black from their colour scheme . On November 1 , 2006 , the Greyhounds unveiled a third jersey seen here . < br clear = " all " > Arenas . The first home of the Greyhounds from 1919 to 1945 was Gouin Street Arena . The arena had wooden benches for 1 , 000 spectators . It was destroyed by fire in 1945 . An outdoor rink at Pullar Stadium was used until a new indoor facility was built . Sault Memorial Gardens . The Greyhounds played home games at the Sault Memorial Gardens from 1949 to 2006 . The building was named for the war veterans of World War II . The Gardens hosted Memorial Cup games in 1978 and 1993 , and the OHL All - Star Game in 1979 . The last game at the Gardens was played on Tuesday , March 28 , 2006 . Demolition of the Gardens began on April 27 , 2006 . All that remains of the Gardens is the Memorial Tower , which is part of " Memorial Square " . The red beacon of the Memorial Tower was preserved and continues to be lit on game days . < br clear = " all " > Essar Centre . The Greyhounds moved to the new Essar Centre for the 2006 – 07 OHL season . The new arena was built in the east parking lot of the Memorial Gardens , and is the largest such centre in Northern Ontario . Its naming rights were purchased by Essar Steel Algoma of Sault Ste . Marie , Ontario . The inaugural game was played on October 11 , 2006 , resulting in a 2 - 1 loss to the Sudbury Wolves . The 2008 OHL All - Star Classic was held at the Essar Centre during the 2007 – 08 season .