Notre Dame Hounds

The Notre Dame Hounds are a junior "A" ice hockey team based in Wilcox, Saskatchewan. They are members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). The Hounds also had a junior "B" team that played in the South Saskatchewan Junior B Hockey League, but the team folded after the 2005–06 Season. The team plays their homes games in Duncan McNeill Arena, which has a seating capacity of 1,200. The team colours are red and white. 
The Notre Dame Hounds is the name of the hockey team of the Athol Murray College of Notre Dame. The school is a residential high school in the village of Wilcox in south-central Saskatchewan, Canada.
This school is very well known for the large number of NHL players that have attended it. It won the 1987-88 Centennial Cup which is the Canadian junior A championship. Throughout the years Notre Dame has entered teams at various levels. The school itself was founded by Father Athol Murray in 1927.
==History==
The Hounds first came to the SJHL in 1970. The team only kept afloat until 1976, when, after a dismal season, they left the SJHL. Not much is known about the franchise between 1976 and 1987. It is known that they operated as a Midget "AAA" Minor Hockey team until 1987 and lost the final of the Canadian Midget Championship, the Air Canada Cup, to the Quebec seed in the tournament. In 1987, the Hounds came straight into Tier II Junior "A" from Midget hockey and took the league by storm. The team came out of the regular season with a series of tight victories, but enough of them to earn them a birth in the playoffs. The Hounds, operating well as a unit which had stayed mostly intact for 3 seasons, found little trouble winning the SJHL Championship. Their only real competition was the Yorkton Terriers who took them to Game 6. The Hounds moved on to the Anavet Cup to face the Winnipeg South Blues of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. The Hounds easily swept the series in 4 games. They then moved on to face the Calgary Canucks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League for the Abbott Cup. At first, the Hounds were out matched. They went down early, being led in the series 3-games-to-1. They stormed back in Game 5 to win 7-2 and then won Game 6. In Game 7 with a 3-2 lead, future National Hockey League (NHL) player Curtis Joseph took control and closed the door. The Game 7 victory earned the team a birth into the Centennial Cup. In the first game, the Hounds played the Halifax Lions of the Metro Valley Junior Hockey League, defeating them 6-5. In the second game, they played the Thunder Bay Flyers of the United States Hockey League, the result was a 9-7 win. The next game was a nail-biter. The Hounds took on the Pembroke Lumber Kings of the Central Junior A Hockey League and lost in triple overtime by a score of 4-3. The Semi-final placed them again against the Lumber Kings, but this time they were ready to win and took in 7-3. This set up a Final between the Hounds and the Lions. After 2 periods, the Hounds found themselves down 2-1. They tied it up early, and then late in the game, on a feeder from future NHL player Rod Brind'Amour, future gold medal winning hero of the 1990 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships Dwayne Norris scored the game winner. Brind'Amour won awards for being the Top Scorer, Most Valuable Player, and Top Centre, while another future NHL player, Joby Messier, won Top Defenseman.
Perhaps the team's best known contribution to the NHL is the Toronto Maple Leafs Hound Line of the 1985–86 season, when Gary Leeman, Wendel Clark and Russ Courtnall played on the same forward line. 
From the 1987–88 Championship team, 19 player graduated to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Hockey Program, and some, like Rod Brind'Amour, Curtis Joseph, Joby Messier, Dwayne Norris, Jason Herter, and Scott Pellerin, made it all the way to the National Hockey League.
Since 1995, the Hounds have only failed to make the SJHL playoffs three times, but have yet to win their second league title.
==Season-by-season standings==
Season 	GP	W 	L 	T 	OL	GF 	GA 	Pts	Results 	Playoffs
1970-71	35	3 	32	0 	- 	102	251	6 	7th SJHL 	
1971-72	38	16	22	0 	- 	162	223	28 	8th SJHL 	
1972-73	48	18	30	0 	- 	255	327	16 	5th SJHL South 	
1973-74	50	19	29	2 	- 	207	244	40 	5th SJHL South 	
1974-75	57	20	36	1 	- 	256	332	41 	5th SJHL South 	
1975-76	58	7 	50	1 	- 	131	390	15 	6th SJHL South 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
1987-88	60	53	5 	2 	- 	321	160	108	1st SJHL 	Won League, Won AC, Won CC
1988-89	64	44	16	4 	- 	338	223	92 	1st SJHL 	
1989-90	68	24	43	1 	- 	253	331	49 	6th SJHL South 	DNQ
1990-91	68	31	34	3 	- 	265	266	65 	4th SJHL North 	Lost Quarter-final
1991-92	64	32	24	8 	- 	259	251	72 	5th SJHL South 	DNQ
1992-93	64	25	31	8 	- 	266	259	58 	5th SJHL South 	DNQ
1993-94	68	25	36	7 	- 	277	280	57 	5th SJHL South 	Lost Quarter-final
1994-95	64	24	36	4 	- 	270	275	52 	7th SJHL South 	DNQ
1995-96	64	18	37	9 	- 	215	264	45 	5th SJHL South 	Lost Quarter-final
1996-97	64	29	35	0 	- 	223	264	58 	3rd SJHL South 	Lost Quarter-final
1997-98	64	27	31	6 	- 	205	203	60 	4th SJHL South 	Lost Quarter-final
1998-99	66	40	20	6 	- 	228	179	86 	3rd SJHL South 	Lost Semi-final
1999-00	60	23	28	9 	- 	150	181	55 	4th SJHL South 	Lost Quarter-final
2000-01	62	23	34	4 	1 	173	228	51 	4th SJHL Sherwood 	Lost Quarter-final
2001-02	64	38	16	7 	3 	245	166	86 	1st SJHL 	Lost Semi-final
2002-03	60	31	19	6 	4 	203	186	72 	1st SJHL Sherwood 	Lost Quarter-final
2003-04	60	25	26	6 	3 	202	193	59 	2nd SJHL Sherwood 	Lost Quarter-final
2004-05	55	31	17	7 	0 	185	138	69 	3rd SJHL Sherwood 	Lost Quarter-final
2005-06	55	31	17	5 	2 	192	162	69 	2nd SJHL Sherwood 	Lost Semi-final
Season 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts	Results 	Playoffs
2006-07	58	24	23	0 	11	202	234	59 	4th SJHL Sherwood 	
2007-08	58	20	35	- 	3 	176	258	43 	11th SJHL 	
2008-09	56	23	33	- 	0 	192	239	46 	10th SJHL 	
2009-10	58	32	20	- 	6 	178	180	70 	4th SJHL 	Lost Quarter-final
2010-11	58	21	30	- 	7 	158	196	49 	11th SJHL 	DNQ
2011-12	58	22	33	- 	3 	172	233	47 	5th Sherwood Div10th SJHL 	Lost Preliminary round
2012-13	54	21	27	- 	6 	164	173	48 	3rd Sherwood Div6th SJHL 	Lost Quarter Finals
2013-14	56	22	27	- 	7 	136	175	51 	4th Kramer Div9th SJHL 	Lost Quarter Finals
2014-15	56	37	14	1 	4 	165	133	79 	2nd of 4 Kramer Div3rd of 12 SJHL 	Won Quarter Finals, 4-3 (Bombers)Won Semi Finals, 4-2 (Klippers)Lost League Finals, 0-4 (Mustangs)
2015-16	58	22	29	4 	3 	163	218	51 	3rd of 4 Finning Div9th of 12 SJHL	Lost Wildcard, 1-3 (Klippers)
2016-17	58	26	23	7 	2 	174	167	61 	3rd of 4 FinningT-7th of 12 SJHL 	Won Wildcard 3-1 (Mustangs),Lost Quarterfinals 1-4 (Bombers)
2017-18	58	29	24	1 	4 	192	174	63 	4th of 4 AG Risk9th of 12 SJHL 	Lost Wildcard 1-2 (Bombers)
2018-19	58	25	23	5 	5 	182	186	60 	4th of 4 AG Risk9th of 12 SJHL 	Lost Wildcard 1-2 (Terriers)
2019-20	58	18	32	5 	3 	135	192	44 	4th of 4 AG Risk10th of 12 SJHL 	Did not qualify
2020-21	5 	1 	3 	0 	1 	13 	22 	3 	N/A 	Season cancelled
2021-22	58	26	27	5 	- 	193	229	57 	3rd Ag Risk 	Lost QF 4-1 (Estevan Bruins)
2022-23	56	22	28	4 	2 	176	219	50 	3rd Ag Risk 	Did not qualify
2023-24	56	15	39	2 	0 	152	262	32 	4th Nutrien 	Did not qualify
===Playoffs===
*1971 DNQ
*1972 Lost Quarter-final
:Saskatoon Olympics defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4-games-to-none
*1973 DNQ
*1974 DNQ
*1975 DNQ
*1976 DNQ
*1988 Won League, Won Anavet Cup, Won Abbott Cup, Won 1988 Centennial Cup
:Notre Dame Hounds defeated Weyburn Red Wings 4-games-to-none
:Notre Dame Hounds defeated Nipawin Hawks 4-games-to-none
:Notre Dame Hounds defeated Yorkton Terriers 4-games-to-2 SJHL CHAMPIONS
:Notre Dame Hounds defeated Winnipeg South Blues (MJHL) 4-games-to-none ANAVET CUP CHAMPIONS
:Notre Dame Hounds defeated Calgary Canucks (AJHL) 4-games-to-3 ABBOTT CUP CHAMPIONS
:Second in 1988 Centennial Cup round robin (2-1)
:Notre Dame Hounds defeated Pembroke Lumber Kings (CJHL) 7-3 in semi-final
:Notre Dame Hounds defeated Halifax Lions (MVJHL) 3-2 in final CENTENNIAL CUP CHAMPIONS
*1989 Lost Semi-final
:Notre Dame Hounds defeated Minot Americans 4-games-to-2
:Nipawin Hawks defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4-games-to-2
*1990 DNQ
*1991 Lost Quarter-final
:Yorkton Terriers defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4-games-to-none
*1992 DNQ
*1993 DNQ
*1994 Lost Quarter-final
:Notre Dame Hounds defeated Estevan Bruins 3-games-to-1
:Weyburn Red Wings defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4-games-to-1
*1995 DNQ
*1996 Lost Quarter-final
:Notre Dame Hounds defeated Weyburn Red Wings 2-games-to-1
:Yorkton Terriers defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4-games-to-none
*1997 Lost Quarter-final
:Lebret Eagles defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4-games-to-2
*1998 Lost Quarter-final
:Notre Dame Hounds defeated Melville Millionaires 2-games-to-1
:Lebret Eagles defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4-games-to-2
*1999 Lost Semi-final
:Notre Dame Hounds defeated Yorkton Terriers 4-games-to-3
:Estevan Bruins defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4-games-to-1
*2000 Lost Quarter-final
:First in round robin (3-1) vs. Melville Millionaires and La Ronge Ice Wolves
:Weyburn Red Wings defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4-games-to-2
*2001 Lost Quarter-final
:Weyburn Red Wings defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4-games-to-none
*2002 Lost Semi-final
:Notre Dame Hounds defeated Weyburn Red Wings 4-games-to-2
:Humboldt Broncos defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4-games-to-1
*2003 Lost Quarter-final
:Melville Millionaires defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4-games-to-2
*2004 Lost Quarter-final
:Weyburn Red Wings defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4-games-to-1
*2005 Lost Quarter-final
:Second in round robin (1-3) vs. Yorkton Terriers and Estevan Bruins
:Yorkton Terriers defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4-games-to-none
*2006 Lost Semi-final
:First in round robin (2-1-1) vs. Yorkton Terriers and Melville Millionaires
:Notre Dame Hounds defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-none
:Yorkton Terriers defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4-games-to-none
*2007 Lost Preliminary
:Weyburn Red Wings defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4-games-to-1
*2008 DNQ
*2009 DNQ
*2010 Lost Quarter-final
:Kindersley Klippers defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4-games-to-none
*2011 DNQ
*2012
:Preliminary Round Estevan Bruins defeated Notre Dame Hounds 3-games-to-none
*2013
:Quarter Finals Melville Millionaires defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4-games-to-3
*2014
:Preliminary Round Notre Dame Hounds defeated Nipawin Hawks 3-games-to-1
:Quarter Finals Yorkton Terriers (Junior)|Yorkton Terriers]] defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4-games-to-1
*2015
:Quarterfinals Notre Dame Hounds defeated Nipawin Hawks 4-games-to-1
:Semifinals Notre Dame Hounds defeated Kindersley Klippers 4-games-to-2
:Final Melfort Mustangs defeated defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4-games-to-none
*2016
:Wild Card Kindersley Klippers defeated Notre Dame Hounds 3-games-to-1
*2017
:Quarterfinals Flin Flon Bombers defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4-games-to-1
*2018
:Wild Card Flin Flon Bombers defeated Notre Dame Hounds 2-games-to-1
*2019
:Wild Card Yorkton Terriers (Junior)|Yorkton Terriers]] defeated Notre Dame Hounds 2-games-to-1
==Notable alumni== 
*Rod Brind'Amour
*Wendel Clark
*Scott Daniels
*Jason Herter
*Curtis Joseph
*Joby Messier
*Mitch Messier
*Scott Munroe
*Tyler Myers
*Dwayne Norris
*Scott Pellerin
*Teddy Purcell
*Jaden Schwartz
*Brad Richards
*Curtis McElhinney
==See also==
* List of ice hockey teams in Saskatchewan
* Athol Murray College of Notre Dame the home of the Notre Dame Hounds
==References==
==External links==
* Notre Dame Hounds Website
Category:Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League teams
Category:Canadian ice hockey teams
Category:Saskatchewan Junior Hockey
Category:Established in 1927
Category:Canadian high schools
Category:Saskatchewan Senior Hockey League teams