Ayr Centennials

The Ayr Centennials are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Ayr, Ontario. They play in the Provincial Junior Hockey League (OHA) after previously playing in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.
==History==
The Ayr Centennials were founded in 1982 as members of the Southern Junior D Hockey League. Clarence Eby, whose son and grandson would become heavily involved with the team, was a founding member of the club in 1982. In 1985, Eby's son Don started volunteering with the club. Don’s legacy with the team began when son Scott started playing for the team at the age of 15, but Don's wife Julie waited a few years before joining her husband, taking over for her father-in-law Clarence as treasurer. Working in many capacities with the team, the pair ran the Cens’ operations through most of the 1990s, which included paying the team's bills.http://www.therecord.com/sports-story/6735555-ayr-s-ebys-honoured-for-sticking-with-centennials/
In 1988, the Southern League merged with the Western Junior D Hockey League. In 1991, the Junior D rank was vacated and the league was replaced with the OHA Junior Development League. This league lasted up until 2006 when it was vacated and the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League was created.
The Centennials had success in the Southern League but failed to win any league titles.
In the bloated Western League and Development League, the Centennials did exceptionally well but still failed to make a dent. In fact, despite finishing in the top ten teams of the league ten times in nineteen years, the Centennials never made the superleague's final once.
===Early 2000s struggles===
In the early-2000s, the Centennials lost their touch for winning. In the last year of the OHAJDL in 2005=06, they had their worst season ever, winning only 2 games in 36 tries and finishing dead last. In three seasons, from 2005 to 2007, they only won 17 games. The team was at that point where it was ready to fold.http://www.therecord.com/sports-story/6735555-ayr-s-ebys-honoured-for-sticking-with-centennials/
===Return to prominence===
Since joining the SOJHL in 2006, the Centennials have improved every season. In 2006-07 they finished 17th with 6 wins. In 2008-09 they finished 15th with 11 wins. In 2008-09 they really came together and had their best season in years, winning 18 games and finishing 7th. In 2009-10 the Centennials continued to improve with a 21-11-4 record, solidifying 3rd overall in the SOJHL.
In the summer of 2010, the Bauer conference dissolved, leaving Thamesford, Ayr, Tavistock, Port Stanley and Wellesley to disperse into the remaining McConnell and Yeck Conferences. The 2010-11 season saw the Centennials best season since 1983-84. Finishing 4th overall in the SOJHL, the Centennials were the McConnell Conference Champions and advanced to the OHA Cup versus Thamesford, eventually losing in 4 games.
In 2011-12 the Centennials finished 4th in the McConnell Conference and 7th overall in the SOJHL, and lost to the eventual OHA Cup Finalists, The Hagersville Hawks, in 5 games of the second round of playoffs.
===Promotion to Junior C and Schmalz Cup===
In the summer of 2012, the Centennials and the SOJHL were promoted to Junior C to compete for the Schmalz Cup. On March 12, 2013, the Centennials won the first ever SOJHL Jr. C championship with a 4-game-sweep over the Lambeth Lancers.
In the Spring of 2013, the Centennials were moved over to the Niagara & District Junior C Hockey League in a major realignment. They were realigned again weeks after and ended up in the Midwestern Junior C Hockey League. Just three seasons removed from their jump to Junior C, the team won their first Schmalz Cup in 2016 by sweeping the Empire B Junior C Hockey League champion Port Hope Panthers in four games on the shoulders of starting goalie, Mitch Figueiredo.http://www.cambridgetimes.ca/sports-story/6526317-centennials-make-history-with-schmalz-cup-win/
In June 2016, Don and Julie Eby were awarded the OHA's highest award for volunteering, the golden stick. The team’s home at the North Dumfries Community Complex sits on what used to be 30 acres of their farmland. It was back in 2009 that a former city councillor approached them about giving up the back lot of their land to build the NDCC, forever tying them to the team that they have given 30 years of service. The couple has been the ambassadors for the Centennials in that time, holding several positions on the executive – Don was assistant general manager and general manager, while Julie was treasurer – and, during the 2016 playoffs, were operating the ticket sales and door. Their son Scott is currently the team's head coach.http://www.therecord.com/sports-story/6735555-ayr-s-ebys-honoured-for-sticking-with-centennials/
For the 2016-17 season the eight Junior "C" hockey leagues in Southern Ontario amalgamated into one league, the Provincial Junior Hockey League. The Midwestern League were placed in the Central Conference and re-branded the Pat Doherty division.
==Move to Junior B==
In April 2020, it was announced that the Centennials then of the Provincial Junior Hockey League (OHA) had purchased the Kitchener Dutchmen with the intention of acquiring their place in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, thus promoting the team to Junior B status.
==Season-by-season record==
Season 	GP 	W 	L 	T 	OL 	GF 	GA 	P 	Results 	Playoffs 	 	 	 	 	
1982-83 	36 	21 	12 	3 	- 	-- 	-- 	45 	2nd SJDHL 	 	 	 	 	 	
1983-84 	36 	22 	10 	4 	- 	-- 	-- 	48 	1st SJDHL 	 	 	 	 	 	
1984-85 	35 	10 	22 	3 	- 	-- 	-- 	23 	6th SJDHL 	 	 	 	 	 	
1985-86 	32 	17 	11 	4 	- 	-- 	-- 	28 	3rd SJDHL 	 	 	 	 	 	
1986-87 	40 	22 	14 	4 	- 	-- 	-- 	48 	2nd SJDHL 	 	 	 	 	 	
1987-88 	30 	15 	9 	6 	- 	-- 	-- 	36 	2nd SJDHL 	 	 	 	 	 	
1988-89 	35 	15 	15 	5 	- 	213 	178 	35 	12th WJDHL 	 	 	 	 	 	
1989-90 	35 	21 	8 	6 	- 	220 	181 	48 	4th WJDHL 	 	 	 	 	 	
1990-91 	39 	26 	11 	1 	1 	233 	210 	54 	4th WJDHL 	 	 	 	 	 	
1991-92 	35 	14 	18 	0 	3 	195 	222 	31 	11th OHAJDL 	 	 	 	 	 	
1992-93 	40 	23 	12 	5 	0 	245 	162 	51 	4th OHAJDL 	 	 	 	 	 	
1993-94 	40 	21 	14 	5 	- 	233 	170 	47 	7th OHAJDL 	 	 	 	 	 	
1994-95 	39 	19 	18 	1 	1 	217 	209 	40 	10th OHAJDL 	 	 	 	 	 	
1995-96 	40 	20 	18 	2 	0 	192 	182 	42 	8th OHAJDL 	 	 	 	 	 	
1996-97 	40 	18 	19 	2 	1 	164 	183 	39 	12th OHAJDL 	 	 	 	 	 	
1997-98 	36 	19 	10 	6 	1 	165 	126 	45 	7th OHAJDL 	 	 	 	 	 	
1998-99 	38 	22 	12 	4 	0 	222 	141 	48 	6th OHAJDL 	 	 	 	 	 	
1999-00 	38 	26 	10 	1 	1 	200 	125 	54 	6th OHAJDL 	 	 	 	 	 	
2000-01 	40 	25 	13 	2 	0 	-- 	-- 	52 	7th OHAJDL 	 	 	 	 	 	
2001-02 	40 	16 	18 	6 	0 	181 	182 	38 	12th OHAJDL 	 	 	 	 	 	
2002-03 	40 	22 	14 	2 	2 	175 	151 	48 	5th OHAJDL 	 	 	 	 	 	
2003-04 	40 	12 	22 	4 	2 	138 	171 	30 	16th OHAJDL 	 	 	 	 	 	
2004-05 	39 	9 	25 	1 	4 	140 	195 	23 	15th OHAJDL 	 	 	 	 	 	
2005-06 	36 	2 	32 	1 	1 	100 	252 	6 	17th OHAJDL 	 	 	 	 	 	
2006-07 	42 	6 	31 	0 	5 	113 	241 	17 	17th SOJHL 	 	 	 	 	 	
2007-08 	42 	11 	26 	- 	5 	127 	215 	27 	15th SOJHL 	 	 	 	 	 	
2008-09 	40 	18 	17 	- 	5 	151 	161 	41 	7th SOJHL 	 	 	 	 	 	
2009-10 	36 	21 	11 	- 	4 	181 	143 	46 	6th SOJHL 	 	 	 	 	 	
2010-11 	35 	22 	11 	- 	2 	168 	134 	46 	4th SOJHL 	 	 	 	 	 	
2011-12 	35 	20 	10 	- 	5 	191 	123 	45 	7th SOJHL 	 	 	 	 	 	
2012-13 	38 	29 	7 	- 	2 	220 	119 	60 	1st SOJHL-Mc 	Won League, Lost CSC QF 	 	 	 	 	
2013-14 	40 	31 	6 	- 	3 	182 	99 	65 	2nd MWJCHL 	Won Quarters - 4-0 - (Bulldogs)Won Semi's - 4-3 - (Firebirds)Lost Finals - 2-4 - (Mounties) 	 	 	 	 	
2014-15 	40 	32 	8 	0 	- 	229 	92 	64 	1st MWJCHL 	Won Quarters - 4-0 - (Applejacks)Won Semi's - 4-0 - (Mounties)Won League Finals - 4-0 (Merchants)Won CSC Quarter-finals, 4-2 (Grimsby)Lost CSC Semi-finals, 1-4 (Essex) 	 	 	 	 	
2015-16 	40 	33 	6 	1 	- 	229 	92 	64 	1st of 9 MWJCHL 	Won Quarters - 4-1 - (Bulldogs)Won Semifinals, 4-0 (Applejacks)Won League Finals 4-1 (Firebirds)Won CSC Quarter-finals, 4-1 (Grimsby)Won CSC Semifinals, 4-0 (Essex)Won CSC Finals, 4-0 (Port Hope) 	 	 	 	 	
2016-17 	40 	37 	3 	0 	- 	302 	98 	74 	1st of 9-PJHLDoherty Div 	Won Div. Quarters - 4-0 - (Bulldogs)Won Div. Semifinals -4-0 (Merchants)Won Div. Finals, 4-0 (Mounties)Won Conf. Finals, 4-0 (Grimsby)Won Schmalz Cup Semifinals, 4-3 EssexWon Schmalz Cup Finals, 4-2(Port Hope)	 	 	 	 	
2017-18 	40 	31 	5 	1 	3 	218 	98 	66 	1st of 9-PJHLDoherty Div 	Won Div. Quarters - 4-0 - (Bulldogs)Won Div. Semifinals -4-3 (Mounties)Lost Div. Finals, 4-3 (Braves) 	 	 	 	 	
2018-19 	40 	19 	19 	2 	0 	158 	140 	40 	6th of 9Dougherty Div-PJHL 	Lost Div. Quarter - 0-4 - (Applejacks) 	 	 	 	 	
2019-20 	40 	25 	13 	1 	1 	240 	129 	52 	3rd of 9Dougherty Div-PJHL 	 	 	 	 	 	
Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League	Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League 	Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League 	Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League 	Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League 	Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League 	Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League 	Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League 	Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League 	Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League 	Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League 	Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League 	Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League 	Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League	Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League	Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League
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 	Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic	Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic	 	 	
2021-22 	48 	22 	19 	3 	4 	151 	151 	51 	5th of 8-MWC14th of 25 GOJHL 	Lost Quarters 0-4 (Warriors) 	 	 	 	 	
2022-23 	50 	28 	19 	2 	1 	177 	149 	59 	5th of 8-MWC12th of 25 GOJHL 	Lost Quarters 2-4 (Sugar Kings) 	 	 	 	 	
2023-24 	50 	30 	19 	0 	1 	188 	150 	61 	5th of 8-MWC13th of 23 GOJHL 	Won Quarters 4-2 (Siskins)Lost Conf Semifinals, 0-4 (Cyclones) 	 	 	 	 	
==Clarence Schmalz Cup appearances==
:2016: Ayr Centennials defeated Port Hope Panthers 4-games-to-none
:2017: Ayr Centennials defeated Port Hope Panthers 4-games-to-2
==References==
==External links==
*League / former Junior C Division Webpage
*former Ayr Homepage
*Centennials Webpage
*GOJHL Webpage
Category:Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League team
Category:OHA Junior Development League teams
Category:Canadian ice hockey teams
Category:Established in 1982