Essex 73's

The Essex 73's are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Essex, Ontario. The 73's are members of the Provincial Junior Hockey League and the Ontario Hockey Association. Prior to becoming members of the PJHL in 2016 the 73's won the GLJHL playoff championship 20 times and the Clarence Schmalz Cup as Provincial Junior C Champions 7 times.
==History==
The Essex 73’s have competed in the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League since the 1973–74 season. In total, the club has won 20 Great Lakes Junior C League Championships and 7 All-Ontario Junior C titles. By both measures, they are the most successful team in Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League history. Their 7 Clarence Schmalz Cup (CSC) wins and 14 CSC finals appearances are both Ontario Junior C records.
With Dave Prpich behind the bench, the 73’s won four league titles in a row from 1974–75 to 1978–79, including three All-Ontario Championships in that span. The 73’s would claim two more Great Lakes League Championships in the 1980s in 1985–86 and 1986–87.
After some struggles in the early to mid-1990s, the 73’s got back into winning form, taking the title for the first time in ten years. In 1997–98 the team won the Great Lakes League Championship by defeating the Wallaceburg Lakers in the league final. Their loss to the Kincardine Bulldogs in the All-Ontario semifinals marked the 73's most successful season in a decade.
In the 2001–02 season general manager Al Lemay brought aboard head coach Tony Piroski, who coached the team from 2001 to 2010. The 73's had great success under Piroski, and in his first season the 73’s won the Great Lakes League and the All-Ontario Title, defeating the Uxbridge Bruins in the finals.
On September 27, 2003, 19-year-old forward Glen Ivancic was fatally stabbed in Windsor. A banner #25 hung from the rafters at the Essex Memorial Arena for years before it was given to his parents.
The team reached the All-Ontario Junior C Finals five straight seasons (tying an Ontario Junior C Record), defeating the Grimsby Peach Kings in 2005 but losing to the Penetang Kings in 2006 and 2007. In 2008 they faced the offensive powerhouse Alliston Hornets and were defeated in a memorable game 7 overtime loss in Essex. The 2008–09 season saw the 73's finish with a remarkable 59 wins, 1 overtime loss, 1 regulation loss, and 1 shoot-out loss (including play-offs). The team finished with 31 wins and 0 losses at home in their final season in the historic Essex Memorial Arena. The 73's returned to the finals in 2009 to face Alliston for the second straight year and the 73's fifth consecutive Clarence Schmalz Cup Finals appearance. Essex overwhelmed Alliston on their way to a four-game sweep to win the provincial title. In nine seasons under Piroski the 73's won 7 Great Lakes League Championships and claimed the Clarence Schmalz Cup 3 times as All-Ontario Champions.
The 73's re-hired Les Garrod to the team in the 2010–11 season; the team would finish 2nd place to the Belle River Canadiens and go out in the first round to the Wheatley Sharks in 7 games. It would be the first time in 15 years (1996–97) that the team did not make it out of the First round. Garrod and staff resigned at the end of the season.
The 73's brought aboard former Windsor Spitfire Scott Miller for the 2011 season as the club's general manager and hired former Lasalle Vipers assistant Gil Langois as head coach. This tandem delivered four consecutive Great Lakes League Championships and three Clarence Schmalz Cup Finals appearances, including one OHA Junior C Championship. In 2013 the 73's swept both Ayr and the familiar Niagara champion Grimsby before losing in the CSC finals 4 games to 1 to the Picton Pirates. 2014 featured a more difficult road to the CSC finals with a high-scoring 7-game quarterfinal against Dorchester along with a 5-game semifinal victory over the Western League champion Wingham Ironmen before the 73's were swept in the Schmalz Cup finals by the Lakefield Chiefs. In 2015 the 73's defeated Exeter in four games and Ayr in five qualifying for their third straight CSC appearance. In three closely contested games versus the Empire B champion Port Hope Panthers, the 73's built up a 3-0 series lead, but the Panthers stormed back, winning the next three games, setting up a winner-take-all game 7 in Port Hope. A lone second-period goal was the difference between the teams as the 73's clinched their seventh CSC All-Ontario Championship and first since 2009.
In the summer of 2016 the eight junior "C" leagues amalgamated under the Provincial, and the GLJHL became the Bill Stobbs Division of the new league. The PJHL league champions will become the CSC All-Ontario Champions.
==General managers==
* 1973-74 - Herb Rounding
* 1974-83 - Mike Sadler
* 1983-87 - Mickey Mcdermott
* 1987-88 - Mike Quinlan
* 1988-89 - Don Leonard
* 1989-90 - Dan Mills
* 1990-91 - Mike Klyn
* 1991-93 - Don Mcdermott
* 1993-94 - Tom Mailloux
* 1994-95 - Glen O'neil
* 1995-97 - Les Garrod
* 1997-02 - Al Lemay
* 2002-03 - Jim Rauth
* 2003-05 - Al Lemay
* 2005-10 - Mark Barnett
* 2010-11 - Les Garrod
* 2011–Present - Scott Miller
==Coaches==
* 1973–74 - Jim Peck
* 1974-79 - Dave Prpich
* 1979-80 - Dave Moore
* 1980-82 - Dave Prpich
* 1982-84 - Bill Bellaire
* 1984-87 - Mike Quinlan
* 1987-89 - Dan Mills
* 1989-90 - Lee Jones
* 1990-91 - Mike Klym
* 1991-93 - Don Mcdermott
* 1993-94 - Rod Isbister
* 1994-95 - Glen O'neil
* 1995-98 - Les Garrod
* 1998-99 - Mike Gomes
* 1999-01 - Les Garrod
* 2001-10 - Tony Piroski
* 2010-11 - Glen Holden
* 2011-16 - Gil Langois
* 2016–present - Cam Crowder
==Season-by-season results==
Season 	GP 	W 	L 	T 	OL 	GF 	GA 	P 	Results 	Playoffs 	 	
1973-74	44 	34 	6 	4 	- 	357 	160 	72 	1st GLJHL 	Lost "C" Final (Leamington) 	 	
1974-75	42 	33 	8 	1 	- 	292 	155 	67 	1st GLJHL 	Won League (Leamington)Won CSC SF (New Hamburg)Won CSC Final (Lindsay) 	 	
1975-76	42 	30 	9 	3 	- 	297 	159 	63 	1st GLJHL 	Won League (Dresden)Won CSC SF (Clinton)Lost CSC Final (Dunnville) 	 	
1976-77	42 	27 	11 	4 	- 	236 	164 	58 	1st GLJHL 	Won League (Dresden)Won CSC SF (Listowel)Won CSC Final (Bowmanville) 	 	
1977-78	42 	39 	2 	1 	- 	377 	105 	79 	1st GLJHL 	Won League (Dresden)Won CSC QF (Listowel)Won CSC SF (Flamborough)Won CSC Final (Bowmanville) 	 	
1978-79	40 	25 	13 	2 	- 	291 	222 	52 	2nd GLJHL 	Lost Semi-final (Leamington) 	 	
1979-80	42 	25 	13 	4 	- 	280 	215 	54 	2nd GLJHL 	Lost Final (Leamington) 	 	
1980-81	42 	32 	7 	3 	- 	325 	165 	67 	1st GLJHL 	Won League (Leamington)Won CSC QF (Wingham)Won CSC SF (Woodstock)Lost CSC Final (Bowmanville) 	 	
1981-82	39 	23 	13 	3 	- 	241 	177 	49 	3rd GLJHL 	Lost Final (Leamington) 	 	
1982-83	40 	19 	17 	4 	- 	244 	232 	42 	4th GLJHL 	Lost Quarter-final (Belle River) 	 	
1983-84	39 	14 	20 	5 	- 	221 	204 	33 	6th GLJHL 	Lost Quarter-final (Leamington) 	 	
1984-85	40 	26 	11 	3 	- 	254 	161 	55 	2nd GLJHL 	Lost Final (Belle River) 	 	
1985-86	40 	25 	9 	6 	- 	229 	144 	56 	1st GLJHL 	Won League (Mooretown)Won CSC QF (Hanover)Lost CSC SF (Norwich) 	 	
1986-87	38 	26 	11 	1 	0 	236 	163 	53 	2nd GLJHL 	Won League (Dresden)Lost CSC QF (Hanover) 	 	
1987-88	39 	18 	15 	4 	2 	210 	167 	42 	6th GLJHL 	Lost Semi-final (Leamington) 	 	
1988-89	38 	19 	15 	2 	2 	210 	184 	44 	7th GLJHL 	Lost Division Semi-final (Leamington) 	 	
1989-90	40 	9 	30 	1 	0 	129 	260 	19 	10th GLJHL 	DNQ 	 	
1990-91	42 	19 	19 	2 	2 	190 	195 	42 	6th GLJHL 	Lost Quarter-final (Amherstburg) 	 	
1991-92	41 	22 	15 	3 	1 	203 	169 	48 	4th GLJHL 	Lost Semi-final (Belle River) 	 	
1992-93	40 	14 	24 	1 	1 	166 	224 	30 	9th GLJHL 	DNQ 	 	
1993-94	40 	16 	22 	2 	0 	206 	232 	34 	8th GLJHL 	DNQ 	 	
1994-95	41 	10 	26 	3 	2 	133 	204 	25 	10th GLJHL 	DNQ 	 	
1995-96	41 	16 	18 	7 	0 	150 	145 	39 	8th GLJHL 	DNQ 	 	
1996-97	40 	20 	16 	2 	2 	161 	162 	44 	6th GLJHL 	Lost Quarter-final (Kingsville) 	 	
1997-98	45 	27 	12 	6 	0 	210 	132 	60 	3rd GLJHL 	Won League (Wallaceburg)Lost CSC SF (Kincardine) 	 	
1998-99	39 	31 	7 	1 	0 	213 	122 	63 	3rd GLJHL 	Lost Semi-final (Wallaceburg) 	 	
1999-00	43 	17 	20 	2 	4 	139 	153 	40 	5th GLJHL 	Lost Semi-final (Belle River) 	 	
2000-01	40 	22 	12 	6 	0 	153 	143 	50 	4th GLJHL 	Lost Semi-final (Belle River) 	 	
2001-02	40 	30 	8 	0 	2 	159 	97 	62 	1st GLJHL 	Won League (Wheatley-Southpoint)Won CSC SF (Woodstock)Won CSC Final (Uxbridge) 	 	
2002-03	40 	33 	4 	3 	0 	161 	91 	69 	1st GLJHL 	Won League (Wheatley-Southpoint)Lost CSC SF (Grimsby) 	 	
2003-04	40 	33 	3 	4 	0 	152 	77 	70 	1st GLJHL 	Lost Final (Dresden) 	 	
2004-05	40 	32 	5 	1 	2 	206 	81 	67 	1st GLJHL 	Won League (Dresden)Won CSC SF (Wingham)Won CSC Final (Grimsby) 	 	
2005-06	40 	25 	11 	3 	1 	160 	99 	54 	4th GLJHL 	Won League (Wheatley-Southpoint)Won CSC SF (Simcoe)Lost CSC Final (Penetang) 	 	
2006-07	40 	32 	4 	2 	2 	182 	90 	68 	1st GLJHL 	Won League (Belle River)Won CSC SF (Grimsby)Lost CSC Final (Penetang) 	 	
2007-08	40 	33 	3 	2 	2 	216 	91 	70 	1st GLJHL 	Won League (Wallaceburg)Won CSC SF (Grimsby)Lost CSC Final (Alliston) 	 	
2008-09	40 	39 	0 	- 	1 	202 	73 	79 	1st GLJHL 	Won League (Dresden)Won CSC SF (Norwich)Won CSC Final (Alliston) 	 	
2009-10	40 	29 	9 	- 	2 	187 	101 	60 	2nd GLJHL 	Lost Semi-final (Belle River) 	 	
2010-11	39 	26 	12 	- 	1 	167 	120 	53 	3rd GLJHL 	Lost Quarter-final (Wheatley) 	 	
2011-12	40 	33 	6 	- 	1 	185 	124 	67 	1st GLJHL 	Won League (Belle River)Lost CSC SF (Grimsby) 	 	
2012-13	40 	32 	6 	- 	2 	205 	89 	66 	1st GLJHL 	Won League (Wheatley)Won CSC QF (Ayr)Won CSC SF (Grimsby)Lost CSC Final (Picton) 	 	
2013-14	40 	34 	3 	- 	3 	212 	95 	71 	1st GLJHL 	Won League (Belle River)Won CSC QF (Dorchester)Won CSC SF (Wingham)Lost CSC Final (Lakefield) 	 	
2014-15	40 	33 	5 	- 	2 	193 	85 	68 	1st GLJHL 	Won League (Amherstburg)Won CSC QF (Exeter)Won CSC SF (Ayr)Won CSC Final (Port Hope) 	 	
2015-16	40 	34 	3 	1 	2 	216 	74 	71 	1st GLJHL 	Won Quarterfinal, 4-0 (Alvinston)Won Semifinals, 4-0 (Mooretown)Won League, 4-3 (Amherstburg)Won CSC QF, 4-0 (Dorchester)Lost CSC SF, 4-0 (Ayr) 	 	
2016-17	40 	30 	9 	1 	- 	179 	96 	61 	2nd Stobbs 	Won Div Quarters, 4-1 (Mooretown)Won Div Semifinal 4-0 (Amherstburg)Won Div Finals, 4-0 (Lakeshore)Won Conf. Finals, 4-1 (Dorchester)Lost CSC SF, 3-4 (Ayr)	 	
2017-18	40 	30 	9 	1 	- 	179 	96 	61 	2nd Stobbs 	Won Div Quarters, 4-0 (Petrolia)Won Div Semis, 4-2 (Dresden)Lost Div Finals, 1-4 (Lakeshore) 	 	
2018-19	40 	29 	6 	1 	4 	165 	86 	63 	1st Stobbs 	Won Div Quarters, 4-0 (Petrolia)Won Div Semis, 4-0 (Amherstburg)Lost Div Finals, 1-4 (Lakeshore) 	 	
2019-20	40 	23 	15 	1 	1 	137 	94 	48 	4th Stobbs 	 	 	
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	30 	22 	5 	1 	2 	102 	77 	47 	1st 	Lost Division Final 	 	
2022-23	42 	36 	4 	0 	2 	200 	66 	74 	1st 	Lost Division Final 	 	
2023-24	42 	35 	4 	2 	1 	245 	85 	73 	2nd 	Lost Division Final 	 	
==Clarence Schmalz Cup Appearances==
:1975: Essex 73's defeated Lindsay Muskies 4-games-to-3
:1976: Dunnville Terriers defeated Essex 73's 4-games-to-2
:1977: Essex 73's defeated Bowmanville Eagles 4-games-to-2
:1978: Essex 73's defeated Bowmanville Eagles 4-games-to-1
:1981: Bowmanville Eagles defeated Essex 73's 4-games-to-2
:2002: Essex 73's defeated Uxbridge Bruins 4-games-to-3
:2005: Essex 73's defeated Grimsby Peach Kings 4-games-to-3
:2006: Penetang Kings defeated Essex 73's 4-games-to-1
:2007: Penetang Kings defeated Essex 73's 4-games-to-1
:2008: Alliston Hornets defeated Essex 73's 4-games-to-3
:2009: Essex 73's defeated Alliston Hornets 4-games-to-none
:2013: Picton Pirates defeated Essex 73's 4-games-to-1
:2014: Lakefield Chiefs defeated Essex 73's 4-games-to-none
:2015: Essex 73's defeated Port Hope Panthers 4-games-to-3
==Notable alumni==
*Tony Piroski (Coach)
*Dave Prpich (Coach)
*Mike Sadler (Manager)
*Bruce Crowder
*Keith Crowder
*Warren Rychel
*Dave Gagnon
*Colton Fretter
*Brian Hills
*Mark Miller
==External links==
*73's Website
Category:Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League teams
Category:Ontario Hockey Association
Category:Established in 1973
Category:Canadian ice hockey teams