West Kent Steamers

The West Kent Steamers are a Junior A Ice Hockey team based out of Grand-Bouctouche, New Brunswick. They play their home games at the JK Irving Centre The team is a member of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League and plays in the North Division.
==Move to Grand-Bouctouche==
On April 23, 2023, the league announced it had unanimously approved the transfer of the South Shore Lumberjacks to the JK Irving Centre in Grand-Bouctouche, New Brunswick for the 2023-24 season.https://www.themhl.ca/south-shore-lumberjacks-to-relocate-to-bouctouche-for-the-2023-24-season Om May 12, 2023 the name West Kent Steamers was announced.https://www.themhl.ca/west-kent-franchise-based-in-grand-bouctouche-unveils-team-name On June 2nd a logo would be revealed.https://www.themhl.ca/west-kent-steamers-unveil-team-logo As a result of the relocation of the franchise the team would be transferred to the North Division for the 2023-24 season swapping places with the Summerside Western Capitals.https://www.themhl.ca/south-shore-lumberjacks-to-relocate-to-bouctouche-for-the-2023-24-season The team would slightly modify its' colours after the move to match the colours of the Acadian flag, which is subtly on display on the team logo as part of the hull of the steamship. The name itself is an homage to the significance of the steamship to the area as a form of transportation to import and export goods due to the remoteness to other communities in the region.
==History==
This franchise was born as the Halifax Wolverines in 2004, on the same day the former Halifax Team Pepsi relocated to New Glasgow to become the Weeks Crushers. Interestingly enough, Bridgewater was also considered as a destination for Team Pepsi.
Team Pepsi had struggled in Halifax's crowded hockey market and it was no different for the Wolverines.
In 2008, the Wolverines decided to test the waters outside the city. They played a pair of regular season games in Bridgewater and attracted a combined 1,500 spectators to Bridgewater Memorial Arena. They also played two games in Kentville but ultimately Bridgewater was chosen as the team's new home. Shortly after the end of the season, the relocation to the south shore's largest town was announced.
On June 7, 2008 the club's new name, major sponsor, logo, and colors were announced. The Lumberjacks name was chosen through a name the team contest. The moniker pays tribute to Lunenburg County's forestry, logging and Christmas tree industry.
The team colors are Navy Blue, Red and White.
===2008-09===
The Lumberjacks' inaugural season saw growing pains on and off the ice. Attendance wasn't as strong as the team had hoped it would be. Halfway through the campaign, ownership switched to local ties. The new bosses immediately dropped ticket prices, which resulted in larger crowds coming through the gates during the second half.
On the ice, the team finished fifth out of six teams in the Bent Division. Bridgewater earned the right to play the Weeks Crushers in a best-of-3 mini series. The Crushers swept the brief encounter 2-0.
===2009-10===
The Lumberjacks second season was a success. They won their best of 3 mini-series 2 games to none. They gave Truro a good run in the next round but ended up losing in 6 games.
The team would be renamed the South Shore Lumberjacks in 2014.
On April 23, 2023, the transfer of the Lumberjacks to the JK Irving Centre in Grand-Bouctouche, New Brunswick for the 2023-24 season.https://www.themhl.ca/south-shore-lumberjacks-to-relocate-to-bouctouche-for-the-2023-24-season
==Season-by-season record==
Season 	GP	W 	L 	T 	OL	GF 	GA 	P 	Results 	Playoffs
2004-05	56	14	38	2 	2 	148	254	32 	12th MJAHL 	DNQ
2005-06	56	16	34	0 	6 	192	255	38 	11th MJAHL 	DNQ
2006-07	58	34	19	0 	5 	247	210	73 	6th MJAHL 	Lost Division Final
2007-08	58	18	33	- 	7 	166	242	43 	10th MJAHL 	
2008-09	53	18	26	- 	9 	164	202	45 	9th MJAHL 	Lost Division Mini Series
2009-10	50	21	23	- 	6 	179	213	48 	7th MJAHL 	Lost Division Semi-final
2010-11	52	24	26	- 	2 	219	237	50 	8th MHL 	Lost Division Semi-final
2011-12	52	15	36	- 	1 	166	258	31 	10th MHL 	DNQ
2012-13	52	10	39	- 	0 	144	255	23 	9th MHL 	Lost Division Mini Series
2013-14	52	5 	40	- 	7 	123	269	17 	11th MHL 	DNQ
2014-15	48	16	29	- 	3 	144	169	35 	10th MHL 	DNQ
2015-16	48	24	21	- 	3 	138	142	51 	10th MHL, 4th South 	Lost South final
Season 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	P 	Results 	Playoffs
2016-17	50	17	30	2 	1 	171	232	37 	10th MJAHL, 5th South 	DNQ
2017-18	50	31	15	2 	2 	193	132	66 	t-4th MJAHL, T-2nd South	W. DSF 4-3 (Ramblers)L, DF 1-4 (Mariners)
2018-19	50	27	20	3 	0 	211	200	57 	t-5th MJAHL, 3rd South 	W. DSF 4-3 (Ramblers)L, DF 2-4 (Mariners)
2019-20	52	26	22	4 	- 	182	186	56 	9th MJAHL, 5th South 	DNQ
2020-21	34	6 	26	0 	2 	79 	142	.206	12th MJAHL, 7th South 	Playoffs suspended
2021-22	39	7 	28	2 	2 	86 	159	18 	12th MJAHL, 6th South 	DNQ
2022-23	52	10	39	2 	1 	130	250	23 	12th MJAHL, 6th South 	DNQ
2023-24	52	34	16	2 	0 	187	151	70 	3rd MJAHL, 2nd South 	L, DSF 1-4 (Timberwolves)
==References==
==External links==
* Steamers Facebook page
Category:Maritime Junior A Hockey League teams
Category:established in 2004
Category:Established in 2023