Woodstock Navy-Vets

The Woodstock Navy Vets are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada. They are playing in the Provincial Junior Hockey League after previously playing in the Niagara & District Junior C Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.
The team was known as the Woodstock Renegades for the 3 seasons from 2007-08 to 2009-10.
The team was preceded by the Woodstock Warriors who were an OHA Junior B team in the Central and Western leagues from 1951–52 to 1961–62, winning the Sutherland Cup emblematic of Provincial Junior B Champions in the 1954–55 season with a team that included future NHL player and Hall of Famer Bobby Hull.
==History==
The Woodstock Navy-Vets were founded in 1966 and played in the OHA-C Group III (Intercounty Junior C Hockey League - IJCHL). In 1971–72 the Navy-Vets became a member of the Western Junior B Hockey League when the IJCHL disbanded before moving the following season to the Central Junior C Hockey League. In 1976–77 the Navy Vets became a charter member of the new Southwestern Junior B Hockey League along with the London Diamonds, St.Thomas Colonels, Tillsonburg Mavericks, Simcoe Jets, and Brantford Penguins. The SWJBHL folded after two seasons and the Navy Vets joined the Niagara & District Junior C Hockey League for the 1978–79 season where they played until 2012–13.
The OHA realigned the NDJHL and SOJHL Junior C leagues in the summer of 2013 and forming a new MWJCHL. The Navy Vets were a member of the new league along with Norwich, New Hamburg, and Paris from the NDJHL West along with Ayr, Burford, Delhi, Tavistock and Wellesley from the SOJHL.
In the summer of 2016 with the eight leagues from Southern Ontario joining to create the single Provincial Junior Hockey League, the former leagues became divisions of the PJHL. The Midwestern League re-branded to the Pat Doherty Division and became members of the Central Conference.
===1969: Championship season===
The Navy-Vets won their only OHA Junior C championship in the 1968–69 season, eliminating Dresden 4 games-to-0 in the quarter-final and New Hamburg 4 games-to-1 in the semi-final before beating Oakville Blades in seven games in the final.
===1984===
After finishing in fourth place in the 1983–84 NDJCHL West regular season with a record of 13 wins, 9 losses, and 8 ties, the Navy-Vets played sixty-five games that season and six rounds of playoffs. In the division quarter-finals, the Navy-Vets drew the New Hamburg Spirit 83's. The best-of-5 series went the distance, Woodstock taking it in the end 3-games-to-2. In the division semi-final, the Navy-Vets then took on the Dundas Blues. The Blues were tough early, but the Navy-Vets had all the momentum and took the series 4-games-to-2. They next played the well rested and top ranked Norwich Merchants in the division final. The Merchants, like the Blues, were tough early in the series but the Navy-Vets were tougher winning 4-games-to-2. They next had to play the Stoney Creek Warriors in the Niagara District championship. The Warriors were tough and dominated much of the play. The series went back and forth, and ended up going to a final and deciding seventh game. Woodstock fought hard and took Stoney Creek into overtime. Early in the second overtime, Woodstock would break the hearts of the Stoney Creek faithful in their own arena and win 6–5. From this point on, the Woodstock Sentinel-Review referred to the 1983–84 edition of this team as "The Cardiac Kids". With the win, the Navy-Vets were catapulted into the OHA Junior C semi-finals. Their opponents would be the Dresden Jr. Kings of the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League. Dresden took game one big, 10–4. Game two went to Woodstock in double overtime (4–3) and game three in single overtime (8–6). Dresden came back and put Woodstock's backs against the wall with 4–2 and 7–2 victories, leaving the Cardiac Kids in a do-or-die situation. Woodstock responded and won 6–5 and 6–2 to win the series. They then moved on to face the Penetang Kings of the Georgian Bay Junior C Hockey League in the provincial final. Penetang had just knocked off the Bowmanville Eagles 4-games-to-3. Unfortunately for the Cardiac Kids, the Kings had no intention of losing, taking the series in four games: 8–7 in overtime, 6–5, 9–6, and 9–1. The fairy tale run was over for the Navy-Vets, as they walked away Niagara West champions, Niagara & District champions, and OHA Junior C finalists.
===2002: OHA semi-finalists===
The 2001–02 Navy Vets won 25 games and had 52 points to finish in 1st place in the West Division during the regular season by 10 points over rival Norwich Merchants. They beat New Hamburg Firebirds in 6 games in the West Division Semi-Finals and then knocked off Norwich in 5 games to win the West Division title. They then upset the East Division champ Chippawa Riverhawks, who had an identical season record as the Vets, in 6 games to win the Niagara District Junior C Hockey League championships and move on to the OHA Semi-Finals against the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League champion Essex. The series was hard fought with the Navy Vets finally succumbing in 4 games.
The team captured the enthusiasm of the city during their late season heroics with fan support building in numbers and noise with each playoff victory to a peak in the 2 games at Southwood Arena for the OHA SF that saw over 2000 fans at each game.
The Navy Vets were led up front by the trio of Jeremy Demarest, Chad Paton, and Matt Carey. Demarest won the West Division scoring title with 62 points and a division-high 40 assists. Demarest also was named Most Sportsmanlike in the West Division. Forward Taylor Winkler was among the league leaders in hits. 
The blueline was anchored by Chris Corriveau, Scott Roode, and Sean McLaren.
The goaltending tandem of Mike Matika & Matt Richardson provided stellar goaltending all season finishing 2nd in the West Division in Goals Against.
The team was led by West Division Coach of the Year Scott Brooks.
right|100px|thumbnail|Renegades logo
===2007: Renegades===
On April 27, 2007, new team owner Bill McLeod announced that the team would be changing its name to the 'Woodstock Renegades', effective the start of the 2007–2008 season, ending a 41-year relationship with the Oxford County Naval Veterans Association.http://www.angelfire.com/empire/jktaylor/navyvets/news-042707.htm The team played its first game as the Woodstock Renegades in September 2007.
===2010: Navy Vets return===
On March 31, 2010, team owner Bill McLeod announced that the team would be adopting the Navy Vets moniker once again effective the start of the 2010–2011 season.http://www.angelfire.com/empire/jktaylor/navyvets/index.htmAlong with the name change would be a new look, including a new logo (pictured on the right). However, on August 16, 2010, it was announced that the new logo would not be adopted and that the team would be using the original Navy Vets logo.http://www.angelfire.com/empire/jktaylor/navyvets/news-081610-logo.htm
On August 17, 2010, it was announced that Bill McLeod had stepped down as team owner & GM/Head Coach and Jeff Morrison would take over as Director of Hockey Operations/GM/Head Coach. In addition, it was announced that a process had begun to turn the team into a non-profit organization, returning the hockey team to its roots as a community-owned team.http://www.angelfire.com/empire/jktaylor/navyvets/news-081710.htm
===2012: Coaching changes===
On December 10, 2012, Jeff Morrison resigned as GM-head coach of the Navy Vets for personal reasons. Assistant Coach Mark Jones assumed the head coach position, but then resigned at the end of the month. Frank Mueller took over as GM-head coach in January 2013.http://www.woodstocknavyvets.ca/
===2013: Organizational changes===
On April 15, 2013, a local group of Woodstock community members represented the Navy Vets as its board of directors.http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2013/04/15/a-new-local-ownership-group-has-taken-over-the-woodstock-navy-vets
On December 19, 2013, there was a coaching staff change with former Navy Vet Adam Wallace being named head coach replacing Frank Mueller and Bill Wallace and Geoff Killing being named assistant coaches replacing Rob Hutchison.
===2015===
The Navy Vets in the 2014-15 season had a 16-win improvement. Mike Gillespie led the team in scoring for the 2nd straight season and finished in 6th place in league scoring with 45 points on 26 goals. He was named the MWJCHL Most Valuable Player. Head Coach Adam Wallace was named the MWJCHL Coach of the Year for leading the team to its season. Goalie Michael Roefs tied a team record with 3 shutouts and combined with rookie Jackson Swindells and AP North Davies for a team record total of 6 shutouts. Captain Jake Schneider, Dylan Wettlaufer, and Justin Elms also finished in the league's top 25 scorers. The team had an 8-game winning streak in November. They finished in 5th place and took 4th place defending champion Paris Mounties to 7 games in the quarterfinals before their turn-around season came to an end. Over 10000 fans came through the gate to watch the team for 23 games (20 reg.season & 3 playoff) this season - an average of 448 well over that of any season in the last decade.
===2015-16: 50th anniversary season===
The Navy Vets unveiled a new logo and jerseys for their 50th anniversary season.
The team held an Alumni night in December with many former Navy Vets returning for a celebration.
Woodstock also hosted the MWJCHL Showcase in January ... with a Navy Vets Alumni Team playing a MWJCHL All-Star Team prior to the MWJCHL Prospects Game.
==Jr. Vets==
The logo for the "Jr. Vets" used by the Woodstock Minor Hockey Association teams was designed by Woodstock-based Graphic Designer, Bill Bowman.
==Season-by-season record==
Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OL = Overtime Losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Season 	GP 	W 	L 	T 	OL 	GF 	GA 	Points 	Finish 	Playoffs 	 	
1966–67	30 	20 	7 	3 	- 	146 	89 	41 	2nd ICJCHL 	Won League, Lost OHA QF 	 	
1967–68	31 	25 	5 	1 	- 	145 	68 	51 	1st ICJCHL 	Lost Final 	 	
1968–69	22 	16 	3 	3 	- 	-- 	-- 	35 	1st ICJCHL 	Won League, Won CSC 	 	
1969–70	30 	18 	8 	4 	- 	191 	144 	40 	2nd ICJCHL 	Lost Final, Lost Super C Final 	 	
1970–71	23 	17 	2 	4 	- 	142 	82 	38 	1st ICJCHL 	Won League, Won Super C Final 	 	
1971–72	39 	11 	23 	5 	- 	156 	209 	27 	7th WJBHL 	DNQ 	 	
1972–73	32 	16 	11 	5 	- 	-- 	-- 	37 	4th CJCHL 	Lost SF, Won Super C Final 	 	
1973–74	31 	26 	3 	2 	- 	246 	87 	54 	1st CJCHL 	Won League, Won Super C Final 	 	
1974–75	36 	32 	2 	2 	- 	315 	99 	66 	1st CJCHL III 	Lost SF, Won Super C Final 	 	
1975–76	31 	20 	7 	4 	- 	235 	117 	44 	2nd CJCHL III 	Lost Final, Won Super C Final 	 	
1976–77	38 	17 	18 	3 	- 	215 	200 	37 	3rd SWJBHL 	 	 	
1977–78	40 	15 	23 	2 	- 	192 	215 	32 	5th SWJBHL 	DNQ 	 	
1978–79	38 	13 	19 	6 	- 	-- 	-- 	32 	4th NJC-W 	 	 	
1979–80	41 	9 	31 	1 	- 	-- 	-- 	19 	6th NJC-W 	DNQ 	 	
1980–81	32 	23 	6 	3 	- 	-- 	-- 	49 	1st NJC-W 	Won League, Lost OHA SF 	 	
1981–82	31 	19 	10 	2 	- 	-- 	-- 	40 	2nd NJC-W 	 	 	
1982–83	36 	26 	7 	3 	- 	-- 	-- 	55 	1st NJC-W 	Won Division. Lost Final 	 	
1983–84	30 	13 	9 	8 	- 	-- 	-- 	33 	4th NJC-W 	Won League, Lost OHA F 	 	
1984–85	30 	17 	10 	3 	- 	170 	126 	37 	2nd SWJCHL 	Won Division, Lost Final 	 	
1985–86	36 	10 	17 	9 	- 	-- 	-- 	29 	4th NJC-W 	Won Division, Lost Final 	 	
1986–87	33 	15 	14 	4 	- 	-- 	-- 	34 	3rd NJC-W 	 	 	
1987–88	36 	25 	6 	4 	- 	-- 	-- 	55 	2nd NJC-W 	Won Division, Lost Final 	 	
1988–89	36 	19 	10 	7 	- 	-- 	-- 	45 	3rd NJC-W 	Won Division, Lost Final 	 	
1989–90	36 	14 	14 	8 	- 	-- 	-- 	36 	4th NJC-W 	 	 	
1990–91	34 	7 	22 	5 	- 	-- 	-- 	19 	6th NJC-W 	DNQ 	 	
1991–92	35 	13 	18 	4 	- 	162 	158 	30 	5th NJC-W 	 	 	
1992–93	36 	29 	2 	5 	- 	247 	121 	63 	1st NJC-W 	Won Division, Lost Final 	 	
1993–94	36 	18 	12 	6 	- 	177 	146 	42 	3rd NJC-W 	Won Division, Lost OHA QF 	 	
1994–95	36 	28 	5 	3 	- 	243 	112 	59 	1st NJC-W 	Won League, Lost OHA SF 	 	
1995–96	40 	33 	4 	3 	- 	258 	102 	69 	1st NJC-W 	Won League, Lost OHA SF 	 	
1996–97	40 	32 	4 	3 	1 	214 	93 	68 	1st NJC-W 	 	 	
1997–98	39 	22 	13 	4 	0 	187 	157 	48 	3rd NJC-W 	 	 	
1998–99	35 	28 	6 	- 	1 	-- 	-- 	57 	1st NJC-W 	Won Division, Lost Final 	 	
1999–00	36 	18 	17 	- 	1 	-- 	-- 	37 	3rd NJC-W 	Lost Division SF 	 	
2000–01	36 	18 	16 	1 	1 	-- 	-- 	38 	2nd NJC-W 	Lost Division F 	 	
2001–02	36 	25 	9 	1 	1 	-- 	-- 	52 	1st NJC-W 	Won League, Lost OHA SF 	 	
2002–03	36 	15 	15 	4 	2 	116 	125 	36 	3rd NJC-W 	Lost Division SF 	 	
2003–04	36 	9 	24 	1 	2 	93 	145 	21 	6th NJC-W 	DNQ 	 	
2004–05	36 	15 	19 	0 	2 	98 	148 	32 	4th NJC-W 	Lost Division SF 	 	
2005–06	36 	11 	20 	2 	3 	104 	148 	27 	4th NJC-W 	Lost Division SF 	 	
2006–07	36 	21 	13 	1 	1 	185 	141 	44 	4th NJC-W 	Lost Division F 	 	
2007–08	36 	15 	18 	2 	1 	155 	125 	33 	5th NJC-W 	Lost Division QF 	 	
2008–09	36 	20 	13 	- 	3 	119 	103 	43 	4th NJC-W 	Lost Division SF 	 	
2009–10	36 	19 	13 	- 	4 	138 	123 	42 	3rd NJC-W 	Lost Division SF 	 	
2010–11	36 	7 	25 	- 	4 	102 	199 	18 	6th NJC-W 	Lost Division QF 	 	
2011–12	36 	8 	27 	- 	1 	107 	192 	17 	6th NJC-W 	Lost Division QF 	 	
2012–13	38 	6 	32 	- 	0 	89 	218 	12 	6th NJC-W 	Lost Division QF 	 	
2013–14	40 	5 	33 	- 	2 	94 	207 	12 	9th MWJCHL 	DNQ 	 	
2014–15	40 	21 	19 	0 	- 	137 	105 	42 	5th MWJCHL 	Lost QF 3-4 (Mounties) 	 	
2015–16	40 	17 	19 	4 	- 	119 	115 	38 	6th of 9 MWJCHL 	Lost QF 2-4 (Mounties) 	 	
2016–17	40 	20 	18 	2 	- 	152 	136 	42 	6th of 9- PJHLDoherty Div 	Lost Div Quarter 2-4 (Applejacks) 	 	
2017-18	40 	30 	9 	0 	1 	200 	112 	61 	3rd of 9, PJHLDougherty Div - 	Won Div Quarters - 1-4, ((Merchants)Lost Div Semis 0-4 (Braves)	 	
2018-19	40 	17 	17 	2 	4 	145 	136 	40 	7th of 9Dougherty Div-PJHL 	Lost Div. Quarter - 2-4 - (Firebirds) 	 	
2019-20	40 	24 	12 	2 	2 	214 	119 	52 	4th of 9Dougherty Div-PJHL 	Lost Division Semifinals 	 	
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	36 	27 	6 	0 	3 	183 	98 	57 	1st 	Lost Division Semifinals 	 	
2022-23	41 	18 	21 	1 	1 	140 	171 	5th 	Lost Division Quarterfinals 	 	 	
2023-24	42 	31 	8 	0 	3 	167 	109 	65 	2nd 	Lost Division Final 	 	
===Playoffs===
*2005 Lost in West Division semifinals
:Simcoe Storm defeated Woodstock Navy Vets in 4-games-to-0 West Division semifinals.
*2006 Lost in West Division semifinals
:Simcoe Storm defeated Woodstock Navy Vets 4-games-to-0 in West Division semifinals.
*2007 Lost in West Division finals
:Woodstock Navy Vets defeated Simcoe Storm 4-games-to-3 in West Division semifinals.
:Norwich Merchants defeated Woodstock Navy Vets 4-games-to-1 in West Division finals.
*2008 Lost in West Division semifinals
:New Hamburg Firebirds defeated Woodstock Navy Vets 4-games-to-2 in West Division semifinals.
*2009 Lost in West Division finals
:Woodstock Navy Vets defeated New Hamburg Firebirds 4-games-to-1 in West Division semifinals.
:Norwich Merchants defeated Woodstock Navy Vets 4-games-to-2 in West Division finals.
*2010 Lost in West Division semifinals
:Woodstock Navy Vets received first-round bye.
:Norwich Merchants defeated Woodstock Navy Vets 4-games-to-0 in West Division semifinals.
*2011 Lost in West Division quarter-finals
:Norwich Merchants defeated Woodstock Navy Vets 4-games-to-0 in West Division quarter-finals.
*2012 Lost in West Division quarter-finals
:New Hamburg Firebirds defeated Woodstock Navy Vets 4-games-to-0 in West Division quarter-finals.
*2013 Lost in West Division quarter-finals
:Paris Mounties defeated Woodstock Navy Vets 4-games-to-0 in West Division quarter-finals.
*2015 Lost in MWJCHL quarter-finals
:Paris Mounties defeated Woodstock Navy Vets 4-games-to-3 in MWJCHL quarter-finals.
*2016 Lost in MWJCHL quarter-finals
:Paris Mounties defeated Woodstock Navy Vets 4-games-to-2 in MWJCHL quarter-finals.
*2017 Lost in PJHL Doherty Division quarter-finals
:Wellesley Applejacks defeated Woodstock Navy Vets 4-games-to-2 in PJHL Doherty Division quarter-finals.
==Clarence Schmalz Cup Appearances==
:1969: Woodstock Navy-Vets defeated Oakville Blades 4-games-to-3
:1984: Penetang Kings defeated Woodstock Navy-Vets 4-games-to-none
==George S. Dudley Trophy Super "C" Appearances==
:1970: Barrie Colts defeated Woodstock Navy-Vets 4-games-to-2
:1971: Woodstock Navy-Vets defeated Kitchener Ranger B's 4-games-to-2
:1973: Woodstock Navy-Vets defeated Kitchener Ranger B's 4-games-to-3 with 1 tie
:1974: Woodstock Navy-Vets defeated Owen Sound Salvagemen 4-games-to-none
:1975: Woodstock Navy-Vets defeated Owen Sound Salvagemen 3-games-to-none
:1976: Woodstock Navy-Vets defeated Brantford Penguins 4-games-to-none
==Notable alumni==
* Bernie Nichols
* Len Hachborn
* Mike Craig
* Adam Wallace
==References==
==External links==
* 
Category:Canadian ice hockey teams
Category:Ontario Hockey Association Super Junior C teams
Category:Niagara Junior C Hockey League teams
Category:Established in 1966
Category:Southwestern Junior C Hockey League teams
Category:Provincial Junior Hockey League (OHA) teams