Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts

Ice hockey team in Grand Falls-Windsor, NL From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts are a senior ice hockey team based in Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador and a member of the Central West Senior Hockey League.

Quick facts City, League ...
Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts
CityGrand Falls-Windsor, NL
LeagueCentral West Senior Hockey League
Founded1966 (1966)
Home arenaJoe Byrne Memorial Stadium
ColoursGreen, white, red      
Head coachCody White
CaptainCody Drover
Franchise history
1928–48Grand Falls
1948–55Grand Falls All-Stars
1956–65Grand Falls Andcos
1966–85Grand Falls Cataracts
1992–presentGrand Falls-Windsor Cataracts
Close

Since it was formed in 1966, the Cataracts hockey club has been awarded the Herder Memorial Trophy eight times as all-Newfoundland senior hockey champions, including three consecutive championships from 2014 to 2016, and were awarded the Evening Telegram Trophy on six occasions for finishing first overall in the NSHL regular season. The Cataracts won the senior ice hockey championship of Canada in 2017, winning the club's first Allan Cup.

The Cataracts play their home games at the Joe Byrne Memorial Stadium, formerly known as the Grand Falls Stadium until March 22, 1991.

History

Plans to form a new Grand Falls senior hockey team to re-enter the Newfoundland Senior Hockey League (NSHL) started at the conclusion of the Central Hockey League's 1965-66 season. A group of ex-Andcos and league executive members, together with a group of volunteers that later formed the Cataracts Booster Club, raised the necessary funds to start a new senior team and pay off the debts remaining of the Andcos hockey club. The Andcos was the previous papertown entry that folded at the end of the 1964–65 season. The start-up group included former Andcos Leo Murphy, Walt Davis, Al Dwyer Jr. and Jim Temple, who all would play many games with the new club.

In July & August 1966 the Central Hockey League sponsored an island-wide contest to pick a new team name.[1] The name Cataracts was selected by a Central Hockey League Committee from a list of popular entries.[2]

The Cataracts joined the NSHL for the 1966–67 season as the sixth team. The Grand Falls Recreation Commission hired Winnipeg native and twelve-year NHL veteran Nick Mickoski as the coach for the town's senior and junior hockey programs. Mickoski would be the Cataracts' first head coach. At the end of the 1967-68 regular season, after their second year, the Cataracts finished in first place and were awarded the Evening Telegram Trophy. Mickoski coached the Cataracts for the club's first three seasons before returning to Winnipeg in 1969.

In September 1970 the Cataracts hired 33-year old Jean-Guy Morissette. The Causapscal, Quebec native, who played in one NHL game with the Montreal Canadiens in 1963, was then ranked by many as the top amateur goalie in Canada.[3] Morissette backstopped the Cataracts for two seasons, playing in 68 of 72 regular season games, and was the league's top goaltender in 1972. Jean-Guy helped the Cataracts win their first Herders in 1971 and 1972.

Joe Byrne coached the Cataracts to back-to-back all-Newfoundland senior hockey championship titles in 1981 and 1982. In 1983 the Cats were looking for a three-peat but lost in the finals to the Stephenville Jets in the seventh and deciding game.

The Cataracts did not join the Newfoundland Senior Hockey league in 1983–84 due to significant debts at the conclusion of the previous season. The Grand Falls Sportstop Cataracts joined the Central Beothuck Intermediate Senior Hockey League for the 1983-84 season, winning the league championship in a seven-game final series.

The Cataracts re-joined the NSHL for the 1984–85 season to make it a four-team league. The league permitted teams to hire seven paid "imports" including a goaltender and up to six skaters.[4] This created a very competitive league but the Cataracts once again ended the season with a significant deficit, leading to the decision to drop out of the league the following season. The Cataracts would not have a team in a local or provincial league for the next seven seasons.

In 1992 a six-member committee was formed, spearheaded by Mike Browne, to raise money and bring back the Cataracts to senior hockey. In the fall of 1992 the Cataracts entered the Central Beothuck Senior Hockey League to make it a six-team league. The CBSHL had no import players but financial problems were still present in the league.

From 2011 through 2014 the Cataracts were part of the re-formed Newfoundland Senior Hockey League. Following a first-place league finish at the end of the 2010–2011 season, the Cataracts defeated the Conception Bay North Cee Bee Stars 4–games-to-0 in the Herder final to win the hockey club's first provincial senior hockey championship since 1982. The club was denied a repeat in 2012, losing the Herder final to the Clarenville Caribous in five games.

In game six of the 2014 Herder final, Cataracts' import and league scoring champion Rob Hennigar scored a power play goal in sudden death overtime to win the series four-games-to-two to capture the Herder Memorial Trophy.

The following year Cataracts repeated as all-Newfoundland champions after import player Cam Fergus scored the series-winning winner in overtime to sweep the 2015 Herder final in four games.

In 2016, in a new Herder championship format, the Cataracts completed the Herder three-peat following a sweep of the St. John's Caps who were the Avalon East Senior Hockey League champions.

The Cataracts won their first Allan Cup on April 15, 2017 in Bouctouche, NB after defeating the Lacombe Generals 7–4 in the final.

After a two-year absence from the all-Newfoundland final, the Cats won the Central West championship in 2019 and then defeated the East Coast champions in five games in a best-of-seven series to win the town's 15th Herder.

Crest and sweater design

Early logos used by the Cataracts
Original logo used from 1966 to 1970s
Logo used in 1980s to 1990s

The primary colours for the Cataracts' jerseys are the traditional green, white and red of the previous Grand Falls senior all-star hockey teams.

The first sweaters worn by the Cataracts hockey team in the fall of 1966 had a new crest designed by Len Sullivan that included the island of Newfoundland, a wheel and a hub containing a picture of trees and a falls. The wheel and hub symbolized Grand Falls as the hub of Newfoundland. The new crest contained the Cataracts three primary colours. The island in the background and the spokes of the wheel were green. The lettering on the wheel was red and the crest background was white.

In 1979 the Cataracts displayed new jerseys with a re-designed crest.

Since 2002 the Cataracts have adopted home and away jerseys of the National Hockey league's Minnesota Wild.

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Table key

More information Color/symbol, Explanation ...
Key of colors and symbols
Color/symbol Explanation
Herder Memorial Trophy champions
Led league in points
Close
More information Term or abbreviation, Definition ...
Key of terms and abbreviations
Term or abbreviation Definition
NSHL Newfoundland Senior Hockey League (1962-1989) or Newfoundland Senior Hockey League (2011-2014)
NSHL-C Newfoundland Senior Hockey League (Central Division)
CBIHL Central Beothuck Intermediate Hockey League
WCSHL West Coast Senior Hockey League
CWSHL Central West Senior Hockey League
GP Number of games played
W Number of wins
L Number of losses
T Number of ties
OTL Number of losses in overtime (since the 1999–2000 season)
Finish Final position in division or league standings
GF Goals for (goals scored by the Cataracts)
GA Goals against (goals scored by the Cataracts' opponents)
PTS Number of points
Does not apply
DNQ Did not qualify
n/a Not applicable
Close


More information Season, League ...
Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts regular season and postseason statistics and results, 1966–present
Season League Regular season Local league Postseason Herder Playoffs
GP W L T OTL GF GA PTS Finish GP W L GF GA Result GP W L GF GA Result
1966-67NSHL4015223-146162335th-----------DNQ
1967-68NSHL4021154-197156461st------7343130Lost Herder semi-finals 3–4 to Corner Brook Royals
1968-69NSHL4017167-153150413rd------6241936Lost Herder semi-finals 2–4 to Gander Flyers
1969-70NSHL4017185-173185394th------7343029Lost Herder semi-finals 3–4 to Gander Flyers
1970-71NSHL3614175-148149333rd------7432716Won Herder Memorial Trophy vs. St. John's Capitals, 4-3
1971-72NSHL362583-18898531st------121207724Won Herder Memorial Trophy vs. St. John's Capitals, 4-0
1972-73NSHL3617181-158149353rd------12483854Lost Herder finals to St. John's Capitals, 0-4
1973-74NSHL3217114-171136382nd------10556454Lost Herder finals to St. John's Capitals, 1-4
1974-75NSHL16862-8466182nd------2021113Lost Herder semi-finals to Corner Brook Royals, 0-2
1975-76NSHL201262-11171262nd------8444337Lost Herder finals to St. John's Capitals, 1-4
1976-77NSHL3211192-161179243rd, West------3122121Lost Herder quarter-finals to Gander Flyers, 1-2
1977-78NSHL3219121-200163393rd, West------303825Lost Herder quarter-finals to Gander Flyers, 0-3
1978-79NSHL308157-135172235th-----------Did not Qualify for playoffs
1979-80NSHL3417152-191170363rd------413Lost semi-finals 1–3 to Labatt BlueCaps
1980-81NSHL322093-198138431st------11834733Won Herder Memorial Trophy vs. Corner Brook Royals, 4-2
1981-82NSHL3219103-212148412nd------12752628Won Herder Memorial Trophy vs. Gander Flyers, 4-3
1982-83NSHL3219112-174134402nd------12663538Lost Herder finals 3–4 to Stephenville Jets
1983-84CBIHL241383-293rd1394Won CBIHL Championship-----n/a
1984-85NSHL367281-170258154th------303926Lost Herder semi-finals 0–3 to Corner Brook Royals[5]
1992-93CBIHL2411121-145168 234th404Lost league semi-finals to Gander Flyers 4 games to 0.-----DNQ
1993-94CBIHL216141-89156134th
2002-03WCSHL-
2003-04WCSHL-
2004-05WCSHL-
2005-06WCSHL-
2006-07WCSHL-
2007-08WCSHL-
2008-09WCSHL241212110116253rdlost 1–4 to Clarenville Caribous
2009-10WCSHL2416812483332ndlost 2–4 to Clarenville Caribous
2010-11NSHL24156-313495331st------Won Herder Memorial Trophy vs. CBN Eastlink CeeBee Stars, 4-0[6]
2011-12NSHL24157-210977322nd------5141419Lost Herder finals to Clarenville Caribous 1-4
2012-13NSHL24203-111478411st------Lost Herder semi-finals
2013-14NSHL24195-012470381st------Won Herder Memorial Trophy
2014-15CWSHL241310-19982272ndWon Herder Memorial Trophy vs. Corner Brook Royals, 4-0
2015-16CWSHL22156-19872311st10824517Won CWSHL championship vs. Corner Brook Royals, 4-1[7]330234Won Herder Memorial Trophy vs. St. John's Toyota Plaza Caps, 3-0
2016-17CWSHL18132-37652291stLost CWSHL championship in OT to Clarenville Caribous, 3-4-----DNQ
2017-18CWSHL16610-05565123rdLost CWSHL semi-final in OT to Clarenville Caribous, 1-4[8]-----DNQ
2018-19NSHL-C17105-26548222nd6422318Won Central Division championship vs. Gander Flyers, 4-2[9]5411610Won Herder Memorial Trophy vs. Southern Shore Breakers, 4-1 [10]
2023-24CWSHL18134-111874272nd9544031Lost CWSHL championship vs. Deer Lake Red Wings, 1-4-----DNQ
2024-25CWSHL18510217487133rd514723Lost CWSHL semi-finals vs. Deer Lake Red Wings, 1-4-----DNQ
2025-26CWSHL18117--9661222nd5141523Lost CWSHL semi-finals vs. Deer Lake Red Wings, 1-4-----DNQ
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Allan Cup results

More information Year, Location ...
YearLocationGPWLTOTLGFGARound-robin resultsPlayoffs Result
1971Galt, Ont523--1619-Lost Eastern final to Galt Hornets, 2-3
1972Barrie, Ontario (games 1, 2) , Grand Falls, NL (games 3, 4)40400721-Lost Eastern final to Barrie Flyers, 0-4
1981Thunder Bay, Ontario413001227-Lost Eastern semi-final to Petrolia Squires, 3-6
1982Sarnia, Ontario623012132-Lost Eastern final to Petrolia Squires, 0-3
2012Lloydminster, Sask4120112173rd Pool OneLost semi-final to South East Prairie Thunder
2015Clarenville, NL4210114122nd Division OneOT loss semi-final to Bentley Generals
2016Steinbach, MB32100981st Division OneLost semi-final to South East Prairie Thunder, 3-2
2017Bouctouche, NB440001791st Division TwoWon Allan Cup vs. Lacombe Generals, 7-4
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Players and personnel

Current roster

For the current team roster see the Cataracts team page on the league website

Team captains

  • Leo Murphy, 1967–69, 1970-71
  • Al Dwyer, 1969-70, 1973-74
  • Jim Beckman, 1971–73
  • Harold Stanley, 1975–76
  • Roger Grimes, 1977-78
  • Tony Grimes, 1978-79
  • Roger Elliott, 1980–81
  • Gene Faulkner, 1981–82, 1984–85
  • Wayne Little, 1992–93
  • Brian Grouchy, 2002–03
  • Brad Lewis, 2006–13
  • Mike Brent, 2013–19, 2023–24
  • Cody Drover, 2024–25

Head coaches

  • Nick Mickoski, 1966–69
  • Len "Comet" Haley (playing-coach), 1969
  • Jim Beckman (playing-coach), 1969–70
  • Marc Pichette , 1970–73
  • Leo Murphy (playing-coach), 1973-76
  • Roger Grimes (playing-coach), 1976-77
  • Joe Grimes, 1977–78
  • Al Dwyer, 1978–79
  • Joe Byrne, 1979-1980, 1980-1981, 1981-1982
  • Cecil Thomas, 1982–83
  • Gord Gallant (playing-coach), 1982–83, 1984–85
  • Alex Faulkner, Tony Grimes, 1984-1985
  • Steve Croucher (playing-coach), 1992-93
  • Mike Browne, John McSween 2002-2003
  • Robert Goulding 2003-2004
  • Robert Goulding, Barry Manual 2004-2005
  • Tony Walsh, Barry Manual 2005-2006
  • Barry Manual, 2006–2007, 2007-2008
  • Walt Lewis, 2008–09
  • Paul Glavine, 2009–10
  • Brian Casey, 2010–11, 2011–2012
  • Shane Lukinchuk, 2012–2015
  • Tom Coolen, 2015–2016, 2016-2017
  • Pat Yetman , 2017-2018, 2018-2019
  • Paul Whelan, 2023–24, 2024–25
  • Cody White 2025-26

Team awards

Team MVP

(Cataracts most valuable player in the regular season)

  • Leo Murphy, 1968[11]
  • Fred Janes, 1969 (awarded the first F.W. Rowe Gold Medal)[12]
  • Keith Boone, 1982 (B & B Sports Trophy)
  • Tyler Whitehead, 2011
  • Cam Fergus, 2016
  • Jordan Maher, 2024

Gus Bartlett Memorial Award

(A memorial to long-time Grand Falls resident Augustus "Gus" Bartlett, donated by his three children, to the player chosen for having the most ability and dedication)[13]

  • Gene Faulkner, 1982

Playoffs MVP team award

(Cataracts most valuable player in the playoffs)

  • Mark Locken, 1981[14]

The Mary Beson-Louise Walsh Memorial Trophy

(Cataracts most improved player in the regular season)

  • George Penney, 1981[15]
  • Tony Walsh, 1982[16]

The Coffin Cup

(The Stanley Coffin Memorial Award, in memory of the former President, presented to the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts' most Valuable player)

  • Cody Drover, 2025

James "Bucky" Hannaford Jr. Award

(Awarded to the player who shows dedication to the team both on and off the ice)

  • Tony Cuomo, 1982 (James Hannaford Memorial Trophy)
  • Mike Brent, 2011
  • Sam Hounsell, 2013
  • Nicklas Lindstrom, 2016
  • Nicklas Lindstrom, 2017
  • Neil Oake, 2025

The Cohen's Cup

(Awarded to the Cataract receiving the most points on 3-Star selection during the regular season)

  • Andre Gill, 2012–13
  • Andre Gill, 2013–14
  • Cam Fergus, 2014–15
  • Mike Brent, 2015–16
  • Danny Wicks, 2016–17
  • Danny Wicks, 2017–18
  • A.J. Whiffen, 2018–19

Local league trophies and awards

Regional league team awards

Local league individual awards

League MVP (in the regular season)

  • Cam Fergus, 2016
  • Collin Circelli, 2017

Top Scorer (in the regular season)

  • Cam Fergus, 2016
  • Jordan Maher, 2024
  • Cody Drover, 2025

Top goal scorer (in the regular season)

  • Chad Earle, 2011
  • Cam Fergus, 2016

Coach of the Year (in the regular season)

  • Brian Casey, 2011
  • Tom Coolen, 2016
  • Tom Coolen, 2017
  • Paul Whelan, 2024
  • Cody White, 2026

Top Goalie (in the regular season)

  • A.J. Whiffen, 2016
  • Bryan Gillis, 2017
  • A.J. Whiffen, 2019

Top Defenseman (in the regular season)

  • Luke Gallant, 2016
  • Nick Lindstrom, 2019

Rookie of the Year (in the regular season)

  • Chad Earle, 2011
  • Ethan Simms, 2024

Most Gentlemanly and Effective Player (in the regular Season)

  • Cody Drover, 2024
  • Jordan Maher, 2025

Provincial League Trophies and Awards

HNL team awards

  • Nine all-Newfoundland senior hockey championships (Herder Memorial Trophy): 1971, 1972, 1981, 1982, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019
  • Awarded the Evening Telegram Trophy four times for the best regular season record in the provincial senior league: 1968, 1972, 1981, 2011, 2013, 2014

HNL individual awards

S. E Tuma Memorial Trophy (Top scorer in the regular season)

  • Charlie Greene, 1975
  • Gene Faulkner, 1976
  • Dennis Goulding, 1977
  • Bruce Campbell, 1982
  • Ron Hennigar, 2014


T.A. (Gus) Soper Memorial Award (Most valuable player in the Senior "A" leagues in the regular season)

  • Jason Stone, 2006
  • A.J. Whiffen, 2013
  • Ron Hennigar, 2014
  • Cam Fergus, 2016


Albert "Peewee" Crane Memorial Trophy (Senior league rookie of the year)

  • Terry French, 1969
  • Don Howse, 1972
  • Brandon Nicholas, 2008
  • Chad Earle, 2011


Howie Clouter Memorial Trophy (Most Gentlemanly and Effective Player in the regular season)

  • Al Dwyer Jr., 1974, 1975
  • Dan Flynn, 1981
  • Bruce Campbell, 1982
  • Troy Thompson, 2006
  • Andre Gill, 2010
  • Danny Wicks, 2018
  • Danny Wicks, 2019
  • Cody Drover, 2024


Silver Tray/President's Shield Goaltender Award (Top goaltender in the regular season)

  • Fred Janes, 1968, 1969
  • Jean-Guy Morissette, 1972
  • Rocky Martin, 1973
  • Terry John, 1976[17]
  • Eddie Davis, 1982
  • Mark Yetman, 2012
  • A.J. Whiffen, 2013
  • A.J. Whiffen, 2014
  • A.J. Whiffen, 2016
  • A.J. Whiffen, 2019


Top Defenseman (Top defenseman in the regular season)

  • Rodi Short, 2014
  • Luke Gallant, 2016


Coach of the Year

  • Shane Lukinchuk, 2014
  • Tom Coolen, 2016


Cliff Gorman Memorial Award (Most valuable player of the Herder Playoffs)

  • A.J. Whiffen, 2014
  • Cam Fergus, 2015
  • Luke Gallant, 2016

Honoured members

Note: (the year honoured is noted)

Retired/honoured numbers

  • #7 Al Dwyer Jr.
  • #12 Jim Temple
  • #8 Gene Faulkner (2011)
  • #55 Martin Lapointe (2015)
  • #16 Clar Goulding (2017)
  • # Wayne Faulkner (2017)
  • # James "Bucky" Hannaford (2018)
  • # Cec Thomas (2018)
  • #18 Terry Ryan Sr. (2023)
  • #25 Don Howse (2023)
  • #5 Terry French (2023)
  • #20 Tony White (2023)
  • #27 Brian Casey (2023)

Honoured Builders

  • Walter Davis (2018)
  • Stan Coffin (2023)

NL Hockey Hall of Fame

The following people associated with the Cataracts have been inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Hockey Hall of Fame. (Note: the year of induction is noted)

Broadcasting

Grand Falls radio station CKCM was the main broadcaster of Cataracts' games from the 1960s to 1990s. Originally owned by The Colonial Broadcasting System Ltd., CKCM was an affiliate of VOCM (AM) and had its first broadcast in July 1962.[18] The station stopped all local programming in September 2016.

Since 2011, George Scott has hosted a live webcast of Cataracts' games in the regular season and all playoff games.

More information Years, Play-by-play ...
Years Play-by-play Colour commentators
1960s (CKCM) John Murphy, Bruce MacDonald
1970s (CKCM) John Murphy, Bruce MacDonald, Terry Hart
1980s (CKCM) Roger Barnett, Terry Hart, Glenn Davis
1990s (CKCM) Roger Barnett, Terry Hart
2011 to present George Scott Robert "Watsie" Goulding, Barry Manual
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References

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