Kitchener Canucks
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| Kitchener Canucks | |
|---|---|
| City | Kitchener, Ontario |
| League | Ontario Hockey Association |
| Operated | 1951–1956 |
| Home arena | Kitchener Memorial Auditorium |
| Parent club | Montreal Canadiens |
| Franchise history | |
| 1951–1954 | Kitchener Greenshirts |
| 1954–1956 | Kitchener Canucks |
| 1956–present | Peterborough Petes |
The Kitchener Canucks , originally known as the Kitchener Greenshirts, were a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association, which played home games at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. Based in Kitchener, Ontario, as a farm team of the Montreal Canadians, they played as the Greenshirts from 1951 to 1954, as the Canucks from 1954 to 1956, then relocated becoming the Peterborough Petes.
The Kitchener Sports Association sought the return of junior A hockey, and a farm team agreement with the Montreal Canadiens to receive higher-calibre players.[1] As part of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) approval to play in the 1951–52 season, the Greenshirts and the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen senior team agreed to equally share playing nights at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.[2] Goaltender Bill Harrington won the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHA's most outstanding player during the 1951–52 season.[3]
The Greenshirts changed names to the Kitchener Canucks as of the 1954–55 season,[4] and named Jack Stewart as coach.[5] Stan Baluik won the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy in the 1955–56 season, as the OHA's top scorer with 31 goals, 73 assists, and 104 points.[6] The Canucks operated until 1956, when they relocated due to poor fan support in Kitchener and a newly constructed arena became available in Peterborough, Ontario.[7]