Sarnia Legionnaires Hockey Club
A Walk down Memory Lane

The Sarnia Legionnaires are the most successful franchise in Ontario Jr. 'B' hockey history, team historian Dan McCaffery says. McCaffery, who is also the team's media relations person, said a study he has conducted shows the club, operating under various nicknames since 1951, has won 22 regional or provincial championships. It has been a finalist on 11 other occasions during that time frame.

"Sarnia's Jr. 'B' franchise has won 15 Western Ontario titles and seven Sutherland Cups as all-Ontario champions,” he said. “That's an average of one major crown every three years for six decades.

"On top of that, we've been Western Ontario finalists on nine occasions in which we didn't win. And we were Sutherland Cup finalists twice in which we didn't quite make it over the top. You add that all up and we've played 33 playoff rounds with a major trophy at stake, all in just 60 years.”

He added, “This record isn't just ancient history. Since 2002 we've been in the Weir Cup final (Western Ontario championship) four times, winning twice. And of course we won the '02 Sutherland Cup.”

The franchise has won championships under the nicknames of Blast, Bees, Sailors, and Legionnaires. But it has had its best years in Legionnaires colours, winning four of its seven Sutherland Cups and six of its Western Ontario crowns under that name.

"With the Legionnaire jersey, which we've only worn during 15 of our seasons, we've won 10 playoff trophies and were finalists three other times. When it comes to winning championships, the Legionnaires are the Montreal Canadiens of Ontario Jr. 'B' hockey.”

In fact, when the franchise has gone under the name Legionnaires, it has won the Ontario title an average of once every 3.75 years, by far the best mark in the province. The Waterloo Siskins have won the most Sutherland Cups (nine) but they have been in operation since 1937, giving them an average of one provincial title every eight years.

The Sarnia franchise has also sent more than two dozen players to the National Hockey League, including 700-goal scorer Phil Esposito and 600-goal scorer Dino Ciccarelli. Dozens more have gone on to college hockey.

Here's the team's record under its various nicknames:

* The Sarnia Sailors won the Western Ontario crown and the Sutherland Cup as all-Ontario champions in 1951.

* The Sarnia Legionnaires were Western and provincial champions in 1958, 1959, 1966 and 1968. They were Western champs in 1957 and 2009. They were Western finalists in 1955, 1961 and 1962. They were Sutherland Cup finalists in 1957.

* The Sarnia Bees were Western and Sutherland Cup champs in 1973. They were Western champs in 1974, 1977, 1982, 1988, 1989 and 1993. They were Sutherland Cup finalists in 1974 and Western finalists in 1983, 1984, 1990 and 1991.

* The Sarnia Blast won the Western title and the Sutherland Cup in 2002. They were Western finalists in 2003 and 2007.