The Brampton Steelheads will pay tribute to a former Ontario Hockey League team when they take the ice for two neutral site games later this month.
The Steelheads will be part of the OHL’s Seaway Shootout on Friday, October 16, and Saturday, October 17, bringing major junior hockey back to Cornwall, Ontario. To celebrate this event, the Steelheads announced on Thursday, October 1 that they’ll wear replicas of the jerseys once sported by the Cornwall Royals, who played in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League and the OHL from 1969 until 1992.
Courtesy @ohlofficial / Instagram
“Cornwall holds a special place in the history of major junior hockey, and the Royals built a legacy that still resonates in this community more than three decades later. The Seaway Shootout is a celebration of that history, and seeing the Royals colours back on the ice at the Civic Complex is a fitting way to honour the players, fans and volunteers who made Cornwall one of the great junior hockey markets in the country.”
– Bryan Crawford, Commissioner, Ontario Hockey League
The jerseys also seem to feature a logo from the Xposed Ball Hockey League – an organization based in Orillia, Ontario that organizes ball hockey leagues for both youth and adults – positioned on one side of chest opposite to where you’ll find OHL’s logo. However, neither organization mentioned XBHL in their press releases.
The jerseys shown during Thursday’s announcement didn’t display any numbers or names on either sleeves or backs. But original Royals jerseys had blue numbers outlined in red on their sleeves.
When Cornwall’s team joined QMJHL back in 1969, they received hundreds of entries for a contest aimed at creating their new identity. The winner was Roger Healy, a 15-year-old high school student who won a transistor radio so he could listen to Royals games while they were away.
Now local businessman and hockey historian Marty Benson owns rights to Royals’ intellectual property. He granted permission for both OHL and Steelheads to use their logo during Seaway Shootout.
The Royals played within QMJHL until 1981 before moving over to OHL. While competing in QMJHL they won Presidents’ Cup three times (1972, 1980, 1981) and followed up each victory with wins at Memorial Cup.
In 1992 they moved to Newmarket but kept their name while redesigning their logo. Unfortunately for them though after just two years there they relocated again becoming Sarnia Sting in 1994.
Dressed as Royals during Seaway Shootout weekend; Steelheads will face off against Ottawa 67s on Friday October 16 then Kingston Frontenacs Saturday October17. Afterward game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off with proceeds going towards OHL Assists which is “the league’s charitable foundation intended to enhance community-driven initiatives bringing together both league & its communities.”
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