Markham Royals

Markham Royals
CityMarkham, Ontario, Canada
LeagueOntario Junior Hockey League
DivisionWest
Founded1973
Home arenaMarkham Centennial Centre 2015–present (Markham)
Dave Andreychuk Mountain Arena 1973–2015 (Hamilton)
ColoursBlue, and White
   
Owner(s)Stuart Hyman
General managerMike Galati
Head coachMike Galati
Franchise history
1973–1975Hamilton Red Wings
1975–1976Hamilton Mountain A's
1977–2002Hamilton Kilty B's
2002–2015Hamilton Red Wings
2015–presentMarkham Royals

The Markham Royals are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Markham, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. From 1973 until 2015, the team operated in Hamilton, Ontario as the Kilty's and the Red Wings.

History

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Hamilton Red Wings/Kilty B's (1973–2015)

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The Red Wings were founded in 1973 as the second Hamilton-based team in the Niagara District Junior B Hockey League. After one season, the league divided into two leagues and the Red Wings went the way of the Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League. In 1975–76, the other Hamilton team joined the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League and became the Hamilton Mountain A's. The draw of a local Junior A club weakened the team and they took a one-year leave a season later.

In 1977, under new ownership the team came back as the Kiltys. Although a very competitive team, it took the Kiltys until 1992–93 to win a Golden Horseshoe championship. With that win, the Kiltys were promoted to the newly formed Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League with a variety of other Junior B squads. Outside of some brief troubles in the late 1990s, the Hamilton franchise has been very successful in regular season play in the OJHL. The team was renamed the Hamilton Red Wings in 2002 and continued to field highly competitive teams season after season.

Markham Royals (2015–present)

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In early 2015, the Red Wings moved to Markham, Ontario and became the Markham Royals. Markham had been without an OJHL franchise since 2012. The club also acquired the rights for Waxers Junior A, and has chosen to play as the Markham Royals.

Season-by-season results

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2020 - current History
2015-16 54 31 17 3 3 197 149 68 1st of 6 Nor Div
3rd of 11 NE Conf
7th of 22 OJHL
Won Conf. Quarters 4-1 (Fury)
Lost Conf. Semifinals 0-4 (Voyageurs)
2016-17 54 30 20 1 3 187 170 64 1st of 6 Nor Div
6th of 11 NE Conf
9th of 22 OJHL
Lost Conf. Quarters 2-4 (Spirit)
2017-18 54 26 22 1 5 199 195 58 3rd of 6 Nor Div
6th of 11 NE Conf
11th of 22 OJHL
Lost Conf. Quarters 2-4 (Hurricanes)
2018-19 54 28 19 2 5 208 174 65 1st of 5 Nor Div
2nd of 11 NW Conf
6th of 22 OJHL
Won Conf. Quarters 4-2 (Raiders)
Won Conf. Semifinals 4-3 (Hurricanes)
Lost Conf. Finals 1-4 (Blades)
2019-20 55 24 25 0 6 194 205 55 4th of 5 Nor Div
9th of 11 NW Conf
14th of 22 OJHL
Did Not Qualify for Post Season
2020–21 Season Lost to Covid-19 pandemic
2022-23 54 8 40 3 3 123 241 22 5th of 5 Nor Div
10th of 10 NW Conf
19th of 21 OJHL
Did Not Qualify for Post Season
2023-24 56 30 20 3 3 191 159 66 7th of 12 EAST Conf
12th of 24 OJHL
Lost Conf. Quarters 0-4 (Buzzers)

Sutherland Cup appearances

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1974: Hamilton Red Wings defeated Bramalea Blues by forfeit

Notable alumni

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Old Kiltys logo
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