TEAM HISTORY

Joining its affiliate teams, Bombers Jr. B and Golden Hawks Jr. C as well as the newly-formed Crusaders Sr. AAA Hockey Clubs, The Admirals have a new home at Mayfield Arena in Caledon!  Check out a game and enjoy the continuing legacy.

The Orangeville Flyers Jr A hockey team officially became the Brampton Admirals Jr A hockey team in June 2018 to play out of he Brampton Memorial Arena starting in the 2018-2019 season.

April 14, 2011, ORANGEVILLE, Ontario - The Board of Directors of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) announced today that they have approved a request from the OJHL's Villanova Knights to relocate to Orangeville, Ontario.  The Orangeville market became available last week after the team was decommissioned by the league as part of the overall strategic plan to improve the quality of play within the OJHL.  In support of the minor hockey system in the town of Orangeville, Villanova was also granted permission to use the name "Flyers" and will move forward as the Orangeville Junior Flyers.

"Contraction is just one area of the process to drive the overall improvement of the OJHL," stated OJHL Commissioner, Marty Savoy. "Part of the long term plan of the OJHL includes the possible relocation of teams to stronger markets to allow for the successful operations of our member clubs. "The ownership and management group in Villanova have done a commendable job in turning around the franchise, which has been evident by the improved success the team has seen on the ice over the past two seasons.  They made a request to the league to relocate the team to a vacant market. Villanova feels this move will allow the franchise a greater chance of success, compared to what they faced at their previous location."

"Although we have enjoyed our time at our current location we needed to explore alternatives that would allow for a better business model for the team- in a community setting," said Villanova Governor and Owner David Arsenault. "When we knew the Orangeville market was becoming vacant through the league's decommissioning process, I had our staff immediately look into the area to see if there was a potential fit for our club to relocate.  We then contacted the league and made the official relocation request. We feel that Orangeville is a great Junior hockey town and we have already received the support of the town's Mayor and look forward to working with minor hockey and all community-based groups."
"We were extremely disappointed when it was announced that we would be losing our Junior hockey team last week," said Orangeville Mayor Rob Adams. "I respect the decision that the previous ownership group had to make, however it was a tremendous loss to the Junior hockey fans in Orangeville.  We are excited that the Villanova Knights have decided to relocate their team here and we applaud the OJHL for approving the move."
With over 80, NCAA Division I, NCAA Division III, CIS and CHL commitments thus far in the 2010-2011 season the OJHL continues provide a development opportunity for young athletes to continue to strive for excellence in the pursuit of their education and hockey aspirations.
For more information to player commitments please visit www.ojhl.ca <http://www.ojhl.ca>> .

Henry Carr

The Flyers lineage traces back to the Henry Carr Crusaders. Like the Toronto St. Michael's Majors and St. Michael's Buzzers, the Crusaders were a secondary school based Junior hockey team. The team's affiliation was with the Father Henry Carr Secondary School of the Toronto Catholic District School Board. In 1980 they took their high school team and joined the Metro Junior "B" Hockey League, where they played until 1991, even after the league left the Ontario Hockey Association in 1989. The team was famous for its first undefeated Metro season in 1983 (34-0-2), when they won the All-Ontario Jr. B Championship, the Sutherland Cup. After five rounds of playoffs, what it took to win the Sutherland Cup, the Crusaders had accumulated 54 wins, 2 losses, 2 ties, and 2 losses in overtime in 60 regulation games.

In 1991, when the Metro league declared itself Junior "A", they transferred the franchise to the Weston Dukes. Henry Carr used to field a team at the high school hockey level as well.

Thornhill

In 1993 the Weston Dukes folded and their franchise was moved to Thornhill and became the Thornhill Islanders. In 1997 they were renamed the Thornhill Rattlers until 2004, when they again assumed the Thunderbirds name.

After playing in multiple league, for many years, even competing for the 2001 Royal Bank Cup. In Summer 2006, the players of the team started to get let go or traded for cash to any interested team. The team has been for sale for the better part of six months, but with no serious offers.

Villanova Knights

In 2007 local businessman David Arsenault (Governor/Owner) along with St. Thomas of Villanova College revived the team bringing it back into the OPJHL under the Villanova College name.

The Villanova Knights were announced officially on May 15, 2007.[1] The team played their home games at York University's Canlan Ice Gardens.

Orangeville Jr. Flyers

The original Orangeville Flyers were disbanded by the league in Spring 2011. April 14, 2011, ten days after the Flyers folded, the OJHL and the Villanova Knights announced that they were moving to Orangeville under the name Orangeville Flyers

Season-by-season standings

In 2007 local businessman David Arsenault (Governor/Owner) along with St. Thomas of Villanova College revived the team bringing it back into the OPJHL under the Villanova College name.

The Villanova Knights were announced officially on May 15, 2007 [1]. The team was be playing their home games at York University's Canlan Ice Gardens. 

In 1993 the Weston Dukes folded and their franchise was moved to Thornhill and became the Thornhill Islanders. In 1997 they were renamed the Thornhill Rattlers until 2004, when they again assumed the Thunderbirds name.

After playing in multiple leagues for many years, even competing for the 2001 Royal Bank Cup, the players of the team started to get let go or traded for cash to any interested team and in the Summer 2006  and the  the team disbanded.

The Orangeville Jr. Flyers lineage traces back to the Henry Carr Crusaders. Like the Toronto St. Michael's Majors and St. Michael's Buzzers, the Crusaders were a secondary school based Junior hockey team. The team's affiliation was with the Father Henry Carr Secondary School of the Toronto Catholic District School Board. In 1980 they took their high school team and joined the Metro Junior "B" Hockey League, where they played until 1991, even after the league left the Ontario Hockey Association in 1989. The team was famous for its first undefeated Metro season in 1983 (34-0-2), when they won the All-Ontario Jr. B Championship, the Sutherland Cup. After five rounds of playoffs, what it took to win the Sutherland Cup, the Crusaders had accumulated 54 wins, 2 losses, 2 ties, and 2 losses in overtime in 60 regulation games.

In 1991, when the Metro league declared itself Junior "A", they transferred the franchise to the Weston Dukes. Henry Carr still fields a team to this day, but again at the High School Hockey level. 

The Crushers' first Junior "A" game took place on September 15, 2006 against Vaughan Vipers in Orangeville. The game resulted in a 6-3 loss. The Crushers' first ever Junior "A" goal was scored by Trevor Branning at 1:17 into the first period. Anthony Ferrante started the game in net.

The Crushers' first ever Junior "A" win was against the Stouffville Spirit on September 28, 2006 in Stouffville, Ontario. The final score was 3-2, with goaltender Michael Hutchinson picking up the win in net. Hutchinson stopped 35 of 37 shots, as the Crushers' Wil Munson of Corona, California scored the eventual game winner.

Team owner and National Hockey League Hockey Hall of Famer Dale Hawerchuk took over as head coach. In 2010, the changed its name to the Flyers.

On April 3, 2011, despite three consecutive .500 or more seasons, the franchise ceased operations. 

The Orangeville Crushers were a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey team from Orangeville, Ontario. They played in the Ontario Junior Hockey League, Midwestern Junior B Hockey League, and Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League 

 The team originated in the Central Ontario Junior C Hockey League, after one season in the league it became the Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League. In the late 80's and early 90's, the Crushers played in the Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League and won two straight league championships. They won the Clarence Schmalz Cup in 1990 as All-Ontario Champions. In the Clarence Schmalz Cup Finals, the Crushers came back from a 3-0 deficit in games to defeat the Belle River Canadiens of the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League 4-3. The 1991 Clarence Schmalz Cup Final pitted the Crushers against a bound and determined Hanover Barons of the Western Junior C Hockey League. The Crushers lost the final game and the series 4-3.

In the mid-90's, the Crushers were accepted into the Midwestern Junior B Hockey League and stayed there until 2006. Orangeville had been accepted to play in the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League for the start of the 2006-07 Season. A vote was concocted by the OPJHL teams, where the Crushers were voted in by a 33-3 vote. The Crushers would play out of the North Division. The team's head coach for the beginning of 2006-07 would be Steve Chelios, brother of National Hockey League great Chris Chelios [1]. Chelios was let go in late October. The President of the team is another former NHLer, Dale Hawerchuk.