The Cornwall Royals were a junior ice hockey team based in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. The team played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 1969 to 1981, and the Ontario Hockey League from 1981 to 1992. This team shared its name with other Cornwall Royals teams that played in the QSHL, MMJHL, or OHA-B.
From 1961 until 1969, the Cornwall Royals were successful members of the Central Junior A Hockey League (CJHL). As perennial CJHL champions, they represented that league at the playdowns for the 1966, 1967 and 1968 Memorial Cup national junior hockey championships, falling in the quarterfinals each year against the representatives from Quebec. After an application to join the OHL was rejected, the franchise became one of the inaugural teams of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in 1969. The Cornwall Royals were one of the league's premier teams during its tenure in the QMJHL, winning 3 Memorial Cup titles. For the 1981âÂÂ82 season, the team transferred into the Ontario Hockey League.
The Royals suffered through many tough seasons and poor attendance after moving to the OHL. The switch in leagues alienated many die-hard fans from across the Quebec border. Seeking better fortunes, the franchise moved to Newmarket, Ontario to play as the Newmarket Royals in 1992. In 1994 the team was bought by the Ciccarelli brothers and moved to Sarnia, Ontario as the Sarnia Sting.
The Cornwall Royals are one of only 7 clubs to win consecutive Memorial Cup championships. They did so in 1980 and 1981. In total, the Royals won 3 Memorial Cups, 3 President's Cups, and 5 division titles while in the QMJHL. The Royals did not win any OHL championships.
CJHL Bogart Cup Championships: 1966, 1967, 1968
President's Cup<br>Playoff Champions in the QMJHL.
Jean Rougeau Trophy<br>Regular season champions in the QMJHL.
West Division Trophy<br>First overall in the West Division.
Lebel Division Trophy<br>First overall in the Lebel Division.
Orval Tessier guided the Cornwall Royals to the Memorial Cup championship in 1972. Doug Carpenter coached the 1980 Royals, and Bob Kilger in 1981.
Marc Crawford was a former Cornwall Royals player. He won the Stanley Cup as coach of the Colorado Avalanche. He also coached the Vancouver Canucks, the Los Angeles Kings, and the Dallas Stars.
(Multiple years in parentheses)
<nowiki>*</nowiki>1982âÂÂ83 coaches Bob Kilger, Bill Murphy, Gord Woods, Jocelyn Guevremont
CHL Scholastic Player of the Year
Michel Brière Commemorative Trophy<br>(Most Valuable Player)
Guy Lafleur Trophy<br>(Playoffs MVP)
Jean Béliveau Trophy<br>(Top Scorer)
Instructors Trophy<br>(Rookie of the Year)
Emile Bouchard Trophy<br>(Defenseman of the Year)
Jacques Plante Commemorative Trophy<br>(Best Goals Against Average)
Mike Bossy Trophy<br>(Best Professional Prospect)
Frank J. Selke Commemorative Trophy<br>(Most Sportsmanlike Player)
Red Tilson Trophy<br>OHL Most valuable player.
Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy<br>OHL Top Point Scorer.
Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy<br>OHL Top Scoring Right Winger.
Max Kaminsky Trophy<br>Most Outstanding Defenceman.
OHL Goaltender of the Year<br>Voted best goaltender in the OHL.
Emms Family Award<br>Rookie of the year.
Bobby Smith Trophy<br>Scholastic player of the year.
The Cornwall Royals graduated 55 players to the National Hockey League (NHL). From these alumni, 31 played for the Royals in the QMJHL, and 29 played for the Royals in the OHL, and 5 played for the Royals in both leagues.
Three alumni of the Cornwall Royals have been enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame, including Billy Smith, Dale Hawerchuk, and Doug Gilmour.
List of QMJHL (1969âÂÂ1981) alumni in the NHL:
List of OHL (1981âÂÂ1992) alumni in the NHL:
The Cornwall Royals played out of the Water Street Arena from 1969 to 1976, while in the QMJHL. The Arena, renamed in honour of Si Miller, the city's Director of Parks and Recreation for more than 30 years, was torn down in 2012.
From 1976 to 1992, the Royals played out for the Cornwall Civic Complex, located across the road from their previous arena. The arena hosted the 1990 Chrysler Challenge Cup, the annual All-Star game between the OHL and the QMJHL, which the OHL won by a score of 3 to 0.