The Westfort Hurricanes were a Canadian Junior ice hockey club from Fort William, Ontario. The Herks were members of the Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League and were Abbott Cup finalists once.
History
In 1972, the Hurricanes broke away from the Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League to join the St. Paul, Minnesota-based Can-Am Junior Hockey League. A year later, that league became the Midwest Junior Hockey League. The Herks stayed on board for one Midwest Junior season before returning to the TBJHL.
Dave Siciliano coached the Hurricanes during the 1973âÂÂ74 season. His team completed the regular season in first place with 45 wins in 60 games. In the 1974 Centennial Cup playoffs, the Hurricanes defeated the Wexford Raiders four games to three in the first round, then were defeated four games to three by the Smiths Falls Bears in the second round.
The MWJHL later merged and solidified the United States Hockey League. The Buccaneers folded on July 6, 1980, when the TBAHA left them with no league to play in.
Season-by-season standings
Playoffs
Westfort Hurricanes defeated Fort William Canadians 3-games-to-2
Thunder Bay Marrs defeated Westfort Hurricanes 4-games-to-1
Minnesota Jr. Stars defeated Westfort Hurricanes 2-games-to-none
- 1973 Lost quarter-final/Canadian TBAHA Semi-final
Thunder Bay Centennials defeated Westfort Hurricanes 4-games-to-2
Thunder Bay Hurricanes defeated Thunder Bay Eagles (TBJHL) 3-games-to-none
Thunder Bay Hurricanes defeated Fort William Canadians (TBJHL) 4-games-to-none JACK ADAMS TROPHY CHAMPIONS
Thunder Bay Hurricanes defeated Wexford Raiders (OPJHL) 4-games-to-3
Smiths Falls Bears (CJHL) defeated Thunder Bay Hurricanes 4-games-to-3
Thunder Bay Hurricanes defeated Thunder Bay Beavers 4-games-to-2
Thunder Bay Eagles defeated Thunder Bay Hurricanes 4-games-to-1
Thunder Bay Beavers defeated Thunder Bay Hurricanes 4-games-to-2
Degagne Hurricanes defeated Thunder Bay Beavers 3-games-to-none and 1 tie
Thunder Bay Eagles defeated Degagne Hurricanes 4-games-to-1
Degagne Hurricanes defeated Thunder Bay Beavers 3-games-to-none
Degagne Hurricanes defeated Atikokan Voyageurs 4-games-to-none TBJHL CHAMPIONS
Guelph Platers (OPJHL) defeated Degagne Hurricanes 4-games-to-none
Thunder Bay North Stars defeated Degagne Buccaneers 4-games-to-1
Thunder Bay North Stars defeated Degagne Buccaneers 4-games-to-none with 1 tie
Championships
TBJHL Champions:
1942, 1943, 1952, 1960, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1974*, 1978
Abbott Cup Finalists:
1970
Dudley Hewitt Cup/Eastern Centennial Cup Semi-final Champion
1974
(*) denotes: Herks played in MWJHL, rejoined TBJHL for playoffs.
Notable alumni
Fort William Hurricane-Rangers
Fort William Hurricanes
Westfort Hurricanes
Thunder Bay Westfort Hurricanes
References