Wikipedia

Galt Red Wings

The Galt Red Wings were a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Galt, Ontario. They played in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) from 1943 to 1947 and were operated as an affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. Their home arena was the Galt Arena Gardens, and were also known as the Galt Canadians and Galt Kist Canadians during the 1943–44 OHA season. Galt were finalists for the J. Ross Robertson Cup in 1945 and 1947, but lost to Toronto St. Michael's Majors both times in four consecutive games.

Galt Red Wings
CityGalt, Ontario
LeagueOntario Hockey Association
Operated1943 (1943)–1947
Home arenaGalt Arena Gardens
Parent clubDetroit Red Wings
Franchise history
1943–1944Galt Canadians
1944–1947Galt Red Wings
1947–1949Galt Rockets
1949–1955Galt Black Hawks

History

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The Galt Boys' Hockey Association began a junior A team in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) for the 1943–44 season. The Detroit Red Wings supplied equipment and six players, and asked that former professional player Al Murray be appointed coach. Murray owned the Albion Hotel in Galt and coached the Brantford Lions in the 1942–43 season.[1][2] The team operated during the 1943–44 season known as the Galt Canadians in OHA Group 2,[3] were also known as the Galt Kist Canadians, wore orange and white uniforms,[4] and played home games at the Galt Arena Gardens.[5] The Canadians won 15 of 26 games played in their inaugural season.[6]

The team changed their name to the Galt Red Wings the following year, and wore similar uniforms to their National Hockey League sponsor.[7][8] During the 1944–45 season, Gordie Howe played for the team, but only played in one regular-season game.[9] On November 18, 1944, Howe scored one goal and two assists versus the Hamilton Barons, then was deemed ineligible to play in the OHA due to limits on transferring players from Western Canada, and his points were stricken from the record when Hamilton withdrew from the league.[10][11]

The Galt Red Wings reached the league finals for the J. Ross Robertson Cup in 1945 and 1947, but lost to Toronto St. Michael's Majors both times in four consecutive games.[12] Norman Himes coached Galt for the 1946–47 season.[13] Following the season, Lloyd Pollock who owned the Windsor Spitfires, convinced the Detroit Red Wings to relocate prospect players from Galt to Windsor.[14] After the NHL sponsorship was cancelled, Galt affiliated with the Philadelphia Rockets of the American Hockey League as of the 1947–48 season, and were renamed the Galt Rockets.[15]

National Hockey League alumni

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Season-by-season results

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Regular season and playoffs results:[6]

Legend: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Memorial Cup champions OHA champions OHA finalists
SeasonCityGamesWonLostTiedPointsPct %Goals
for		Goals
against		StandingPlayoffs
1943–44Canadians2615110300.577125972nd Group 2Lost quarterfinal (Toronto St. Michael's Majors) 3–1[21]
1944–45Red Wings201280240.60083912nd OHA (tie)Won quarterfinal (Oshawa Generals) 3–0[22]
Won semifinal (Toronto Young Rangers) 2–1[23]
Lost OHA final (Toronto St. Michael's Majors) 4–0[24]
1945–46Red Wings282260440.786187962nd OHALost semifinal (Toronto St. Michael's Majors) 4–1[25]
1946–47Red Wings362790540.750232993rd OHAWon quarterfinal (Stratford Kroehlers) 2–0[26]
Won semifinal (Barrie Flyers) 2–1[27]
Lost OHA final (Toronto St. Michael's Majors) 4–0[28]

References

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  1. ↑ "Galt Back in Junior "A" Loop". The Expositor. Brantford, Ontario. April 28, 1943. p. 15.; "Detroit Will Back Galt Junior Team". Toronto Star. April 29, 1943. p. 14.
  2. ↑ Doucet, Bill (February 9, 2022). "Memorabilia from Galt's junior hockey architect finds home in Hockey Hall of Fame". Cambridge Times. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Local Junior Hockey Team Opens Season in Stratford". The Hamilton Spectator. October 29, 1943. p. 34.
  4. ↑ "Jones memoirs of Black Hawks pays off for hospital". Cambridge Times. February 6, 2009. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
  5. ↑ Jordan, Kevin (March 9, 2025). "Galt Arena Gardens, Galt Black Hawks". The OHL Arena Guide. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Galt Red Wings Statistics and History". HockeyDB. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Galt Has Support of Red Wings". The Expositor. Brantford, Ontario. May 19, 1944. p. 14.
  8. ↑ "Junior Red Wings". The Gazette. Montreal, Quebec. The Canadian Press. May 19, 1944. p. 17.
  9. ↑ Rutherford, Kristina (2012). "Ice Aged". Sportsnet Magazine. 2 (6): 61–64.
  10. ↑ Doucet, Bill (October 4, 2021). "Pieces of Cambridge hockey lore skate into the Hockey Hall of Fame". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ontario. p. A1.; Doucet, Bill (October 4, 2021). "Hockey (continued from A1)". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ontario. p. A5.
  11. ↑ "Hamilton Handed 8–1 Loss Hockey Loss By Galt Juniors". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario. November 20, 1944. p. 15.
  12. ↑ Annual Report: Constitution, Regulations and Rules of Competition. Cambridge, Ontario: Ontario Hockey Association. 2006. p. W-13.
  13. ↑ "Normie Himes–Head Coach, Galt Black Hawks (OHA-Jr.)". Elite Prospects. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Pollock was legend in local hockey". Windsor Star. September 10, 1993. p. B3.
  15. ↑ "Philadelphia Rockets to aid Galt Red Wings". The Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune. The Canadian Press. August 7, 1947. p. 9.
  16. ↑ "Pete Babando Stats And News". National Hockey League. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Lee Fogolin–Contract, Salary & More". Elite Prospects. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
  18. 1 2 3 4 "Galt Red Wings all-time player list". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Nels Podolsky–Contract, Salary & More". Elite Prospects. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Barry Sullivan–Contract, Salary & More". Elite Prospects. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Hockey Results: O.H.A. Junior". Toronto Star. March 7, 1944. p. 9.
  22. ↑ "Galt Discards Gens in Three". St. Catharines Standard. March 5, 1945. p. 12.
  23. ↑ "Galt Red Wings To Meet Saints". The Hamilton Spectator. The Canadian Press. March 13, 1945. p. 22.
  24. ↑ "St. Mike's Blast Galt Wings In Straight Games". Toronto Star. March 22, 1945. p. 12.
  25. ↑ "Galt Defeated By 6–1 Score; Marlies Upset". The Hamilton Spectator. The Canadian Press. March 7, 1946. p. 26.
  26. ↑ "Barrie, Galt Move Ahead". Windsor Star. February 25, 1947. p. 19.
  27. ↑ "Galt, St. Mikes Make OHA Final". Standard-Freeholder. Cornwall, Ontario. The Canadian Press. March 10, 1947. p. 10.
  28. ↑ "St. Mike Juniors Beat Galt To Win O.H.A. 'A' Title". The Sault Star. Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. March 20, 1947. p. 15.

Further reading

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  • Jones, Todd (2005). The History of Cambridge Hockey. Cambridge, Ontario. ISBN 9780973956504.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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