The Kingston Frontenacs are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League, based in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The team is coached by Doug Gilmour and played home games at the K-Rock Centre, opened in 2008. Team history predates the OHA, back to 1945 to a team known as the Kingston Victorias. This franchise was founded in the OHA in 1973–74, then known as the Kingston Canadians until 1987–88. The team was briefly known as the Kingston Raiders in 1988–89, and as the Frontenacs ever since.

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History

The "Frontenacs" name has been long associated with hockey in the Kingston area. Several teams have been known as the Frontenacs. The origin of the name "Frontenacs" comes from Louis de Buade de Frontenac, governor of New France who established Fort Frontenac on the site of present-day Kingston. The area surrounding Kingston is Frontenac County.

From 1959 to 1963 there was also a Kingston Frontenacs (EPHL) team in the Eastern Professional Hockey League.

Before 1945

The city had a team in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) Jr. league in the 1910s. NHL Alumni from this team are Alec Connell, Bill Cook, Allan Davidson and Flat Walsh.

There was also an Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) Sr. League team from the 1910s to 1940s. NHL Alumni from this team are Mickey Blake, Glen Brydson, Bill Cook, Gus Giesebrecht, Doug Stevenson, Charles Stewart, Carl Voss and Flat Walsh.

Some members of this team then formed an entry in the Ontario Veteran's Hockey League (OVHL) during World War II. NHL Alumni from this team are Hub Macey, Gus Marker, Walt McCartney and Ed Nicholson.

1952–1973

In 1952, the Kingston Victoria were renamed the Kingston Frontenacs. This team played at the Junior B level, then later at the Juior A level. This Frontenacs team lost in the 1963 Sutherland Cup final to the St. Marys Lincolns, 4 games to 1.

Kingston Canadians

The Kingston Canadians arrival in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) for the 1973–74 season, was a result of the Montreal Junior Canadiens switch to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in 1972. During the summer of 1972, the QMJHL had threatened a lawsuit against the OHA to force the Junior Canadiens to return to the Quebec-based league. To solve the problem, the OHA granted the Junior Canadiens franchise a "one-year suspension" of operations, while team ownership transferred the team and players into the QMJHL, renaming themselves the Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge in the process.

The OHA then reactivated the suspended franchise after a one year hiatus, under new ownership and with new players, calling the team the Kingston Canadians. The new Kingston team was essentially an expansion franchise promoted from the OHA's Tier II league, that had only common name to share with the old Junior Canadiens. The Tier II Frontenacs originated in the Eastern Junior B Hockey League and date back to at least the early 1940s as the Kingston Victorias. However, in some OHA histories (such as the annual Media Guide) the Kingston team is still shown as the legitimate successors of the Junior Canadiens' legacy.

Kingston Raiders

Following a change in ownership the club was renamed Kingston Raiders for one season in 1988–89. Due to ownership problems, the team was sold again following that season.

Kingston Frontenacs

In 1989 the new ownership, including Wren Blair and Bob Attersley, renamed the team Kingston Frontenacs after the EPHL team of which they had both been members. The uniforms and logos were revived from the old franchise. The city embraced and welcolmed the new ownership. Wren Blair and Bob Attersley were both hockey legends in their own right. In 1997 Wren Blair would be honoured with the Bill Long Award for distinguished service in the OHL. The club was sold to the Springer family of Kingston in June 1998, with Doug Springer becoming the Owner and Governor.

The Kingston franchise has the second-longest championship drought in the OHL (second to the Sudbury Wolves by one year), and the fourth-longest in the Canadian Hockey League. The lone division title won by the Frontenacs was in the 1994–95 season where the team won the OHL East Division, represented by the Leyden Trophy. In the 1992–93 OHL season, the Frontenacs lost the conference final to Peterborough.

Coaches

Larry Mavety coached the Frontenacs for much of the teams history. He originally coached the team in 1988–89, when they were still known as the Kingston Raiders. In 1989–90, the first season the franchise was known as the Frontenacs, he won the Matt Leyden Trophy as the OHL Coach of the Year. Mavety returned to Kingston in 1997 to become the head coach once again, and stayed in that position until midway through the 2002–03 season when he stepped down to focus on his general manager duties. After a slow start in the 2007–08 season, Mavety once again found himself coaching the Frontenacs, where he remained until November, 2008 when it was announced that Doug Gilmour had signed a 3-year contract as the team's new coach. Concurrently, it was announced that Mavety would stay on as general manager.

The franchise have had two coaches go on to the NHL as a head coach, as Dave Allison, who coached Kingston from 1992–94, coached the Ottawa Senators for 25 games in the 1995–96 season, while Gary Agnew, who coached the Frontenacs from 1994–97, was an interim head coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets for five games in the 2006–07 season.

Kingston Canadians (1973–1988)

During the inaugural season of the Kingston Canadians in 1973–74, Jack Bownass was awarded the Matt Leyden Trophy as OHA Coach of the Year.

Former NHL defenceman Jim Morrison coached the team from 1975–82, which was the longest stint a coach had when the club was known as the Canadians.

List of coaches

(Multiple years in parentheses, totals include all incarnations of the Kingston franchise)

Players

Paul Coffey is the only former member of the Kingston franchise to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, getting the honour in 2004. In 1977–1978, Coffey played for the Kingston Canadians, as a late season addition from the North York Rangers. He played 8 regular reason games and 5 playoff games with the Canadians.

Honoured numbers

Five numbers have been "honoured" from the Kingston Canadians/Frontenacs. They are not retired and remain in use. (#5 Mike O'Connell, #7 Tony McKegney, #10 Brad Rhiness, #14 Ken Linseman, #17 David Ling)

Award winners

First round draft picks

The Kingston franchise has had several players selected in the first round of the NHL draft.

• Alex Forsyth – 18th overall, Washington Capitals, 1975 Draft
• Mark Suzor – 17th overall, Philadelphia Flyers, 1976 Draft
• Mike Crombeen – 5th overall, Cleveland Barons, 1977 Draft
• Mike Gillis – 5th overall, Colorado Rockies, 1978 Draft
• Behn Wilson – 6th overall, Philadelphia Flyers, 1978 Draft
• Ken Linseman – 7th overall, Philadelphia Flyers, 1978 Draft
• Jay Wells – 16th overall, Los Angeles Kings, 1979 Draft
• Rik Wilson – 12th overall, St. Louis Blues, 1980 Draft
• Mike Stothers – 21st overall, Philadelphia Flyers, 1980 Draft
• Roger Belanger – 16th overall, Pittsburgh Penguins, 1984 Draft
• Scott Metcalfe – 20th overall, Edmonton Oilers, 1985 Draft
• Bryan Fogarty – 9th overall, Quebec Nordiques, 1987 Draft
• Scott Pearson – 6th overall, Toronto Maple Leafs, 1988 Draft
• Drake Berehowsky – 10th overall, Toronto Maple Leafs, 1990 Draft
• Chris Gratton – 3rd overall, Tampa Bay Lightning, 1993 Draft
• Brett Lindros – 9th overall, New York Islanders, 1994 Draft
• Chad Kilger – 4th overall, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, 1995 Draft
• Kevin Grimes – 26th overall, Colorado Avalanche, 1997 Draft
• Anthony Stewart – 25th overall, Florida Panthers, 2003 Draft
• Chris Stewart – 18th overall, Colorado Avalanche, 2006 Draft

NHL alumni

Roster

Roster updated as of January 9, 2009

Goaltenders
Number		Player	Glove	Acquired	NHL Draft	Place of birth
1		John Cullen	L	Trade NIA in Jan. 2009	2009	Hamburg, New York
34		Maveric Parks	L	Trade KIT in Jan. 2008	2008	Eganville, Ontario

Defencemen
Number		Player	Shoots	Acquired	NHL Draft	Place of birth
3		Corbin Crawford	L	Trade LDN in Nov. 2007	Undrafted	Plainfield, Ontario
4		Taylor Doherty	R	Kingston Frontenacs 2007	SJ 2009	Cambridge, Ontario
5		Tyler Mort	R	Kingston Frontenacs 2008	2010	Keswick, Ontario
6		Erik Gudbranson	R	Kingston Frontenacs 2008	2010	Orleans, Ontario
7		Zack Fenwick	L	Free Agent 2007	Undrafted	Toronto, Ontario
18		Brian Lashoff	L	Trade BAR in Dec. 2008	2008	Albany, New York
21		Jaroslav Kruzik	L	Trade BAR in Oct. 2008	2008	Jihlava, Czech Republic

Forwards
Number		Player	Shoots	Position	Acquired	NHL Draft	Place of birth
8		Colt Kennedy	R	RW	Trade BAR in Dec. 2008	2009	Ajax, Ontario
9		Andris Dzerins	L	C	Kingston Frontenacs 2007	Undrafted	Jekabpils, Latvia
10		Nathan Moon	R	C	Kingston Frontenacs 2006	PIT 2008	Belleville, Ontario
12		Charles Sarault	L	C	Kingston Frontenacs 2008	2010	Mississauga, Ontario
14		Kelly Geoffrey	L	LW	Trade ERI in Oct. 2008	2008	Newmarket, Ontario
15		Mitch Lebar	L	RW	Trade BAR in Dec. 2008	2009	Aurora, Ontario
17		Stephen Francella	L	LW	Kingston Frontenacs 2006	2008	Bolton, Ontario
19		Bobby Mignardi	R	RW	Kingston Frontenacs 2006	2008	Richmond Hill, Ontario
20		James Marsden	R	RW	Kingston Frontenacs 2006	2008	Exeter, Ontario
23		Jesse Brown	R	RW	Trade OS in Aug. 2007	2008	Cortland, New York
24		George Lovatsis	R	C	Trade BAR in Oct. 2008	2008	Markham, Ontario
25		Ethan Werek	L	LW	Kingston Frontenacs 2007	NYR 2009	Goodwood, Ontario

Team records

Team records for a single season
Statistic	Total	Season
Most points	87	1989–90 1994–95
Most wins	42	1989–90
Most goals for	357	1975–76
Least goals for	152	1972–73
Least goals against	218	2000–01
Most goals against	432	1987–88

Individual player records for a single season
Statistic	Player	Total	Season
Most goals	Bernie Nicholls	63	1980–81
Most assists	Tim Salmon	100	1983–84
Most points	Bernie Nicholls	152	1980–81
Most PIMs	David Ling	275	1992–93
Most points, rookie	Ron Handy	86	1980–81
Most points, defenceman	Rik Wilson	100	1980–81
Best GAA, goalie	Dayne Davis	2.77	2003–04
Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played

Season-by-season results

Regular season

• Kingston Frontenacs 1960–73 (EJBHL & OPJHL)
• Kingston Canadians 1973–88
• Kingston Raiders 1988–89
• Kingston Frontenacs 1989–present

Legend: OTL = Overtime loss, SL = Shoot Out Loss

Season	Games	Won	Lost	Tied	OTL	SL	Points	Pct %	Goals For	Goals Against	Standing
1960–61	20	8	9	3
19	0.475
4th EJBHL
1961–62	Statistics Not Available
1962–63	21	20	1	0
40	0.952	153	40	1st EJBHL
1963–64	30	14	11	5
33	0.550	150	122	1st EJBHL
1964–65	26	12	11	3
25	0.519
1st EJBHL
1965–66	34	23	9	2
48	0.706	226	140	1st EJBHL
1966–67	Statistics Not Available
1967–68	31	13	14	4
30	0.484	155	135	4th EJBHL
1968–69	30	15	13	2
32	0.533
3rd EJBHL
1969–70	30	19	10	1
39	0.650	176	115	2nd EJBHL
1970–71	30	14	11	5
33	0.550	183	170	3rd EJBHL
1971–72	Statistics Not Available
1972–73	44	13	30	1
27	0.307	152	273	12th OPJHL
1973–74	70	20	43	7
47	0.336	256	378	10th in OHA
1974–75	70	25	35	10
60	0.429	297	345	8th in OMJHL
1975–76	66	33	24	9
75	0.568	357	316	3rd in Leyden
1976–77	66	32	24	10
74	0.561	295	259	3rd in Leyden
1977–78	68	27	32	9
63	0.463	288	323	4th in Leyden
1978–79	68	26	38	4
56	0.412	265	306	5th in Leyden
1979–80	68	35	26	7
77	0.566	320	298	4th in Leyden
1980–81	68	39	26	3
81	0.596	334	273	3rd in Leyden
1981–82	68	29	34	5
63	0.463	302	316	5th in Leyden
1982–83	70	24	45	1
49	0.350	351	425	7th in Leyden
1983–84	70	25	45	0
50	0.357	313	378	7th in Leyden
1984–-85	66	18	47	1
37	0.280	239	380	7th in Leyden
1985–86	66	35	28	3
73	0.553	297	257	4th in Leyden
1986–87	66	26	39	1
53	0.402	287	316	4th in Leyden
1987–88	66	14	52	0
28	0.212	246	432	7th in Leyden
1988–89	66	25	36	5
55	0.417	278	313	7th in Leyden
1989–90	66	42	21	3
87	0.659	300	232	2nd in Leyden
1990–91	66	15	47	4
34	0.258	255	382	8th in Leyden
1991–92	66	16	44	6
38	0.288	241	316	8th in Leyden
1992–93	66	36	19	11
83	0.629	314	265	2nd in Leyden
1993–94	66	30	28	8
68	0.515	265	259	5th in Leyden
1994–95	66	40	19	7
87	0.659	284	224	1st in Eastern
1995–96	66	29	31	6	-
64	0.485	266	267	5th in Eastern
1996–97	66	25	35	6	-
56	0.424	257	277	4th in Eastern
1997–98	66	35	27	4	-
74	0.561	330	275	3rd in Eastern
1998–99	68	22	42	4	-
48	0.353	240	320	5th in East
1999–00	68	38	22	5	3
84	0.596	258	245	3rd in East
2000–01	68	28	28	11	1
68	0.500	232	218	4th in East
2001–02	68	18	37	9	4
49	0.360	197	272	5th in East
2002–03	68	25	37	2	4
56	0.412	222	287	5th in East
2003–04	68	30	28	7	3
70	0.515	210	221	2nd in East
2004–05	68	28	33	4	3
63	0.463	219	242	4th in East
2005–06	68	37	24	-	4	3	81	0.596	258	237	2nd in East
2006–07	68	31	30	-	5	2	69	0.507	269	284	3rd in East
2007–08	68	25	41	-	0	2	52	0.382	230	317	5th in East
2008–09	68	18	40	-	6	4	46	0.338	200	278	5th in East

Playoffs

Junior B Era

• 1953–1954 Won Eastern Jr. B championship
  Lost Sutherland Cup semi-final round robin
• 1955–1956 Won Eastern Jr. B championship
  Lost Sutherland Cup semi-final round robin
• 1962–1963 Won Eastern Jr. B championship
  Defeated Lakeshore Bruins in Sutherland Cup quarter-final 3-games-to-2
  Defeated Burlington Cougars in Sutherland Cup semi-final 3-games-to-none
  Lost Sutherland Cup final to St. Marys Lincolns 4-games-to-1
• 1963–1964 Won Eastern Jr. B championship
  Defeated Burlington Cougars in Sutherland Cup quarter-final 4-games-to-1
  Lost Sutherland Cup semi-final to Weston Dukes 4-games-to-none
• 1964–1965 Won Eastern Jr. B championship
  Lost Sutherland Cup quarter-final to Hamilton Mountain Bees 4-games-to-2
• 1969–1970 Won Eastern Jr. B championship
  Lost Sutherland Cup semi-final to Hamilton Mountain Bees 4-games-to-3

OHL Era

• 1973–1974 Out of playoffs.
• 1974–1975 Lost to Toronto Marlboros in quarter-finals 9 points to 7.
• 1975–1976 Lost to Ottawa 67's in quarter-finals 9 points to 5.
• 1976–1977 Defeated Sudbury Wolves in quarter-finals 9 points to 3.
  Lost to Ottawa 67's in semi-finals 9 points to 7.
• 1977–1978 Lost to S.S.Marie Greyhounds in first round 6 points to 4.
• 1978–1979 Defeated Ottawa 67's in first round 6 points to 2.
  Lost to Peterborough Petes in quarter-finals 9 points to 5.
• 1979–1980 Lost to Sudbury Wolves in first round 3 games to 0.
• 1980–1981 Defeated Ottawa 67's in division semi-finals 9 points to 5.
  Lost to S.S. Marie Greyhounds in division finals 9 points to 5.
• 1981–1982 Lost to Peterborough Petes in first round 6 points to 2.
• 1982–1983 Out of playoffs.
• 1983–1984 Out of playoffs.
• 1984–1985 Out of playoffs.
• 1985–1986 Defeated Oshawa Generals in first round 8 points to 4.
  Finished 3rd place in round-robin versus Peterborough Petes and Belleville Bulls, and are eliminated.
• 1986–1987 Defeated Belleville Bulls in first round 4 games to 2.
  Lost to Oshawa Generals in quarter-finals 4 games to 2.
• 1987–1988 Out of playoffs.
• 1988–1989 Out of playoffs.
• 1989–1990 Lost to Belleville Bulls 4 games to 3 in first round.
• 1990–1991 Out of playoffs.
• 1991–1992 Out of playoffs.
• 1992–1993 Defeated North Bay Centennials 4 games to 1 in first round.
  Defeated Oshawa Generals 4 games to 2 in quarter-finals.
  Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 1 in semi-finals.
• 1993–1994 Lost to Belleville Bulls 4 games to 2 in division quarter-finals.
• 1994–1995 Lost to Belleville Bulls 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
• 1995–1996 Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 1 in division quarter-finals.
• 1996–1997 Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 1 in division quarter-finals.
• 1997–1998 Defeated Oshawa Generals 4 games to 3 in division quarter-finals.
  Lost to London Knights 4 games to 1 in quarter-finals.
• 1998–1999 Lost to Barrie Colts 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
• 1999–2000 Lost to Sudbury Wolves 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
• 2000–2001 Lost to Belleville Bulls 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
• 2001–2002 Out of playoffs. (Lost to North Bay Centennials 6 to 2 in 8th place tie-breaker game.)
• 2002–2003 Out of playoffs.
• 2003–2004 Lost to Barrie Colts 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
• 2004–2005 Out of playoffs.
• 2005–2006 Lost to Sudbury Wolves 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
• 2006–2007 Lost to Oshawa Generals 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
• 2007–2008 Out of playoffs.
• 2008–2009 Out of playoffs.

Team uniforms and logos

The original uniforms and logos of the OHL Frontenacs were revived from the EPHL franchise, which was affiliated with the Boston Bruins. The logo featured a yellow letter 'K' with a black outline, surrounded by black spokes leading to a yellow circle border with the name Kingston Frontenacs in black.

In 2002, the team adopted a new logo with a stylized Count Frontenac. The jerseys feature a star striping pattern similar to Dallas of the NHL, and a modified version of the former "K" logo is used on the shoulder.

In 2007, the Frontenacs unveiled a 3rd jersey, which will be black, yellow and white, and very similar looking to the Boston Bruins jerseys from the early 1970s. The "K" logo will be used on the front of the jersey. The Frontenacs began wearing these jerseys on February 22, 2008, which was the same night that they opened their new arena.

In 2008, The Frontenacs Unveiled a new 3rd jersey which was warn at home between opening night and new years barring 2 games where the black star jersey was warn. The new jersey was a white version of the black alternate which was warn for the second half of the season.

Some fans Believe that the new alternates will become the regular jerseys and the count Frontenac jerseys will be phased out or to an alternate role.

Arenas

The former home arena of the Frontenacs was the Kingston Memorial Centre, with a seating capacity 3,079 seated, and 3,300 including standing room. Built in 1950, its ice size has unique dimensions of 200' x 92'. The Frontenacs' final game was played at the Memorial Center on February 15, 2008, a 6–4 win over the London Knights. Kyle Paige scored the final goal ever at the Memorial Centre.

The Kingston Frontenacs began play at their new downtown arena, the K-Rock Centre on February 22, 2008, in a 3–2 loss to the Belleville Bulls. The Frontenacs won their first game at the K-Rock Centre on February 24, 2008 defeating the Peterborough Petes by a score of 7–4.

• The OHL Arena & Travel Guide
• The OHL Arena & Travel Guide

See also

• List of ice hockey teams in Ontario

References