Division South Owner Bob Russell | Arena Bob Fallis Sports Centre Founded 2012 | |
City Bradford, Ontario, Canada League Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League Home arena Bob Fallis Sports Centre Colours Dark Blue, yellow, and White General manager Michael Telford (2014–15) | ||
The Bradford Bulls are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Bradford, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League (GMHL).
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History
The Bulls were announced on February 23, 2012, by the GMHL. They are the namesake of the old Bradford Bulls Junior C team that which became the Bradford Rattlers. The Ratters and Bulls play out of different arenas in Bradford, but gave the Rattlers a geographical rival.
The Bradford Bulls first regular season game was on September 16, 2012, in Bradford, Ontario. The game was on the road against the cross-town rivals the Bradford Rattlers. The game resulted in a 6–2 loss for the Bulls but had its first goal in franchise history scored by Clint Zumer and assisted by Justin Tucker. On September 26, 2012, the Bulls would pick up their first franchise victory defeating the Lefroy Wave at home, 9–7. Donald Oldreive made 41 saves to pick up the victory.
On March 26, 2013, the Bradford Bulls won the GMHL playoffs in a 4-games-to-1 series victory against their hometown rival and defending champion Bradford Rattlers. The Bulls finished the regular season in first place in the South Division, fourth overall and three points out of second. They faced the Knights of Meaford in the first round and swept them 3-games-to-none. In the second round, they swept territorial rival Alliston Coyotes 3-games-to-none. Instead of a division final, the league elected to do a divisional crossover and the Bulls had to face the second seed from the North, the Temiscaming Royals. The Bulls took the series in a four game sweep and were set to face the Rattlers in a "Sidewalk Series" as they knocked off the first seeded Seguin Huskies. Although the Rattlers gave the Bulls their only loss of the playoffs, it was not enough as the Bulls took their first league title after only two years of existence.