Fort Saskatchewan Traders

History

The team's name comes from Fort Saskatchewan's history as a North-West Mounted Police trading fort when it was originally settled in the 1870s.

In 1978–79, the Traders completed their most successful season in the AJHL, as they won the league championship, and then defeated the Richmond Sockeyes of the BCHL in the Vernon Cup (forerunner to the Doyle Cup) before falling to the eventual national champion Prince Albert Raiders in six games at the Centennial Cup finals.

The Traders fell upon hard times in their last years as financial difficulties and low attendance left the future of the Traders in doubt. The Traders were reportedly sold to a group representing St. Albert during the 2005-06 season, however the deal failed to gain league approval. Finally, on March 15, 2007, a deal to relocate the Traders to St. Albert for the 2007–08 season was approved, ending the Traders' 31-year run in Fort Saskatchewan. Only the Calgary Canucks have had a longer tenure in one city. Once relocated, the team was renamed the St. Albert Steel. The team relocated again after the 2011–12 season to Whitecourt where they became the Whitecourt Wolverines.

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T/OTL = Ties/Overtime losses, SOL = Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Playoffs

1977 Lost Quarter-final

Red Deer Rustlers defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-2

1978 Lost Final

Fort Saskatchewan Traders defeated Edmonton Crusaders 4-games-to-3First in semi-final round robin (3-1) vs. Calgary Canucks and St. Albert SaintsCalgary Canucks defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-none

1979 Won League, Won Alta/BC Championship, Lost Abbott Cup

Fort Saskatchewan Traders defeated Calgary Chinooks 4-games-to-noneSecond in semi-final round robin (2-2) vs. Calgary Canucks and St. Albert SaintsFort Saskatchewan Traders defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-3 AJHL CHAMPIONSFort Saskatchewan Traders defeated Richmond Sockeyes (PJHL) 4-games-to-1 ALTA/BC CHAMPIONSPrince Albert Raiders (SJHL) defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-2

1980 Lost Quarter-final

St. Albert Saints defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 3-games-to-none

1981 Lost Quarter-final

Sherwood Park Crusaders defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 3-games-to-none

1982 Lost Quarter-final

Fort McMurray Oil Barons defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-2

1983 Lost Quarter-final

Fort McMurray Oil Barons defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-none

1984 Won League, Lost Alta/BC Championship

Fort Saskatchewan Traders defeated Fort McMurray Oil Barons 4-games-to-noneFort Saskatchewan Traders defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-3Fort Saskatchewan Traders defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-none AJHL CHAMPIONSLangley Eagles (BCJHL) defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-2

1985 Lost Semi-final

Fort Saskatchewan Traders defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-2Sherwood Park Crusaders defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-none

1986 Lost Quarter-final

Sherwood Park Crusaders defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-1

1987 Lost Quarter-final

Sherwood Park Crusaders defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-1

1988 Lost Quarter-final

Hobbema Hawks defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-2

1989 Lost Final

Fort Saskatchewan Traders defeated Lloydminster Blazers 4-games-to-2Fort Saskatchewan Traders defeated Sherwood Park Crusaders 4-games-to-noneRed Deer Rustlers defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-1

1990 Lost Quarter-final

Lloydminster Blazers defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-3

1991 Lost Final

Fort Saskatchewan Traders defeated Sherwood Park Crusaders 4-games-to-noneFort Saskatchewan Traders defeated Lloydminster Blazers 4-games-to-1Calgary Royals defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-2

1992 Lost Semi-final

Fort Saskatchewan Traders defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-3Olds Grizzlys defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-1

1993 Lost Final

Fort Saskatchewan Traders defeated Sherwood Park Crusaders 5-games-to-4Fort Saskatchewan Traders defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-3Olds Grizzlys defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-3

1994 Lost Quarter-final

St. Albert Saints defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-3

1995 DNQ

1996 Lost Quarter-final

Fort McMurray Oil Barons defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-none

1997 DNQ

1998 Lost Final

Fort Saskatchewan Traders defeated Lloydminster Blazers 4-games-to-noneFort Saskatchewan Traders defeated Grande Prairie Storm 4-games-to-1St. Albert Saints defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-2

1999 Lost Quarter-final

Lloydminster Blazers defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-3

2000 Lost Quarter-final

Fort Saskatchewan Traders defeated St. Albert Saints 3-games-to-1Lloydminster Blazers defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-none

2001 Lost Preliminary

Grande Prairie Storm defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 3-games-to-2

2002 Lost Preliminary

Drayton Valley Thunder defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 3-games-to-none

2003 DNQ

2004 DNQ

2005 Lost Preliminary

Drayton Valley Thunder defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 3-games-to-none

2006 Lost Preliminary

Spruce Grove Saints defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 3-games-to-none

2007 Lost Final

Fort Saskatchewan Traders defeated Fort McMurray Oil Barons 4-games-to-noneFort Saskatchewan Traders defeated Okotoks Oilers 4-games-to-1Camrose Kodiaks defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-2

Notable alumni

The following former Traders have gone on to play in the NHL:

Traders who moved on to play for the Canadian Women's National & Olympic Teams:

Shannon Szabados