Huntsville Otters

History

Joining the ranks of Junior hockey in 1990, the Muskoka Bears were a member of the Metro Junior A Hockey League. Prior to this, the team had played Junior C hockey.

The team made hockey history on February 21, 1997 when their goalie, Ryan Venturelli, became the first goaltender to score two goals (both empty-net) in a hockey game against the Durham Huskies during the Metro Junior A Hockey League 1996–97 regular season.

From 1997 until 2004, the franchise was called the Huntsville Wildcats. The team never truly found their groove, and folded halfway through the 2003–04 season after 23 straight loses and a goals-against average of roughly 10.

For the 2004–05 Season, the team reformed as the Huntsville-Muskoka Otters after Sherwood Bassin, Ray Irwin and Tom McCarthy took ownership.

In 2007, the team was sold to local businessmen Kris House and Jason Armstrong, who shortened the team's name to the Huntsville Otters.

The town of Huntsville hosted the 2011 Ontario Junior A Dudley Hewitt Cup on the weekend of April 18–23, 2011 at the Don Lough Arena, Canada Summit Centre. The Otters went 3-0, and received a bye to the final and lost the championship game to the Wellington Dukes 5-3.

In March 2012, it was announced that the Huntsville Otters were to be contracted from the Ontario Junior Hockey League when a local group successfully applied to bring the team to the Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League.

Playoffs

MetJHL Years

1991 DNQ

1992 Lost Semi-final

Muskoka Bears defeated St. Michael's Buzzers 4-games-to-3Bramalea Blues defeated Muskoka Bears 4-games-to-none

1993 Lost Semi-final

Muskoka Bears defeated Aurora Eagles 4-games-to-2St. Michael's Buzzers defeated Muskoka Bears 4-games-to-none

1994 Lost Semi-final

Muskoka Bears defeated St. Michael's Buzzers 4-games-to-2Caledon Canadians defeated Muskoka Bears 4-games-to-2

1995 DNQ

1996 Lost Quarter-final

Caledon Canadians defeated Muskoka Bears 4-games-to-2

1997 Lost Preliminary

Caledon Canadians defeated Muskoka Bears 4-games-to-none

1998 Lost Preliminary

Thornhill Rattlers defeated Huntsville Wildcats 3-games-to-1

OJHL Years

1999 DNQ

2000 Lost Division Quarter-final

Collingwood Blues defeated Huntsville Wildcats 4-games-to-3

2001 Lost Division Quarter-final

Thornhill Rattlers defeated Huntsville Wildcats 4-games-to-none

2002 Lost Division Quarter-final

Newmarket Hurricanes defeated Huntsville Wildcats 4-games-to-none

2003 DNQ

2004 Did Not Finish Season

2005 Lost Division Semi-final

Huntsville-Muskoka Otters defeated Collingwood Blues 4-games-to-1Aurora Tigers defeated Huntsville-Muskoka Otters 4-games-to-2

2006 Lost Division Quarter-final

Newmarket Hurricanes defeated Huntsville-Muskoka Otters 4-games-to-1

2007 Lost Division Quarter-final

Newmarket Hurricanes defeated Huntsville-Muskoka Otters 4-games-to-1

2008 Lost Division Semi-final

Stouffville Spirit defeated Huntsville Otters 4-games-to-3

2009 Lost Conference Final

Huntsville Otters defeated Toronto Dixie Beehives 3-games-to-noneHuntsville Otters defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-2Huntsville Otters defeated Orangeville Crushers 4-games-to-1Kingston Voyageurs defeated Huntsville Otters 4-games-to-1

2010 DNQ OJAHL Playoffs

2011 Lost Qualifier, Hosted and Lost Dudley Hewitt Cup Final

Orangeville Flyers defeated Huntsville Otters 2-games-to-noneFirst in Dudley Hewitt Cup round robin (3-0)Wellington Dukes defeated Huntsville Otters 5-3 in final

2012 Lost Division Quarter-final

Markham Waxers defeated Huntsville Otters 3-games-to-none