The Red Deer Rustlers were a Junior Aice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League based in Red Deer, Alberta. They captured the inaugural Centennial Trophy in 1971. Their eight AJHL championships remains the second most in league history, behind the Calgary Canucks nine championships.
Division titles won: 1982-83, 83-84, 84-85, 88-89Regular season titles won: 1970-71, 73-74, 79-80, 84-85, 88-89League Championships won: 1970, 71, 72, 74, 80, 85, 87, 89Doyle Cup Titles: none (captured 3 AB/BC titles before the creation of the Doyle Cup)Centennial Trophy Titles: 1971, 80
Top guns vs red deer rustlers apr 11
History
The Rustlers joined the AJHL in 1967 on the orders of the Alberta Amateur Hockey Association, which blocked their attempt at joining the Western Canada Hockey League as an expansion team. The Rustlers would quickly rise to the top of the AJHL, capturing four league titles in five years between 1970 and 1974. In 1971, they captured the first Centennial Trophy as Canadian Junior A national champions. The Rustlers repeated that feat in 1980.
During this time, the Rustlers developed many players who would go on to play major-junior or college hockey, while 20 ultimately played in the National Hockey League. Among them were all six members of the Sutter family to play in the NHL: Brian, Darryl, Duane, Brent, Ron and Rich. Gary Sutter, the seventh, and only, brother not to play in the NHL turned down an invitation to play for the Rustlers in 1972.
In 1989, after winning their eighth league championship, the Rustlers were expelled from the league for violating its by-laws. The team remained suspended until 1992 when it officially folded, making room for the Red Deer Rebels, as the central Alberta city finally joined the WHL.
Season-by-season record
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
†Team granted a one-year leave of absence in 1985-86. They would re-emerge in 1986-87 under new ownership.
St. Albert Saints defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-3
1979 Lost Quarter-final
Calgary Canucks defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-none
1980 Won League, Won Alta/BC Championship, Won Abbott Cup, Won 1980 Centennial Cup
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Sherwood Park Crusaders3-games-to-noneRed Deer Rustlers defeated St. Albert Saints4-games-to-1Red Deer Rustlers defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-1AJHL CHAMPIONSRed Deer Rustlers defeated Penticton Knights (BCJHL) 4-games-to-noneALTA/BC CHAMPIONSRed Deer Rustlers defeated Prince Albert Raiders (SJHL) 4-games-to-2ABBOTT CUP CHAMPIONSFirst in 1980 Centennial Cup round robin (3-1)Red Deer Rustlers defeated North York Rangers (OPJHL) 3-2 in final CENTENNIAL CUP CHAMPIONS
1981 Lost Quarter-final
St. Albert Saints defeated Red Deer Rustlers 3-games-to-1
1982 Lost Semi-final
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-noneCalgary Spurs defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-1
1983 Lost Semi-final
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Olds Grizzlys4-games-to-1Calgary Canucks defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-2
1984 Lost Final
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Hobbema Hawks4-games-to-1Red Deer Rustlers defeated Calgary Spurs4-games-to-1Fort Saskatchewan Traders defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-none
1985 Won League, Lost Doyle Cup
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Olds Grizzlys4-games-to-noneRed Deer Rustlers defeated Calgary Spurs4-games-to-noneRed Deer Rustlers defeated Sherwood Park Crusaders4-games-to-2AJHL CHAMPIONSPenticton Knights (BCJHL) defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-1
1986 Did Not Participate
1987 Won League, Lost Doyle Cup
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Calgary Spurs 4-games-to-3Red Deer Rustlers defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-3Red Deer Rustlers defeated St. Albert Saints4-games-to-2AJHL CHAMPIONSRichmond Sockeyes (BCJHL) defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-3
1988 Lost Semi-final
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Olds Grizzlys 4-games-to-2Calgary Canucks defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-none
1989 Won League, Lost Doyle Cup
Red Deer Rustlers defeated Calgary Spurs 4-games-to-1Red Deer Rustlers defeated Olds Grizzlys 4-games-to-1Red Deer Rustlers defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders4-games-to-1AJHL CHAMPIONSVernon Lakers (BCJHL) defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-2