Drumheller Falcons

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Drumheller Falcons
City: Drumheller, Alberta
League: Alberta Junior Hockey League
Division: South
Franchise history
1967-1970: Ponoka Stampeders
1971-1983: Drumheller Falcons

The Drumheller Falcons were a Junior A ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League based in Drumheller, Alberta.

The Falcons joined the AJHL 1971 as the league's seventh team after acquiring the assets of the Ponoka Stampeders franchise that ceased operations a year previous. The Falcons generally struggled throughout its history, though the team did reach the AJHL final in 1974-75 where they lost four games to three to the Spruce Grove Mets. One year later, the Falcons would take a three year leave of absence.

The Falcons returned in 1979, however were consistently overmatched, winning just 29 games total between 1979 and 1983. The Falcons folded midway through the 1982-83 season having lost every game they played that year. The Falcons still hold the record for longest losing streak spanning two seasons at 35; a record stopped only by the team's demise.

Four Falcons alumni went on to play in the National Hockey League: Merlin Malinowski, Jim Nill, Bryan Maxwell and John Hilworth.

Drumheller would not get a second chance in the AJHL until 2003, when the Drumheller Dragons were founded as an expansion team.

[edit] Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Season GP W L T GF GA Points Finish Playoffs
1971-72 48 16 32 0 190 319 32 7th overall Out of playoffs
1972-73 60 29 29 2 331 350 58 3rd overall
1973-74 60 21 36 3 232 309 45 5th overall
1974-75 60 42 17 1 342 260 85 2nd overall Lost final
1975-76 60 19 40 1 289 425 39 5th overall
1979-80 59 9 49 1 185 399 19 8th overall Out of playoffs
1980-81 60 10 50 0 227 415 20 4th South Out of playoffs
1981-82 60 10 50 0 230 427 20 5th South Out of playoffs
1982-83† 26 0 26 0 64 223 0 5th South Out of playoffs

†Folded with a record of 0-24-0. The team forefitted two games following its demise.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

Defunct Alberta Junior Hockey League teams
Calgary Buffaloes | Calgary Cowboys | Calgary Spurs | Crowsnest Pass Timberwolves | Drumheller Falcons | Edmonton Crusaders | Edmonton Maple Leafs | Edmonton Mets | Edmonton Safeway Canadians | Fort Saskatchewan Traders | Hobbema Hawks | Lethbridge Sugar Kings | Mount Royal College Cougars | Ponoka Stampeders | Red Deer Rustlers | St. Albert Saints | Spruce Grove Mets | The Pass Red Devils | Taber Golden Suns
CJAHL | Doyle Cup | Royal Bank Cup


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