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Charlottetown Abbies

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Charlottetown Abbies
CityCharlottetown, Prince Edward Island
LeagueMaritime Junior A Hockey League
Island Junior Hockey League
Southeast New Brunswick Junior B Hockey League
Operated1972–2008
Home arenaCharlottetown Civic Centre
MacLauchlan Arena
ColoursYellow, Black, and Red
Franchise history
1972–1977Charlottetown Abbies
1977–1986Charlottetown Eagles
1986–2008Charlottetown Abbies
Previous franchise history
1968–1973Charlottetown Islanders
Circa 1971–1976Charlottetown Colonels
1976–1977Charlottetown Generals

The Charlottetown Abbies were a Tier II Junior "A" team based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. They played in the IJHL and the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. Their home rink from 2003 to 2008 was the MacLauchlan Arena on the campus of UPEI. Before then, it was the Charlottetown Civic Centre (now Eastlink Centre).

History

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In 1972, the Charlottetown Abbies were a Midget Hockey program with little competition. They applied for entry into the Island Junior Hockey League in 1972. The IJHL turned down their application on the basis that they were too weak for Junior B competition. The Abbies, undeterred, applied for entry into the Southeast New Brunswick Junior B Hockey League instead. The New Brunswick league allowed the Abbies to join and after a slow start the Abbies ended up finishing second in the regular season (to the Dieppe Voyageurs) and winning the league playoffs. To win the playoffs, the Abbies defeated the Bouctouche Seals 3-games-to-none (9-3, 9–3, forfeit) in the semi-final and then defeated the Memramcook Legionnaires 3-games-to-none (8-1, 10–2, forfeit) in the League Final. The Abbies then failed to qualify for the 5-team New Brunswick provincial championship round robin because they lost the Southeast New Brunswick qualifier to the independent Moncton Flyers 2-games-to-none (4-3, 3-1). In 1973, the IJHL was promoted to Junior A and the Abbies were granted expansion into the league.

The Abbies were an institution in Junior hockey in Charlottetown for several decades. In the 70s the Island Junior Hockey League (IJHL) boasted two Charlottetown teams, the Generals who played in the old Charlottetown Forum, and the Abbies who were based at the Simmons Sports Centre. The league also included at one time or another the Kings County Kings, Summerside Crystals (Summerside Western Capitals), West Prince Bluefins, North River North Stars, and the Sherwood-Parkdale Metros. Eventually the two Charlottetown teams merged, maintaining the Abbies moniker. As costs became prohibitive for an Island wide league at the Junior A level in the late 80s, teams in the league folded. Eventually, in 1991 the Abbies and the Summerside Western Capitals left to join teams in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to form the Maritime Junior Hockey League.

In May 2008, it was announced that the Abbies' management had applied for a year's leave of absence from the Maritime Junior Hockey League, citing financial problems.[1] The team almost relocated to Lewiston, Maine when the Lewiston Maineiacs (QMJHL) tried to relocate to Boisbriand, Quebec.

In May 2009, the commissioner of the MHL stated in a newspaper interview that the Abbies would not operate again.[2] On June 4, 2009, CBC reported the folding of the Abbies franchise.[3] The end of the Charlottetown Abbies meant that, for the first time since 1972, the City of Charlottetown did not have a Junior A team.

Logos

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The Abbies have had many versions of the same logo until the 2007–08 season when they switched to their current script logo.

Main logo
2000–2003 		Main logo
2003–2006 		Main Logo
2006–2007

Season-by-season record

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Season GP W L T OTL GF GA P Results Playoffs
1972-73 12 9 3 0 - 75 40 28 2nd SNBJHL Won League
1973-74 29 7 20 2 - 115 178 16 6th IJHL
1974-75 40 7 28 5 - 163 247 19 6th IJHL
1975-76 39 6 28 5 - 145 278 17 6th IJHL
1976-77 40 12 25 3 - 194 224 27 4th IJHL
1977-78 39 23 8 8 - -- -- 54 2nd IJHL Won League
1978-79 40 31 5 4 - 219 96 66 1st IJHL
1979-80 39 19 14 6 - 210 167 44 3rd IJHL
1980-81 34 13 18 3 - 186 197 29 3rd IJHL
1981-82 42 22 17 3 - 336 287 47 2nd IJHL
1982-83 42 10 29 3 - 212 301 23 4th IJHL
1983-84 40 19 15 6 - 230 200 44 2nd IJHL
1984-85 38 15 18 5 - 175 211 35 3rd IJHL
1985-86 36 13 15 8 - 184 202 34 3rd IJHL Lost semi-final
1986-87 42 26 10 6 - 224 174 58 1st IJHL
1987-88 42 16 19 7 - 231 253 39 3rd IJHL
1988-89 44 22 15 7 - 245 185 56 2nd IJHL
1989-90 40 30 5 2 3 203 121 65 1st IJHL
1990-91 42 29 8 3 2 277 167 63 2nd IJHL
1991-92 47 22 16 9 - 276 203 53 3rd MJAHL
1992-93 48 20 19 8 1 199 227 49 4th MJAHL
1993-94 48 17 27 1 3 216 253 38 6th MJAHL
1994-95 Did Not Participate
1995-96 54 18 29 3 4 217 272 43 7th MJAHL
1996-97 56 21 30 2 3 294 324 47 7th MJAHL
1997-98 52 26 20 3 3 237 227 58 5th MJAHL
1998-99 48 41 5 2 - 266 141 84 1st MJAHL Won League, won FPC
1999-00 52 19 31 2 0 198 247 40 6th MJAHL
2000-01 52 28 20 3 1 215 187 60 5th MJAHL
2001-02 52 24 24 4 0 198 194 52 7th MJAHL
2002-03 52 43 5 1 3 229 130 90 1st MJAHL Won League
2003-04 52 22 24 2 4 231 238 50 6th MJAHL
2004-05 56 26 19 7 4 207 205 63 5th MJAHL
2005-06 56 20 34 0 2 193 240 43 10th MJAHL Lost Division QF
2006-07 58 9 47 0 2 145 322 20 12th MJAHL DNQ
2007-08 58 29 25 - 4 215 236 62 8th MJAHL

National playdowns

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1978

Charlottetown Eagles defeated Cole Harbour Colts (MVJHL) 4-games-to-none in Eastern Centennial Cup Semi-final
Guelph Platers (OPJHL) defeated Charlottetown Eagles 4-games-to-2 in Eastern Centennial Cup Final

1985

Cole Harbour Colts (MVJHL) defeated Charlottetown Eagles 4-games-to-2 in Callaghan Cup Final

1987

Dartmouth Fuel Kids (MVJHL) defeated Charlottetown Abbies 4-games-to-1 in Callaghan Cup Final

1990

Charlottetown Abbies defeated Avalon Jr. Capitals (SJJHL) in Callaghan Cup Semi-final
Amherst Ramblers (MVJHL) defeated Charlottetown Abbies 4-games-to-1 in Callaghan Cup Final

1991

Halifax Canadians (MVJHL) defeated Charlottetown Abbies 4-games-to-none in Callaghan Cup Semi-final

1999

Charlottetown Abbies win Fred Page Cup
Defeated Hawkesbury Hawks (CJHL 6-3
Defeated Valleyfield Braves (QJAAAHL) 5-2
Defeated Antigonish Bulldogs (MJAHL)
Defeated Hawkesbury Hawks (CJHL) 2-0 in Finals
Charlottetown Abbies lost 1999 Royal Bank Cup Final
Lost to Yorkton Terriers (SJHL) 2-1
Defeated Vernon Vipers (BCHL) 6-5
Lost to Estevan Bruins (SJHL) 5-4
Defeated Bramalea Blues (OPJHL) 5-1
Defeated Yorkton Terriers (SJHL) 6-5 2OT in Semi-final
Lost to Vernon Vipers (BCHL) 9-3 in Final

2003

Charlottetown Abbies finish 4th at Fred Page Cup
Lost to Cornwall Colts (CJHL) 3-2
Lost to Nepean Raiders (CJHL) 3-1
Defeated Lennoxville Cougars (QJAAAHL) 7-5
Charlottetown Abbies finish 5th at 2003 Royal Bank Cup as hosts
Lost to Lennoxville Cougars (QJAAAHL) 5-4 2OT
Defeated Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL) 3-2
Lost to Wellington Dukes (OPJHL) 1-0 OT
Lost to Humboldt Broncos (SJHL) 8-5

Notable alumni

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Colonels/Generals

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The Charlottetown Generals were members of the Island Junior Hockey League in the 1970s. They folded in the summer of 1977 after winning multiple league championships. The Generals folded due to financial trouble. The full name of the team was the Charlottetown Colonel Grays from their founding up until 1976 as they were affiliated with Colonel Gray High School in Charlottetown.

Season-by-season record

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Season GP W L T OTL GF GA P Results Playoffs
1971-72 26 17 6 3 - 130 96 43 2nd IJBHL
1972-73 40 29 8 3 - 231 125 61 1st IJBHL
1973-74 30 18 10 2 - 178 114 38 3rd IJHL Won League
1974-75 40 24 14 2 - 202 163 50 1st IJHL Won League
1975-76 40 32 7 1 - 345 138 65 1st IJHL Won League
1976-77 40 32 6 2 - 331 129 66 2nd IJHL Won League

National playdowns

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1974

Charlottetown Colonels defeated Moncton Hawks (NBJHL) 3-games-to-2 in Eastern Centennial Cup Quarter-final
Smiths Falls Bears (CJHL) defeated Charlottetown Colonels 4-games-to-1 in Eastern Centennial Cup Semi-final

1975

Gander Flyers (NJAHL) defeated Charlottetown Colonels 3-games-to-none in Atlantic Jr. A Final

1976

Charlottetown Colonels defeated St. John 77's (NBJHL) 4-games-to-2 in Eastern Centennial Cup Quarter-final
Charlottetown Colonels defeated Sydney Millionaires (EJHL) 4-games-to-1 in Eastern Centennial Cup Semi-final
Rockland Nationals (CJHL) defeated Charlottetown Colonels 4-games-to-none in Eastern Centennial Cup Final

1977

Charlottetown Generals defeated Sydney Millionaires (EJHL) in Eastern Centennial Cup Semi-final
Pembroke Lumber Kings (CJHL) defeated Charlottetown Generals 4-games-to-none in Eastern Centennial Cup Final

Notable alumni

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Islanders

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The Charlottetown Islanders were founded in 1968 to represent the province of Prince Edward Island in the Memorial Cup playoffs. From 1968 until 1971, the Islanders played in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. In 1970, Major Junior A and Tier II Junior A were created from the Junior A classification and the Islanders and their league found themselves in the Tier II level playing for the Centennial Cup. Their first year of Tier II saw them go deep and win the Eastern Canadian Championship in six games over the Detroit Jr. Red Wings of the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League, but lose the inaugural 1971 Centennial Cup 4-games-to-2 to the Alberta Junior Hockey League's Red Deer Rustlers. In 1971, the MJAHL folded and the Islanders opted to play an independent schedule in instead of joining the neighbouring Junior A leagues in New Brunswick or Newfoundland. For the 1971–72 season, the Islanders did not play a game until March 1972, playing a two-game exhibition series against the Hamilton Red Wings of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League (2-2 Tie and 4-3 Win) and then jumping directly into National Playdowns as PEI's only representative. In the playoffs, the Islanders dropped the Moncton Hawks of the New Brunswick Junior Hockey League 4-games-to-1 to advance to the Eastern Centennial Cup Final. In the final, they faced the Guelph CMC's of the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League and were swept in four games. The Islanders were disbanded prior to the start of the 1972–73 season.

Season-by-season record

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Season GP W L T OTL GF GA P Results Playoffs
1968-69 39 16 16 7 - 152 154 39 2nd MJAHL Lost final
1969-70 45 36 6 3 - 323 151 75 1st MJAHL Won League
1970-71 40 26 9 5 - 229 161 57 1st MJAHL Won League
1971-72 No League Play

National playdowns

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1970

Charlottetown Islanders defeated Fredericton Chevies (NBJHL) 3-games-to-1 in Atlantic Jr. A Final
Charlottetown Islanders defeated Ottawa M&W Rangers (CJHL) 4-games-to-1 in Eastern Memorial Cup Quarter-final
Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) defeated Charlottetown Islanders 4-games-to-2 in Eastern Memorial Cup Semi-final

1971

Charlottetown Islanders defeated Moncton Hawks (NBJHL) 4-games-to-none in Eastern Centennial Cup Quarter-final
Charlottetown Islanders defeated Thunder Bay Marrs (TBJHL) 4-games-to-1 in Eastern Centennial Cup Semi-final
Charlottetown Islanders defeated Detroit Jr. Red Wings (SOJHL) 4-games-to-2 in Eastern Centennial Cup Final
Red Deer Rustlers (AJHL) defeated Charlottetown Islanders 4-games-to-2 in Centennial Cup Final

1972

Charlottetown Islanders defeated Moncton Hawks (NBJHL) 4-games-to-1 in Eastern Centennial Cup Semi-final
Guelph CMC's (SOJHL) defeated Charlottetown Islanders 4-games-to-none in Eastern Centennial Cup Final

Notable alumni

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Abbies Taking a Break." Archived 2012-09-12 at archive.today The Guardian, PEI, May 1, 2008. Accessed July 11, 2008.
  2. ^ "Telegraph-Journal | TJ.news".
  3. ^ "Charlottetown Abbies shut down team". Archived from the original on 2009-06-07.
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