Buffalo Regals
| Buffalo Regals | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| City | Cheektowaga, New York, United States |
| League | Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League |
| Division | Golden Horseshoe |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Home arena | Buffalo State Ice Arena |
| Colors | Navy, red, white |
| General manager | Mike Answeeney (2016–17) |
| Head coach | Jamie Macajiewski (2016–17) |
| Affiliates | Buffalo Jr. Sabres (OJHL) |
| Franchise history | |
| 1987–2011 | Wheatfield Jr. Blades |
| 2011–2013 | Buffalo Blades |
| 2013–present | Buffalo Regals |
The Buffalo Regals are an American Junior "B" ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They play in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL). The organization also have several youth hockey teams.
Founded in 1987, the Wheatfield Jr. Blades played out of the Northeastern Junior Hockey League from 1987 until 1997. In 1997, the Blades jumped to the Tier III Junior B Empire Junior Hockey League (EmJHL). In the 2005–06 season, the Blades elected to field two teams, one to play in the EmJHL and another to play in the Canadian Junior B Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League (GHJHL). Each team's primary players were different, but listed the other team's players as affiliates. In the 2006–07 Season, the Blades sold their EmJHL team to the Buffalo Stars.
Before the 2011–12 season, the team was renamed the Buffalo Blades and managed by Jerry Shorthouse and John Bruno. As the Buffalo Blades, the team would only win nine times in 101 games. In 2013, the team was bought by a group with close ties to the local minor hockey association and the team was renamed the Regals.
It was announced on September 2, 2014 that the Regals would not play the 2014–15 season after the OJHL's Buffalo Jr. Sabres ended an agreement to transfer players between the two teams, causing the Regals to lose a valuable source of talent and unable to field a team. Prior to the 2015–16 season, the Regals failed to file the appropriate reinstatement paper work with USA Hockey in order to play the season.
The Regals returned to the GOJHL in time for the 2016–17 season. However, on 21 November, after 24 games, all of which were lost in regulation, the GOJHL announced over social media that the Regals had been removed from the league after the team did not travel to play the Welland Jr. Canadians. One day later, the statement was deleted and the Regals played a home game against the Ancaster Avalanche, which they lost 7–0. GM Mike Answeeney said: "It's back to normal as far as I’m concerned... We're going to show up for every game scheduled."
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