Dukes of Hamilton
| Dukes of Hamilton | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| City | Hamilton, Ontario |
| League | Ontario Hockey League |
| Operated | 1989–1991 |
| Home arena | Copps Coliseum |
| Colours | Red, white and blue |
| Franchise history | |
| 1904–1989 | Toronto Marlboros |
| 1989–1991 | Dukes of Hamilton |
| 1991–present | Guelph Storm |
The Dukes of Hamilton were a junior ice hockey team that represented Hamilton, Ontario in the Ontario Hockey League for two seasons from 1989 to 1991.
In October 1988, with the Toronto Marlboros losing hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, Maple Leaf Gardens Limited reached an agreement to sell the team for a reported $500,000 to a group from Hamilton. The OHL team moved to Hamilton, Ontario for the 1989-90 season, becoming the Dukes of Hamilton. The name "Dukes"" originated as a nickname for the Toronto team coming from its namesake, the Duke of Marlborough.
The Dukes were chosen to host the Memorial Cup their first season in Hamilton. However when the team finished last overall in the standings, the Dukes declined the automatic invite given to the hosts of the Memorial Cup tournament. The OHL sent the league finalist Kitchener Rangers instead.
The second season for the Dukes was only marginally better even after switching from the Leyden division to the Emms division. The Dukes qualified for the last playoff spot, but lost in four games straight. Following the 1990–91 season, the team was relocated to Guelph, Ontario where it became the Guelph Storm.
Three Dukes alumni went on to play brief NHL careers. Alek Stojanov played 107 games, Chris Govedaris played 45 games, and Shawn McCosh played 9 games. Also of note are Jeff Bes (Captain), Dino Felicetti, Rob Leask and Kayle Short for their careers in other professional leagues.
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