Wiarton Rock | |
---|---|
City | Wiarton, Ontario, Canada |
League | Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League |
Founded | 2006 |
Home arena | Wiarton Arena & Community Centre |
Colors |
Blue, Red, and White |
General manager | Tina Ziel |
Head coach | Joe Ziel |
Franchise history | |
2006–2010 | King Wild |
2010–2011 | Vaughan Wild |
2011–2014 | Lefroy Wave |
2014–2016 | Grey Highlands Bravehearts |
2016 | Wiarton Rock |
The Wiarton Rock was a Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Wiarton, Ontario, and a member of the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League (GMHL). The Rock relocated multiple times, spending time in King, Nobleton, Lefroy, and Markdale, Ontario.
The King Wild's first game was the first game in the GMHL's history taking place on September 8, 2006, against the Richmond Hill Rams in Richmond Hill, Ontario. The Wild lost 6-0 to the Rams despite outshooting them. The Wild's first victory was a 5-1 decision over the Toronto Canada Moose on September 9, 2006. The team's first home game was against the Nipissing Alouettes on September 10, 2006. The Wild were victorious, winning by a 5-3 score.
The 2006–07 finalists started the 2007–08 season off rather slow. After playing poorly for most of the season, the Wild surged in the last quarter with a long winning streak to pull to a .500 record by the final regular season game. In the bye round of the playoffs, all byes had been picked and the final two teams remaining were the Wild and the Douro Dukes who would play in the first round by default. Although the Dukes played well, the Wild swept the series 4-0. The Wild continued to play well against the Temiscaming Royals in the league quarter-finals, but were still defeated by the second-seeded team in six games.
In March 2008, the Wild and the Richmond Hill Rams challenged the Mexico national ice hockey team to a set of four exhibition games. The first of two games for the Wild happened on March 22, as the Wild defeated the Mexican Senior team 7-6 in overtime. On March 25, the Wild beat them again 7-6, this time in regulation.