LaSalle Vipers
| LaSalle Vipers | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| City | LaSalle, Ontario, Canada |
| League | Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League |
| Division | Western |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Home arena | Vollmer Culture and Recreation Complex |
| Colors |
Black, Olive, and White |
| Owner(s) | John Savage |
| General manager | Bill Bowler |
| Head coach | Bill Bowler |
| Affiliates |
Windsor Spitfires (OHL) Lakeshore Canadiens (GLJHL) |
| Franchise history | |
| 1970-1986 | Windsor Royals |
| 1986-1995 | Windsor Bulldogs |
| 1995-2001 | Tecumseh Bulldogs |
| 2001-2008 | Tecumseh Chiefs |
| 2008-Present | LaSalle Vipers |
The LaSalle Vipers are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in LaSalle, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. As a franchise, the Vipers are two-time Sutherland Cup provincial champions, two-time Great Lakes champions and five-time Western Ontario champions.
The expansion of the Windsor Royals started to circulate in the Windsor Star around July 1970. The Border Cities League had decided to no long incorporate American teams and was looking to change its name. It also wanted to operate at a Junior B level. The team was based in St. Clair Beach in Tecumseh, Ontario. The team's first ever coach was Cliff Stevens. The Royals played their first ever game as members of the Great Lakes Junior Hockey League at home in St. Clair Beach Arena against the Blenheim Golden Blades on October 11, 1970. The Royals were victorious, crushing the Blades 13-5. Bill Salzer scored the first goal in team history 1:29 into the first period. Salzer added one more goal and three assists, while teammate Rich Bissonnette aided with five assists. At the end of the 1970-71 season, the Royals finished in third place with a record of 23 wins, 13 losses, and 4 ties. As the league had included a pair of Junior C teams in their loop, the Royals acquired the second seed in the league playoffs. In the league semi-final, the Royals drew the winless, last place Tilbury Bluebirds (0-40-0). Things did not improve for the Bluebirds. On February 23, at St. Clair Beach, the Glen Urquhart led the way for the Royals with three goals and two assists in a 14-1 romp of Tilbury. This gave Windsor the first playoff win in their history. Ted Pruyn picked up the win in net. Game two was a different story in Tilbury, as the Bluebirds kept it close but the Royals prevailed 4-3. The Royals ended the Best-of-5 series in game three with a 7-3 win. The victory gave the Royals their first ever playoff series victory. In the league final, the Royals would meet the first place Petrolia Jets (31-8-1). The Royals took game one at home 6-3, but went on the road in Petrolia and dropped game two 4-0. The walls caved in on the Royals in games three and four, losing 12-3 and 9-1 on back-to-back nights to fall behind in the series 3-games-to-1. On March 17, the Royals traveled to Petrolia and again were crushed, 13-2, to end the series and their playoffs.
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