Buffalo Regals
CityCheektowaga, New York, United States
LeagueGreater Ontario Junior Hockey League
DivisionGolden Horseshoe
Founded1987
Home arenaHoliday Twin Rinks
ColorsNavy, red, white
     
General managerJohn Evoy (2018–19)
Head coachTyler Casillo (2019–20)
AffiliateBuffalo Jr. Sabres (OJHL)
Franchise history
1987–2011Wheatfield Jr. Blades
2011–2013Buffalo Blades
2013–2018Buffalo Regals
2018–2019Lockport Regals
2019–2021Buffalo Regals

The Buffalo Regals were an American junior "B" ice hockey team based in the Buffalo suburb of Cheektowaga, New York. They played in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL). The organization also had several youth hockey teams.

History

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.[1] 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.[2]

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.[3] 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."[4]

The team moved to Cornerstone Arena in nearby Lockport, New York, prior to the 2018–19 season and rebranded as the Lockport Regals. The team returned to using the Buffalo name at the start of the 2019–20 season and moved to the Holiday Twin Rinks in Cheektowaga, New York. The 2019–20 postseason was curtailed by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the following GOJHL season never took place due to the pandemic-related restrictions. The Regals were the only GOJHL team not listed to return for the 2021–22 season, and then they later resigned from the GOJHL.[5]

Season results

SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPtsRegular Season FinishPlayoffs
1987–882214162———304th NEJHLLost final
1988–894410331———215th NEJHL
1989–90479353———215th NEJHL
1990–915933233———692nd NEJHLLost final, Won Nationals
1991–925331193———652nd NEJHLLost final
1992–935832233———671st NEJHLWon League
1993–945536172———741st NEJHLWon League
1994–955434164———721st NEJHLWon League
1995–965630233———631st NEJHLWon League
1995–961037002878—GHJHL Interleague
1996–97————————NEJHL
1996–97140140043133—GHJHL Interleague
1997–983329122———602nd EmJHLLost final
1998–995437143———771st EmJHLWon League
1999–002815121———314th EmJHLWon League
2000–01302370—16383461st EmJHLWon League
2001–02343211———651st EmJHLLost final
2002–03322183—15391453rd EmJHLLost in Round Robin
2003–04383161———631st EmJHLWon League
2004–054431103————1st EmJHL-West
2005–064223433912121019th EmJHL
2005–064983731131301208th GHJHLLost quarter-final
2006–074983902184294188th GHJHLLost quarter-final
2007–084954220128303128th GOJHL-GH
2008–09521928—5152214437th GOJHL-GH
2009–10511332—6173263327th GOJHL-GHLost Conference Quarter-final
2010–1151445—2105334108th GOJHL-GH
2011–1250840—2130295188th GOJHL-GHLost Conference Quarter-final
2012–1351149—111042138th GOJHL-GHLost Conference Quarter-final
2013–1449444—111226499th GOJHL-GHDid not qualify
2014–15Leave of absence
2015–16
2016–1750347006653669th GH Conf
27 of 27 GOJHL		Did not qualify
2017–1850243059831999th GH Conf
26 of 26 GOJHL		Did not qualify
2018–194883811120298188th GH Conf
25 of 25 GOJHL		Did not qualify
2019–2050103424127225268th GH Conf
24 of 26 GOJHL		Did not qualify

References

  1. ↑ Potrecz, Bill (September 3, 2014). "Regals opt out for a season". St. Catharines Standard. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  2. ↑ "GOJHL Buffalo Regals Fold Because Of Paperwork". The Junior Hockey News. August 24, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Future of Team Clouded". St. Catharines Standard. November 23, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  4. ↑ Potrecz, Bill (November 23, 2016). "Regals beef up roster". St. Catharines Standard. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  5. ↑ "GOJHL unveils regular season schedule". blackburnnews.com. August 23, 2021.
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