Woodstock Lakers
CityWoodstock, Ontario
LeagueWestern Ontario Super Hockey League
Founded1989 (1989)
Home arenaSouthwood Arena
ColoursRed, black, and white
Owner(s)Jeff Zehr
General managerJeff Zehr (2015–16)
Head coachJeff Zehr (2015–16)
Franchise history
1989–2004Port Stanley Lakers
2004–2011West Lorne Lakers
2011–2015Inactive
2015–2020London Lakers
2020–2023Plattsville Lakers
2023-PresentWoodstock Lakers

The Woodstock Lakers are a Semi-Pro ice hockey team based in the city of Woodstock, Ontario, Canada. The Lakers joined the Western Ontario Super Hockey League in 2022, after being a part of the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League from 2015-2022. They were originally located in Port Stanley, Ontario, and then in West Lorne, Ontario, and London, Ontario, and Platteville, Ontario. They also formerly played in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA). The Lakers left the OHA in 2008 and played as an independent team.

History

Lakers goalie during 2015–16 season.

The Port Stanley Lakers were founded in 1989 as members of the Western Ontario Junior D Hockey League. A large league comprising the remnants of multiple other Southern Ontario Junior leagues. In 1991, this league renamed itself the OHA Junior Development League.

In 1994, the Lakers finished first amongst all OHAJDL teams in the regular season with a stellar record of 36 wins, 2 losses, and 2 ties. They made it all the way to the league finals in the playoffs and found themselves nose-to-nose with the Mitchell Hawks. The Hawks were not to be denied as they swept the Lakers aside 4-games-to-none to win the OHA Cup as league champions.

The 1995 season saw the Lakers pull off a solid performance, finishing second overall. They pushed all the way to the OHAJDL finals once again. Their opponents this time around were the Thamesford Trojans. The Trojans defeated the Lakers 4-games-to-2 to win the OHA Cup.

The next season, the Lakers entered the playoffs and met the Lambeth Lancers in the first round. The Lancers meant business and defeated the Lakers 4-games-to-2 to put them out of the playoffs.

The Lakers finished the 1996–97 season in fifth place overall. In the first round of the playoffs, they met the Thamesford Trojans. They defeated the Trojans 4-games-to-none. In the second round, the Lakers were defeated by the Mount Brydges Bulldogs 4-games-to-2.

The Lakers showed great promise in the 1997–98 season, finishing second overall. They entered the playoffs against the Lambeth Lancers, whom they defeated 4-games-to-1. In the second round, the Lakers were up against the Thamesford Trojans who they also beat in five games. In the conference final, Port Stanley ran into the Exeter Hawks. In a drawn out series, the Hawks bested the Lakers in the seventh game to win the series 4-games-to-3 and deny the Lakers a chance at the OHA Cup.

The 1999–00 proved to be one for the ages for the Port Stanley Lakers. After finishing first overall in the OHAJDL with a record of 31 wins and 9 losses, the Lakers pushed deep into the playoffs. Their first opponents were the Lambeth Lancers, who the Lakers defeat 4-games-to-2. In the second round, the Lakers came up against the Thamesford Trojans and swept them 4-games-to-none. The conference finals were next and the Lakers were up against a tough Lucan Irish squad. The Irish couldn't handle the Lakers, as Port Stanley took the series 4-games-to-1. This earned the Lakers their first OHAJDL final since 1995. The Lakers challenged the Burford Bulldogs and defeated them 4-games-to-1 to win their franchises first ever OHA Cup.

The 2000–01 season marked the end of an era of domination for the Lakers. This was the last season for many that they would ride amongst the top teams in the standings. After finishing first overall in the league, the Lakers entered the playoffs against the North Middlesex Stars. The Lakers swept the Stars 4-games-to-none. In the second round of the playoffs, the Lakers met the Seaforth Centenaires. The underdog Centenaires took the Lakers to game seven and defeated them in an upset.

Lakers player during 2015–16 season.

In 2004, the Lakers met Thamesford in the first round of the playoffs and defeated them 4-games-to-none. In the second round, they met Lambeth and defeated them 4-games-to-2. In the conference final, the Lakers met the Exeter Hawks and were swept in four games.

During the off-season, the Lakers moved to West Elgin and became the West Lorne Lakers. In 2005, the Lakers met Lambeth in the first round of the playoffs and defeated them in seven games. They then met the Lucan Irish and again won the series in seven games. In the conference final, it appeared that the Lakers might do it again in game seven to the Mount Brydges Bulldogs. This time, the opponents prevailed and the Bulldogs won the series in seven games.

In 2006, the Lakers met the Exeter Hawks in the first round of the playoffs. The Hawks fell to the Lakers 4-games-to-2. In the second round of the playoffs, the Lakers fell to Thamesford 4-games-to-none.

In the off-season, the OHAJDL disbanded and the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League was formed in its place. West Lorne finished low in the standings but still made the playoffs. They met the Lambeth Lancers in the first round and defeated them 4-games-to-2. In the second round of the playoffs, the Lakers lost to the North Middlesex Stars 4-games-to-2.

West Elgin Arena

Beginning in the 2008–09 season, the Lakers joined the local men's recreational league in London, posing a 19–1–0 record in their first year and winning their league in 2009, 2010, and 2011. The organization then went dormant in 2011.

Move to London

After nineteen seasons in the Ontario Hockey Association, the Lakers franchise announced that they will be leaving the OHA. "The Lakers will continue play in various forms at other venues outside the OHA," said team President Wayne Bedford.[1] The team joined the GMHL in January 2015.[2]

Beginning in 2015, the Lakers joined the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League.

The Lakers gained international attention due to a video recorded during a road game against the Kingsville Kings on November 20, 2015. A brawl broke out when a London player struck Kingsville's goalie Jan Pechek. During the fight, a linesman struck a London player and then was attacked by a member of the London Lakers' bench staff.[3][4]

The team left London in 2020 [5][6] and re-located to Plattsville. At the end of the 21-22 season the GMHL announced that franchise has been suspended from the league, ownership then announced they were re-classifying to Semi-Pro and joining the WOSHL.


Following the 2022-2023 season, the Lakers re-located to Woodstock, Ontario and play their home games at Southwood Arena.

Season-by-season records

SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPtsRegular Season FinishPlayoffs
1989–90355273—1132141318th WJDHL
1990–9140231250174152515th WJDHL
1991–9240191533146161446th OHAJDL
1992–9339221250214158495th OHAJDL
1993–94403622—331126741st OHAJDLLost Finals
1994–954029722237162622nd OHAJDLLost Finals
1995–9638261110181139533rd OHAJDLLost Con. Quarter-finals
1996–9738231212217141495th OHAJDLLost Conf. Semi-finals
1997–983928812194114572nd OHAJDLLost Conf. Finals
1998–9940201541188153458th OHAJDL
1999–004031900242114621st OHAJDLWon League
2000–014029812——611st OHAJDLLost Conf. Semi-finals
2001–0240221332190176496th OHAJDL
2002–03401622111672023413th OHAJDL
2003–0440201820189199429th OHAJDLLost Conf. Finals
2004–05381618401771883612th OHAJDLLost Conf. Finals
2005–06381617321551833713th OHAJDLLost Conf. Semi-finals
2006–07401324031842292914th SOJHLLost Conf. Quarter-finals
2007–08401919—21371594010th SOJHLLost Conf. Semi-finals
2008–2011: Played independent schedule
2011–2015: Inactive
London Lakers
2015–1642192201183219397th of 10, South Div.
19th of 30, GMHL		Lost Div. Quarter-finals, 0–3 (Toronto Attack)
2016–1742261204221175565th of 11, South Div.
9th of 21, GMHL		Lost Div. Quarter-finals, 1–3 (North York Renegades)
2017–184233801136450712th of 12, South Div.
21st of 21, GMHL		Lost Elimination Game, 3–5 (Toronto Predators)
2018–194233603107356912th of 12, South Div.
22nd of 22, GMHL		Lost Elimination Game, 1–3 (Northumberland Stars)
2019–2042202200216242406th of 10, South Div.
15th of 23, GMHL		Lost Div. Quarter-finals, 0–2 (North York Renegades)
Plattsville Lakers
2020–21Season lost due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021–2238122501128172256th of 9, South Div.
12th of 19, GMHL		Lost Div. Quarter-finals, 0–2 (Predators)
2022–23246150388157138th of 9, WOSHLLost Quarter-finals, 0–3 (Tilbury Bluebirds)

References

  1. ↑ "West Lorne Lakers Junior Hockey Club - Hockey club located in West Lorne, Ontario 2008-09 Season". Archived from the original on 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
  2. ↑ "West Lorne Lakers Junior Hockey Club, Port Stanley Lakers Junior Hockey Club, London Summer Hockey - Ontario 2014-2015 Season". www.westlorne.ca. Archived from the original on 3 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  3. ↑ "Junior A Hockey Fight: Crowd Jubilant As London Lakers, Kingsville Kings Players, Referee, And Trainer Brawl [Video] - Inquisitr".
  4. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: Junior hockey referee accused of punching player in viral video speaks out, says he had blood spit in his face". New York Daily News.
  5. ↑ "London Lakers Relocate To Plattsville". London Lakers. February 29, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Lakers Relocate to Plattsville". GMHL. March 2, 2020.
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