Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 19, 2026

Cornwall Royals

The Cornwall Royals were a junior ice hockey team based in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. The team played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) from 1969 to 1981, and the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) from 1981 to 1992. They won the Memorial Cup three times as junior champions of Canada: in 1971, 1980, and 1981.

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Jun 19, 2026
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Cornwall Royals
CityCornwall, Ontario
LeagueQMJHL (1969–1981)
OHL (1981–92)
Operated1969 to 1992
Home arenaCornwall Civic Complex
ColoursBlue, white and red
Franchise history
1969–1992Cornwall Royals
1992–1994Newmarket Royals
1994–presentSarnia Sting
Championships
Playoff championships1972, 1980, & 1981 Memorial Cup Champions

The Cornwall Royals were a junior ice hockey team based in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. The team played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) from 1969 to 1981, and the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) from 1981 to 1992. They won the Memorial Cup three times as junior champions of Canada: in 1971, 1980, and 1981.

The Royals shared a common name with teams that played in the Quebec Senior Hockey League, the Central Junior A Hockey League.

History

Cornwall Royals home jersey source ↗

From 1961 until 1969, the Cornwall Royals were successful members of the Central Junior A Hockey League (CJHL). As perennial CJHL champions, they represented that league at the playdowns for the 1966, 1967 and 1968 Memorial Cup national junior hockey championships, falling in the quarterfinals each year against the representatives from Quebec.

After an application to join the OHL was rejected, the franchise became one of the inaugural teams of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in 1969. The Cornwall Royals were one of the league's premier teams during its tenure in the QMJHL, winning three Memorial Cup titles.

For the 1981–82 season, the team transferred into the Ontario Hockey League.12

The Royals suffered through many tough seasons and poor attendance after moving to the OHL. The switch in leagues alienated many die-hard fans from across the Quebec border. Seeking better fortunes, the franchise moved to Newmarket, Ontario to play as the Newmarket Royals in 1992. In 1994 the team was bought by the Ciccarelli brothers and moved to Sarnia, Ontario as the Sarnia Sting.

Championships

The Cornwall Royals are one of only 7 clubs to win consecutive Memorial Cup championships. They did so in 1980 and 1981. In total, the Royals won 3 Memorial Cups, 3 President's Cups, and 5 division titles while in the QMJHL. The Royals did not win any OHL championships.

CJHL Bogart Cup Championships: 1966, 1967, 1968

Memorial Cups
  • 1972 CHL Champions vs. Peterborough Petes
  • 1980 CHL Champions vs. Peterborough Petes
  • 1981 CHL Champions vs. Kitchener Rangers

Coaches

Orval Tessier guided the Cornwall Royals to the Memorial Cup championship in 1972. Doug Carpenter coached the 1980 Royals, and Bob Kilger in 1981.

Marc Crawford was a former Cornwall Royals player. He won the Stanley Cup as coach of the Colorado Avalanche. He also coached the Vancouver Canucks, the Los Angeles Kings, and the Dallas Stars.

List of Coaches

(Multiple years in parentheses)

  • 1981–82 Bob Kilger
  • 1982–83 Jocelyn Guevremont
  • 1983–84 Jocelyn Guevremont / Floyd Crawford
  • 1984–85 Floyd Crawford / Tony Zappia
  • 1985–86 Tony Zappia
  • 1986–89 Orval Tessier (3)
  • 1989–91 Marc Crawford (2)
  • 1991–92 John Lovell

*1982–83 coaches Bob Kilger, Bill Murphy, Gord Woods, Jocelyn Guevremont

Players

Award recipients

Season Player Award(s) Recognition Source
1970–71 Bob Murphy Coaches' Trophy Rookie of the year 3
1971–72 Bob Murray Coaches' Trophy Rookie of the year 4
Richard Brodeur Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy Lowest goals against average
Gerry Teeple Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy Most sportsmanlike player 5
1973–74 Gary MacGregor Michel Brière Memorial Trophy Most valuable player
Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy Most sportsmanlike player
1974–75 Mario Viens Michel Brière Memorial Trophy Most valuable player, regular season
1975–76 Tim Bernhardt Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy Lowest goals against average
1976–77 Tim Bernhardt Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy Lowest goals against average
1977–78 Tim Bernhardt Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy Lowest goals against average
1979–80 Dale Hawerchuk Coaches' Trophy Rookie of the year
Guy Lafleur Trophy Most valuable player, playoffs
1980–81 Dale Hawerchuk Jean Béliveau Trophy Top scorer, regular season
Michel Brière Memorial Trophy Most valuable player
CHL Player of the Year Most valuable player
Michael Bossy Trophy Best professional prospect
Fred Boimistruck Emile Bouchard Trophy Defenceman of the year
1982–83 Doug Gilmour Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy OHL Top Point Scorer
Red Tilson Trophy OHL Most valuable player
Ian MacInnis Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy OHL Top Scoring Right Winger
1985–86 Ray Sheppard Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy OHL Top Point Scorer
Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy OHL Top Scoring Right Winger
Red Tilson Trophy OHL Most valuable player
1987–88 Rick Tabaracci OHL Goaltender of the Year Voted best goaltender in the OHL
1988–89 Owen Nolan Emms Family Award Rookie of the year
1989–90 Owen Nolan Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy OHL Top Scoring Right Winger
John Slaney Max Kaminsky Trophy Most Outstanding Defenceman
CHL Defenceman of the Year
1990–91 Nathan LaFayette Bobby Smith Trophy Scholastic player of the year
1991–92 Nathan LaFayette Bobby Smith Trophy Scholastic player of the year
CHL Scholastic Player of the Year

NHL alumni

Three alumni of the Cornwall Royals have been enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame, including Billy Smith, Dale Hawerchuk, and Doug Gilmour.

List of QMJHL (1969–1981) alumni in the National Hockey League (NHL) or World Hockey Association:6

List of OHL (1981–1992) alumni in the NHL:8

Season-by-season results

Legend: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Memorial Cup champions League champions League finalists
Season Regular season Playoffs
GP W L T Pts Pct GF GA Finish
1969–70 56 24 31 1 49 0.438 223 255 2nd West Lost quarterfinal (Verdun Maple Leafs) 4–211
1970–71 62 22 40 0 44 0.355 260 326 10th QMJHL Did not qualify12
1971–72 62 47 13 2 96 0.774 361 182 1st QMJHL Won quarterfinal (Verdun Maple Leafs) 8–0
Won semifinal (Shawinigan Bruins) 8–2
Won QMJHL final (Quebec Remparts) 9–513
Won 1972 Memorial Cup final (Peterborough Petes) 2–114
1972–73 64 43 19 2 88 0.688 365 253 2nd QMJHL Won quarterfinal (Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge) 4–0
Won semifinal (Sorel Éperviers) 4–1
Lost QMJHL final (Quebec Remparts) 4–315
1973–74 70 46 22 2 94 0.671 438 328 1st West Lost quarterfinal (Laval National) 4–116
1974–75 72 36 24 12 84 0.583 322 296 3rd West Lost quarterfinal (Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge) 4–017
1975–76 72 39 24 9 87 0.604 349 270 2nd West Won quarterfinal (Montreal Juniors) 4–2
Lost semifinal (Quebec Remparts) 4–018
1976–77 72 38 24 10 86 0.597 345 281 2nd Lebel Won quarterfinal (Trois-Rivières Draveurs) 8–4
Lost semifinal (Sherbrooke Castors) 9–019
1977–78 72 46 18 8 100 0.694 404 258 1st Lebel Won quarterfinal (Hull Olympiques) 8–0
Lost semifinal (Montreal Juniors) 8–220
1978–79 72 29 36 7 65 0.451 361 397 3rd Lebel Lost quarterfinal (Verdun Éperviers) 8–621
1979–80 72 41 25 6 88 0.611 388 333 1st Lebel Won quarterfinal (Shawinigan Cataractes) 4–3
Won semifinal (Chicoutimi Saguenéens) 4–1
Won QMJHL final (Sherbrooke Castors) 4–222
Won 1980 Memorial Cup final (Peterborough Petes) 3–223
1980–81 72 44 26 2 90 0.625 403 311 1st Lebel Won quarterfinal (Quebec Remparts) 4–3
Won semifinal (Sherbrooke Castors) 4–3
Won QMJHL final (Trois-Rivières Draveurs) 4–124
Won 1981 Memorial Cup final (Kitchener Rangers) 5–225
Royals transferred from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to the Ontario Hockey League
1981–82 68 28 35 5 61 0.449 303 327 6th Leyden Lost division quarterfinal (Toronto Marlboros) 6–426
1982–83 70 36 33 1 73 0.521 370 335 5th Leyden Won division quarterfinal (Toronto Marlboros) 7–1
Lost quarterfinal (Ottawa 67's) 8–027
1983–84 70 33 37 0 66 0.471 348 375 6th Leyden Lost division quarterfinal (Peterborough Petes) 6–028
1984–85 66 34 30 2 70 0.530 355 344 4th Leyden Won division quarterfinal (Toronto Marlboros) 8–2
Lost quarterfinal (Belleville Bulls) 6–229
1985–86 66 28 36 2 58 0.439 307 356 5th Leyden Lost division quarterfinal (Belleville Bulls) 9–330
1986–87 66 23 40 3 49 0.371 261 369 6th Leyden Lost division quarterfinal (Ottawa 67's) 4–131
1987–88 66 35 24 7 77 0.583 333 255 3rd Leyden Won division quarterfinal (Belleville Bulls) 4–2
Lost quarterfinal (Ottawa 67's) 4–132
1988–89 66 31 30 5 67 0.508 350 308 4th Leyden Won division quarterfinal (Toronto Marlboros) 4–2
Won quarterfinal (Ottawa 67's) 4–2
Lost semifinal (Peterborough Petes) 4–233
1989–90 66 24 38 4 52 0.394 309 361 6th Leyden Lost division quarterfinal (Oshawa Generals) 4–234
1990–91 66 23 42 1 47 0.356 281 335 7th Leyden Did not qualify35
1991–92 66 38 22 6 82 0.621 328 289 3rd Leyden Lost division quarterfinal (Ottawa 67's) 4–236

Arenas

The Royals played home games at the Water Street Arena from 1969 to 1976.37 Moving across the road, the Royals played at the Cornwall Civic Complex from 1976 to 1992, and hosted the 1990 All-Star game between the OHL and the QMJHL, which the OHL won by a 3–0 score.38

Notes

Notes

  1. Borrowed player from the Sherbrooke Castors for the 1981 Memorial Cup7
References

References

  1. "Memorial Cup champion Royals may still leave Quebec league". The Gazette. Montreal, Quebec. May 14, 1981. p. 48.
  2. "Cornwall drops out of QMJHL". The Gazette. Montreal, Quebec. May 19, 1981. p. 22.
  3. "League's Rookie Award Goes To Royals' Murphy". Standard-Freeholder. Cornwall, Ontario. April 20, 1971. p. 8.
  4. "Awards Go To Royal Pair". Standard-Freeholder. Cornwall, Ontario. April 21, 1972. p. 9.
  5. "Teeple Named Royals Top Performer During '71–'72". Standard-Freeholder. Cornwall, Ontario. May 26, 1972. p. 6.
  6. "Cornwall Royals all-time player list [QMJHL]". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  7. Lapp and Macaulay (1997), pp. 200–202
  8. "Cornwall Royals all-time player list [OHL]". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  9. "Cornwall Royals Statistics and History [QMJHL]". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  10. "Cornwall Royals Statistics and History [OHL]". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  11. "1969–70 QMJHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  12. "1970–71 QMJHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  13. "1971–72 QMJHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  14. Lapp and Macaulay (1997), pp. 160–165
  15. "1972–73 QMJHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  16. "1973–74 QMJHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  17. "1974–75 QMJHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  18. "1975–76 QMJHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  19. "1976–77 QMJHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  20. "1977–78 QMJHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  21. "1978–79 QMJHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  22. "1979–80 QMJHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  23. Lapp and Macaulay (1997), pp. 195–199
  24. "1980–81 QMJHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  25. Lapp and Macaulay (1997), pp. 200–204
  26. "1981–82 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  27. "1982–83 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  28. "1983–84 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  29. "1984–85 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  30. "1985–86 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  31. "1986–87 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  32. "1987–88 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  33. "1988–89 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  34. "1989–90 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  35. "1990–91 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  36. "1991–92 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  37. Jordan, Kevin (August 15, 2025). "Cornwall Royals". The QMJHL Arena Guide. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  38. Jordan, Kevin (December 5, 2019). "Cornwall Royals". The OHL Arena Guide. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
Sources

Sources

  • Lapp, Richard M.; Macaulay, Alec (1997). The Memorial Cup: Canada's National Junior Hockey Championship. Madeira Park, British Columbia: Harbour Publishing. ISBN 1-55017-170-4.