From 1961 until 1969, the Cornwall Royals were successful members of the Central Junior A Hockey League. 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 3 Memorial Cup titles. For the 1981–82 season, the team transferred into the Ontario Hockey League. 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 President's Cup Playoff Champions in the QMJHL.
1972 QMJHL Champions vs. Quebec Remparts
1980 QMJHL Champions vs. Sherbrooke Castors
1981 QMJHL Champions vs. Trois-Rivieres Draveurs
Jean Rougeau Trophy Regular season Champions in the QMJHL.
1971–1972 96 points
1980–1981 90 points
West Division Trophy First overall in the West Division.
1973–1974 94 points
Lebel Division Trophy First overall in the Lebel Division.
*1982–83 coaches Bob Kilger, Bill Murphy, Gord Woods, Jocelyn Guevremont
Players
The Cornwall Royals graduated 55 players to the National Hockey League. From these alumni, 31 played for the Royals in the QMJHL, and 29 played for the Royals in the OHL, and 5 played for the Royals in both leagues.
Three alumni of the Cornwall Royals have been enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame. The first was New York Islanders goalie Billy Smith. Smith was the inaugural goalie for the Royals in the QMJHL during the 1969–70 season. After that season he was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings. Dale Hawerchuk is the second inductee. He led the Royals to two Memorial Cup championships in 1980 and 1981. He was drafted first overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. The most recent inductee is Doug Gilmour. Gilmour was a big part of the back to back Memorial Cup Titles in '80 and '81, and later won a Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames in 1989, scoring the Cup winning goal. He also captained the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1993 to 1997.
1971–1972 Defeated Verdun Maple Leafs 8 points to 0 in quarter-finals.
Defeated Shawinigan Bruins 8 points to 2 in semi-finals. Defeated Quebec Remparts 9 points to 5 in finals. QMJHL CHAMPIONS Defeated Peterborough Petes 2-1 in Memorial Cup final. MEMORIAL CUP CHAMPIONS
1972–1973 Defeated Montreal Bleu-Blanc-Rouge 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
Defeated Sorel Eperviers 4 games to 1 in semi-finals. Lost to Quebec Remparts 4 games to 3 in finals.
1973–1974 Lost to Laval National 4 games to 1 in quarter-finals.
1974–1975 Lost to Montreal Bleu-Blanc-Rouge 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
1975–1976 Defeated Montreal Juniors 4 games to 2 in quarter-finals.
Lost to Quebec Remparts 4 games to 0 in semi-finals.
Lost to Sherbrooke Castors 9 points to 0 in semi-finals.
1977–1978 Defeated Hull Olympiques 8 points to 0 in quarter-finals.
Lost to Montreal Juniors 8 points to 2 in semi-finals.
1978–1979 Lost to Verdun Eperviers 8 points to 6 in quarter-finals.
1979–1980 Defeated in Shawinigan Cataractes 4 games to 3 in quarter-finals.
Defeated Chicoutimi Saguenéens 4 games to 1 in semi-finals. Defeated Sherbrooke Castors 4 games to 2 in finals. QMJHL CHAMPIONS Defeated Peterborough Petes 3-2 in Memorial Cup final. MEMORIAL CUP CHAMPIONS
1980–1981 Defeated Quebec Remparts 4 games to 3 in quarter-finals.
Defeated Sherbrooke Castors 4 games to 3 in semi-finals. Defeated Trois-Rivières Draveurs 4 games to 1 in finals. QMJHL CHAMPIONS Defeated Kitchener Rangers 5-2 in Memorial Cup final. MEMORIAL CUP CHAMPIONS
1981–1982 Lost to Toronto Marlboros 6 points to 4 in first round.
1982–1983 Defeated Toronto Marlboros 7 points to 1 in first round.
Lost to Ottawa 67's 8 points to 0 in quarter-finals.
1983–1984 Lost to Peterborough Petes 6 points to 0 in first round.
1984–1985 Defeated Toronto Marlboros 8 points to 2 in first round.
1985–1986 Lost to Belleville Bulls 9 points to 3 in first round.
1986–1987 Lost to Ottawa 67's 4 games to 1 in first round.
1987–1988 Defeated Belleville Bulls 4 games to 2 in first round.
Lost to Ottawa 67's 4 games to 1 in quarter-finals.
1988–1989 Defeated Toronto Marlboros 4 games to 2 in first round.
Defeated Ottawa 67's 4 games to 2 in quarter-finals. Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 2 in semi-finals.
1989–1990 Lost to Oshawa Generals 4 games to 2 in first round.
1990–1991 Out of playoffs.
1991–1992 Lost to Ottawa 67's 4 games to 2 in first round.
Uniforms and logos
The Cornwall Royals used similar red, white and blue uniforms for their entire 24-year existence. Their unusual logo was the winning entry in a contest, hand drawn by a local child.
Arenas
The Cornwall Royals played out of the Water Street Arena from 1969 to 1976 while in the QMJHL. The Arena, renamed in honour of Si Miller, the city's Director of Parks and Recreation for more than 30 years, was torn down in 2012.
The OHL Arena & Travel Guide
From 1976 to 1992 the Royals played out for the Cornwall Civic Complex, located across the road from their previous arena. The arena hosted the 1990 Chrysler Challenge Cup, the annual All-Star game between the OHL and the QMJHL, which the OHL won by a score of 3 to 0.
