Owen Sound Platers


Owen Sound Platers was a name used for a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League from 1989 to 2000, in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. In 2000, after the team was sold, new ownership renamed the team the Owen Sound Attack.

History

In 1989 the Holody's moved the Guelph Platers to Owen Sound, Ontario, retaining the name "Platers", as the Holody family owned a local electroplating company. The city of Owen Sound would be a strong base for junior hockey with disproportionately high support from the smallest city in the OHL. The city had a two time Memorial Cup champion in the Owen Sound Greys in 1924 & 1927, and the Owen Sound Mercurys were a long-standing OHA Senior Hockey team and 1954 Allan Cup Champions.
The best year for the Platers was the 1998–99 season. Owen Sound had a mostly veteran team that achieved their best regular finish in the club's history, and also played into the third round of the playoffs.
Despite many mediocre seasons, support for the team has remained strong. When the Holody's decided to sell the team in 2000, several local Owen Sound business-people banded together to purchase the team. Owen Sound fans realized that losing the team would be a crisis for the city. After a bidding war and a summer-long legal battle with another suitor, the team remained in Owen Sound. The ownership group elected for a name change and came up with the "Owen Sound Attack".

Coaches

List of coaches with multiple seasons in parentheses.

Players

won the 1992–93 Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy as the top scorer in the OHL with 62 Goals, 100 Assists and 162 Points. He also tied for the Canadian Hockey League's scoring lead. Brunette was selected by the Washington Capitals 174th overall in the 7th round of 1993 NHL Entry Draft.
Jamie Storr was the 1993–94 OHL Goaltender of the Year.
Storr was the starting goalie for back-to-back World Junior Hockey Championship Gold medals in 1993 and 1994. In 1994 he was drafted 7th overall by the Los Angeles Kings
Dan Snyder, a former captain of the Owen Sound Platers had his number 14 retired by the Owen Sound Attack in 2003. He is remembered in Owen Sound for his leadership on the ice, and off the ice. Snyder was twice voted his team's humanitarian of the year. The Ontario Hockey League renamed its Humanitarian of the Year award posthumously in honour of Dan Snyder, who died from injuries suffered in a vehicular accident with teammate Dany Heatley in 2003.

NHL alumni

Nineteen alumni of the Owen Sound Platers graduated from the Ontario Hockey League to play in the National Hockey League.

Team records

Records listed for those achieved from 1989 to 2000.

Season-by-season results

Regular season

Playoffs

Lost to Niagara Falls Thunder 4 games to 1 in quarter-finals.
Lost to S.S. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
Lost to Detroit Jr. Red Wings 4 games to 0 in division semi-finals.
Lost to Guelph Storm 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
Lost to Ottawa 67's 4 games to 1 in quarter-finals.
Defeated Guelph Storm 4 games to 2 in conference semi-finals.
Lost to London Knights 4 games to 1 in conference finals.
The Owen Sound platers used the same logo as the Guelph Platers from 1989 to 1995 only changing the name of the city. Owen Sound modernized its logo for the 1995–96 season, and used it until the team was sold in 2000.
The team colours remained the same throughout; black, gold, red and white. The home uniforms for Owen Sound were white back ground with black, red and gold trim. The away uniforms were black background, with red, gold and white trim.

Arena