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Playoffs
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History
The Woodstock Navy-Vets were founded in 1966-67 and spent their early seasons playing in the Intercounty Junior C Hockey League. In 1971-72 the Vets moved to the Western Junior B Hockey League when the ICJCHL disbanded. In 1972-73 the Vets moved to the Central Junior C Hockey League. In 1976-77 the Navy-Vets helped found the Southwestern Junior B Hockey League, and played in that league for the 2 seasons that it existed, along with the London Diamonds, St.Thomas Colonels, Tillsonburg Mavericks, Simcoe Jets, and Brantford Penquins. In 1978-79 the Navy-Vets joined the Niagara District Junior C Hockey League, where they currently play.
1967: In The Beginning The Inaugural Season Story (From the 1990 25th Anniversary book "Go Vets Go ! A History of the Woodstock Navy Vets Hockey Club" by Ron Johnson). 1969: The Championship Season The Navy Vets won their only OHA Junior C Championship in the 1968-69 season, eliminating Dresden 4 games-to-0 in the quarter-final and New Hamburg 4 games-to-1 in the semi-final before beating Oakville Blades in 7 games in the final.
1978: Future NHL Star The Navy Vets roster for 1977-78 included a star rookie who would only play this one season with the Vets before moving on to higher levels and eventually a very successful NHL career ... Bernie Nichols. 1984: The Cardiac Kids After finishing in fourth place in the 1983-84 NDJCHL West regular season with a record of 13 wins, 9 losses, and 8 ties, not many locals figured the Woodstock Navy-Vets would have a very long playoff run. In the end, the Navy-Vets would play a total of sixty-five games that season and six rounds of playoffs. In the division quarter-finals, the Navy-Vets drew the New Hamburg Spirit 83's. The Spirit were a tough team and the best-of-5 series went the distance, Woodstock taking it in the end 3-games-to-2. In the division semi-final, the Navy-Vets then took on the Dundas Blues. The Blues were tough early, but the Navy-Vets had all the momentum and took the series 4-games-to-2. They next played the well rested and top ranked Norwich Merchants in the division final. The Merchants, like the Blues, were tough early in the series but the Navy-Vets were tougher winning 4-games-to-2. They next had to play the Stoney Creek Warriors in the Niagara District championship. The Warriors were tough and dominated much of the play. The series went back and forth, and ended up going to a final and deciding seventh game. Woodstock fought hard and took Stoney Creek into overtime. Early in the second overtime, Woodstock would break the hearts of the Stoney Creek faithful in their own arena and win 6-5. From this point on, the Woodstock Sentinel-Review referred to the 1983-84 edition of this team as "The Cardiac Kids". With the win, the Navy-Vets were catapulted into the OHA Junior C semi-finals. Their opponents would be the Dresden Jr. Kings of the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League. Dresden took game one big, 10-4. Game two went to Woodstock in double overtime (4-3) and game three in single overtime (8-6). Dresden came back and put Woodstock's backs against the wall with 4-2 and 7-2 victories, leaving the Cardiac Kids in a do-or-die situation. Woodstock responded and won 6-5 and 6-2 to win the series. They then moved on to face the Penetang Kings of the Georgian Bay Junior C Hockey League in the provincial final. Penetang had just knocked off the Bowmanville Eagles 4-games-to-3. Unfortunately for the Cardiac Kids, the Kings had no intention of losing, taking the series in four games: 8-7 in overtime, 6-5, 9-6, and 9-1. The fairy tail run was over for the Navy-Vets, as they walked away Niagara West champions, Niagara & District champions, and OHA Junior C finalists. Clarence Schmalz Cup Appearances 1969: Woodstock Navy-Vets defeated Oakville Blades 4-games-to-3 OHA Semi-Finals Appearances 1981: lost to Essex 73`s George S. Dudley Trophy Super "C" Appearances
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