The Almaguin Spartans are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in South River, Ontario. They play in the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League (GMHL). They were originally the Mattawa Voyageurs of Mattawa, Ontario.

Almaguin Spartans
CitySundridge, Ontario, Canada
LeagueGreater Metro Junior A Hockey League
Founded2011
Home arenaSundridge Strong Joly (SSJ) Arena
ColoursGreen, black, and white
     
General managerDavid Forde
Head coachMyles Pepin
Franchise history
2011–2014Mattawa Voyageurs
2014–presentAlmaguin Spartans

History

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The Voyageurs were announced as a team in spring 2011.[1] On September 16, 2011, the team played its first game, at home, against the Bobcaygeon Bucks. The Voyageurs lost the game in a shootout 5–4. On September 18, at home again, the Voyageurs picked up their first win, 5–4 in overtime over the Algoma Avalanche.

In July 2014, the team was approved for relocation to South River, Ontario, where they became the Almaguin Spartans.[2]

In March 2015, Myles Pepin was promoted from assistant coach and was named the team's new head coach.

During the 2018 playoffs, the Spartans swept their first three playoff series with nine straight wins before losing two games to the St. George Ravens in the final series. The Spartans then claimed their first Russell Cup championship over the Ravens in six games.

For the 2019–20 season, Andre Laperriere was named the head coach when Pepin stepped aside for an advisory role to spend more time with family.[3]

Season-by-season records

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Season GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts Regular season finish Playoffs
Mattawa Voyageurs
2011–12 42 19 21 2 170 206 40 9th GMHL Lost Bye Round
2012–13 42 10 30 1 1 169 289 22 14th GMHL Lost Division Quarter-finals
2013–14 42 16 24 2 185 279 34 14th GMHL Lost Division Quarter-finals
Almaguin Spartans
2014–15 42 16 24 2 196 211 26 4th North Div.
13th GMHL
Lost Elimination Qualifier
2015–16 42 34 7 0 1 267 107 69 3rd North Div.
5th GMHL
Lost Championship play-in game
2016–17 42 23 15 0 3 164 154 49 6th of 10, North Div.
11th of 21, GMHL
Lost Division Quarter-finals
2017–18 42 31 11 0 0 217 145 62 1st of 9, North Div.
4th of 21, GMHL
Russell Cup Champions
2018–19 42 21 19 0 2 183 187 44 5th of 10, North Div.
10th of 22, GMHL
Lost Division Quarter-finals
2019–20 42 18 21 0 3 191 218 39 7th of 10, North Div.
16th of 23, GMHL
Lost Division Semi-finals
2020–21 Season Lost to COVID 19 pandemic
2021–22 38 7 28 0 3 94 177 17 10th of 10, North Div.
18th of 19, GMHL
Lost Play in Rd 0-1 (South Muskoka Shield)
2022–23 Spartans did not compete this season
2023–24 42 11 29 0 2 130 236 24 6th of 7, North Div.
13th of 15, GMHL
Lost Play in Game 4-5 (Le Becard de Senneterre)

Playoffs

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  • 2012
Orangeville Americans defeated Mattawa Voyageurs 2-games-to-none in bye round
  • 2013
Temiscaming Titans defeated Mattawa Voyageurs 3-games-to-none in division quarter-finals
  • 2014
South Muskoka Shield defeated Mattawa Voyageurs 3-games-to-none in division quarter-finals
  • 2015
Sturgeon Falls Lumberjacks defeated Almaguin Spartans 5–4 (OT) in the North Division Elimination Qualifier Game
  • 2016
Almaguin Spartans defeated Bracebridge Blues 3-games-to-1 in division quarter-finals
Almaguin Spartans defeated Temiscaming Titans 3-games-to-1 in division semi-finals
Almaguin Spartans defeated South Muskoka Shield 4-games-to-2 in division finals
Almaguin Spartans 1–3 in Russell Cup Round Robin (Lost 1–4 vs. Steam, Lost 1–5 vs. Kings, Lost 1–7 vs. Kings, Won 4–3 vs. Steam)
Tottenham Steam defeated Almaguin Spartans 7–2 in the Russell Cup Championship play-in game.
  • 2017
South Muskoka Shield defeated Almaguin Spartans 3-games-to-2 in division quarter-finals
  • 2018
Almaguin Spartans defeated South Muskoka Shield 2-games-to-none in division quarter-finals
Almaguin Spartans defeated Temiscaming Titans 3-games-to-none in division semi-finals
Almaguin Spartans defeated Bradford Rattlers 4-games-to-none in division finals
Almaguin Spartans defeated St. George Ravens 4-games-to-2 in Russell Cup finals
  • 2019
New Tecumseth Civics defeated Almaguin Spartans 2-games-to-1 in division quarter-finals
  • 2020
Almaguin Spartans defeated Ville-Marie Pirates 2-games-to-1 in division quarter-finals
Temiscaming Titans defeated Almaguin Spartans 3-games-to-none in division semi-finals

References

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  1. ^ "Spartans move to South River". NorthBayNipissing.com. July 30, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  2. ^ "Junior A hockey franchise on its way to Sundridge". NorthBayNipissing.com. March 31, 2014.
  3. ^ "Almaguin Spartans Announce New Head Coach for 2019-2020 Season". GMHL. June 3, 2019.
 
Voyageurs logo (2011-14)
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