Williams Lake Mustangs (1978–1996)

The Williams Lake Mustangs was a Junior ice hockey team from Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada from 1978-1996. They were members of the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League.

Williams Lake Mustangs
CityWilliams Lake, British Columbia, Canada
LeaguePeace-Cariboo Junior Hockey League
Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League
Operated1978 (1978)–1996

History

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The Williams Lake Mustangs were founded in 1978 as members of the Peace-Cariboo Junior B League. In 1980, with the Peace-Cariboo League, the Mustangs were promoted to Junior A.

As members of the Peace-Cariboo League, the Mustangs won the PCJHL Trophy twice as playoff champions. They participated in the 1983 and 1989 Mowat Cup BC Jr. A championships as representatives of the PCJHL. In 1983, the British Columbia Junior Hockey League's Abbotsford Flyers defeated the Mustangs two-games-to-none. In 1989, the BCJHL's Vernon Lakers defeated the Mustangs two-games-to-none.

In 1991, the PCJHL merged with franchises from the Kootenays Region and became the Rocky Mountain League. The Mustangs won the RMJHL league title in 1993 and represented the league for the Mowat Cup. In 1993, the BCHL's Kelowna Spartans defeated the Mustangs three-games-to-none.

In 1996, the RMJHL's Peace-Cariboo division folded, forcing the Mustangs to take a year off. As a result, the Mustangs lost their renewal application for a bingo hall, the main source of revenue for the club.[1] As a result, the club liquidated what they could of their debt.[2] In March 1997, the club announced they would sit out a second consecutive season after failing to find new ownership.[3] Later they lost their arena advertising rights and ceased operations. Junior hockey returned from 2002–2010 when the Williams Lake TimberWolves joined the British Columbia Hockey League,[4] and again in 2024 when the Summerland Steam moved to Williams Lake and became the new Williams Lake Mustangs.[5]

Season-by-season standings

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Season GP W L T OTL GF GA P Results Playoffs
1978-79 35 7 27 1 - 136 272 15 6th, PC Jr. B
1979-80 48 13 35 0 - 220 334 26 6th, PC Jr. B Did not qualify
1980-81 40 9 31 0 - 192 278 18 6th, PCJHL Did not qualify
1981-82 56 11 45 0 - 259 432 22 6th, PCJHL Did not qualify
1982-83 40 26 14 0 - 247 181 52 1st, PCJHL PCJHL champions, 4-1 (Canucks)
1983-84 50 35 14 1 - 352 215 71 2nd, PCJHL Lost in finals, 1-4 (Spruce Kings)
1984-85 48 31 16 1 - 276 206 63 2nd, PCJHL Lost in semifinals, 0-4 (Spruce Kings)
1985-86 50 28 21 1 - 277 253 57 2nd, PCJHL Lost in finals, 1-4 (Spruce Kings)
1986-87 48 12 34 2 - 202 277 26 6th, PCJHL Did not qualify
1987-88 50 19 31 0 - 220 261 38 4th, PCJHL Lost in semifinals, 1-4 (North Stars)
1988-89 52 39 13 0 - 371 206 78 2nd, PCJHL PCJHL champions, 4-1 (North Stars)
1989-90 52 26 23 3 - 295 266 55 3rd, PCJHL Lost in semifinals, 1-4 (Spruce Kings)
1990-91 54 36 16 2 - 352 212 74 2nd, PCJHL Lost in finals, 1-4 (Spruce Kings)
1991-92 52 27 23 2 - 278 250 56 3rd, Peace-Cariboo Lost in quarterfinals, 1-4 (Huskies)
1992-93 52 35 17 - 0 301 222 70 1st, Peace-Cariboo RMJHL champions, 3-2 (Colts)
1993-94 52 18 32 - 2 204 255 38 4th, Peace-Cariboo Lost in quarterfinals, 0-4 (Spruce Kings)
1994-95 52 24 26 - 2 262 267 50 3rd, Peace-Cariboo Lost in semifinals, 0-4 (Spruce Kings)
1995-96 58 13 45 - 0 201 347 26 5th, Peace-Cariboo Did not qualify

Playoffs

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  • 1981 DNQ
  • 1982 DNQ
  • 1983 Won league, lost Mowat Cup
Williams Lake Mustangs defeated Dawson Creek Kodiaks 3-games-to-1
Williams Lake Mustangs defeated Quesnel Millionaires 3-games-to-none
Williams Lake Mustangs defeated Dawson Creek Kodiaks 4-games-to-1 PCJHL champions
Abbotsford Flyers (BCJHL) defeated Williams Lake Mustangs 2-games-to-none
  • 1984 Lost final
Williams Lake Mustangs defeated Grande Prairie North Stars 4-games-to-none
Prince George Spruce Kings defeated Williams Lake Mustangs 4-games-to-1
  • 1985 Lost semi-final
Prince George Spruce Kings defeated Williams Lake Mustangs 4-games-to-none
  • 1986 Lost final
Williams Lake Mustangs defeated Fort St. John Huskies 4-games-to-2
Prince George Spruce Kings defeated Williams Lake Mustangs 4-games-to-1
  • 1987 DNQ
  • 1988 Lost semi-final
Grande Prairie North Stars defeated Williams Lake Mustangs 4-games-to-1
  • 1989 Won league, lost Mowat Cup
Williams Lake Mustangs defeated Fort St. John Huskies 4-games-to-1
Williams Lake Mustangs defeated Grande Prairie North Stars 4-games-to-1 PCJHL champions
Vernon Lakers (BCJHL) defeated Williams Lake Mustangs 2-games-to-none
  • 1990 Lost semi-final
Prince George Spruce Kings defeated Williams Lake Mustangs 4-games-to-1
  • 1991 Lost final
Williams Lake Mustangs defeated Fort St. John Huskies 4-games-to-none
Prince George Spruce Kings defeated Williams Lake Mustangs 4-games-to-1
  • 1992 Lost quarter-final
Fort St. John Huskies defeated Williams Lake Mustangs 4-games-to-1
  • 1993 Won League, lost Mowat Cup
Williams Lake Mustangs defeated Quesnel Millionaires 4-games-to-none
Williams Lake Mustangs defeated Prince George Spruce Kings 4-games-to-none
Williams Lake Mustangs defeated Cranbrook Colts 3-games-to-2 RMJHL champions
Kelowna Spartans (BCHL) defeated Williams Lake Mustangs 3-games-to-none
  • 1994 Lost quarter-final
Prince George Spruce Kings defeated Williams Lake Mustangs 4-games-to-none
  • 1995 Lost semi-final
Williams Lake Mustangs defeated Grande Prairie Chiefs 4-games-to-2
Prince George Spruce Kings defeated Williams Lake Mustangs 4-games-to-none
  • 1996 DNQ

NHL alumni

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References

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  1. ^ Sinkewicz, Paul (10 September 1996). "Mustangs ineligible for bingo bucks". Williams Lake Tribune.
  2. ^ "Mustangs attacking old debt".
  3. ^ Peters, Jason (20 March 1997). "Mustangs to sit for second year".
  4. ^ "BCHL's Board of Governors suspend Williams Lk T-Wolves franchise". B.C. Hockey League. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
  5. ^ Arendt, John (22 March 2024). "Summerland Steam sold, relocating to Williams Lake". Vernon Morning Star. Black Press Media. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
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