Jr. B Guelph Hurricanes relocate to Cambridge

A hurricane is blowing into Cambridge.

The Ontario Hockey Association approved the relocation of the Guelph Hurricanes to Cambridge on Wednesday, May 2, with the squad hitting the ice for the 2018-19 Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League season at the Galt Arena Gardens.

Despite months of speculating a new franchise would put down roots in the city to succeed the Cambridge Winter Hawks, after owners Joe Machado and Paul Williamson refused to sign the team’s renewal for the 2017-18 season — pulling them out of the OHA — it was more of a case of what was old is new again.

Guelph’s Jr. B history actually began in Hespeler, later Cambridge with amalgamation, when Joe Holody purchased the Shamrocks in 1982 and moved them to the Royal City to become the Holody Platers.

OHA president Karen Phibbs said applications for potential new teams were received — she wouldn’t elaborate on how many — and although they were “good applications,” the OHA decided to approve the relocation. Had there been a new team, the startup fee, payable to the OHA 30 days after the approval of the application, is $150,000.

“The Guelph application was very complete and went beyond in responding to what they would do in the community, as well as their operational setup and administration,” Phibbs said.

“It was a very, very strong application and was well-suited to the community — what that community has had in the past and what they would be looking for in the future.”

Phibbs added the fact that the team already existed, instead of a new operation, was also a factor in the decision.

“Because the Guelph team had decided to move and wanted to move, and they have all the infrastructure in place and are operational, we felt that was a better fit in the community versus a startup.

“We felt this was such a good fit with the abilities of the Guelph people and Cambridge.”

With Guelph moving to Cambridge there will once again be just eight teams in the GOJHL’s Midwestern Conference, which means all the teams make the playoffs for the second consecutive year — at least that’s the plan.

“There was a team that was looking at moving, maybe conference to conference, but that needs to be internally vetted by the league, as to what their makeup is and what their team balance is. But I haven’t heard anything more about that, so it will be status quo,” Phibbs said, adding she wouldn’t name the team.

Susanne Hiller, the city’s director of corporate communications, said the city is thrilled to have a Jr. B hockey team back.

“There is strong enthusiasm and support for junior hockey in Cambridge and there is no doubt that residents have missed junior hockey over the last year.

“We are confident that OHA did their due diligence during their search process and selected the best fit for the city. Our understanding is that the new team is very community-minded and we are sure they will feel very welcome in their new home.”

Cambridge team owner Scott Hunter was out of the country and not available for comment.