West Lorne Lakers

West Lorne Lakers
City:	West Elgin, Ontario
League:	Independent
Founded:	1989 (1989)
Home Arena:	West Elgin Arena
Colors:	Red, Black, and White
Head Coach:	Russ Morningstar
General Manager:	Lyle Bedford
Franchise history
1989-2004:	Port Stanley Lakers
2004-Present:	West Lorne Lakers

The West Lorne Lakers are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in West Elgin, Ontario, Canada. Until the end of the 2007-2008 season, they played in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA). The Lakers have since left the OHA according to their website

History

The Port Stanley Lakers were founded in 1989 as members of the Western Ontario Junior D Hockey League. A large league comprised of the remnants of multiple other Southern Ontario Junior leagues. In 1991, this league renamed itself the OHA Junior Development League.

In 1994, the Lakers finished first amongst all OHAJDL teams in the regular season with a stellar record of 36 wins, 2 losses, and 2 ties. They made it all the way to the league finals in the playoffs and found themselves nose-to-nose with the Mitchell Hawks. The Hawks were not to be denied as they swept the Lakers aside 4-games-to-none to win the OHA Cup as league champions.

The 1995 season saw the Lakers pull off a rock solid performance, finishing second overall. They pushed all the way to the OHAJDL finals once again. Their opponents this time around were the Thamesford Trojans. The Trojans defeated the Lakers 4-games-to-2 to win the OHA Cup.

The next season, the Lakers entered the playoffs and met the Lambeth Lancers in the first round. The Lancers meant business and defeated the Lakers 4-games-to-2 to put them out of the playoffs.

The Lakers finished the 1996-97 season in fifth place overall. In the first round of the playoffs, they met the Thamesford Trojans. They defeated the Trojans 4-games-to-none. In the second round, the Lakers were defeated by the Mount Brydges Bulldogs 4-games-to-2.

The Lakers showed great promise in the 1997-98 season, finishing second overall. They entered the playoffs against the Lambeth Lancers, whom they defeated 4-games-to-1. In the second round, the Lakers were up against the Thamesford Trojans who they also beat in five games. In the conference final, Port Stanley ran into the Exeter Hawks. In a drawn out series, the Hawks bested the Lakers in the seventh game to win the series 4-games-to-3 and deny the Lakers a chance at the OHA Cup.

The 1999-00 proved to be one for the ages for the Port Stanley Lakers. After finishing first overall in the OHAJDL with a record of 31 wins and 9 losses, the Lakers pushed deep into the playoffs. Their first opponents were the Lambeth Lancers, who the Lakers defeat 4-games-to-2. In the second round, the Lakers came up against the Thamesford Trojans and swept them 4-games-to-none. The conference finals were next and the Lakers were up against a tough Lucan Irish squad. The Irish couldn't handle the Lakers, as Port Stanley took the series 4-games-to-1. This earned the Lakers their first OHAJDL final since 1995. The Lakers challenged the Burford Bulldogs and defeated them 4-games-to-1 to win their franchises first ever OHA Cup.

The 2000-01 season marked the end of an era of domination for the Lakers. This was the last season for many that they would ride amongst the top teams in the standings. After finishing first overall in the league, the Lakers entered the playoffs against the North Middlesex Stars. The Lakers swept the Stars 4-games-to-none. In the second round of the playoffs, the Lakers met the Seaforth Centenaires. The underdog Centenaires took the Lakers to game seven and defeated them in an upset.

In 2004, the Lakers met Thamesford in the first round of the playoffs and defeated them 4-games-to-none. In the second round, they met Lambeth and defeated them 4-games-to-2. In the conference final, the Lakers met the Exeter Hawks and were swept in four games.

During the off-season, the Lakers moved to West Elgin and became the West Lorne Lakers. In 2005, the Lakers met Lambeth in the first round of the playoffs and defeated them in seven games. They then met the Lucan Irish and again won the series in seven games. In the conference final, it appeared that the Lakers might do it again in game seven to the Mount Brydges Bulldogs. This time, the opponents prevailed and the Bulldogs won the series in seven games.

In 2006, the Lakers met the Exeter Hawks in the first round of the playoffs. The Hawks fell to the Lakers 4-games-to-2. In the second round of the playoffs, the Lakers fell to Thamesford 4-games-to-none.

In the off-season, the OHAJDL disbanded and the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League was formed in its place. West Lorne finished low in the standings but still made the playoffs. They met the Lambeth Lancers in the first round and defeated them 4-games-to-2. In the second round of the playoffs, the Lakers lost to the North Middlesex Stars 4-games-to-2.

West Elgin Arena

After nineteen seasons in the Ontario Hockey Association, the Lakers franchise announced that they will be leaving the OHA. "The Lakers will continue play in various forms at other venues outside the OHA," said team President Wayne Bedford. As of the 2008-09 season, the Lakers have relegated themselves to the London Ice Park recreational men's league. They posted a 19-1 record in their first season outside of the OHA.

Season-by-Season Record

Season	GP	W	L	T	OTL	GF	GA	P	Results
1989-90	35	5	27	3	-	113	214	13	18th WJDHL
1990-91	40	23	12	5	0	174	152	51	5th WJDHL
1991-92	40	19	15	3	3	146	161	44	6th OHAJDL
1992-93	39	22	12	5	0	214	158	49	5th OHAJDL
1993-94	40	36	2	2	-	331	126	74	1st OHAJDL
1994-95	40	29	7	2	2	237	162	62	2nd OHAJDL
1995-96	38	26	11	1	0	181	139	53	3rd OHAJDL
1996-97	38	23	12	1	2	217	141	49	5th OHAJDL
1997-98	39	28	8	1	2	194	114	57	2nd OHAJDL
1998-99	40	20	15	4	1	188	153	45	8th OHAJDL
1999-00	40	31	9	0	0	242	114	62	1st OHAJDL
2000-01	40	29	8	1	2	--	--	61	1st OHAJDL
2001-02	40	22	13	3	2	190	176	49	6th OHAJDL
2002-03	40	16	22	1	1	167	202	34	13th OHAJDL
2003-04	40	20	18	2	0	189	199	42	9th OHAJDL
2004-05	38	16	18	4	0	177	188	36	12th OHAJDL
2005-06	38	16	17	3	2	155	183	37	13th OHAJDL
2006-07	40	13	24	0	3	184	229	29	14th SOJHL
2007-08	40	19	19	-	2	137	159	40	10th SOJHL
2008-09	20	19	1	0	-	167	49	38	1st LIPHL

Playoffs

• 1994 Lost final

Mitchell Hawks defeated Port Stanley Lakers 4-games-to-none in final

• 1995 Lost final

Thamesford Trojans defeated Port Stanley Lakers 4-games-to-2 in final

• 1996 Lost conference quarter-final

Lambeth Lancers defeated Port Stanley Lakers 4-games-to-2 in conf. quarter-final

• 1997 Lost conference semi-final

Port Stanley Lakers defeated Thamesford Trojans 4-games-to-none in conf. quarter-final

Mount Brydges Bulldogs defeated Port Stanley Lakers 4-games-to-2 in conf. semi-final

• 1998 Lost conference final

Port Stanley Lakers defeated Lambeth Lancers 4-games-to-1 in conf. quarter-final

Port Stanley Lakers defeated Thamesford Trojans 4-games-to-1 in conf. semi-final

Exeter Hawks defeated Port Stanley Lakers 4-games-to-3 in conf. final

• 2000 Won League

Port Stanley Lakers defeated Lambeth Lancers 4-games-to-2 in conf. quarter-final

Port Stanley Lakers defeated Thamesford Trojans 4-games-to-none in conf. semi-final

Port Stanley Lakers defeated Lucan Irish 4-games-to-1 in conf. final

Port Stanley Lakers defeated Burford Bulldogs 4-games-to-1 in final

• 2001 Lost conference semi-final

Port Stanley Lakers defeated North Middlesex Stars 4-games-to-none in conf. quarter-final

Seaforth Centenaires defeated Port Stanley Lakers 4-games-to-3 in conf. semi-final

• 2004 Lost conference final

Port Stanley Lakers defeated Thamesford Trojans 4-games-to-none in conf. quarter-final

Port Stanley Lakers defeated Lambeth Lancers 4-games-to-2 in conf. semi-final

Exeter Hawks defeated Port Stanley Lakers 4-games-to-none in conf. final

• 2005 Lost conference final

West Lorne Lakers defeated Lambeth Lancers 4-games-to-3 in conf. quarter-final

West Lorne Lakers defeated Lucan Irish 4-games-to-3 in conf. semi-final

Mount Brydges Bulldogs defeated West Lorne 4-games-to-3 in conf. final

• 2006 Lost conference semi-final

West Lorne Lakers defeated Exeter Hawks 4-games-to-2 in conf. quarter-final

Thamesford Trojans defeated West Lorne Lakers 4-games-to-none in conf. semi-final

• 2007 Lost conference quarter-final

West Lorne Lakers defeated Lambeth Lancers 4-games-to-2 in conf. quarter-final

North Middlesex Stars defeated West Lorne Lakers 4-games-to-2 in conf. semi-final

• 2008 Lost conference semi-final

West Lorne Lakers defeated Lambeth Lancers 4-games-to-1 in conf. quarter-final

Mount Brydges Bulldogs defeated West Lorne Lakers 4-games-to-none in conf. semi-final

External links

• West Lorne Lakers Website
• OHA Website