Fergus Whalers

{{short description|Canadian junior ice hockey team}} {{infobox hockey team |team_name = Fergus Whalers |league = Provincial Junior Hockey League |logo = Fergus Whalers logo.png |division = Pollock (North Conf) |arena = Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex |city = Fergus, Ontario |colours = green, Royalblue, and White |head_coach = Ryan Black |gm = Craig Dool |league_champions = NJDHL: 1980 GMOHL: 1995, 1999, 2000, and 2001 |cs_cup = 2026 |dudley_cup = |oha_cup = | name1 = Fergus Green Machine | dates1 = 1971-1987 | name2 = Fergus Devils | dates2 = 1990-2015 | name3 = '''Fergus Whalers''' | dates3 = 2023-Present }} The '''Fergus Whalers''' are a Junior ice hockey team based in Fergus, Ontario, Canada. They played in the PJHL, joining the league as an expansion franchise prior to the 2023-24. The team will play in the Pollock Division of the North Conference.

The Whalers will be a continuation of Fergus involvement in junior hockey taking the place of the '''Fergus Devils''' who were a Junior ice hockey team that played in the former Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League (now a part of the PJHL). They took a leave of absence for the 2015/16 season and have not returned.

==History== thumb|The Fergus Whalers winning the 2026 Schmalz Cup at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex in Fergus, Ontario. The Fergus Green Machine were founded in 1971 in the South-Central Junior D Hockey League.<ref name="Fergus Green Machine">[http://www.officialgamepuck.com/TownIndex/Canadian/OntarioTowns/FergusGreen.htm Fergus Green Machine]</ref> In 1973, the league was promoted to the Central Ontario Junior C Hockey League.<ref name="Fergus Green Machine"/> In 1974, the team seemed to have dropped off the map, but it turns out they had probably dropped to the fairly local Northern Junior D Hockey League.<ref>'''Owen Sound Sun Times''' Sports section, Februarys 1975, 1978, 1981</ref> In 1979-80, while in the Northern, the Green Machine picked up a 16-year-old Scottish defenseman named James Stephen Smith.<ref name="legendsofhockey.net">[http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=11529 Legends of Hockey – NHL Player Search – Player – Steve Smith]</ref> Smith led the team to a league championship, and all the way to the Ontario Hockey Association Cup final against the Belmont Bombers of the ''Western Ontario Junior D Hockey League''. The Bombers knocked off the Machine 2-games-to-none in a best-of-3 series to win the All-Ontario championship.<ref name="Constitution 2006">'''Ontario Hockey Association 2006-2007 Constitution, Regulations and Rules of Competition''' by The Ontario Hockey Association (2006)</ref> Smith went on to play three seasons of Ontario Hockey League hockey with the London Knights before eventually winning three Stanley Cups with the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers.<ref name="legendsofhockey.net"/>

In 1983, the Green Machine returned to their old Junior "C" loop,<ref name="Fergus Green Machine"/> now known as the Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League. The Northern Junior D Hockey League folded two seasons later without the Fergus franchise.<ref>[http://www.officialgamepuck.com/TownIndex/Canadian/OntarioTowns/ArthurEagles.htm AncasterShamrocks]</ref> In 1987 the Green Machine folded.

In 1990, the town of Fergus resurrected the team as the Fergus Devils. Still in the Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League, the Devils played two seasons of interlock with the Western Junior C Hockey League. Two years later, the Mid-Ontario merged with the Georgian Bay Junior C Hockey League to form the Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League.<ref name="ExeterHawks">[http://www.officialgamepuck.com/TownIndex/Canadian/OntarioTowns/FergusDevils.htm ExeterHawks]</ref> It is unknown if the Devils won any Mid-Ontario championships. The Devils found their niche in the new league and won the league title in 1995, 1999, 2000, and 2001. The Devils have never reached the Clarence Schmalz Cup finals.<ref name="Constitution 2006"/>

The 2005-06 season saw the Devils finish in second play in the Georgian Mid-Ontario. In the league quarter-final, the Devils laid out the seventh-seeded Bradford Bulls 4 games to none. With a head of steam, the Devils played the fourth seeded Erin Shamrocks in the semi-final. The result was a 4-games-to-1 series win for the Devils. In the finals, the Devils locked horns with the first seed Penetang Kings. The Devils were no match for the Kings as Penetang swept the series 4-games-to-none to win the league championship. The Kings went on to win the Clarence Schmalz Cup.<ref name="Home | Ontario Hockey Association">[http://www.ohahockey.org/ Home | Ontario Hockey Association]{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In 2006-07, a late season surge saw the Fergus Devils surpass the Alliston Hornets and Penetang Kings to gain the top seed in the league. As the Bradford Bulls had left the league to try their chances on an Independent Junior A league, the Devils received a bye in the league quarter-finals. The well rested Devils took on the fifth seeded Stayner Siskins in the league semi-final and beat them 4-games-to-1. Again in the finals, the Devils again faced the Penetang Kings. The Kings went up 2-games-to-none on the Devils with a pair of double overtime victories. The Devils came back ane won game 3 and 4 just to lose game 5 and 6. For the second straight year the Penetang Kings beat the Devils for the league title and again went on to win the Clarence Schmalz Cup.<ref name="Home | Ontario Hockey Association"/>

The Devils folded following the 2014/15 season.

Prior to the start of the 2023-24 Provincial Junior Hockey League season, Jason Baier secured a new franchise and introduced the Fergus Whalers. The team competed in the North Conference and the Pollock Division.

==Season-by-season standings== {|class="wikitable" |- align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd" |'''Season''' ||'''GP''' || '''W''' || '''L''' || '''T''' || '''OTL''' || '''GF''' || '''GA''' || '''P''' || '''Results''' || '''Playoffs''' |- align="center" |1971-72 ||30 ||21 ||6 ||3 ||- ||215 ||107 ||45 ||1st SCJDHL ||Won league, lost OHA Cup SF |- align="center" |1972-73 ||29 ||21 ||3 ||5 ||- ||214 ||132 ||49 ||1st SCJDHL ||Lost final |- align="center" |1973-74 ||30 ||2 ||25 ||3 ||- ||114 ||239 ||7 ||7th Central G1 ||DNQ |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffeeee" |1974-75 ||28 ||10 ||15 ||3 ||- ||158 ||164 ||25 ||5th of 7 NJDHL ||DNQ |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffeeee" |1975-76 ||28 ||16 ||9 ||3 ||- ||162 ||133 ||35 ||4th of 8 NJDHL ||Lost semi-final, 1-4 (Ironmen) |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffeeee" |1976-77 ||24 ||14 ||6 ||4 ||- ||164 ||129 ||32 ||2nd of 5 NJDHL ||Won semi-final, 4-1 (Ironmen) |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffeeee" |1977-78 ||colspan="11"| |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffeeee" |1978-79 ||34 ||22 ||8 ||4 ||- ||230 ||155 ||48 ||2nd NJDHL || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffeeee" |1979-80 ||colspan="11"| |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeff" |1980-81 ||30 ||12 ||15 ||3 ||- ||158 ||198 ||27 ||4th WOJCHL || |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeff" |1981-82 ||30 ||13 ||14 ||3 ||- ||168 ||164 ||29 ||5th WOJCHL || |- align="center" |1982-83 ||colspan="11"|Did not participate |- align="center" |1983-84 ||34 ||12 ||21 ||1 ||- ||166 ||202 ||25 ||6th MOJCHL ||Lost quarter-final 1-3 (Hornets) |- align="center" |1984-85 ||36 ||23 ||12 ||1 ||- ||224 ||135 ||45 ||2nd MOJCHL ||Lost quarter-final 0-3 (Crushers) |- align="center" |1985-86 ||34 ||20 ||14 ||0 ||- ||183 ||178 ||40 ||3rd MOJCHL || |- align="center" |1986-87 ||33 ||21 ||11 ||1 ||- ||235 ||166 ||43 ||2nd MOJCHL ||Won quarter-final 4-0 (Harvesters) Won semi-final 4-1 (Crushers) Lost final 0-4 (Blues) |- align="center" |1987-90 ||colspan="11"|Did not participate |- align="center" |1990-91 ||34 ||3 ||31 ||0 ||- ||-- ||-- ||6 ||6th MOJCHL ||Lost quarter-final 1-4 (Sabres) |- align="center" |1991-92 ||34 ||7 ||24 ||3 ||- ||136 ||220 ||17 ||6th MOJCHL ||Won quarter-final 4-1 (Hornets) Lost semi-final 0-4 (Crushers) |- align="center" |1992-93 ||38 ||19 ||14 ||4 ||1 ||200 ||187 ||43 ||2nd MOJCHL ||no data |- align="center" |1993-94 ||40 ||18 ||21 ||1 ||- ||233 ||248 ||37 ||4th MOJCHL ||Lost quarter-final (Shamrocks) |- align="center" |1994-95 ||36 ||21 ||14 ||1 ||- ||-- ||-- ||43 ||3rd GMOHL ||Won quarter-final 4-0 (Shamrocks) Won semi-final 4-3 (Hornets) '''Won League''' 4-0 (Kings) Lost CSC quarter-final (Patriots) |- align="center" |1995-96 ||44 ||18 ||24 ||2 ||- ||204 ||226 ||38 ||7th GMOHL ||DNQ |- align="center" |1996-97 ||36 ||16 ||20 ||0 ||- ||171 ||162 ||32 ||7th GMOHL ||Won quarter-final 3-0 (Siskins) Won semi-final 4-1 (Bulls) Lost final 3-4 (Cubs) |- align="center" |1997-98 ||36 ||22 ||14 ||0 ||- ||159 ||123 ||44 ||2nd GMOHL ||Won quarter-final 3-2 (Cubs) Lost semi-final 2-4 (Bulls) |- align="center" |1998-99 ||36 ||25 ||9 ||2 ||- ||178 ||130 ||52 ||2nd GMOHL ||Won quarter-final 4-1 (Shamrocks) Won semi-final 4-0 (Siskins) '''Won League''' 4-2 (Flyers) Lost CSC quarter-final 3-4 (Bulldogs) |- align="center" |1999-00 ||36 ||31 ||5 ||0 ||- ||226 ||123 ||62 ||1st GMOHL ||Won quarter-final 4-0 (Hornets) Won semi-final 4-1 (Cubs) '''Won League''' 4-0 (Siskins) Lost CSC quarter-final 3-4 (Bulldogs) |- align="center" |2000-01 ||36 ||22 ||11 ||1 ||2 ||185 ||140 ||45 ||2nd GMOHL||Won quarter-final 4-0 (Hornets) Won semi-final 4-3 (Flyers) '''Won League''' 4-2 (Siskins) Lost CSC quarter-final 1-4 (Barons) |- align="center" |2001-02 ||36 ||21 ||11 ||2 ||2 ||165 ||135 ||46 ||3rd GMOHL||Won quarter-final 4-3 (Cougars) Lost semi-final 0-4 (Shamrocks) |- align="center" |2002-03 ||36 ||17 ||18 ||1 ||0 ||126 ||130 ||35 ||6th GMOHL ||Lost quarter-final 1-4 (Cougars) |- align="center" |2003-04 ||36 ||16 ||17 ||1 ||2 ||165 ||178 ||35 ||5th GMOHL||Lost quarter-final 1-4 (Kings) |- align="center" |2004-05 ||40 ||25 ||10 ||4 ||1 ||160 ||117 ||55 ||2nd GMOHL||Won quarter-final 4-2 (Cougars) Lost semi-final 2-4 (Kings) |- align="center" |2005-06 ||42 ||25 ||9 ||5 ||3 ||170 ||128 ||58 ||2nd GMOHL ||Won quarter-final 4-0 (Hornets) Won semi-final 4-1 (Shamrocks) Lost final 0-4 (Kings) |- align="center" |2006-07 ||41 ||29 ||7 ||3 ||2 ||220 ||104 ||63 ||1st GMOHL ||Quarter-final BYE Won semi-final 4-1 (Siskins) Lost final 2-4 (Kings) |- align="center" |2007-08 ||42 ||27 ||11 ||1 ||3 ||208 ||147 ||58 ||3rd GMOHL ||Won quarter-final 4-1 (Siskins) Lost semi-final 2-4 (Kings) |- align="center" |2008-09 ||42 ||14 ||27 ||- ||1 ||134 ||202 ||29 ||6th GMOHL ||Lost quarter-final 0-4 (Shamrocks) |- align="center" |2009-10 ||42 ||13 ||26 ||- ||3 ||133 ||219 ||29 ||5th GMOHL||Lost quarter-final 3-4 (Shamrocks) |- align="center" |2010-11 ||40 ||13 ||25 ||- ||2 ||132 ||174 ||28 ||7th GMOHL ||Lost quarter-final 1-4 (Shamrocks) |- align="center" |2011-12 ||40 ||2 ||38 ||- ||0 ||79 ||267 ||4 ||8th GMOHL ||Lost quarter-final 0-4 (Siskins) |- align="center" |2012-13 ||40 ||12 ||27 ||- ||1 ||89 ||165 ||25 ||8th GMOHL ||DNQ |- align="center" |2013-14 ||40 ||17 ||19 ||- ||4 ||143 ||170 ||38 ||8th GMOHL ||Lost quarter-final 0-4 (Hornets) |- align="center" |2014-15 ||40 ||16 ||20 ||- ||4 ||130 ||169 ||36 ||8th GMOHL ||Lost quarter-final 0-4 (Hornets) |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" |2015-16 ||colspan="11"|''LEAVE OF ABSENCE'' |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" |2016-17 ||colspan="11"|''Assumed to have folded the franchise'' |- align="center" bgcolor="teal" style="color:#FFFFFF" |colspan="12"|'''Fergus Whalers''' |- align="center" bgcolor=beige |2023-24 ||42 ||20 ||17 ||3 ||2 ||152 ||135 ||45 ||4th of 8 Pollock Div-PJHL ||Won Div.quarterfinal, 4-0 (Capitals) Lost Div Semifinals, 2-4 (Barons) |- align="center" bgcolor=beige |2024-25 ||42 ||27 ||10 ||3 ||2 ||176 ||116 ||59 ||3rd of 8 Pollock Div 6th of 15 North Conf 18th of 63-PJHL ||Won Div.quarterfinal, 4-1 (Hawks) Won Div Semifinals 4-1 (Patriots) Lost Div Final 1-4 (Barons) |- align="center" bgcolor=beige |2025-26 ||42 ||34 ||7 ||1 ||0 ||253 ||103 ||69 ||'''1st of 8 Pollock Div''' '''1st of 15 North Conf''' 3rd of 61-PJHL ||bye Div.quarterfinal, 0-0 Won Div Semifinals 4-0 (Bulldogs) '''Won Div Finals''' 4-1 (Barons) '''Won N Conf Finals''' 4-0 (Siskins) Won Schmalz Cup Semi-Finals 4-1 (Huskies) '''Won Schmalz Cup Finals''' 4-1 (Braves) |}

==Clarence Schmalz Cup appearances== :''2026'': '''Fergus Whalers''' defeated Tavistock Braves ''4-games-to-1''

==Notable alumni== *James Stephen Smith<ref name="legendsofhockey.net"/> *Chris Driscoll<ref>[http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=30247 Chris Driscoll's profile at hockeydb.com]</ref> (NLL Pro lacrosse player) *Greg Jacina<ref>[http://www.sportclix.com/fergusdevils/history.html Fergus Devils Junior C Hockey]{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://www.ferguswhalers.ca/ Whalers' Webpage]

Category:Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League teams Category:Centre Wellington Category:1971 establishments in Ontario Category:Ice hockey clubs established in 1971 Category:Ice hockey teams in Ontario