Fort Saskatchewan Traders

{{Short description|Ice hockey team in Alberta, Canada}} {{infobox hockey team | team = Fort Saskatchewan Traders | logo = Fort Saskatchewan Traders.png | city = Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta | league = Alberta Junior Hockey League | division = North | arena = Jubilee Recreation Centre | colours = Black, red and white | name1 = Fort Saskatchewan Traders | dates1 = 1976–2007 | name2 = St. Albert Steel | dates2 = 2007–2012 | name3 = Whitecourt Wolverines | dates3 = 2012–present }}

The '''Fort Saskatchewan Traders''' were an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They played in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada, at the Jubilee Recreation Centre, capacity 2000.

:'''Founded:''' 1976–77 :'''Division titles won:''' 1983–84 :'''Regular season titles won:''' 1983–84, 1990–91, 1992–93 :'''League Championships won:''' 1979, 1984 :'''Doyle Cup Titles:''' None :'''Royal Bank Cup Titles:''' None

==History==

The team's name comes from Fort Saskatchewan's history as a North-West Mounted Police fort, although it was not actually a trading fort, when it was originally settled in 1875.

In 1978–79, the Traders completed their most successful season in the AJHL, as they won the league championship, and then defeated the Richmond Sockeyes of the BCHL in the Vernon Cup (forerunner to the Doyle Cup) before falling to the eventual national champion Prince Albert Raiders in six games at the Centennial Cup finals.

The Traders fell upon hard times in their last years as financial difficulties and low attendance left the future of the Traders in doubt. The Traders were reportedly sold to a group representing St. Albert during the 2005-06 season, however the deal failed to gain league approval. Finally, on March 15, 2007, a deal to relocate the Traders to St. Albert for the 2007–08 season was approved, ending the Traders' 31-year run in Fort Saskatchewan.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/st-albert-snaps-up-fort-saskatchewan-hockey-team-1.653065 St. Albert snaps up Fort Saskatchewan hockey team], cbcsports, March 16, 2007</ref> Only the Calgary Canucks have had a longer tenure in one city. Once relocated, the team was renamed the St. Albert Steel. The team relocated again after the 2011–12 season to Whitecourt where they became the Whitecourt Wolverines.

==Season-by-season record==

'''''Note:''' GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T/OTL = Ties/Overtime losses, SOL = Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against''

{|class="wikitable" |- align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd" | '''Season''' || '''GP ''' || ''' W ''' || ''' L ''' || ''' T/OTL ''' || '''SOL''' || '''Points''' || '''GF ''' || '''GA ''' ||'''Finish''' || '''Playoffs''' |- align="center" | 1976-77 || 60 || 33 || 24 || 3 || - || 69 || 292 || 280 || 5th Overall || --- |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | 1977-78 || 58 || 37 || 21 || 2 || - || 76 || 345 || 299 || 3rd Overall || --- |- align="center" | 1978-79 || 60 || 41 || 18 || 1 || - || 83 || 340 || 246 || 2nd Overall || '''Won Championship''' |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | 1979-80 || 59 || 24 || 35 || 0 || - || 48 || 282 || 336 || 6th Overall || --- |- align="center" | 1980-81 || 60 || 23 || 36 || 1 || - || 47 || 273 || 316 || 4th North || --- |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | 1981-82 || 60 || 30 || 29 || 1 || - || 61 || 266 || 288 || 3rd North || --- |- align="center" | 1982-83 || 60 || 26 || 34 || 0 || - || 52 || 301 || 299 || 3rd North || --- |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | 1983-84 || 60 || 40 || 19 || 1 || - || 81 || 325 || 262 || 1st North || '''Won Championship''' |- align="center" | 1984-85 || 60 || 36 || 22 || 2 || - || 74 || 312 || 231 || 3rd North || --- |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | 1985-86 || 52 || 21 || 29 || 2 || - || 44 || 227 || 256 || 3rd North || --- |- align="center" | 1986-87 || 60 || 24 || 34 || 2 || - || 50 || 258 || 295 || 4th North || --- |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | 1987-88 || 60 || 29 || 30 || 1 || - || 59 || 295 || 280 || 2nd North || --- |- align="center" | 1988-89 || 60 || 38 || 21 || 1 || - || 77 || 304 || 270 || 2nd North || --- |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | 1989-90 || 60 || 33 || 27 || 0 || - || 66 || 307 || 263 || 3rd North || --- |- align="center" | 1990-91 || 56 || 37 || 15 || 4 || - || 78 || 282 || 218 || 1st Overall || --- |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | 1991-92 || 60 || 31 || 28 || - || 1 || 63 || 246 || 251 || 6th Overall || --- |- align="center" | 1992-93 || 56 || 36 || 18 || - || 2 || 74 || 248 || 197 || 1st Overall || --- |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | 1993-94 || 56 || 33 || 21 || - || 2 || 67 || 206 || 175 || 3rd Overall || --- |- align="center" | 1994-95 || 56 || 18 || 34 || - || 4 || 40 || 201 || 267 || 9th Overall || --- |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | 1995-96 || 60 || 36 || 19 || - || 5 || 77 || 209 || 189 || 4th Overall || --- |- align="center" | 1996-97 || 60 || 26 || 31 || - || 3 || 55 || 247 || 234 || 9th Overall || --- |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | 1997-98 || 60 || 40 || 18 || - || 2 || 82 || 249 || 225 || 3rd Overall || --- |- align="center" | 1998-99 || 62 || 37 || 24 || - || 1 || 75 || 294 || 252 || 3rd North || --- |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | 1999-00 || 64 || 35 || 25 || - || 4 || 74 || 272 || 255 || 3rd North || --- |- align="center" | 2000-01 || 64 || 26 || 32 || 6 || - || 58 || 249 || 300 || 7th North || --- |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | 2001-02 || 64 || 20 || 41 || 3 || - || 43 || 190 || 315 || 7th North || --- |- align="center" | 2002-03 || 64 || 20 || 36 || 8 || - || 48 || 214 || 285 || 7th North || --- |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | 2003-04 || 60 || 16 || 39 || 5 || - || 37 || 159 || 281 || 8th North || Did not qualify |- align="center" | 2004-05 || 64 || 19 || 41 || 4 || - || 42 || 157 || 228 || 6th North || |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | 2005-06 || 60 || 37 || 20 || 3 || - || 77 || 201 || 179 || 6th North || Lost in First Round |- align="center" | 2006-07 || 60 || 45 || 11 || 4 || - || 94 || 286 || 146 || 1st North || Lost in Final |}

===Playoffs=== *1977 ''Lost quarter-final'' :'''Red Deer Rustlers''' defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''4-games-to-2'' *1978 ''Lost final'' :'''Fort Saskatchewan Traders''' defeated Edmonton Crusaders ''4-games-to-3'' :'''First''' in semi-final round robin (3-1) vs. Calgary Canucks and St. Albert Saints :'''Calgary Canucks''' defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''4-games-to-none'' *1979 ''Won League, won Alta/BC Championship, lost Abbott Cup'' :'''Fort Saskatchewan Traders''' defeated Calgary Chinooks ''4-games-to-none'' :'''Second''' in semi-final round robin (2-2) vs. Calgary Canucks and St. Albert Saints :'''Fort Saskatchewan Traders''' defeated Calgary Canucks ''4-games-to-3'' '''AJHL CHAMPIONS''' :'''Fort Saskatchewan Traders''' defeated Richmond Sockeyes (PJHL) ''4-games-to-1'' '''ALTA/BC CHAMPIONS''' :'''Prince Albert Raiders''' (SJHL) defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''4-games-to-2'' *1980 ''Lost quarter-final'' :'''St. Albert Saints''' defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''3-games-to-none'' *1981 ''Lost quarter-final'' :'''Sherwood Park Crusaders''' defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''3-games-to-none'' *1982 ''Lost quarter-final'' :'''Fort McMurray Oil Barons''' defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''4-games-to-2'' *1983 ''Lost quarter-final'' :'''Fort McMurray Oil Barons''' defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''4-games-to-none'' *1984 ''Won League, lost Alta/BC Championship'' :'''Fort Saskatchewan Traders''' defeated Fort McMurray Oil Barons ''4-games-to-none'' :'''Fort Saskatchewan Traders''' defeated St. Albert Saints ''4-games-to-3'' :'''Fort Saskatchewan Traders''' defeated Red Deer Rustlers ''4-games-to-none'' '''AJHL CHAMPIONS''' :'''Langley Eagles''' (BCJHL) defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''4-games-to-2'' *1985 ''Lost semi-final'' :'''Fort Saskatchewan Traders''' defeated St. Albert Saints ''4-games-to-2'' :'''Sherwood Park Crusaders''' defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''4-games-to-none'' *1986 ''Lost quarter-final'' :'''Sherwood Park Crusaders''' defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''4-games-to-1'' *1987 ''Lost quarter-final'' :'''Sherwood Park Crusaders''' defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''4-games-to-1'' *1988 ''Lost quarter-final'' :'''Hobbema Hawks''' defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''4-games-to-2'' *1989 ''Lost final'' :'''Fort Saskatchewan Traders''' defeated Lloydminster Blazers ''4-games-to-2'' :'''Fort Saskatchewan Traders''' defeated Sherwood Park Crusaders ''4-games-to-none'' :'''Red Deer Rustlers''' defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''4-games-to-1'' *1990 ''Lost quarter-final'' :'''Lloydminster Blazers''' defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''4-games-to-3'' *1991 ''Lost final'' :'''Fort Saskatchewan Traders''' defeated Sherwood Park Crusaders ''4-games-to-none'' :'''Fort Saskatchewan Traders''' defeated Lloydminster Blazers ''4-games-to-1'' :'''Calgary Royals''' defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''4-games-to-2'' *1992 ''Lost semi-final'' :'''Fort Saskatchewan Traders''' defeated St. Albert Saints ''4-games-to-3'' :'''Olds Grizzlys''' defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''4-games-to-1'' *1993 ''Lost final'' :'''Fort Saskatchewan Traders''' defeated Sherwood Park Crusaders ''5-games-to-4'' :'''Fort Saskatchewan Traders''' defeated St. Albert Saints ''4-games-to-3'' :'''Olds Grizzlys''' defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''4-games-to-3'' *1994 ''Lost quarter-final'' :'''St. Albert Saints''' defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''4-games-to-3'' *1995 ''DNQ'' *1996 ''Lost quarter-final'' :'''Fort McMurray Oil Barons''' defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''4-games-to-none'' *1997 ''DNQ'' *1998 ''Lost final'' :'''Fort Saskatchewan Traders''' defeated Lloydminster Blazers ''4-games-to-none'' :'''Fort Saskatchewan Traders''' defeated Grande Prairie Storm ''4-games-to-1'' :'''St. Albert Saints''' defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''4-games-to-2'' *1999 ''Lost quarter-final'' :'''Lloydminster Blazers''' defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''4-games-to-3'' *2000 ''Lost quarter-final'' :'''Fort Saskatchewan Traders''' defeated St. Albert Saints ''3-games-to-1'' :'''Lloydminster Blazers''' defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''4-games-to-none'' *2001 ''Lost preliminary'' :'''Grande Prairie Storm''' defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''3-games-to-2'' *2002 ''Lost preliminary'' :'''Drayton Valley Thunder''' defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''3-games-to-none'' *2003 ''DNQ'' *2004 ''DNQ'' *2005 ''Lost preliminary'' :'''Drayton Valley Thunder''' defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''3-games-to-none'' *2006 ''Lost preliminary'' :'''Spruce Grove Saints''' defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''3-games-to-none'' *2007 ''Lost final'' :'''Fort Saskatchewan Traders''' defeated Fort McMurray Oil Barons ''4-games-to-none'' :'''Fort Saskatchewan Traders''' defeated Okotoks Oilers ''4-games-to-1'' :'''Camrose Kodiaks''' defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders ''4-games-to-2''

==Notable alumni== The following former Traders have gone on to play in the NHL:

{| CELLSPACING="10" |----- | VALIGN="TOP" | *Dave Babych *Jim Benning *Mike Berger *Keith Brown *Mike Commodore *Paul Comrie *Taylor Fedun | VALIGN="TOP" | *Matt Frattin *Paul Healey *Justin Hocking *Pat MacLeod *Clint Malarchuk *Dave Marcinyshyn *Richard Matvichuk | VALIGN="TOP" | *John Mokosak *Mike Needham *Parry Pelensky *Jim Playfair *Grant Sasser *Wally Schreiber | VALIGN="TOP" | *Sheldon Souray *Randy Turnbull *Brad Werenka *Gary Yaremchuk *Ken Yaremchuk *Zarley Zalapski |}

Traders who moved on to play for the Canadian Women's National & Olympic Teams:

*Shannon Szabados

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == *[http://www.ajhl.ca Alberta Junior Hockey League website]

Category:Defunct Alberta Junior Hockey League teams Category:Defunct ice hockey teams in Alberta Category:Defunct junior ice hockey teams in Canada Category:Ice hockey clubs established in 1976 Category:Fort Saskatchewan Category:1976 establishments in Alberta Category:2007 disestablishments in Alberta