{{Short description|Junior ice hockey club}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox ice hockey team | bg_colour = background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#FED000 5px solid; border-bottom:black 5px solid; | text_colour = black | team = Smiths Falls Bears | logo = Smiths_Falls_Bears_logo.png | city = Smiths Falls, Ontario | league = CCHL | division = | founded = 1961 | arena = Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre | colours = {{colour box|#FED000}} Gold<br/>{{colour box|#000000}} Black | owner = Glenview Sports Entertainment Inc. | coach = Pat Malloy | gm = Pat Malloy | media = FloSports | website = {{URL|smithsfallsbearshockey.com}} <!---Franchise history---> | name1 = Smiths Falls Bears | dates1 = 1961–1976 | name2 = Smiths Falls Bears | dates2 = 1985–2000 | name3 = Lanark Thunder | dates3 = 2000–2002 | name4 = '''Smiths Falls Bears''' | dates4 = 2002–present }}
The '''Smiths Falls Bears''' are a junior ice hockey club and franchise of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) based in Smiths Falls, Ontario.
== History == The origins of the Smiths Falls Bears trace back to when the Central Junior Hockey League was formed in 1961 under the direction of the Montreal Canadiens.<ref name="official_history">{{cite web |title=League history |url=https://www.thecchl.ca/alumni |publisher=Central Canada Hockey League |access-date=10 April 2026}}</ref>
In February 2000, a dressing room fire at Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre destroyed almost all of the team's equipment. The equipment was replaced through donations and charities and Bears were able to finish the 1999–00 season. The following season the club franchise relocated to Lanark, Ontario and was rebranded as the Lanark Thunder. {{Alternating rows table|class=wikitable sticky-header}} |+ style="background:FFFFFF00; border-top:#FED000 solid 5px; border-bottom:#000000 solid 5px|{{font color|default|Statistics}} ! style="width:4em; text-align:left;" | Season ! style="width:2.2em" | {{abbr|GP|Games played}} ! style="width:2.2em" | {{abbr|W|Wins}} ! style="width:2.2em" | {{abbr|L|Losses}} ! style="width:2.2em" | {{abbr|T|Ties}} ! style="width:2.2em" | {{abbr|OTL|Overtime losses}} ! style="width:2.2em" | {{abbr|GF|Goals for}} ! style="width:2.2em" | {{abbr|GA|Goals against}} ! style="width:2.2em" | {{abbr|Pts|Points}} ! style="width:8em; text-align:left;" | Regular season ! style="width:18em; text-align:left;" | Postseason |- align=right | align=left|2002–03 || 55 || 9 || 39 || 7 || 2 || 196 || 317 || 25 || align=left|<small>5th in division</small> || align=left|<small>''Did not qualify''</small> |-align=right | align=left|2003–04 || 55 || 11 || 38 || 5 || 4 || 196 || 335 || 28 || align=left|<small>5th in division</small> || align=left|<small>''Did not qualify''</small> |-align=right | align=left|2004–05 || 57 || 9 || 42 || 1 || 5 || 165 || 304 || 24 || align=left|<small>5th in division</small> || align=left|<small>''Did not qualify''</small> |-align=right | align=left|2005–06 || 59 || 18 || 31 || 5 || 5 || 193 || 250 || 46 || align=left|<small>4th in division</small> || align=left|<small>Lost quarterfinal</small> |-align=right | align=left|2006–07 || 55 || 25 || 23 || 5 || 2 || 199 || 200 || 57 || align=left|<small>4th in division</small> || align=left|<small>Lost semifinal</small> |-align=right | align=left|2007–08 || 60 || 41 || 15 || 4 || 0 || 280 || 183 || 86 || align=left|<small>2nd overall</small> || align=left|<small>Lost final</small> |-align=right | align=left|2008–09 || 60 || 36 || 22 || 0 || 2 || 247 || 205 || 74 || align=left|<small>5th overall</small> || align=left|<small>Lost quarterfinal</small> |-align=right | align=left|2009–10 || 62 || 18 || 40 || 0 || 4 || 148 || 256 || 40 || align=left|<small>10th overall</small> || align=left|<small>''Did not qualify''</small> |-align=right | align=left|2010–11 || 62 || 27 || 29 || 0 || 6 || 191 || 229 || 60 || align=left|<small>8th overall</small> || align=left|<small>Lost quarterfinal</small> |-align=right | align=left|2011–12 || 62 || 30 || 30 || 0 || 2 || 220 || 240 || 62 || align=left|<small>8th overall</small> || align=left|<small>Lost quarterfinal</small> |-align=right | align=left|2012–13 || 62 || 36 || 22 || 0 || 4 || 235 || 183 || 76 || align=left|<small>7th overall</small> || align=left|<small>Lost quarterfinal</small> |-align=right | align=left|2013–14 || 62 || 41 || 17 || 0 || 4 || 238 || 174 || 86 || align=left|<small>2nd overall</small> || align=left|<small>Lost final against Carleton Place (4:1)</small> |-align=right | align=left|2014–15 || 62 || 28 || 26 || 3 || 5 || 173 || 206 || 64 || align=left|<small>5th in division<br/>7th overall</small> || align=left|<small>Lost first round against Nepean (2:1)</small> |-align=right | align=left|2015–16 || 62 || 38 || 22 || 0 || 2 || 220 || 170 || 78 || align=left|<small>4th in division<br/>6th overall</small> || align=left|<small>Lost quarterfinal against Hawkesbury (4:0)</small> |-align=right | align=left|2016–17 || 62 || 21 || 34 || 5 || 2 || 177 || 209 || 55 || align=left|<small>6th in division<br/>7th overall</small> || align=left|<small>Lost quarterfinal against Cornwall (4:1)</small> |-align=right | align=left|2017–18 || 62 || 21 || 34 || 3 || 1 || 158 || 196 || 55 || align=left|<small>5th in division<br/>9th overall</small> || align=left|<small>''Did not qualify''</small> |-align=right | align=left|2018–19 || 62 || 28 || 23 || 0 || 9 || 195 || 211 || 67 || align=left|<small>3rd in division<br/>6th overall</small> || align=left|<small>Lost quarterfinal against Brockville (4:1)</small> |-align=right | align=left|2019–20 || 62 || 33 || 24 || 5 || 0 || 223 || 216 || 71 || align=left|<small>3rd in division<br/>6th overall</small> || align=left|<small>Playoffs cancelled</small> |-align=right | align=left|2020–21 || colspan=10; align=center|''Season cancelled'' |-align=right | align=left|2021–22 || 55 || 25 || 25 || 4 || 1 || 193 || 216 || 55 || align=left|<small>5th in division<br/>7th overall</small> || align=left|<small>Lost quarterfinal against Ottawa (4:0)</small> |-align=right | align=left|2022–23 || 55 || 37 || 15 || 1 || 2 || 232 || 165 || 77 || align=left|<small>1st in division<br/>3rd overall</small> || align=left|<small>Won quarterfinal against Carleton Place (4:1)<br/>Won semifinal against Renfrew (4:1)<br/>Lost final against Ottawa (4:3)</small> |-align=right | align=left|2023–24 || 55 || 36 || 15 || 1 || 3 || 193 || 128 || 76 || align=left|<small>1st in division<br/>2nd overall</small> || align=left|<small>Won quarterfinal against Carleton Place (4:1)<br/>Won semifinal against Cornwall (4:1)<br/>Lost final against Navan (4:2)</small> |-align=right | align=left|2024–25 || 55 || 30 || 19 || 5 || 1 || 168 || 142 || 66 || align=left|<small>2nd in division<br/>4th overall</small> || align=left|<small>Won quarterfinal against Pembroke (4:2)<br/>Lost semifinal against Rockland (4:3)</small> |-align=right | align=left|2025–26 || 55 || 39 || 11 || 0 || 2 || 222 || 130 || 83 || align=left|<small>1st in division<br/>2nd overall</small> || align=left|<small>Won quarterfinal against Brockville (4:0)<br/>Won semifinal against Ottawa (4:1)</small> {{end}} {{refbegin}} Source: {{cite web |title=Smiths Falls Bears statistics and history |url=https://www.hockeydb.com/stte/smiths-falls-bears-8048.html |website=hockeydb.com |access-date=10 April 2026}} {{refend}}
==Notable alumni== *Fred Brathwaite *Joe DiPenta *Rob Dopson *Steve Poapst *Billy Smith *Steve Valiquette *Jason York *Rod Zaine *Mark Borowiecki *Zachary Senyshyn
==References== {{Reflist}}
== Further reading == {{refbegin}} *{{cite news |title=Local golfer, inaugural Jr. A Bears hockey team among those inducted into recreation hall of fame |url=https://www.insideottawavalley.com/life/local-golfer-inaugural-jr-a-bears-hockey-team-among-those-inducted-into-recreation-hall-of/article_c7ad106b-f339-5ac4-bdfe-6c968147eb94.html |access-date=10 April 2026 |work=InsideOttawaValley.com |publisher=Metroland Media Group |date=5 July 2012 |language=en}} *{{cite news |last1=Weir |first1=Laurie |title=Fundraiser Friday for injured Smiths Falls hockey player Neil Doef |url=https://www.insideottawavalley.com/news/fundraiser-friday-for-injured-smiths-falls-hockey-player-neil-doef/article_0f92a91c-7c63-5555-8dc8-3e20c757b877.html |access-date=10 April 2026 |work=InsideOttawaValley.com |publisher=Metroland Media Group |date=16 December 2014 |language=en}} *{{cite news |last1=Weir |first1=Laurie |title=Smiths Falls Bears, Westport Rideaus under new ownership |url=https://www.insideottawavalley.com/life/smiths-falls-bears-westport-rideaus-under-new-ownership/article_4d8bf4b9-d3d1-5b96-bdf4-96136d666b58.html |access-date=10 April 2026 |work=InsideOttawaValley.com |publisher=Metroland Media Group |date=7 August 2018 |language=en}} *{{cite news |last1=Weir |first1=Laurie |title=Smiths Falls Bears’ former head coach, Mark Grady, pilots junior team at World Cup in Sochi |url=https://www.insideottawavalley.com/life/smiths-falls-bears-former-head-coach-mark-grady-pilots-junior-team-at-world-cup-in/article_3c37f90a-7ee6-5e28-8975-420c26e18558.html |access-date=10 April 2026 |work=InsideOttawaValley.com |publisher=Metroland Media Group |date=13 August 2018 |language=en}} *{{cite news |last1=Weir |first1=Laurie |title=Filoso brothers get to work on Smiths Falls Bears bench |url=https://www.insideottawavalley.com/life/filoso-brothers-get-to-work-on-smiths-falls-bears-bench/article_af26a172-e9ee-5ec7-94fb-91acd23c200f.html |access-date=10 April 2026 |work=InsideOttawaValley.com |publisher=Metroland Media Group |date=15 August 2018 |language=en}} *{{cite news |last1=Weir |first1=Laurie |title=‘I’m honoured to get the chance’: Smiths Falls Jr. A Bears announce Rob Dopson is new bench boss |url=https://www.insideottawavalley.com/news/im-honoured-to-get-the-chance-smiths-falls-jr-a-bears-announce-rob-dopson-is/article_9768203e-0eef-5959-9e06-5dc3ac07daac.html |access-date=10 April 2026 |work=InsideOttawaValley.com |publisher=Metroland Media Group |date=2 May 2019 |language=en}} *{{cite news |last1=Healey |first1=Marshall |title=Conflicting accounts over firing of Rideaus coach |url=https://www.recorder.ca/sports/conflicting-accounts-over-firing-of-rideaus-coach |access-date=10 April 2026 |work=Recorder & Times |publisher=Postmedia |date=17 July 2021}} *{{cite news |last1=Duffy |first1=Andrew |title=Injured Smiths Falls player sues Hockey Canada, insurer for $6.5 million |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/injured-smiths-falls-player-sues-hockey-canada-insurer-for-6-5-million |access-date=10 April 2026 |publisher=Postmedia |date=15 March 2022}} *{{cite web |title=Maven's Memories: Billy Smith's Origin Story {{!}} New York Islanders |url=https://www.nhl.com/islanders/news/maven-s-memories-billy-smith-s-origin-story-335454866 |website=nhl.com |access-date=10 April 2026 |language=en |date=2 September 2022}} *{{cite news |last1=Duffy |first1=Andrew |title=Injured Smiths Falls hockey player settles long-running Hockey Canada lawsuit |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/injured-smiths-falls-hockey-player-settles-long-running-hockey-canada-lawsuit |access-date=10 April 2026 |work=Ottawa Citizen |publisher=Postmedia |date=8 June 2023}} *{{cite web |title=Ottawa Senators Alumni vs Smith Falls Bears Alumni {{!}} Ottawa Senators |url=https://www.nhl.com/senators/news/ottawa-senators-alumni-vs-smith-falls-bears-alumni |website=nhl.com |access-date=10 April 2026 |language=en |date=14 January 2025}} {{refend}}
{{CCHL|state=expanded}}
Category:Central Canada Hockey League teams Category:Ice hockey clubs established in 1961 Category:Ice hockey teams in Ontario Category:1961 establishments in Ontario