December 1, 2023

CONSECUTIVE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS AT CCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Of the 18 times that teams appeared at the CCAA National Hockey Championships in consecutive campaigns, only five competed at the event as conference champions in at least four straight seasons.

The College of Cape Breton Capers won a national title, placed third twice and fourth once at nationals from 1975 through 1978 for an average finish of 2.75. Representing the Nova Scotia Colleges Conference, the Sydney squad won five of nine including three in a row for a winning percentage of .556. The Capers averaged 0.44 goals per game more than their opponents. With Carl Buchanan as coach, the Capers started a run of five consecutive conference championships in 1974 – a year before they hosted the inaugural CCAA National Hockey Championship

From 1983 through 1987, the Capers finished third once, fourth once, fifth twice and seventh once at nationals for an average placement of 4.80. The Capers won seven of 18 games including three in a row for a winning percentage of .389 and netted an average of 0.89 goals per game less than their opponents. From 1980 through 1987, the Capers won a record eight straight conference championships. The team also appeared at nationals in 1980 and 1981 finishing fifth and second.

The Cariboo College Chiefs placed fifth once, sixth twice and seventh twice at nationals from 1984 through 1988 for an average finish of 6.20. The British Columbia Colleges Athletic Association champions won four of 15 games from 1984 through 1988 for a winning percentage of 267. The opposition topped the Chiefs by an average of 2.53 goals per game. Terry Bangen guided the team from Kamloops to conference championships in six straight seasons starting with the 1982-83 campaign.

From 1986 through 1990, the Humber College Hawks finished second thrice and third twice for an average placement 4.80. The Etibocoke squad won 9 of 17 games for a winning percentage of .529. Humber, coached by former Hawk Dana Shutt, outscored the opposition by an average of 0.94 goals per game. The Hawks were the only men's hockey team in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association to win five straight conference championships.

The NAIT Ooks captured back to back national titles sandwiched between a fourth place finish and a third place finish from 1984 through 1987 for an average finish of 2.25. The Edmonton squad won 10 of 13 at nationals including seven in a row for a winning percentage of .769. The Ooks, who became the first ACAC hockey team to win more than two consecutive conference titles, averaged 3.62 goals per game more than their opponents.

Of the aforementioned runs at the CCAA National Hockey Championships, the 1983-84 to 1986-87 NAIT Ooks coached by Perry Pearn have the longest winning streak (seven games), the widest scoring margin per game (3.62 goals), the highest winning percentage (.769), the best average finish (2.25) and the most national titles (2) of the five teams from across the nation who made at least four consecutive appearances at nationals as conference champions. In addition to the CCAA record seven game winning streak at nationals, the Ooks also set the CCAA mark for the longest winning streak in the regular season & post season including nationals with 34 straight victories from October 26, 1984 to October 18, 1985.

In their back-to-back national championship seasons, the 1984-85 and the 1985-86 NAIT Ooks also defeated the eventual CIAU (now U Sports) champions in exhibition play en route – the York University Yeomen at Adelboden, Switzerland on December 30, 1984 and the University of Alberta Golden Bears at Edmonton, Alberta on February 2, 1986.

From the fall of 1983 through the spring of 1987, NAIT was dominant at the conference level as well with the highest winning percentage (.902) over four consecutive seasons and the longest winning streak (52 games) in the history of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference. The Ooks were also the only team in conference history to never trail in a conference playoff series over four campaigns.

The Ooks were also successful against international competition during this period. NAIT brought home the Viking Cup in 1984 and 1986 in addition to the Altjahres Cup in 1985.

While the 1984-85 edition of the Ooks has been honoured with enshrinement in the NAIT Athletics Wall of Fame, the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame and the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame, the dynasty that they were a part of has not been recognized. It's time.


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