Tecumseh Granted Junior C Franchise
The ice at Tecumseh Arena will be home to a new Junior C team next season after the OHA and league approved their membership – Photo from Tecumseh.ca
CKSN.ca receive confirmation from within the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League that Tecumseh’s bid was successful, with the team being led by new president Greg Prymack, who was the head coach and general manager of the Amherstburg Admirals in their inaugural season.
Junior hockey last existed in Tecumseh in 2007-2008 when the Junior B Tecumseh Chiefs won the GOJHL Western Conference title, and went on to win the Sutherland Cup.
The team relocated from Tecumseh following that season, to become the current LaSalle Vipers.
Tecumseh chose to relocate their franchise in part due to low attendance, which was partially attributed to the close proximity of the OHL Windsor Spitfire’s WFCU Centre, which opened in 2008, and sits only 4km from Tecumseh Arena.
Tecumseh currently is home to a minor hockey system, known as the Tecumseh Shoreline Minor Hockey Association Eagles.
The last franchise to change locations in the Great Lakes was the Amherstburg Admirals, who moved from Kingsville following the 2013-2014 season.
Essex County currently is home to three Junior C teams, the Essex 73s, Lakeshore Canadiens, and Amherstburg Admirals, with the Wheatley Sharks sitting on the border, and the Blenheim Blades annually drawing players from Essex County as well. Also, Essex is home to the Junior B Leamington Flyers and LaSalle Vipers, the GMHL’s Kingsville Kings, and the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires.
No initial names for the organization were released, but more information is expected soon when the Ontario Hockey Association makes its official announcement.