The Pembroke Lumber Kings are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Pembroke, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Central Canada Hockey League and are the winningest team in CCHL (formerly CJHL) history as well as 2011 Royal Bank Cup National Junior A Champions.

Pembroke Lumber Kings
CityPembroke, Ontario, Canada
LeagueCentral Canada Hockey League
DivisionYzerman
Founded1964
Operated1964–79,
1980–present
Home arenaPembroke Memorial Centre
ColoursRed and White
   
Owner(s)Alex Armstrong
General managerAlex Armstrong
Head coachAlex Armstrong

History

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The Pembroke Lumber Kings are the oldest member of the CCHL, having begun operations in 1961. However, in 1979–80 the Lumber Kings were suspended for one season[why?] and replaced with the Pembroke Royals. The Pembroke Lumber Kings were approved to rejoin the league for 1980–81.

The Pembroke Lumber Kings won a total of 14 Art Bogart Cup league championships between 1973 and 2011. Six of those championships came in the 1980s when the Kings were coached by Jim Farelli. Farelli coached 420 games for the Kings, the most of any coach in Lumber Kings history. His teams advanced to the Art Bogart Cup championship series eight consecutive years, winning six titles. This included three consecutive championships from 1987 to 1989, tying the record for longest streak set by the Cornwall Royals (1966–1968).

The Kings had previously won three Art Bogart Cups in the 1970s. The 1972–73 team was coached by Mac MacLean and made it to the Centennial Cup Canadian Junior A Final, losing 4 games to 1 to the Portage la Prairie Terriers. Under coach Bryan Murray the Kings won consecutive titles in 1977 and 1978. The 1977 team made it to the Centennial Cup Final, losing to the Prince Albert Raiders. Murray was fired by the Lumber Kings after the 1978 season. Three years later he was starting a long NHL coaching/general manager career as coach of the Washington Capitals.

The Lumber Kings broke their own (shared) league record by winning five consecutive Art Bogart Cup championships from 2007 to 2011, appearing in five Fred Page Cup tournaments for the Eastern Canada Junior A championships (2006 as hosts), winning in 2007 and 2011, and finishing as finalists in 2006, 2008, and 2010. In 2011, the Pembroke Lumber Kings became only the second team since the 1976 Rockland Nationals to win the National Junior A championship. The team was led by owner, coach and general manager Sheldon Keefe, who had purchased the Kings in June 2006.[1]

Keefe announced on May 29, 2013, that he had sold the Pembroke Lumber Kings to former Calgary Flames player (9 games) and Eganville native Dale McTavish.[2] With Keefe no longer in charge of ownership, general management and coaching duties, the Lumber Kings' success began to fade away, despite making the league finals in 2015, losing to Carleton Place; and failing to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in 13 years in 2017.

The team was sold to Alex Armstrong in June 2019.

Three books have been written about the history of the Pembroke Lumber Kings, two by author Harold Garton which primarily cover senior hockey in Pembroke until senior hockey ended in the early 1960s, and one by Jamie Bramburger which covers both junior and senior Lumber Kings hockey from 1905 to 2018. Garton's books are called Hockey Town Canada and Hockey Town Canada: The Golden Years; Bramburger's book is titled Go Kings Go! A Century of Pembroke Lumber Kings Hockey. Sheldon Keefe wrote the afterword for Bramburger's book.[citation needed]

Notable alumni

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Retired numbers

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  • 8 – Ben Reinhardt (2006–11), winner of five CCHL championships, two Fred Page Cup championships, and one Royal Bank Cup championship.
  • 11 – Gale Linton (1971–72), killed in a car accident while reporting to training camp on October 1, 1972.
  • 16 – Larry Mick (1963–66), drafted by the Minnesota North Stars 13th overall in the 1967 NHL Amateur Draft.

Season by season record

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Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, SOL = Shootout Losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, Pts = Points

Season GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts Finish Playoff Results
1958–59 16 10 6 0 --- -- -- 20 3rd IPJHL Won League
1959–60 20 13 7 0 --- 122 93 26 3rd IPJHL Lost final
1960–61 19 13 4 2 --- 104 66 28 1st IPJHL Won League
1961–62 30 16 8 4 --- -- -- 36 3rd OHDJHL Lost final
1962–63 32 20 10 2 --- 180 128 42 3rd OHDJHL Lost semi-final
1963–64 32 22 8 2 --- -- -- 46 2nd OHDJHL Lost final
1964–65 35 17 12 6 --- 171 146 40 4th CJHL Lost quarter-final
1965–66 36 27 9 0 --- 203 175 54 3rd CJHL Lost semi-final
1966–67 50 18 24 8 --- 179 234 44 4th CJHL Lost semi-final
1967–68 39 15 18 6 --- 158 174 36 4th CJHL Lost semi-final
1968–69 40 13 23 4 --- 146 149 30 3rd CJHL Lost final
1969–70 40 13 21 6 --- 136 176 32 3rd CJHL
1970–71 48 13 34 1 --- 164 254 27 5th CJHL
1971–72 48 20 26 2 --- 206 220 42 4th CJHL
1972–73 55 47 4 4 --- 368 183 98 1st CJHL Won League, won HDMT
1973–74 50 26 20 4 --- 235 215 56 3rd CJHL
1974–75 50 28 13 9 --- 280 215 65 1st CJHL Lost semi-final
1975–76 50 16 28 6 --- 209 310 38 6th CJHL
1976–77 50 28 17 5 --- 282 223 61 2nd CJHL Won League, won HDMT
1977–78 48 31 13 4 --- 284 220 66 1st CJHL Won League
1978–79 48 21 23 4 --- 254 262 46 4th CJHL
1979–80 Franchise Suspended
1980–81 50 13 32 5 --- 185 219 31 5th CJHL
1981–82 50 25 20 5 --- 259 190 55 3rd CJHL Won League
1982–83 48 29 16 3 --- 237 164 61 2nd CJHL
1983–84 54 25 20 9 --- 348 295 59 4th CJHL Won League
1984–85 54 38 13 1 2 355 213 79 1st CJHL Won League
1985–86 60 42 15 1 2 376 238 78* 2nd CJHL
1986–87 54 39 10 1 4 323 179 83 1st CJHL
1987–88 56 42 10 2 2 395 217 88 2nd CJHL
1988–89 56 39 12 1 4 319 195 83 1st CJHL
1989–90 56 21 28 4 3 218 280 49 5th CJHL
1990–91 54 26 24 1 3 220 221 56 6th CJHL
1991–92 57 30 24 1 2 291 274 63 5th CJHL
1992–93 57 29 21 3 4 285 264 65 7th CJHL
1993–94 57 30 21 3 3 293 292 66 6th CJHL
1994–95 53 26 19 5 3 290 272 60 4th CJHL
1995–96 54 18 29 7 0 237 290 43 4th in Yzerman
1996–97 53 22 24 7 0 166 197 51 5th in Robinson
1997–98 56 14 34 8 3 215 255 39 5th in Yzerman
1998–99 54 20 31 3 0 202 242 43 5th in Yzerman
1999–00 56 23 28 5 0 244 255 51 5th in Yzerman
2000–01 55 33 17 5 0 261 184 73 1st in Yzerman
2001–02 55 27 19 10 0 236 207 64 2nd in Yzerman
2002–03 55 16 33 6 2 228 265 40 4th in Yzerman Did not Qualify
2003–04 55 23 28 3 1 217 242 50 4th in Yzerman Did not Qualify
2004–05 57 37 14 5 1 236 169 80 2nd in Yzerman Lost semi-finals
2005–06 59 50 7 1 1 320 116 102 1st in Yzerman Lost semi-finals, Hosted FPC
2006–07 55 41 10 2 2 261 133 86 1st in Yzerman Won League, won FPC
2007–08 60 46 11 2 1 281 138 95 1st CJHL Won League
Season GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts Finish Playoff Results
2008–09 60 43 13 4 3 248 145 90 2nd CJHL Won League
2009–10 62 52 9 1 0 288 144 105 2nd CJHL Won League
2010–11 62 51 9 2 2 300 142 104 1st CCHL Won League, won FPC, won RBC
2011–12 62 32 24 6 2 184 177 70 6th CCHL Lost semi-final
2012–13 62 38 20 4 3 235 185 80 5th CCHL Lost quarter-final
2013–14 62 37 19 6 4 229 184 80 4th CCHL Lost semi-final
2014–15 62 42 13 4 3 266 174 91 2nd of 6 Yzerman
3 of 12 CCHL
Won quarterfinal 4-1 (Braves)
Won semifinal 4-3 (Jr. Senators)
Lost finals 1-4 (Canadians)
2015–16 62 34 23 4 1 197 163 73 3rd of 6 Yzerman
8th of 12 CCHL
Lost quarterfinal 1-4 (Canadians)
2016–17 62 22 38 2 0 165 220 46 6th of 6 Yzerman
12th of 12 CCHL
Did not qualify
2017–18 62 32 25 4 1 213 223 69 4th of 6 Yzerman
7th of 12 CCHL
Lost quarterfinal 2-4 (Jr. Senators)
2018-2019 62 27 34 1 0 188 232 55 5th of 6 Robinson
10th of 12 CCHL
Did not qualify
2019-2020 62 32 27 2 1 187 215 67 4th of 6 Robinson
7th of 12 CCHL
Playoffs suspended Covid-19
2020-2021
2021-2022 55 30 21 2 2 167 159 64 4th of 6 Robinson
6th of 12 CCHL
Lost in quarterfinal ()
2022-2023 55 10 40 2 3 132 248 25 6th of 6 Robinson
12th of 12 CCHL
missed playoffs
2023-2024 55 24 24 5 2 146 179 55 4th of 6 Robinson
8th of 12 CCHL
Lost Quarterfinal 2-4 (Navan Grads)

(*) denotes the removal of 9 points from Pembroke's totals by the CJHL for disciplinary reasons.
The Lumber Kings lost their franchise prior to the start of the 1979-80 season for failing to remain in good standing with the league.[3]

Fred Page Cup

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Eastern Canada Championships
MHL - QAAAJHL - CCHL - Host
Round robin play with 2nd vs 3rd in semi-final to advance against 1st in the finals.

Year Round Robin Record Standing Semifinal Gold Medal Game
1999 ?, Restigouche River Rats ?-?
?, Coaticook Frontaliers ?-?
?, Kanata Valley Lasers ?-?
?-?-? ?? of 4 n/a W, Restigouche River Rats 4-1
Fred Page Cup Champions
advance to Royal Bank Cup
2000 * W, Coaticook Frontaliers 6-1
L, Halifax Oland Exports 6-8
L, Cornwall Colts 2-5
1-2-0 3rd of 4 L, Halifax Oland Exports 4-8 n/a
2006 * W, Joliette Action 8-1
OTW, Woodstock Slammers 4-3
W, Hawkesbury Hawks 5-1
3-0-0 1st of 4 n/a L, Joliette Action 2-4
2007 OTW, St. Jerome Panthers 2-1
W, Joliette Action 4-1
L, Truro Bearcats 5-1
2-1-0 1st of 4 n/a W, St. Jerome Panthers 5-2
Fred Page Cup Champions
advance to Royal Bank Cup
2008 W, Weeks Crushers 2-1
OTW, Yarmouth Mariners 3-2
L, College Champain Cougars 1-2
2-1-0 1st of 4 n/a L, Weeks Crushers 1-4
2009 L, Summerside Western Capitals 3-4
L, Dieppe Commandos 1-3
W, Sherbrooke Cougars 5-2
1-2-0 3rd of 4 L, Summerside Western Capitals 1-4 n/a
2010 OTW, Terrebonne Cobras 6-5
L, Brockville Braves 1-2
W, Woodstock Slammers 7-4
2-1-0 2nd of 4 W, Terrebonne Cobras 6-4 L, Brockville Braves 1-5
2011 W, Longueuil Collège Français 11-3
W, Summerside Western Capitals 9-5
L, Terrebonne Cobras 5-6
2-1-0 1st of 4 n/a W, Longueuil Collège Français 6-3
Fred Page Cup Champions
advance to Royal Bank Cup
* Tournament Host

Royal Bank Cup

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CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Dudley Hewitt Champions - Central, Fred Page Champions - Eastern, Western Canada Cup Champions - Western, Western Canada Cup - Runners Up and Host
Round robin play with top 4 in semi-final and winners to finals.

Year Round Robin Record Standing Semifinal Gold Medal Game
2007 L, Prince George Spruce Kings 2-5
W, Aurora Tigers 5-3
L, Camrose Kodiaks 0-3
W, Selkirk Steelers 4-2
2-2 4th of 5 OTL, Aurora Tigers 2-3 na
2011 L, Portage Terriers 2-5
W, Wellington Dukes 5-2
L, Camrose Kodiaks 1-2
L, Vernon Vipers 3-5
1-3 3rd of 5 W, Camrose Kodiaks 4-2 W, Vernon Vipers 2-0
Royal Bank Cup Champions
* Tournament Host

Championships

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CJHL Art Bogart Cup Championships: 1973, 1977, 1978, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Central Canadian Dudley Hewitt Cup Championships: 1973, 1977, 1987, 1988
Eastern Canadian Fred Page Cup Championships: 2007, 2011
CJAHL Royal Bank Cup Championships: 2011
Preceded by Royal Bank Cup Champions
2011
Succeeded by

References

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  1. ^ Peplinskie, Tina (June 7, 2006). "Abrams leaves Lumber Kings, Sheldon Keefe will coach team". Pembroke Daily Observer.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Pembroke Lumber Kings sold to Dale McTavish". Pembroke Daily Observer. May 29, 2013.
  3. ^ Gallagher, Danny (January 21, 1980), "More strife brewing on Pembroke hockey scene", The Ottawa Journal, p. 19, retrieved September 11, 2014
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