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Colts salute hockey past with tribute to Collingwood Blues at Saturday's game

The Collingwood Colts Feb. 22 game will also be nationally televised on CHCH TV
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The Collingwood Colts line up during opening ceremonies at the inaugural home opener at the Eddie Bush Memorial Arena on Sept. 13. The game was sold-out as the Colts faced the Toronto Jr. Canadiens. Erika Engel/CollingwoodToday

Collingwood’s junior hockey team will be reviving local hockey history with a tribute game honouring the Collingwood Blues.

This Saturday, the Collingwood Colts will be saluting the Blues teams of the 1970s, 80s, and 90s in a nationally televised game from the Eddie Bush Memorial Arena.

According to a news release issued by the Colts, the 3 p.m. game against the Stouffville Spirit will be on Superstation CHCH TV on Saturday, Feb. 22.

“During the game, the Colts will celebrate people and events from the Blues history,” states the news release. “Fans are urged to come early to take in pregame activities that include a rally towel giveaway, and fun events.”

In addition to honouring players such as Mike, Rob and Paul Jackson, Wally Hogg, Mike Barette, Gary Dillon, Bill Calvert, Terry Hockley, Bill Switzer, Brian Boyce and the late Ron Patterson, the Colts will be recognizing the dedicated executive that helped keep the team running.

Earlier this year, the Colts held a tribute game to the former Collingwood Shipbuilders hockey teams, with jerseys to match the old design of the local team.

The Colts provided the following information on the Collingwood Blues hockey teams:

  • In the 1970s the JR B Blues were league champions four times before moving up to JR A. The JR A Blues were league champions in 1998-99.
  • President Bill Redick, with the help of Donald Jeffery and Jeep Jackson, started the Collingwood Blues in 1969 in his Park Road basement.
  • “Jeep” Jackson was the first coach and both are in the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame.
  • The JR B Blues were part of the Central Ontario Junior Hockey League (COJHL) from 1969 to 1971, then the franchise began play in the Mid-Ontario Junior League until 1977.
  • In 1988 the JR B Blues returned to action and played in the Central Ontario loop. Some notable names from that period include NHLer Diesel Downey plus locals Reg Sheffield and Steve Walker.
  • After the 91/92 season the COJHL moved up from JR B, to form the new Tier 2 JR A COJHL, which is now the OJHL in which the Colts play.
  • In the 98/99 playoffs versus the Couchiching Terriers, in a game-seven conference championship match, led by Dorval, Dagenais, Bubalo, Le Plante and Boudreau, plus local lads Greg Patton and Lyle Rolling, the Blues won their first JR A championship. Captain Rene Dorval scored the game winning goal.
  • Over 18 regular seasons and 880 games, The JR A Blues produced 397 wins, 406 losses, 27 overtime losses, and two shootout losses.
  • In 2010/11 the Blues became the JR A Blackhawks and soon retired from the league. Which brings us to the 2019/20 season and a return to the OJHL JR A circuit with the Collingwood Colts, led by owners David and Christina Steele and a dedicated executive team.

The Collingwood Colts are first in the league for home game attendance. The team will wrap up regular season play with a game on Friday, Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m. against the Toronto Patriots and the Blues tribute game against the Stouffville Spirit at 3 p.m. on home ice. Both games will impact the Colts final standings and their match-up in the first round of playoffs. The Colts are currently ranked second in the division and have already secured a spot in division playoffs.

The Colts are led by Captain Adrian Naburrs and Midland’s Patrick Brown.


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Erika Engel

About the Author: Erika Engel

Erika regularly covers all things news in Collingwood as a reporter and editor. She has 15 years of experience as a local journalist
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