Western Mustangs men's ice hockey
College ice hockey team
Western Mustangs men's ice hockey University University of Western Ontario Conference OUA OUA West DivisionFirst season 1923–24 Head coach Clarke Singer 20th season, 372–124–17 (.742) Assistant coaches Patrick Ouellet Dave Warren Arena Thompson ArenaLondon, Ontario Colors Purple and White Fight song "Western" Mascot J.W. the Mustang 2002 1987 , 1988 , 1994 , 1995 , 2000 , 2001 , 2002 , 2005 , 2009 , 2011 , 2012 , 2016 , 2020 1995, 2005, 2009 1987, 1989, 1994, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2013
The Western Mustangs men's ice hockey team represents Western University (in full, The University of Western Ontario) in Canadian university competition. The Mustangs are members of Ontario University Athletics , one of the four regional associations within the national governing body of U Sports . The Mustangs play at Thompson Arena in London, Ontario .
The men's hockey team has won 3 OUA championships (1994–95, 2004–05, 2008–09)[ 1] and 1 U Sports championship (2001–02)[ 2]
Team history
Early history
In 1905, the first hockey club was established at the University of Western Ontario.[ 3] The sporting teams were organized by the two faculties at Western during this time, the Arts & Divinity faculty and the Medical "Meds" faculty. The teams practiced on ice rinks around London , as well as on the Thames river. By the 1913-14 season, hockey became the most popular sport on campus and a combined faculty team went on to represent Western in the Canadian Hockey Association championships, playing Berlin (now Kitchener, Ontario) in the final match. Western lost 6-4.[ 4]
Start of intercollegiate hockey
Western entered the intercollegiate competition in the 1923-24 season.[ 5] [ 4] This league comprised St. Michael’s College of Toronto , the Ontario Agricultural College and the University of Toronto . The team also played some exhibition games during 1920s, including a game against Princeton University in the 1926-27 season and one against the University of Michigan in the 1928-29 season.[ 4]
In the 1932-33 season, Western won its first Canadian Intermediate Intercollegiate Championship by beating the University of Ottawa in the finals 6-1. Hockey at Western proceeded into the 1930s but was suspended in 1941-44 due to World War II .[ 4] When the London Arena was not available for the 1936–37 season, J. Howard Crocker arranged to play home games in Brantford , and have practices an outdoor rink on campus.[ 6] After the war, the team kept competing in the Intermediate Intercollegiate league, as well as the senior London City League.[ 4]
A Western vs. Queen's game in 2013.
The team continued until the mid 1950s. During this time, a lack of funding and ice time caused the team to be cancelled in 1955. The university did not have a rink at this time and there was little funding for intermediate teams.
Senior intercollegiate hockey and the OUA
In the 1964-65 season, Western joined the Ontario-Quebec Athletic Association .[ 4] This was due to large support from Bill L’Heureux over the years prior. During this season, L'Heureux acted as the coach and the team placed third in a ten-team league, finishing 4th in the playoffs. While attending Western, Brian Conacher played with the Mustangs during their first season. Ron Watson took over as coach in 1965 and coached the Mustangs for 20 seasons, leading the team to the playoffs 18 years out of his 20 year reign.
1980s - 2000s
After Ron Watson, Barry Martinelli took over in 1985. Mike Tomlak played for Western in the 1986-87 season. The team had medium success during this time, but it started to rise when Steve Rucchin joined the Mustangs from 1990 to 1994.[ 4] [ 7] Rucchin scored 24 points in his first year, 62 points in his second, and 48 points in his third. On this rising success, Western won the first league OUA title in the 1994-95 season.[ 8] Martinelli retired as coach in 1999, where the position was filled by the assistant coach at the time, Clarke Singer.
Clarke Singer is the current coach of the Western Mustangs and has been coaching the team since 1999.[ 9] He has brought the team to its only national championship in 2001.
Season-by-season results
[ 10]
Senior and collegiate play
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points
U Sports Champion
U Sports Semifinalist
Conference regular season champions
Conference Division Champions
Conference Playoff Champions
Season
Conference
Regular Season
Conference Tournament Results
National Tournament Results
Conference
Overall
GP
W
L
T
Pts*
Finish
GP
W
L
T
%
Junior Hockey
1914–15
OHA
4
3
1
0
6
T–1st
?
?
?
?
?
Won Group 8 Final series, 17–13 (Woodstock) Lost quarterfinal series, 5–7 (Berlin Union Jacks)
Program suspended due to World War I
Senior and Intercollegiate Hockey
1923–24
Intermediate
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
1924–25
Intermediate
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
1925–26
Intermediate
4
1
2
1
3
?
?
?
?
?
?
1926–27
Intermediate
5
2
2
1
5
T–1st
?
?
?
?
?
Lost Championship, 2–3 (Royal Military College )
1927–28
Intermediate
6
3
1
2
8
2nd
?
?
?
?
?
Lost Semifinal series, 5–8 (Toronto jr. varsity )
1928–29
Intermediate
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
OHA
8
5
3
0
10
?
Won OHA Group 11 Final series, 6–4 (Glencoe) Lost OHA First Round series, 1–14 (Windsor)
1929–30
Intermediate
2
1
0
1
3
?
?
?
?
?
?
Lost Intermediate Western Final series, 8–9 (Toronto jr. varsity )
OHA
9
1
7
1
3
?
Lost OHA Section B Round-Robin, 3–4 (Ingersoll), 0–2 (Paris)
1930–31
Intermediate / OHA
4
1
3
0
2
?
?
?
?
?
?
1931–32
Intermediate
5
3
2
0
6
?
?
?
?
?
?
OHA
6
3
1
2
16
?
Lost OHA Group 11 series, 2–6 (Windsor)
1932–33
Intermediate
6
5
1
1
10
T–3rd
?
?
?
?
?
Won Championship , 6–1 (Ottawa )
OHA
4
3
0
1
7
?
Lost OHA Section B series, 3–7 (Chatham Maroons)
1933–34
OHA
7
1
5
1
12
?
?
?
?
?
?
1934–35
OHA
8
1
7
0
4
?
?
?
?
?
?
1935–36
OHA
12
2
7
3
7
?
?
?
?
?
?
Program suspended
1937–38
Intermediate
6
4
2
0
8
?
?
?
?
?
?
1938–39
Intermediate
6
1
5
0
2
?
?
?
?
?
?
Totals
GP
W
L
T
%
Championships
Regular Season
?
?
?
?
?
1 Intermediate Championship
Conference Post-season
?
?
?
?
?
Regular Season and Postseason Record
?
?
?
?
?
Note: In 1931 the OHA used the Intermediate results for its standings rather than holding a separate schedule.
Collegiate only
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, SOL = Shootout Losses, Pts = Points
U Sports Champion
U Sports Semifinalist
Conference regular season champions
Conference Division Champions
Conference Playoff Champions
Season
Conference
Regular Season
Conference Tournament Results
National Tournament Results
Conference
Overall
GP
W
L
T
OTL
SOL
Pts*
Finish
GP
W
L
T
%
1964–65
QOAA
16
11
4
1
–
–
23
3rd
17
11
5
1
.676
Lost Semifinal , 4–6 (Montreal )
1965–66
QOAA
16
12
2
2
–
–
26
2nd
16
12
2
2
.813
1966–67
QOAA
16
10
6
0
–
–
20
3rd
17
10
7
0
.588
Lost Semifinal , 2–6 (Waterloo )
1967–68
QOAA
16
7
9
0
–
–
18
5th
16
7
9
0
.438
1968–69
QOAA
15
7
7
1
–
–
15
6th
15
7
7
1
.500
1969–70
QOAA
15
5
6
4
–
–
14
7th
15
5
6
4
.467
1970–71
QOAA
15
4
8
3
–
–
11
9th
15
4
8
3
.367
1971–72
OUAA
19
11
5
3
–
–
25
3rd
21
12
6
3
.643
Won Western Semifinal , 5–2 (Windsor ) Lost Semifinal, 2–5 (Toronto )
1972–73
OUAA
17
14
3
0
–
–
28
2nd
20
16
4
0
.800
Won Western Semifinal , 7–1 (Windsor )Won Semifinal, 5–4 (Laurentian ) Lost Championship, 1–8 (Toronto )
1973–74
OUAA
17
13
4
0
–
–
26
4th
20
15
5
0
.750
Won Quarterfinal , 4–1 (Guelph )Won Semifinal, 6–4 (Toronto ) Lost Championship, 1–8 (Waterloo )
1974–75
OUAA
17
11
4
2
–
–
24
3rd
19
12
5
2
.684
Won Western Semifinal , 12–3 (Wilfrid Laurier ) Lost Semifinal, 2–5 (York )
1975–76
OUAA
20
14
6
0
–
–
26
T–3rd
21
14
7
0
.667
Lost Semifinal , 2–5 (York )
1976–77
OUAA
20
9
9
2
–
–
20
T–7th
20
9
9
2
.500
1977–78
OUAA
20
14
3
3
–
–
31
3rd
22
15
4
3
.750
Won Quarterfinal , 9–4 (Windsor ) Lost Semifinal, 0–6 (Wilfrid Laurier )
1978–79
OUAA
16
7
5
4
–
–
18
6th
18
8
6
4
.556
Won Quarterfinal , ? (Wilfrid Laurier ) Lost Semifinal, ? (Guelph )
1979–80
OUAA
22
11
9
2
–
–
24
7th
22
11
9
2
.545
1980–81
OUAA
22
14
4
4
–
–
32
2nd
26
16
6
4
.692
Won Semifinal series , 2–0 (Toronto ) Lost Championship series, 0–2 (Queen's )
1981–82
OUAA
22
12
9
1
–
–
25
7th
22
12
9
1
.568
1982–83
OUAA
24
20
4
0
–
–
40
2nd
27
21
6
0
.778
Lost Semifinal series , 1–2 (Wilfrid Laurier )
1983–84
OUAA
24
15
8
1
–
–
31
3rd
30
18
11
1
.617
Won Quarterfinal , 9–4 (Queen's )Won Semifinal series, 2–1 (Wilfrid Laurier ) Lost Championship series, 0–2 (Toronto )
1984–85
OUAA
24
15
7
2
–
–
32
3rd
30
19
9
2
.667
Won Quarterfinal , 8–5 (Guelph )Won Semifinal series, 2–0 (Wilfrid Laurier ) Lost Championship series, 1–2 (York )
1985–86
OUAA
24
17
5
2
–
–
36
4th
27
18
7
2
.704
Won Quarterfinal , 4–3 (Windsor ) Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (Wilfrid Laurier )
1986–87
OUAA
24
20
2
2
–
–
.875
1st
34
25
7
2
.765
Won Quarterfinal series , 2–0 (Windsor )Won Semifinal series, 2–1 (Wilfrid Laurier ) Lost Championship series, 1–2 (York )
Lost Pool 1 Round-Robin , 2–5 (Saskatchewan ), 1–3 (Prince Edward Island )
1987–88
OUAA
26
17
4
5
–
–
39
3rd
34
21
8
5
.691
Won Division Semifinal series , 2–0 (Waterloo ) Lost Division Final series, 0–2 (York )Won Semifinal, 3–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières ) Lost Championship, 1–5 (York )
Won Semifinal , 3–1 (Prince Edward Island ) Lost Championship, 3–5 (York )
1988–89
OUAA
26
19
2
5
–
–
43
T–1st
28
19
4
5
.768
Lost Division Semifinal series , 0–2 (Wilfrid Laurier )
1989–90
OUAA
22
11
9
2
–
–
24
8th
24
11
11
2
.500
Lost Division Semifinal series , 0–2 (Wilfrid Laurier )
1990–91
OUAA
22
12
7
3
–
–
27
T–6th
23
12
8
3
.587
Lost First Round , 2–3 (Guelph )
1991–92
OUAA
22
16
5
1
–
–
33
2nd
24
16
7
1
.688
Lost Quarterfinal series , 0–2 (Wilfrid Laurier )
1992–93
OUAA
22
12
8
2
–
–
26
T–6th
23
12
9
2
.565
Lost First Round , 4–8 (Windsor )
1993–94
OUAA
24
22
1
1
–
–
45
1st
29
25
3
1
.879
Won Quarterfinal series , 2–0 (Queen's )Won Semifinal, 2–1 (York ) Lost Championship, 1–2 (Guelph )
Lost Semifinal , 5–6 (Guelph )
1994–95
OUAA
24
16
6
2
–
–
34
2nd
29
20
7
2
.724
Won Quarterfinal series , 2–0 (Waterloo )Won Semifinal, 7–2 (York )Won Championship , 5–4 (Guelph )
Lost Semifinal , 4–5 (Moncton )
1995–96
OUAA
26
16
8
2
–
–
34
3rd
27
16
9
2
.630
Lost Division Semifinal , 4–5 (2OT) (Windsor )
1996–97
OUAA
26
15
11
0
–
–
30
T–6th
29
16
13
0
.552
Won Division Semifinal , 6–2 (Windsor ) Lost Division Final series, 0–2 (Waterloo )
1997–98
OUA
26
15
8
3
–
–
33
5th
29
16
10
3
.603
Lost Division Semifinal series , 1–2 (Waterloo )
1998–99
OUA
26
14
12
0
–
–
28
8th
26
14
12
0
.538
1999–00
OUA
26
19
3
4
–
–
42
T–2nd
32
22
6
4
.750
Won Division Final series , 2–0 (Wilfrid Laurier )Won Semifinal, 5–1 (York ) Lost Championship, 2–3 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières )
Lost Pool A Round-Robin , 2–3 (New Brunswick ), 2–3 (Saskatchewan )
2000–01
OUA
24
21
3
0
–
–
42
2nd
30
25
5
0
.833
Won Division Final series , 2–0 (Waterloo )Won Semifinal, 7–3 (York ) Lost Championship, 3–4 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières )
Lost Pool A Round-Robin , 2–5 (St. Francis Xavier ), 5–3 (Alberta )
2001–02
OUA
24
22
0
2
–
–
46
1st
32
28
2
2
.906
Won Division Final series , 2–1 (Lakehead )Won Semifinal, 5–3 (York ) Lost Championship, 4–5 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières )
Won Pool A Round-Robin , 5–2 (Guelph ), 4–1 (Alberta )Won Championship , 4–3 (3OT) (Quebec–Trois-Rivières )
2002–03
OUA
24
24
0
0
–
–
48
1st
26
24
2
0
.923
Lost Division Final series , 0–2 (Lakehead )
2003–04
OUA
24
21
3
0
0
–
42
1st
27
22
5
0
.815
Lost Division Final series , 1–2 (Lakehead )
2004–05
OUA
24
17
6
0
1
–
35
T–1st
33
22
11
0
.667
Won Division Final series , 2–1 (Waterloo )Won Semifinal series, 2–1 (Lakehead )Won Championship , 4–0 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières )
Lost Pool A Round-Robin , 3–8 (Moncton ), 0–3 (Saskatchewan )
2005–06
OUA
24
21
2
1
0
–
43
T–1st
27
22
4
1
.833
Lost Division Final series , 1–2 (Lakehead )
2006–07
OUA
28
17
6
3
2
–
39
4th
34
20
11
3
.632
Won Division Quarterfinal series , 2–1 (Brock ) Lost Division Semifinal series, 1–2 (Waterloo )
2007–08
OUA
28
18
5
–
1
4
41
3rd
34
21
9
4
.676
Won Division Quarterfinal series , 2–1 (York ) Lost Division Semifinal series, 1–2 (Brock )
2008–09
OUA
28
19
7
–
2
0
41
3rd
38
26
12
0
.684
Won Division Quarterfinal series , 2–1 (Guelph )Won Division Semifinal series, 2–0 (York )Won Division Final series, 2–0 (Wilfrid Laurier )Won Championship , 2–1 (McGill )
Won Pool B Round-Robin , 3–4 (McGill ), 7–2 (Saint Mary's ) Lost Championship, 2–4 (New Brunswick )
2009–10
OUA
28
21
7
–
0
0
42
3rd
35
25
10
0
.714
Won Division Quarterfinal series , 2–1 (Ontario Tech )Won Division Semifinal series, 2–0 (Windsor ) 'Lost Division Final series, 0–2 (Lakehead )
2010–11
OUA
28
20
3
–
2
3
45
2nd
38
27
8
3
.750
Won Division Quarterfinal series , 2–0 (Windsor )Won Division Semifinal series, 2–1 (Waterloo )Won Division Final series, 2–0 (Guelph ) Lost Championship, 2–6 (McGill )
Lost Pool B Round-Robin , 3–2 (Calgary ), 0–4 (New Brunswick )
2011–12
OUA
28
21
4
–
1
2
45
2nd
39
29
8
2
.769
Won Division Quarterfinal series , 2–0 (Wilfrid Laurier )Won Division Semifinal series, 2–0 (Brock )Won Division Final series, 2–1 (Windsor ) Lost Championship, 1–4 (McGill )
Won Pool B Round-Robin , 3–2 (3OT) (Quebec–Trois-Rivières ), 3–2 (New Brunswick ) Lost Championship, 3–4 (OT) (McGill )
2012–13
OUA
28
21
5
–
1
1
44
1st
33
24
8
1
.742
Won Division Quarterfinal series , 2–0 (Ontario Tech ) Lost Division Semifinal series, 1–2 (Waterloo )
2013–14
OUA
28
21
6
–
1
0
43
4th
34
24
10
0
.706
Won Division Quarterfinal series , 2–1 (Guelph ) Lost Division Semifinal series, 1–2 (Windsor )
2014–15
OUA
27
19
7
–
1
0
39
5th
29
19
10
0
.655
Lost Division Quarterfinal series , 0–2 (Lakehead )
2015–16
OUA
28
18
10
–
0
0
36
7th
37
24
13
0
.649
Won Division Quarterfinal series , 2–0 (Wilfrid Laurier )Won Division Semifinal series, 2–1 (Toronto )Won Division Final series, 2–1 (Guelph ) Lost Championship, 3–4 (OT) (Quebec–Trois-Rivières )
Lost Quarterfinal , 1–5 (New Brunswick )
2016–17
OUA
28
8
16
–
2
2
20
17th
28
8
18
2
.321
2017–18
OUA
28
14
11
–
2
1
31
12th
31
15
15
1
.500
Lost Division Quarterfinal series , 1–2 (Ryerson )
2018–19
OUA
28
15
12
–
0
1
31
T–9th
35
19
15
1
.557
Won Division Quarterfinal series , 2–0 (Wilfrid Laurier )Won Division Semifinal series, 2–1 (Brock ) Lost Division Final series, 1–2 (Guelph ) Lost Bronze Medal Game, 0–3 (Carleton )
2019–20
OUA
28
11
13
–
4
0
26
15th
39
18
21
0
.462
Won Division Quarterfinal series , 2–1 (Toronto )Won Division Semifinal series, 2–1 (Ryerson ) Lost Division Final series, 1–2 (Guelph )Won Bronze Medal Game, 5–2 (Concordia )
Won Quarterfinal , 3–2 (Saskatchewan )Remainder of tournament cancelled
2020–21
Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021–22
OUA
14
7
7
–
0
0
.500
T–11th
15
7
8
0
.467
Lost First Round , 4–5 (2OT) (Ryerson )
2022–23
OUA
27
11
11
–
5
0
27
T–12th
27
11
16
0
.407
2023–24
OUA
28
10
18
–
0
0
20
16th
28
10
18
0
.357
Totals
GP
W
L
T/SOL
%
Championships
Regular Season
1361
874
400
89
.674
1 Central Division Title, 9 Far West Division Titles, 9 West Division Titles, 3 OUAA Championships, 6 OUA Championships
Conference Post-season
188
102
86
0
.543
1 OUAA Championship, 2 OUA Championships
U Sports Postseason
25
11
14
0
.440
13 National Tournament appearances
Regular Season and Postseason Record
1576
987
500
89
.655
1 National Championship
Note: Totals include results from 1964–65 onward.
Notable players
Western has had multiple NHL and All-Canadian players over the years. These include:
References
^ "Hockey (M): Past Champions" . Ontario University Athletics . Archived from the original on October 16, 2013.
^ "Past Champs" . english.cis-sic.ca .
^ "JP Metras Sports Museum" . www.lib.uwo.ca . Retrieved February 25, 2020 .
^ a b c d e f g Gage, Bob (2000). Mustang Tales: A history of men's sports in the 20th century at Western . London, Ontario, Canada: W Club. ISBN 0968938604 .
^ "JP Metras Sports Museum" . www.lib.uwo.ca . Retrieved February 25, 2020 .
^ "Western U Sextet Play At Brantford" . Brantford Expositor . Brantford, Ontario. October 26, 1936. p. 13. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2023 .
^ "Rucchin: Focus was key to Kariya's success" . NHL.com . Retrieved February 25, 2020 .
^ "Ontario University Athletics (OUA)" . oua.ca . Retrieved February 25, 2020 .
^ "Elite Prospects - Clarke Singer Team Staff Profile" . www.eliteprospects.com . Retrieved February 25, 2020 .
^ "MEN'S HOCKEY" . Western Mustangs . Retrieved February 8, 2024 .
External links