St. Albert Saints
| St. Albert Saints | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | St. Albert, Alberta |
| League | AJHL |
| Operated | 1977–2004 |
| Home arena | Akinsdale Arena |
| Colours | Red Gold |
| Franchise history | |
| 1963–1972 | Edmonton Western Movers |
| 1972–1974 | Edmonton Mets |
| 1974–1977 | Spruce Grove Mets |
| 1977–2004 | St. Albert Saints |
| 2004–2023 | Spruce Grove Saints |
| Championships | |
| League |
|
| Regional |
|
| National | |
The St. Albert Saints were a junior ice hockey franchise based in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada, for twenty-seven seasons from 1977 to 2004. Before 1977, the team played in nearby Spruce Grove as the Spruce Grove Mets, and in 2004 the team again moved to Spruce Grove where they now play as the Spruce Grove Saints. In all its incarnations, the team has been a part of the junior 'A' Alberta Junior Hockey League.
History
The Saints began life as the Edmonton Western Movers, named for the team's sponsor, as one of the original franchises of the AJHL in 1963. Nine years later, the Movers merged with their cross-town rivals the Edmonton Maple Leafs (which took its name from the Toronto NHL club) to become the Edmonton Mets as of the 1972–73 season.
| Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966–67 | 32 | 25 | 3 | 4 | 228 | 118 | 54 | 1st place | Won final against Lethbridge (4:1) |
| 1967–68 | 40 | 21 | 16 | 3 | 185 | 157 | 45 | 2nd place | Won final |
| 1968–69 | 50 | 28 | 16 | 6 | 213 | 197 | 62 | 3rd place | |
| 1969–70 | 50 | 19 | 27 | 4 | 160 | 227 | 42 | 5th place | |
| 1970–71 | 50 | 9 | 36 | 5 | 165 | 282 | 23 | 6th place | Lost semifinal against Lethbridge (4:0) |
| 1971–72 | 48 | 16 | 29 | 3 | 192 | 231 | 35 | 5th place | Lost semifinal against Calgary (4:3) |
Source: "Edmonton Western Movers statistics and history". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 31 October 2026.
Spruce Grove Mets
The team moved to Spruce Grove, a suburb of Edmonton, to become the Spruce Grove Mets, starting with the 1974–75 season. The team moved to another Edmonton suburb, St. Albert, starting with the 1977–78 season, where they became the St. Albert Saints.
Before its arrival in St. Albert, the franchise's history included four AJHL championships, winning two Carling O'Keefe Cups as the Movers in 1967 and 1968 and adding another two consecutive championships as the Mets in 1975 and 1976; in addition, the team won the 1975 Centennial Cup national championship.
While the Spruce Grove Mets had two players reach the National Hockey League (NHL) – Paul Messier and Dave Hoyda, the Saints saw 10 players reach the NHL: six-time Stanley Cup champion Mark Messier, who played one season with the Mets and one with the Saints; three-time Stanley Cup champion Ken Daneyko, who played two games with the Saints; Chicago Blackhawks player and later Blackhawks WGN-AM radio color analyst Troy Murray; Steven Reinprecht; Stu Barnes; Mike Comrie; Fernando Pisani; Steven Goertzen; René Bourque; and Jamie Lundmark.
| Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972–73 | 60 | 25 | 33 | 2 | 257 | 315 | 52 | 5th place | Did not qualify |
| 1973–74 | 60 | 30 | 27 | 3 | 280 | 254 | 63 | 3rd place | Lost semifinal against Red Deer (4:0) |
| 1974–75 | 60 | 44 | 16 | 0 | 368 | 220 | 88 | 1st place | Won final against Drumheller (4:3) |
| 1975–76 | 60 | 35 | 22 | 3 | 312 | 258 | 73 | 2nd place | Won final against Taber (4:0) |
| 1976–77 | 60 | 35 | 23 | 2 | 263 | 235 | 72 | 4th place | Lost quarterfinal against Taber (4:0) |
Source: "Spruce Grove Mets statistics and history". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 31 October 2026.
St. Albert Saints
In 1977, following a change of ownership, the franchise relocated to St. Albert and rebranded as the Saints. After moving to St. Albert, the franchise won four AJHL championships, taking the 1981, 1982 and 1996 Carling O'Keefe Cups as well as the 1998 (renamed) Rogers Wireless Cup.
The Saints were involved in one of the most tragic incidents in junior hockey history; during a February 1980 game, a clean hit by a Saints player on Sherwood Park Crusaders captain Trevor Elton resulted in the death of Elton. The Saints were also involved in one of the most violent incidents, a bench-clearing brawl on November 21, 1979, between the Saints and the Red Deer Rustlers. This brawl resulted in the suspension of several players, as well as Saints head coach Doug Messier and Rustlers' trainer Terry Sexsmith for getting a little too involved in the battle. Sexsmith was later banned from the AJHL for life. It is reported that Messier had four affiliated Junior B players dressed and hiding in the locker room who then joined the brawl, as planned, soon after it started.
As the 21st century rolled around, complaints increasingly began to grow that the Saints' arena, Akinsdale Arena, was of a calibre too low to house a junior 'A' franchise. Various newer arenas seating over a thousand, such as the Sherwood Park Crusaders' Sherwood Park Arena, the 2,000-seat Jubilee Recreation Centre, home of the Fort Saskatchewan Traders, and then vacant 1,200-seat Grant Fuhr Arena in Spruce Grove - which was expected to receive a significant upgrade - are all within a short drive of St. Albert. Akinsdale Arena, by comparison, was relatively old and very small, seating only 611 with room for 200 standing, the smallest capacity in the league. The arena also suffered in terms of parking, amenities, and quality of view.
By the 2002-03 season, it was becoming clear that the Saints would be moved, with Barrhead or the oil town of Leduc frequently cited as potential locations. The team was even forced to play out its last games in Edmonton's Bill Hunter Arena, where it never drew crowds of less than double Akinsdale's maximum capacity. The Saints moved to Spruce Grove in 2004.
| Season | GP | W | L | T | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | Regular season | Post-season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977–78 | 60 | 38 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 77 | 318 | 264 | 2nd place | Lost second round |
| 1978–79 | 60 | 39 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 79 | 311 | 250 | 3rd place | Lost second round |
| 1979–80 | 59 | 34 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 70 | 313 | 237 | 3rd place | |
| 1980–81 | 60 | 33 | 24 | 3 | 0 | 69 | 285 | 249 | 2nd place | Won final against Taber (4:3) |
| 1981–82 | 60 | 46 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 92 | 338 | 199 | 1st place | Won final against Calgary (4:3) |
| 1982–83 | 60 | 41 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 82 | 372 | 239 | 1st place | |
| 1983–84 | 60 | 37 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 74 | 340 | 276 | 2nd place | |
| 1984–85 | 60 | 36 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 76 | 333 | 260 | 2nd place | |
| 1985–86 | 52 | 31 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 63 | 297 | 248 | 1st place | |
| 1986–87 | 60 | 37 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 77 | 307 | 241 | 2nd place | Lost final against Red Deer (4:2) |
| 1987–88 | 60 | 42 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 84 | 320 | 206 | 1st place | Lost final against Calgary (4:1) |
| 1988–89 | 60 | 28 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 59 | 264 | 262 | 3rd place | Lost first round |
| 1989–90 | 60 | 16 | 41 | 3 | 0 | 35 | 245 | 328 | 5th place | Lost first round |
| 1990–91 | 56 | 30 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 63 | 197 | 201 | 4th place | |
| 1991–92 | 60 | 37 | 20 | 0 | 3 | 77 | 278 | 254 | 4th place | |
| 1992–93 | 56 | 34 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 70 | 269 | 224 | 3rd place | |
| 1993–94 | 56 | 21 | 34 | 0 | 1 | 43 | 210 | 253 | 7th place | |
| 1994–95 | 56 | 29 | 23 | 0 | 4 | 62 | 232 | 235 | 4th place | |
| 1995–96 | 60 | 38 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 81 | 268 | 194 | 3rd place | Won final against Fort McMurray (4:3) |
| 1996–97 | 60 | 34 | 22 | 0 | 4 | 72 | 226 | 221 | 3rd place | |
| 1997–98 | 60 | 42 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 87 | 311 | 184 | 1st place | Won final against Fort Saskatchewan (4:2) |
| 1998–99 | 62 | 43 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 86 | 286 | 202 | 1st place | Lost final against Calgary (4:0) |
| 1999–00 | 64 | 19 | 43 | 0 | 2 | 40 | 209 | 315 | 6th place | |
| 2000–01 | 64 | 37 | 21 | 6 | 0 | 80 | 227 | 190 | 3rd place | |
| 2001–02 | 64 | 42 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 94 | 254 | 169 | 1st place | |
| 2002–03 | 64 | 38 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 82 | 250 | 196 | 2nd place | Lost final against Camrose (4:3) |
| 2003–04 | 60 | 36 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 74 | 210 | 187 | 2nd place |
Source: "St. Albert Saints statistics and history". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 31 October 2026.
Playoff record
- 1971 DNQ
- 1972 DNQ
- 1973 DNQ
- 1974 Lost semi-final
- Red Deer Rustlers defeated Edmonton Mets 4-games-to-none
- 1975 Won League, won Alta/BC Championship, won Abbott Cup, won 1975 Centennial Cup
- Spruce Grove Mets defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-1
- Spruce Grove Mets defeated Drumheller Falcons 4-games-to-3 AJHL CHAMPIONS
- Spruce Grove Mets defeated Bellingham Blazers (BCJHL) 4-games-to-2 ALTA/BC CHAMPIONS
- Spruce Grove Mets defeated Selkirk Steelers (MJHL) 4-games-to-2 ABBOTT CUP CHAMPIONS
- Spruce Grove Mets defeated Guelph CMC's (SOJHL) 4-games-to-2 CENTENNIAL CUP CHAMPIONS
- 1976 Won League, won Alta/BC Championship, won Abbott Cup, lost 1976 Centennial Cup
- Spruce Grove Mets defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-2
- Spruce Grove Mets defeated Taber Golden Suns 4-games-to-none AJHL CHAMPIONS
- Spruce Grove Mets defeated Nor'Wes Caps (PJHL) 4-games-to-1 ALTA/BC CHAMPIONS
- Spruce Grove Mets defeated Prince Albert Raiders (SJHL) 4-games-to-1 ABBOTT CUP CHAMPIONS
- Rockland Nationals (CJHL) defeated Spruce Grove Mets 4-games-to-1
- 1977 Lost quarter-final
- Taber Golden Suns defeated Spruce Grove Mets 4-games-to-none
- 1978 Lost semi-final round robin
- St. Albert Saints defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-3
- Third in semi-final round robin (1-3) vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders and Calgary Canucks
- 1979 Lost semi-final round robin
- St. Albert Saints defeated Taber Golden Suns 4-games-to-1
- Third in semi-final round robin (2-2) vs. Calgary Canucks and Fort Saskatchewan Traders
- 1980 Lost semi-final
- St. Albert Saints defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 3-games-to-none
- Red Deer Rustlers defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-1
- 1981 Won League, won Atla/BC Championship, lost Abbott Cup
- St. Albert Saints defeated Red Deer Rustlers 3-games-to-1
- St. Albert Saints defeated Sherwood Park Crusaders 4-games-to-2
- St. Albert Saints defeated Taber Golden Suns 4-games-to-3 AJHL CHAMPIONS
- St. Albert Saints defeated Penticton Knights (BCJHL) 4-games-to-1 ALTA/BC CHAMPIONS
- Prince Albert Raiders (SJHL) defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-none
- 1982 Won League, won Atla/BC Championship, lost Abbott Cup
- St. Albert Saints defeated Hobbema Hawks 4-games-to-none
- St. Albert Saints defeated Fort McMurray Oil Barons 4-games-to-none
- St. Albert Saints defeated Calgary Spurs 4-games-to-3 AJHL CHAMPIONS
- St. Albert Saints defeated Penticton Knights (BCJHL) 4-games-to-3 ALTA/BC CHAMPIONS
- Prince Albert Raiders (SJHL) defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-1
- 1983 Lost semi-final
- St. Albert Saints defeated Sherwood Park Crusaders 4-games-to-none
- Fort McMurray Oil Barons defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-1
- 1984 Lost semi-final
- St. Albert Saints defeated Sherwood Park Crusaders 4-games-to-3
- Fort Saskatchewan Traders defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-3
- 1985 Lost quarter-final
- Fort Saskatchewan Traders defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-2
- 1986 Lost quarter-final
- Fort McMurray Oil Barons defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-1
- 1987 Lost final
- St. Albert Saints defeated Fort McMurray Oil Barons 4-games-to-2
- St. Albert Saints defeated Sherwood Park Crusaders 4-games-to-3
- Red Deer Rustlers defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-2
- 1988 Lost final
- St. Albert Saints defeated Fort McMurray Oil Barons 4-games-to-2
- St. Albert Saints defeated Hobbema Hawks 4-games-to-2
- Calgary Canucks defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-1
- 1989 Lost quarter-final
- Sherwood Park Crusaders defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-2
- 1990 Lost quarter-final
- Calgary Canucks defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-3
- 1991 Lost quarter-final
- Fort McMurray Oil Barons defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-none
- 1992 Lost quarter-final
- Fort Saskatchewan Traders defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-3
- 1993 Lost semi-final
- St. Albert Saints defeated Calgary Canucks 5-games-to-2
- Fort Saskatchewan Traders defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-3
- 1994 Lost semi-final
- St. Albert Saints defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-3
- Olds Grizzlys defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-none
- 1995 Lost quarter-final
- Sherwood Park Crusaders defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-1
- 1996 Won League, lost Doyle Cup
- St. Albert Saints defeated Sherwood Park Crusaders 4-games-to-3
- St. Albert Saints defeated Olds Grizzlys 4-games-to-none
- St. Albert Saints defeated Fort McMurray Oil Barons 4-games-to-3 AJHL CHAMPIONS
- Vernon Vipers (BCHL) defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-3
- 1997 Lost semi-final
- St. Albert Saints defeated Sherwood Park Crusaders 4-games-to-2
- Fort McMurray Oil Barons defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-2
- 1998 Won League, lost Doyle Cup
- St. Albert Saints defeated Olds Grizzlys 4-games-to-2
- St. Albert Saints defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-3
- St. Albert Saints defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-2 AJHL CHAMPIONS
- South Surrey Eagles (BCHL) defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-2
- 1999 Lost final
- St. Albert Saints defeated Grande Prairie Storm 4-games-to-1
- St. Albert Saints defeated Lloydminster Blazers 4-games-to-3
- Calgary Canucks defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-none
- 2000 Lost Preliminary
- Fort Saskatchewan Traders defeated St. Albert Saints 3-games-to-1
- 2001 Lost quarter-final
- St. Albert Saints defeated Sherwood Park Crusaders 3-games-to-none
- Grande Prairie Storm defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-1
- 2002 Lost quarter-final
- Grande Prairie Storm defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-2
- 2003 Lost final
- St. Albert Saints defeated Lloydminster Blazers 4-games-to-1
- St. Albert Saints defeated Grande Prairie Storm 4-games-to-1
- St. Albert Saints defeated Sherwood Park Crusaders 4-games-to-1
- Camrose Kodiaks defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-3
- 2004 Lost Preliminary
- Lloydminster Blazers defeated St. Albert Saints 3-games-to-1
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Hansen, Jeff (12 October 2011). "Mitchell set the standard for Gazette sports reporting". St. Albert Gazette. Great West Media. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
- ↑ Saints give up on St. Albert, St. Albert Gazette, April 17, 2004. Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Watt, Evan (22 October 2026). "St. Albert could see return of AJHL hockey under new expansion proposal". St. Albert Gazette. Great West Media. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
Sources
- "Champions | History" (PDF). Alberta Junior Hockey League. March 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2026.