Napanee Raiders - The Raiders Era

The Raiders Era

After three seasons with no junior hockey, the Eastern Ontario Junior C Hockey League was re-formed. The Napanee Raiders were its first regular season and playoff champions in 1990.

In 1993, the Napanee Raiders forced the Ontario Hockey Association to take the far-east upstart league seriously. The Raiders finished first in the regular season with thirty-two wins in thirty-five games played. They won the league playoffs and entered the Clarence Schmalz Cup provincial playdowns. They made it to the provincial final where they faced the Western Ontario Junior C Hockey League's, Hanover Barons for Ontario's crown. The Raiders shocked the Barons and came out on top with 4-games-to-2 series win. This marked both the Raiders and the new league's first provincial championship.

The Raiders won the Eastern Ontario Junior C League title again in 1994 and 1995. After the 1995 championship, the league announced that they were changing their name from the Eastern Ontario Junior C Hockey League to the Empire B Junior C Hockey League. The name change was to end confusion between the league and the neighbouring Ottawa District Hockey Association's long running Eastern Ontario Junior C Hockey League.

In 1995-96, the Napanee Raiders won their fourth straight league championship. Unlike the previous two years, the Raiders made it through to the Clarence Schmalz Cup final. Their opponents were the Paris Mounties of the Niagara & District Junior C Hockey League. However unlike the 1993 finals, the Raider's fell short of their bid for a second provincial crown, losing in the championship series, 4-games-to-1.

The 2000-01 season ended up being a good one for the Raiders as they went on to win their sixth Empire B Junior C Hockey League championship.

In 2005-06, the Raiders finished the regular season in first place overall. They received a bye through the league quarter-finals and ended up against the second year Colborne Cobras in the league semi-final. The Raiders proved too much for the Cobras and crushed them 4-games-to-none. In the league final, the Raiders met up with the Amherstview Jets. In a long and tough series, the Raiders prevailed in game 7, winning the series 4-games-to-3. In the provincial semi-final, the Raiders ran into the Central Ontario Junior C Hockey League's Port Perry Mojacks. The Mojacks swept the Empire B champions 4-games-to-none.

The 2006-07 season saw the Napanee Raiders slip to third place overall in the regular season standings. The Raiders met the Amherstview Jets in the league semi-final. The Jets were set on avenging the 2006 Finals loss to the Raiders and defeated them 4-games-to-2 to move on to the league final. During the 2006-07 season, the Raiders invited the local Canada World Youth branch along with a large contingent of Peruvians from "La Brigada de Voluntarios Bolivarianos del Peru" to attend the game. The Raiders defeated the Picton Pirates 6-3 in front of their guests.

The Raiders finished the 2008-09 season with a 20-0 home record.

2012-13 season begins with new Head Coach Andre Roy at the helm adding new assistants Paul O'Connor and returning assistant coach Scott Slack. Also returning to the Raiders front office staff after a year off is former Frontenac Flyers GM Mike MacDonald as Assistant GM.

On November 20th, Head Coach Andre Roy and Assistant Coach Paul O'Connor both stepped down after a 12 game losing streak. Remaining Assistant Coach Scott Slack and Assistant GM Mike MacDonald took over the bench duites on an interm basis.