Smiths Falls Bears
Division	Robinson
Founded	1961
History	Smiths Falls Bears 1961–2000 Lanark Thunder 2000–2002 Smiths Falls Bears 2002–present
Home arena	Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre
City	Smiths Falls, Ontario
Team colors	Black, gold, white
Media	FloSports
Owner	Glenview Sports Entertainment Inc.
General manager	Pat Malloy
Head coach	Pat Malloy
Official website	www.smithsfallsbearshockey.com

The Smiths Falls Bears are a Junior A ice hockey team based in Smiths Falls.^[1] The Bears compete in the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) as a member of the Robinson Division, which is the west division in the league. The team has been in existence since 1961, making them one of the oldest Junior A hockey teams in Canada.^[2]

The Bears are one of the "Original Six" CCHL teams, along with the Cornwall Royals, Hawkesbury Royals, Hull Hawks, Ottawa Primrose, and the Pembroke Lumber Kings. They have won four Bogart Cup championships between 1965 and 1975, including two years in a row 1974 and 1975.^[3] The Bears have made it to the Bogart Cup Final nine times in franchise history, with their last appearance in 2025–26 against the eventual champion Rockland Nationals. They are considered one of the most successful franchises in CCHL history.

The first facility to host the Bears was the original Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre, the league's former oldest arena, built in 1948. Following the demolition of the old facility in 2010, the team now plays its home games at the new Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre, located in downtown Smiths Falls.^[4] From 2000 to 2002, the team played its home games in Perth, Ontario as the Lanark Thunder when the franchise was suspended. The Bears were re-admitted to the league as an expansion team for the 2002–03 season and held an expansion draft.

History

The origins of the Smiths Falls Bears trace back to when the Ottawa-Hull District Junior Hockey League (now Central Canada Hockey League) was formed in 1961 under the direction of the Montreal Canadiens. The Bears are one of the oldest franchises in Canadian Junior A hockey, despite a 9-year leave of absence from 1976 to 1985.^[5]

In February 2000, a dressing room fire at the Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre destroyed almost all of the team's equipment. The equipment was replaced through donations and charities and Bears were able to finish the 1999–2000 season. The following summer, the Bears announced their relocation to Perth. Assuming the name of the Lanark Thunder, the owner promised to draw attendance at the Perth Community Arena for the 2000–01 season. While the inaugural season of the Thunder drew satisfactory attendance, it dropped dramatically during the following season and nearly being unable to participate in the playoffs at the conclusion of the 2001–02 season and having to give up their playoff spot to the second-last team (Brockville). The Thunder played the Nepean Raiders in the first round and lost the series 4 games to 0. Immediately afterwards, the team was suspended allowing the original franchise to be re-admitted as an expansion team.^[6]

During the 2013–14 playoffs, the Smiths Falls Bears made it to the Bogart Cup Final but have lost in five games against fierce rival Carleton Place Canadians. The Bears attracted 8,773 fans in 8 playoff home games to an average of 1,097, including two capacity crowds of over 1,500 people during Game 2 and 4 of the 2014 Bogart Cup Final.^[7]

Season-by-season record

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

Championships

• CCHL Bogart Cup Championships: 1965, 1972, 1974, 1975

• Eastern Canadian Fred Page Cup Championships: 1974, 1975

Notable alumni

• Fred Brathwaite
• Joe DiPenta
• Rob Dopson
• Randy Pierce
• Steve Poapst
• Ken Richardson
• Billy Smith
• Steve Valiquette
• Ron Ward
• Jason York
• Rod Zaine
• Mark Borowiecki
• Zachary Senyshyn

References

External links

• Smiths Falls Bears Website