Templeton succumbs to illness

OHL coaching legend Bert Templeton passed away early Friday morning at age 63.

Templeton coached 26 seasons in the Ontario Hockey League. His 907 career wins are the second highest for any coach in the history of the Canadian Hockey League.

He was diagnosed with cancer this past summer.

“The Ontario Hockey League lost a great friend today in Bert Templeton,” OHL Commissioner David Branch said. “His passion for the game of hockey and dedication to excellence was an inspiration to us all. Bert’s legacy as a teacher of the game is unparalleled in the OHL and throughout the hockey world with the hundreds of players that he guided during his career. Our deepest sympathies are shared with Sandy and his entire family.”

Templeton began his OHL career with the Hamilton Fincups in 1974. Two years later, he guided the Fincups to the Memorial Cup championship. He spent 12 seasons behind the bench of the North Bay Centennials, winning the OHL Championship in 1994.

Templeton was the OHL Coach of the Year in 1975 and 1994 and won the OHL Executive of the Year Award in 1992 and again in 1996 when he guided the expansion Barrie Colts to a CHL record 28 wins in their inaugural season.

Templeton led his teams to eight division championships, including 2001 with the Sudbury Wolves, who he coached in his final four OHL seasons.

Bert Templeton

Career OHL Coaching Record

Year	 Club                   GP       W       L      T       PTS     Finish

1974-75	 Hamilton Fincups       70      37      24      9        83     3rd (Emms)

1975-76	 St. Catharines Fincups 66      43      15      8        94     1st (Emms)

1976-77	 Hamilton Fincups       66      50      11      5       105     1st (Emms)

1977-78	 Hamilton Fincups       59      27      19      3        57

1978-79	 Niagara Falls Flyers   68      43      21      4        90     1st (Emms)

1981-82	 Niagara Falls Flyers   68      31      34      3        65     4th (Emms)

1982-83	 North Bay Centennials  70      44      23      3        91     3rd (Emms)

1983-84	 North Bay Centennials  70      22      43      5        49     5th (Emms)

1984-85	 North Bay Centennials  66      34      28      4        72     3rd (Emms)

1985-86	 North Bay Centennials  66      41      21      4        86     1st (Emms)

1986-87	 North Bay Centennials  66      46      18      2        94     1st (Emms)

1987-88	 North Bay Centennials  66      31      30      5        67     4th (Emms)

1988-89	 North Bay Centennials  66      24      36      6        54     6th (Emms)

1989-90	 North Bay Centennials  66      23      35      8        54     5th (Emms)

1990-91	 North Bay Centennials  66      40      23      3        83     2nd (Leyden)

1991-92	 North Bay Centennials  66      40      21      5        85     2nd (Leyden)

1992-93	 North Bay Centennials  66      22      38      6        50     7th (Leyden)

1993-94	 North Bay Centennials  66      46      15      5        97     1st (Leyden)

1995-96	 Barrie Colts           66      28      31      7        63     5th (Central)

1996-97	 Barrie Colts           66      33      23     10        76     3rd (Central)

1997-98	 Barrie Colts           66      38      23      5        81     2nd (Central)

1998-99	 Barrie Colts           68      49      13      6       104     1st (Central)

1999-00	 Sudbury Wolves         68      39      24      5        84     2nd (Central)

2000-01	 Sudbury Wolves         68      35      25      8        81     1st (Central)

2001-02	 Sudbury Wolves         68      25      38      5        60     3rd (Central)

2002-03	 Sudbury Wolves         68      16      48      4        38     5th (Central)

		OHL Totals   1,735     907     680    148     1,963     Pct. .566