Previous to Junior A coming to Port Hope, and subsequently leaving it, the town has operated a series of Junior C teams by the name Port Hope Panthers.
In November 2005, coach Bret Meyers was suspended for one season and the team was fined $4000 after the Ontario Hockey Association investigated the Predators over allegations of hazing and irresponsible public behaviour by the players of the team.[1] In January 2006, the Predators were fined $1000 and their director of operations Tim Clayden was suspended for one month for signing a player to a Junior C card without his knowledge.[2] In June 2007, the Ontario Hockey Association found Clayden guilty of tampering with players from the Cobourg Cougars' roster. He was suspended for one year and the team was fined $5000.[3] In September 2007, Port Hope coach Brian Drumm was suspended for 20 games for striking a Lindsay Muskies player in the face during a game. The team was also fined $3500.[4]
Trenton era (2009–present)
In early 2009, the Trenton Hercs announced that they were folding mid-season and leaving the Ontario Junior Hockey League.[5] In March, rumblings of team moving into the Trenton market came afloat. It turned out to be the Port Hope Predators.[6][7] According to OJHL commissioner Bob Hooper: “The league never really wanted a team in Port Hope in the first place.”[6] In the 2008-09 season, Port Hope was second in league attendance, while Trenton was ninth.[8]
On April 2, 2009, the move and name change were announced. The Port Hope Predators are now the Trenton Golden Hawks.
The Trenton Golden Hawks won their first Frank L Buckland Cup Trophy as OJHL playoff champions in 2016, by defeating the Georgetown Raiders in 7 games. From there, the Golden Hawks traveled north to Kirkland Lake to compete in the Dudley-Hewitt Up, where they went 3-0 in round-robin play and defeated the defending NOJHL champions and Dudley-Hewitt Cup champions Soo Thunderbirds in the final. Trenton traveled to Lloydminster, Alberta/Saskatchewan for the Royal Bank Cup. Trenton finished first with a 3-0-0-1 record, but were stunned in the semi-final by the hosts Lloydminster Bobcats, who won 6-2.
1st of 5 East Div 1st of 11 NE Conf 1st of 22 OJHL
Won Conf. Quarters 4-0 (Hurricanes) Won Conf. Semifinals 4-1 (Dukes) Won Conf. Finals, 4-0 (Voyageurs) Won OHJL Championship 4-1 (Raiders)) OJHL CHAMPIONS
2016-17
54
42
9
2
1
255
119
87
1st of 5 East Div 1st of 11 NE Conf 2nd of 22 OJHL
Won Conf. Quarters 4-2 (Hurricanes) Won Conf. Semifinals, 4-0 (Spirit) Won Conf. Finals, 4-0 (Cougars) Lost League Finals 3-4 (Raiders)
