Fort Saskatchewan Traders

Lore & Background

The team's name derived from Fort Saskatchewan's origin as a North-West Mounted Police fort established in 1875, though it was not actually a trading fort. The Traders' most successful season came in 1978–79, when they won the AJHL championship, then defeated the Richmond Sockeyes of the BCHL in the Vernon Cup (forerunner to the Doyle Cup) before losing to the eventual national champion Prince Albert Raiders in six games at the Centennial Cup finals.

In their later years, the Traders faced financial difficulties and declining attendance, casting doubt on the team's future. During the 2005–06 season, the team was reportedly sold to a group representing St. Albert, but the deal failed to gain league approval. On March 15, 2007, a relocation to St. Albert for the 2007–08 season was approved, ending the Traders' 31-year run in Fort Saskatchewan. Only the Calgary Canucks had a longer tenure in one city. The relocated team was renamed the St. Albert Steel, which later moved to Whitecourt after the 2011–12 season to become the Whitecourt Wolverines.

Reader's Guide

The Fort Saskatchewan Traders were a fixture of the AJHL for three decades, from 1976–77 to 2006–07. Their two league championships (1979 and 1984) and three regular season titles (1983–84, 1990–91, 1992–93) marked them as a competitive force in the league. The 1979 team came within two wins of a national title, falling to Prince Albert in the Centennial Cup finals. The franchise's longevity in one city—31 years—was second only to the Calgary Canucks among AJHL teams. The team's alumni include players who reached the NHL and Shannon Szabados, who went on to play for Canadian women's national and Olympic teams. The Traders' departure from Fort Saskatchewan in 2007, after a failed sale attempt and eventual relocation to St. Albert, marked the end of an era for the community. The franchise continued under new names in St. Albert and later Whitecourt, but the Traders' identity and history remain tied to their original home.

Did You Know?

• The Traders' name came from Fort Saskatchewan's history as a North-West Mounted Police fort, though it was not a trading fort.
• In 1978–79, the Traders won the AJHL championship and the Vernon Cup before losing in the Centennial Cup finals.
• The team was relocated to St. Albert in 2007 and renamed the St. Albert Steel.