The Témiscaming Titans (French: Les Titans de Témiscaming) are a junior ice hockey team based in Témiscaming, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the North Division of the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League (GMHL). The Titans play their home games at the 750 seat (900 capacity) Le Centre de Témiscaming.
The team has had success, winning two division titles, won the regular season championship twice, appeared in the Russell Cup Finals four times, and won the Russell Cup in 2015 and 2022. The success has been reflected in attendance and has been one of the top teams in attendance in the GMHL.
History
The Temiscaming Titans were officially announced April 12, 2011. The Titans are one of two Quebec-based teams in the GMHL, as well as the third in their history after the Temiscaming Royals (2007–2008) and the Ville-Marie Dragons (2008–2009).
The Temiscaming Titans played their first game on September 10, 2011, in Temiscaming, Quebec, against the Sturgeon Falls Lumberjacks. The Titans defeated the Lumberjacks 7–4 for their first ever win. On October 20, 2011, Aaron Boyce recorded a 23 save shutout against the Elliot Lake Bobcats, the Titans first shutout in franchise history. The Titans were undefeated in regulation through their first twenty games of the season. Their first loss came on November 25, 2011, 8–1, at the hands of the Elliot Lake Bobcats, largely in part to the Bobcats great defensive skills, and Pavlo Borko and his 19 save shutout performance.
On February 16, 2012, the Titans officially unveiled their banner for the 2011–12 GMHL Regular Season Champions. Also on the night forwards #88 Andre Leclair and #89 Robin Mendelsohn were honoured as their number banner was hung up into the rafters in front of a crowd of over 400. The Titans would go on to take the game 4–1 over the Elliot Lake Bobcats.
In the 2012 GMHL playoffs, the Temiscaming Titans made it to the GMHL Russell Cup Finals against the Sturgeon Falls Lumberjacks. Games one and two were held in Temiscaming which drew crowds of over 500 per game. Game 5 went back to Temiscaming where it drew a crowd of over 700 people. The Titans would fall to the Lumberjacks in 6 games.
As the 2012–13 season began, opening night on September 7, 2012, drew a crowd of over 550 and the Titans won 8–1 against the Shelburne Red Wings. During the course of the season, the Titans posted a 14-game win streak and a 35–6–0–1 overall record during the regular season. The team finished in first place in the North Division, drawing a first round playoff match-up against the Mattawa Voyageurs. Temiscaming swept the Voyageurs, outscoring them 33–8. In the second round, the Titans faced the rival Powassan Eagles. Game one was held in Temiscaming where 234 penalty minutes was given with the teams combined and the Titans winning 7–1. They would go on to sweep the Eagles in three games, pushing their playoff record to 6–0. In three games, the teams combined for 329 penalty minutes. There were 17 game misconducts, 10 fighting majors, and 14 major penalties. They then faced the Bracebridge Phantoms in the North Division Finals. The Titans took games one and two with a 6–5 and 7–4 win. However, going to Bracebridge for games three and four, the Phantoms took home ice as an advantage and won two straight to tie the series. In game five, the Titans won 8–2, but The Phantoms beat the Titans 5–3 in game six. In the decisive game seven in Temiscaming, the Titans cruised to a 9–1 victory to secure a berth in the Russell Cup Finals.
The 2013 Russell Cup Finals included the Titans and the undefeated Bradford Rattlers. Game one was on March 21, 2013, in Bradford, the Titans were trailed most of the game until scoring three goals in the last ten minutes of regulation to force overtime. In overtime, the Titans were shorthanded when Ryan Adams intercepted a pass at his own blue line and went on a breakaway to beat Rattlers' netminder Jonathan LoParco giving the Titans a 1–0 series lead and they were the first team to beat the Rattlers (52–0–0–0) through the regular season and playoffs. Bradford would win games two and three, with Temiscaming taking game four to tie the series 2–2. Ultimately, Temiscaming lost the series in six games.