The Centennials wore a white, black and gold colour scheme. The team logo from 1982 to 1998 featured the Centennials name and four wheels to form the shape of a locomotive engine. Shoulder patches featured a front view of a locomotive on tracks.[2] The Centennials were originally owned by Reg Quinn. The team played its first home game in North Bay on September 23, 1982, defeating the Kingston Canadians by a 7–4 score. During the summer of 1986, Quinn sold the team to local automotive dealer John Hopper.[3]
The Centennials won back-to-back Emms division titles in 1986 and 1987. In 1987 the OHL organized a Super Series for the right to host the Memorial Cup tournament between the Leyden Division champions Oshawa Generals, and the Emms Division champions North Bay Centennials.[4] The super series was played while both teams had a first-round playoffs bye. North Bay came within one game of hosting the national junior championship, losing game seven to the Oshawa Generals. In the OHL championship series that year the Centennials and Generals faced off again with the same result, Oshawa defeating North Bay 4 games to 3.[3]
Determined to return to the Memorial Cup, coach and general manager Bert Templeton began building his team for another championship run.[citation needed] In 1991–92 North Bay returned to the OHL finals, losing to their northern counterparts, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in seven games.[3] Templeton was awarded the OHL Executive of the Year for the 1991–92 season.[citation needed]
In the summer of 1994, Ted Thomson bought a 50 percent share of the team from John Hopper. In 1998, Thomson bought the remaining 50 per cent share of the team from Hopper, then later brought in Bill Finnis as a minority partner.[3] An updated team logo was used from 1998 to 2002, which featured an angry-looking railroad engineer holding a hockey stick.[2] In December 2001, Thomson and Finnish sold the team to Michigan businessman Richard Garber.[3] At the end of the 2001-02 OHL season, the Centennials relocated to Michigan becoming the Saginaw Spirit.[5]
In twenty years of operation, the North Bay Centennials had four coaches. Bert Templeton carried over from Niagara Falls and guided the team for its first twelve years. He later became the team's general manager in addition to coaching.[3] He was awarded the OHL Executive of the Year for the 1991–92 season.[7] When the Centennials won the championship in 1994, Templeton was awarded the Matt Leyden Trophy as OHL Coach of the Year,[8] and the CHL Coach of the Year Award.[9] Templton had worked the 1993–94 season without a contact, and resigned as coach and general manager in August 1994, stating a desire to relocate to Toronto and spend more time with family. Team owner John Hopper declined Templeton's offer to remain as only as general manager.[10]
Shane Parker took over for two and a half seasons, replaced by Greg Bignell for a year and a half. Mike Kelly became the coached and general manager after leading the University of New Brunswick Reds to a national championship.[3]
Division quarterfinals bye Won division semifinals (Belleville Bulls) 4–2 Won division finals (Ottawa 67's) 4–1 Won OHL finals (Detroit Junior Red Wings) 4–3 Placed fourth at 1994 Memorial Cup[30]
