Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League
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- For the present league by this name, please see Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League.
The Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League was a Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey that lasted from the late 1960s until 1976 in Southern Ontario, Canada. The league was swallowed by what is now called the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League in 1976.
- The Big '10' Western Division Prior to 1956
- Western Junior "B" Hockey League 1956 - 1968
- Western Junior "A" Hockey League 1968 - 1970
- Southern Ontario Junior "A" Hockey League 1970 - 1976
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[edit] History
In 1956 the tradition Big '10' League was divided, its Western Division became the Western Ontario Junior "B" Hockey League. The Eastern Division became the Central Junior "B" Hockey League which merged with a different Western Ontario Junior "B" Hockey League in 1971.
In the 1960's, the Western Junior "B" Hockey League was arguably the top league of Junior "B" hockey in Ontario. The Western's brass and the team owners felt that they should, as a whole, be promoted to Junior "A" status. In 1968 they pushed the issue with the Ontario Hockey Association. The the OHA refused the promotion and in return the league declared itself renegade. Declaring themselves the Western Junior "A" Hockey League, the WJAHL operated independently for the next two seasons. During one of those seasons, the WJAHL faced off against the Flin Flon Bombers of the Western Canada Hockey League to determine a National Champion outside of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association. In 1970, the Top Tier of Junior Hockey in Ontario broke away from the OHA as well. To save face, the OHA opened negotiations with the WJAHL. The league was welcomed back into the OHA as the top level in its system and changed its name to the Southern Ontario Junior "A" Hockey League.
The 1971 League title went to the Detroit Jr. Red Wings, starring Mark Howe, son of legend Gordie Howe and the son of Terry Sawchuck, Gerry Sawchuck. Detroit defeated Guelph 3-games-to-2 with two ties to clinch the title. The next season saw the Guelph CMC's challenge and defeat Detroit in the final 4-games-to-1. The CMC's pushed further and ended up winning the inaugural Manitoba Centennial Cup as Canadian Tier II Junior "A" Champions.
In 1973, the Chatham Maroons took the league crown and then defeated the newly formed Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League's champion the Wexford Warriors for the OHA Crown. The next season's title was won by the Windsor Spitfires who then fell to the Warriors in seven games.
The SOJAHL only lasted to more seasons. The '75 title was won by the CMC's again. They made it all the way to the National title, but fell to the Alberta Junior Hockey League Champion. In 1975-76, the CMC's were bought and renamed the Guelph Platers. They won the league once again, and moved on to the national title playdowns. Their first opponent was the Rockland Nationals of the Central Junior A Hockey League. After going up 3-games-to-none on them, the Platers fell apart and lost in seven games.
After the 1976 playoffs, the league was disbanded and dissolved. The Jr. Red Wings, went back to playing in the United States, the Maroons and the Sarnia Bees went to the newly formed Western Junior B Hockey League, the Windsor Spitfires (also known as the Bulldogs from '73-'75) moved up to the Ontario Hockey League, the Owen Sound Greys went on hiatus for two seasons then joined the Midwestern Junior B Hockey League, and the Guelph Platers moved up the the OPJHL and then later the OHL and are now known as the Owen Sound Attack.
[edit] The Teams
[edit] Jack Oakes Memorial Trophy Playoff Champions
- 1971 Detroit Jr. Red Wings
- 1972 Guelph CMC's
- 1973 Chatham Maroons
- 1974 Windsor Bulldogs
- 1975 Guelph CMC's
- 1976 Guelph Platers
[edit] Western Junior "A" Champions
- 1969
- 1970 Chatham Maroons
[edit] Western Junior "B" Champions
- 1957 Sarnia Legionnaires
- 1958 Sarnia Legionnaires
- 1959 Sarnia Legionnaires
- 1960
- 1961
- 1962 St. Thomas Barons
- 1963 St. Marys Lincolns
- 1964
- 1965 Chatham Maroons
- 1966 Sarnia Legionnaires
- 1967
- 1968 Sarnia Legionnaires
