Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League

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Ontario Provincial Junior "A" Hockey League
Head Office Cambridge, Ontario
Official Web site OPJHL
Chairman Charlie Macoun
Vice Chairman Al Doria
Founded 1993

The Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League is a Tier II Junior A ice hockey league under the supervision of the Ontario Hockey Association and the Canadian Junior A Hockey League. The league dates back to 1968. The Central turned Junior "A" before the 1993-94 season and changed its name to the OPJHL. Teams in the league are based out of the Greater Toronto Area, Southwestern Ontario, Central Ontario, Eastern Ontario, the Golden Horseshoe, and Northeastern Ontario. The OPJHL is the largest junior league in all of Canada.

The winner of the OPJHL playoffs and Frank L. Buckland Trophy competes for the Dudley Hewitt Cup with the winners of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Superior International Junior Hockey League. The winner of the Dudley Hewitt Cup then moves on to compete for the Royal Bank Cup.

The Big 10 Central Division Prior to 1956
Central Junior "B" Hockey League 1956 - 1993
Ontario Provincial Junior "A" Hockey League 1993 to Present

Contents

[edit] History

The Ontario Hockey Association Tier II Junior "A" League was born out of the creation of the Ontario Hockey League. There have always been multiple tiers of junior hockey, but the top tier, then known as Ontario Hockey Association Junior "A", elected to split from the OHA and create its own level of hockey. The early 1970s sparked a vast reorganization of Canadian hockey right across the country. The OHL was born out of this, as well was the Western Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in other parts of Canada. The new tier was known as Major Junior "A" hockey. The first Ontario Tier II League came in 1968 with creation of the renegade Western Ontario Junior A Hockey League, which became the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League in 1970.

[edit] The First Ontario Provincial League (1972-1987)

For Season-by-Season Standings, please see: OPJHL Standings (1972-1981) and OJHL Standings.

The aftermath of the annexation of the top tier left a vacuum for a new top tier of OHA hockey. What filled the gap in 1972 was the 12-team Ontario Hockey Association Jr. "A" Hockey League, comprised of 5 teams leaving the Metro Junior "B" (the Richmond Hill Rams, North York Rangers, Downsview Beavers, Aurora Tigers and the Dixie Beehives), 6 expansion teams (Seneca Flyers, Ajax Steelers, Wexford Warriors, Vaughan Nationals, Weston Dodgers, Kingston Frontenacs) and the North Bay Trappers of the recently folded Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League [1]. Over the next few years, the Guelph Platers [2], Belleville Bulls [3], and Kingston Frontenacs [4] would all get their start in this league before jumping to the Ontario Hockey League [5] [6] [7].

By 1986, the league was suffering from a variety of difficulties. With most of their teams folding or dropping to Junior "B", the league was left with 4 teams [8], the OHA Jr. "A" League was forced to close its doors at the end of the 1986-87 season. The four remaining teams at the end of the OHA Jr. "A" League era were the Final Champion Owen Sound Greys, the Aurora Eagles, the Markham Waxers, and the Richmond Hill Dynes [9]. The Central League agreed to take Markham, Aurora and Richmond Hill, while the Owen Sound Greys went to the Midwestern Junior B Hockey League.

[edit] Central Junior B Hockey League (1956 to 1971)

The Big 10 divided into the Western Junior B Hockey League and the Central Junior B Hockey League in 1956. In 1968, the Western league declared itself renegades and promoted itself to Junior A, the Western Junior A Hockey League, and took aboard most of the former Western Junior B teams. The Strathroy Blades, however, did not want to promote to Junior A, and so joined the Central Junior B league. In 1969, a new Western Junior B Hockey League and the Mid-Ontario Junior B Hockey League were founded. In 1971, the Central Junior B realigned itself, giving rise to what would become the Ontario Provincial Junior League. The early version of the league was dominated by the Collingwood Blues, Kitchener Greenshirts, Owen Sound Greys, and Waterloo Siskins.

[edit] Central Junior B Hockey League (1971 to 1993)

For Season-by-Season Standings, please see: CJBHL Standings.

In 1971, the league re-aligned itself geographically [10], as four of the five Central Jr.B teams moved on, with two (the Owen Sound Greys, and Collingwood Blues) joining the Orillia Terriers in the Mid-Ontario junior B league, and the Waterloo Siskins and Kitchener Ranger Bs joining the Western Jr. B. Only the Preston Raiders remained in the Central league. In their place, the new Central Junior B league added teams from the Mid-Ontario Junior B, including the Oakville Blades, Milton Flyers, Burlington Mohawks, Hespeller Shamrocks and Streetsville Derbys, and expansion franchises in the Dundas Blues (formerly the Merchants) and the Brampton Vic Woods. In 1978 the Mid-Ontario league folded, and Orillia Terriers, Thornhill Thunderbirds, the Barrie Colts, and Oak Ridges Dynes joined the Central League. The Central grew from 8 teams in the late 1980s, to 17 teams by 1993, at which time it became the Ontario Provincial Junior A league.

[edit] The Current Ontario Provincial League (1993-present)

For Season-by-Season Standings, please see: OPJHL Standings

In 1991, the renegade Metro Junior A Hockey League promoted itself to fill the Junior "A" hockey void across the southern part of the province [11]. In 1993, for the Ontario Hockey Association to compete, the Central Junior B Hockey League was promoted to Junior "A" and renamed the "Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League". The year of 1993 also marked the year that the Canadian Junior A Hockey League was created [12]. Since 1994, OPJHL teams have won 8 of 13 Dudley Hewitt Cups as Central Canadian Champions and to earn a birth in the Royal Bank Cup [13].

The summer of 1998 marked the death of the Metro Junior A Hockey League, as it merged into the flourishing OPJHL [14] [15], taking many of the league's teams, including: the Aurora Tigers, Bramalea Blues, Buffalo Lightning, Durham Huskies, Huntsville Wildcats, Markham Waxers, Muskoka Bears, North York Rangers, Pickering Panthers, Port Hope Buzzards, Shelburne Wolves, Syracuse Jr. Crunch, Thornhill Rattlers, Wellington Dukes, and Wexford Raiders.

The current OPJHL exists as a 35-team league [16]. For the 2006-07 Season, the OPJHL has accepted the expansion of the Orangeville Crushers [17], formerly of the Midwestern Junior B Hockey League.

The current format of the OPJHL, for all intents and purposes, is actually four different leagues in one. Until the playoff Semi-finals, the East and West Divisions are completely independent of each other and the rest of the league, not playing a game outside of their division. The North and South Divisions are completely independent of the East and West, but play a limited number of inter-division games during the season. In the playoffs, each division plays down until it has its own champion. The East and South Division champions face each other in a best-of-seven series, as do the North and West champions. The winner of these two championships face off in another best-of-7 series for the Frank L. Buckland Trophy, the OPJHL championship. The Buckland Cup champions earn the right to attend the Dudley Hewitt Cup for the chance to compete at the Royal Bank Cup.

[edit] Teams in Limbo

As it stands, the OPJHL has two teams officially on hiatus. The Toronto Thunderbirds are taking a leave from the league after 8 seasons, a league championship and a Dudley Hewitt Cup. The Huntsville-Muskoka Otters and Streetsville Derbys may soon experience ownership changes and/or movement. The Bramalea Blues are said to be looking for new ownership. According to Bancroft This Week, the Bancroft Hawks' ownership have been stripped of franchise rights by the Ontario Hockey Association and are facing charges of fraud. The Hawks will either be sold or dismantled.

The Trenton Sting have become the Quinte West Pack and the Oswego Admirals have become the Toronto Dixie Beehives. After a one year hiatus, the Couchiching Terriers will be back for the 2007-08 season.

[edit] The Teams

East Division
Team Centre 2006-07 Record Points Rank GB
zx-Bowmanville Eagles Bowmanville 39-6-3-1 82 E1 --
x-Wellington Dukes Wellington 38-5-4-2 82 E2 --
x-Port Hope Predators Port Hope 31-11-5-2 69 E3 6.5
x-Kingston Voyageurs Kingston 26-17-3-3 58 E4 12
x-Peterborough Stars Peterborough 20-25-3-1 44 E5 19
x-Oswego Admirals Oswego 19-25-2-3 43 E6 19.5
x-Trenton Sting Trenton 17-26-2-4 40 E7 22.5
x-Lindsay Muskies Lindsay 15-27-5-2 37 E8 24
wc-Cobourg Cougars Cobourg 15-29-4-1 35 WC1 25
y-Bancroft Hawks Bancroft 6-39-3-1 16 DNQ 34.5
South Division
Team Centre 2006-07 Record Points Rank GB
zx-Vaughan Vipers Vaughan 32-7-7-3 74 S1 --
x-St. Michael's Buzzers Toronto 33-9-7-0 73 S2 0.5
x-Markham Waxers Markham 31-16-2-0 64 S3 5.5
x-Toronto Jr. Canadiens Downsview 26-16-5-2 59 S4 7.5
x-Pickering Panthers Pickering 26-21-2-0 54 S5 10
x-Durham Fury Oshawa 16-31-2-0 34 S6 20
x-Ajax Attack Ajax 13-31-3-2 31 S7 21.5
wc-North York Rangers North York 12-30-3-4 31 WC2 21.5
West Division
Team Centre 2006-07 Record Points Rank GB
zx-Brampton Capitals Brampton 39-7-1-2 81 W1 --
x-Oakville Blades Oakville 38-9-1-1 78 W2 1.5
x-Hamilton Red Wings Hamilton 37-8-2-2 78 W3 1.5
x-Georgetown Raiders Georgetown 31-12-3-3 68 W4 6.5
x-Burlington Cougars Burlington 30-12-4-3 67 W5 7
x-Streetsville Derbys Streetsville 20-24-3-2 45 W6 18
x-Mississauga Chargers Mississsauga 15-33-0-1 31 W7 25
x-Milton Icehawks Milton 12-31-4-2 30 W8 25.5
wc-Buffalo Jr. Sabres Buffalo 9-35-5-0 23 WC3 29
y-Bramalea Blues Bramalea 1-45-1-2 5 DNQ 38
North Division
Team Centre 2006-07 Record Points Rank GB
zx-Aurora Tigers Aurora 44-4-1-0 89 N1 --
x-Stouffville Spirit Stouffville 28-16-3-2 61 N2 13
x-Collingwood Blues Collingwood 22-19-4-3 51 N3 18
x-Huntsville-Muskoka Otters Huntsville 20-21-4-3 47 N4 20
x-Newmarket Hurricanes Newmarket 17-29-2-1 37 N5 25
x-Seguin Bruins Parry Sound 16-30-1-2 35 N6 26
y-Orangeville Crushers Orangeville 9-36-3-1 22 DNQ 32.5
Couchiching Terriers Rama 0-0-0-0 -- -- --

Please Note: "x-" implies clinched playoff birth, "zx-" implies clinched division, "wc-" clinched Wild Card, "y-" Eliminated from Playoffs.

[edit] Wild Card Race

Seed Team 2006-07 Record Points Division Rank GB
WC1 Cobourg Cougars 15-29-4-1 35 9th East --
WC2 North York Rangers 12-30-3-4 31 8th South 2
WC3 Buffalo Jr. Sabres 9-35-5-0 23 9th West 6

Teams listed on the official league website [18].

Standings listed by Pointstreak on official league website [19].

[edit] 2006-07 Frank L. Buckland Trophy Playoffs

For the Central Canada Championship, please go to the Dudley Hewitt Cup.
For the National Championship, please go to the Royal Bank Cup 2007.

[edit] Championship Round

  Semi-finals Buckland Trophy Finals
                 
East  Wellington Dukes 4  
South  St. Michael's Buzzers 1  
    East  Wellington Dukes 1
  North  Aurora Tigers 1
West  Hamilton Red Wings 1
North  Aurora Tigers 4  

[edit] Divisional Playoffs

[edit] East/South

  Division Quarter-finals Division Semi-finals Division Finals Buckland Trophy Semi-final
                                     
E1  Bowmanville 4  
E8  Lindsay 1  
  E1  Bowmanville 1  
  E4  Kingston 4  
E4  Kingston 4
E5  Peterborough 1  
  E4  Kingston 1  
East
  E2  Wellington 4  
E2  Wellington 4  
E7  Trenton 0  
  E2  Wellington 4
  E3  Port Hope 1  
E3  Port Hope 3
E6  Oswego 0  
  E2  Wellington 4
  S2  St. Michael's 1
S1  Vaughan 4  
WC2  North York 1  
  S1  Vaughan 3
  S5  Pickering 4  
S4  Toronto 3
S5  Pickering 4  
  S5  Pickering 0
South
  S2  St. Michael's 4  
S2  St. Michael's 4  
S7  Ajax 0  
  S2  St. Michael's 4
  S3  Markham 3  
S3  Markham 4
S6  Durham 0  

[edit] West/North

  Division Quarter-finals Division Semi-finals Division Finals Buckland Trophy Semi-final
                                     
W1  Brampton 4  
W8  Milton 1  
  W1  Brampton 1  
  W4  Georgetown 4  
W4  Georgetown 4
W5  Burlington 2  
  W4  Georgetown 0  
West
  W3  Hamilton 4  
W2  Oakville 4  
W7  Mississauga 0  
  W2  Oakville 2
  W3  Hamilton 4  
W3  Hamilton 4
W6  Streetsville 0  
  W3  Hamilton 1
  N1  Aurora 4
N1  Aurora 4  
WC3  Buffalo 0  
  N1  Aurora 4
  N5  Newmarket 2  
N4  Huntsville 1
N5  Newmarket 4  
  N1  Aurora 4
North
  N2  Stouffville 1  
N2  Stouffville 4  
WC1  Cobourg 0  
  N2  Stouffville 4
  N3  Collingwood 0  
N3  Collingwood 4
N6  Seguin 3  

Note: E is East, S is South, W is West, N is North, WC is Wild Card.

Playoff results are listed by Pointstreak on the official league website [20].

[edit] Champions

Buzzers' coaching staff with Buckland Cup
Buzzers' coaching staff with Buckland Cup

[edit] OPJHL Buckland Cup Champions

  • 2007 TBD
  • 2006 St. Michael's Buzzers
  • 2005 St. Michael's Buzzers
  • 2004 Aurora Tigers
  • 2003 Wellington Dukes
  • 2002 Brampton Capitals
  • 2001 Thornhill Rattlers
  • 2000 Brampton Capitals
  • 1999 Bramalea Blues
  • 1998 Milton Merchants
  • 1997 Milton Merchants
  • 1996 Newmarket 87's
  • 1995 Brampton Capitals
  • 1994 Orillia Terriers

[edit] OHA Junior "A" Champions

  • 1987 Owen Sound Greys
  • 1986 Orillia Travelways
  • 1985 Orillia Travelways
  • 1984 Orillia Travelways
  • 1983 North York Rangers
  • 1982 Guelph Platers

[edit] OPJHL Champions

  • 1981 Belleville Bulls
  • 1980 North York Rangers
  • 1979 Guelph Platers
  • 1978 Guelph Platers
  • 1977 North York Rangers
  • 1976 North Bay Trappers
  • 1975 Toronto Nationals
  • 1974 Wexford Raiders
  • 1973 Wexford Raiders

[edit] Central Junior "B" Champions

  • 1993 Barrie Colts
  • 1992 Milton Merchants
  • 1991 Oakville Blades
  • 1990 Barrie Colts
  • 1989 Barrie Colts
  • 1988 Barrie Colts
  • 1987 Burlington Cougars
  • 1986 Streetsville Derbys
  • 1985 Barrie Colts
  • 1984 Streetsville Derbys
  • 1983 Streetsville Derbys
  • 1982 Oakville Blades
  • 1981 Burlington Cougars
  • 1980 Streetsville Derbys
  • 1979 Streetsville Derbys
  • 1978 Streetsville Derbys
  • 1977 Streetsville Derbys
  • 1976 Streetsville Derbys
  • 1975 Oakville Blades
  • 1974 Oakville Blades
  • 1973 Burlington Mohawks
  • 1972
  • 1971 Collingwood Blues
  • 1970 Collingwood Blues
  • 1969 Strathroy Rockets
  • 1968
  • 1967 Kitchener Greenshirts
  • 1966
  • 1965 Kitchener Greenshirts
  • 1964 Waterloo Siskins
  • 1963
  • 1962 Waterloo Siskins
  • 1961 Owen Sound Greys
  • 1960 Waterloo Siskins
  • 1959
  • 1958
  • 1957

OPJHL Champions are listed on the league's official website [21]. The CBJHL champions were provided by the league's statistician.

[edit] OPJHL Showcase Tournament

The OPJHL Showcase Tournament is an annual event ran between Christmas and New Years in Newmarket, Ontario, hosted by the Newmarket Hurricanes. The tournament started in 1992 to help aid Canadian Hockey League, National Hockey League, and National Collegiate Athletic Association scouts in finding prospects for their teams. The tournament is highly competitive and successful. It draws as many as twenty junior hockey teams from all over North America. Despite just being a mid-season tourney, the event is highly contested and its title is played for with much ferocity. [22]

[edit] Champions

  • 2006 Georgetown Raiders
  • 2005 Vaughan Vipers
  • 2004 Texas Tornado
  • 2003 Texas Tornado
  • 2002 Texas Tornado
  • 2001 Brampton Capitals
  • 2000 Hamilton Kilty B's
  • 1999 Vaughan Vipers
  • 1998 Milton Merchants
  • 1997 Milton Merchants
  • 1996 Brampton Capitals
  • 1995 Milton Merchants
  • 1994 Newmarket 87's
  • 1993 Hamilton Kilty B's
  • 1992 Markham Waxers

[edit] Former Member Teams

[edit] OPJHL

[edit] CJBHL

[edit] OHA Jr. A

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
Current Teams: Ajax Attack | Aurora Tigers | Bancroft Hawks | Bowmanville Eagles | Bramalea Blues | Brampton Capitals | Buffalo Jr. Sabres | Burlington Cougars | Cobourg Cougars | Collingwood Blues | Couchiching Terriers | Durham Fury | Georgetown Raiders | Hamilton Red Wings | Huntsville-Muskoka Otters | Kingston Voyageurs | Lindsay Muskies | Markham Waxers | Milton Icehawks | Mississauga Chargers | Newmarket Hurricanes | North York Rangers | Oakville Blades | Orangeville Crushers | Peterborough Stars | Pickering Panthers | Port Hope Predators | Quinte West Pack | St. Michael's Buzzers | Seguin Bruins | Stouffville Spirit | Streetsville Derbys | Toronto Dixie Beehives | Toronto Jr. Canadiens | Vaughan Vipers | Wellington Dukes

Former Member Teams: Ajax Merchants | Barrie Colts | Belleville Bulls | Brampton Warriors Jr. A | Caledon Canadians | Cambridge Winterhawks | Dixie Beehives Jr. A | Durham Huskies | Guelph Platers | Hamilton Mountain A's | Kingston Frontenacs | North Bay Trappers | Owen Sound Greys | Parry Sound Shamrocks | Royal York Royals | Shelburne Wolves | Syracuse Jr. Crunch | Toronto Nationals | Toronto Thunderbirds | Weston Dodgers | Whitby Lawmen

CJBHL Former Teams: Acton Sabres | Brampton Warriors Jr. B | Dixie Beehives | Kitchener Greenshirts | Mimico Monarchs | Nobleton Devils | Oak Ridges Dynes | Preston Raiders | Stratford Braves | Strathroy Rockets | Thornhill Thunderbirds | Waterloo Siskins

OPJHL Standings | OJHL Standings | Original OPJHL Standings | CJBHL Standings | Metro Junior A Hockey League - Standings | Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League - Standings

Canadian Junior A Hockey League | Dudley Hewitt Cup | Royal Bank Cup
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