Western Ontario Junior C Hockey League
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| Western Ontario Junior "C" Hockey League | |
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| Head Office | Cambridge, Ontario |
| Official Website | WJCHL |
| Convenor | Bill Fisher |
| Chairman | John Kastner |
| Founded | 1960s |
The Western Ontario Junior C Hockey League is a Junior "C" ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association. The Champion of the Western will compete for the All-Ontario Championship and the Clarence Schmalz Cup.
- Interbrew Junior "C" Hockey League 19xx - 1960
- Central Junior "C" Hockey League 1960 - 1970
- Grey-Bruce Junior "C" Hockey League 1980 - 1988
- Western Ontario Junior "C" Hockey League 1988 to Present
Contents |
[edit] History
The earliest obtainable reference to this league exists in 1969, the year that the Hanover Hurricanes made the jump from the Western Junior D Hockey League to the Central Junior "C". Early powerhouses in the league were the Listowel Cyclones, Kincardine Kinucks, and New Hamburg Hahns. The Hahns were the last team to leave the league that predated 1960. They won two Clarence Schmalz Cups while playing in the league and dominated in the 1960s. They were promoted to Junior "B" in 1977. The league became one of at least four different leagues in the OHA to be known as the Central Jr. C league since 1960. The league may have changed it name in 1970 to the Grey-Bruce Junior C Hockey League. This lasted until 1988, as the league granted expansion to 2 teams that were not in Grey or Bruce County -- in 1987, the Mount Forest Patriots and in 1989, the Brussels Bulls. In 1988, the league donned its present name, the Western Junior "C" Hockey League.
During the 2004-05 season, the WJCHL played an interlocking schedule with the Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League. The WJCHL lost the series with 44 losses, 32 victories, and 6 ties.
On May 29, 2008, the Western league and the Ontario Hockey Association allowed for the Mitchell Hawks to move from the more southerly Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League and into the Western league for the 2008-09 season. This marks the second time the Hawks have been in the loop, the first being the mid-1960's. Also, they share the same name as the Walkerton Hawks, although Walkerton's name is from the raptor (since 1999), while Mitchell's is from the Native Chief.
[edit] The Teams
| Team | Centre | Founded |
| Goderich Sailors | Goderich | 2003 |
| Hanover Barons | Hanover | 1964 |
| Kincardine Bulldogs | Kincardine | 1994 |
| Mitchell Hawks | Mitchell | 1966 |
| Mount Forest Patriots | Mount Forest | 1987 |
| Walkerton Hawks | Walkerton | 1976 |
| Wingham Ironmen | Wingham | 1975 |
[edit] 2006-07 League Playoffs
- For the Ontario Hockey Association "All-Ontario Jr. "C" Championship", please go to the Clarence Schmalz Cup.
| Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Western Finals | |||||||||||
| 1 | Kincardine | 4 | |||||||||||
| 4 | Hanover | 1 | |||||||||||
| 4 | Hanover | 3 | |||||||||||
| 5 | Mount Forest | 1 | |||||||||||
| 1 | Kincardine | 4 | |||||||||||
| 3 | Walkerton | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2 | Wingham | 0 | |||||||||||
| 3 | Walkerton | 4 | |||||||||||
| 3 | Walkerton | 3 | |||||||||||
| 6 | Goderich | 1 | |||||||||||
[edit] Western Junior "C" Champions
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Bolded text indicates Clarence Schmalz Cup Champions.
This list is not complete, please help
[edit] Former Member Teams
- Arthur Eagles (1978-1980)
- Brussels Bulls (1989-1999)
- Elmira Sugar Kings (19xx-1974)
- Fergus Green Machine (1980-1982)
- Grand Valley Harvesters (1989-1993)
- Hespeler Shamrocks (1963-1970)
- New Hamburg Hahns (1960-1977)
- Kitchener Flying Dutchmen (Early 1970s)
- Listowel Cyclones (1972-1979)
- London Optimists (19xx-1976)
- Owen Sound Salvagemen (1974-1975)
- Port Elgin Bears (1976-1989)
- Preston Raiders (19xx-1969)
- Wiarton Wolves (1994-2003)
- Woodstock Navy-Vets (1975-1976)
