Manitoba Midget 'AAA' Hockey League

Manitoba Midget 'AAA' Hockey League
Sport Ice hockey
Founded 1985
Inaugural season 1985-86
No. of teams 12
Most recent champion(s) Pembina Valley Hawks
Related competitions Telus Cup
Official website www.mbaaamidget.ca

The Manitoba Midget 'AAA' Hockey League (MMHL) is an ice hockey league in the province of Manitoba, Canada. It is the highest level of minor hockey in the province. The league operates under the supervision of Hockey Manitoba.

About the League

The league was founded in 1985 and provides elite hockey players in Manitoba the opportunity to play at a high level of competition. The league is heavily scouted by the Western Hockey League, Junior 'A' teams, and NCAA programs. A number of players have gone to play in these leagues and the majority of Manitobans playing professional hockey have played in the Midget 'AAA' league.

Teams

All teams are regionally based and are operated by Hockey Manitoba's regional minor hockey associations, with the exception of the Kenora Thistles, who are affiliated with Hockey Northwestern Ontario. Hockey Winnipeg has the option to field multiple teams. Players for each of the teams are selected from the local minor hockey associations within their respective regions.

Team Centre League Titles National Titles Notes
Brandon Wheat Kings Brandon 4 1
Central Plains Capitals Portage la Prairie 0 0
Eastman Selects Beausejour 3 0
Interlake Lightning Teulon 0 0 formerly the Raiders
Kenora Thistles Kenora, ON 1 0 formerly the Stars and Boise
Norman Northstars Thompson 1 0
Parkland Rangers Dauphin 0 0
Pembina Valley Hawks Morden 3 0
Southwest Cougars Souris 2 0
Winnipeg Thrashers Winnipeg 3 1 formerly the Sharks
Winnipeg Wild Winnipeg 9 0 formerly the Warriors and Saints
Yellowhead Chiefs Shoal Lake 1 0

Former Teams

Championship

Each season's league champion is awarded the Jack Forsyth League Trophy, named after the longtime league commissioner. As the league championship also doubles as the provincial championship, the league champion earns a berth in the Telus Cup regional tournament and competes against the champions from Saskatchewan and Northwestern Ontario, with the winner advancing to the national tournament. Only two teams from Manitoba have won national titles: the Brandon Wheat Kings in 2004 and the Winnipeg Thrashers in 2011. The Thrashers were also runners-up in 2008.[1]

MMHL teams have hosted the national championships three times: the Brandon Wheat Kings in 1994, the Winnipeg Thrashers in 2009 (in Selkirk), and the Kenora Stars in 2004. Winnipeg hosted the inaugural national championship in 1979.

League Champions

  • 1985-86 Winnipeg Saints
  • 1986-87 Winnipeg Saints
  • 1987-88 Winnipeg Saints
  • 1988-89 Eastman Selects
  • 1989-90 Winnipeg Mavericks
  • 1990-91 Winnipeg Hawks
  • 1991-92 Winnipeg Hawks
  • 1992-93 Kenora Boise1
  • 1993-94 Yellowhead Chiefs
  • 1994-95 Brandon Wheat Kings
  • 1995-96 Norman Northstars
  • 1996-97 Pembina Valley Hawks
  • 1997-98 Southwest Cougars
  • 1998-99 Southwest Cougars
  • 1999-00 Eastman Selects
  • 2000-01 Winnipeg Warriors
  • 2001-02 Eastman Selects
  • 2002-03 Brandon Wheat Kings
  • 2003-04 Brandon Wheat Kings
  • 2004-05 Winnipeg Wild
  • 2005-06 Winnipeg Thrashers
  • 2006-07 Brandon Wheat Kings
  • 2007-08 Winnipeg Thrashers
  • 2008-09 Winnipeg Wild
  • 2009-10 Pembina Valley Hawks
  • 2010-11 Winnipeg Thrashers
  • 2011-12 Winnipeg Wild
  • 2012-13 Winnipeg Wild
  • 2013-14 Winnipeg Wild
  • 2014-15 Pembina Valley Hawks

Notes
1. The Winnipeg Hawks were named 1993 Manitoba provincial champions by virtue of finishing runners-up, as Kenora is not eligible for that title.

National Championship Appearances

Alumni

National Hockey League Players

Other

See also

References

  1. ↑ "National midget champion Thrashers to be feted by mayor". Winnipeg Free Press. 2011-05-05. Retrieved 2012-01-12.

External links