Maritime Junior A Hockey League

Maritime Junior Hockey League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2016–17 MHL season
Sport Ice hockey
Founded 1967
CEO Dave Ritcey
No. of teams 12
Countries Canada
Headquarters Truro, Nova Scotia
Continent North America
Most recent
champion(s)		 Truro Bearcats (2017)
Most titles (Jr. A) Pictou County Crushers (11)
(Jr. B) Truro Bearcats (5)
TV partner(s) FastHockey
Official website MHL Website

The Maritime Junior A Hockey League (MHL) is a Junior A ice hockey league under Hockey Canada, a part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. It consists of five teams from New Brunswick and one team from Prince Edward Island, which make up the Roger Meek Division, and six teams from Nova Scotia which make up the Eastlink Division. The winner of the MHL playoffs competes for the Fred Page Cup against the winners of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League and the Central Junior A Hockey League. The winner of the Fred Page Cup then moves on to compete for the Canadian National Junior A Championships, the Royal Bank Cup.

History

Originally known as the Metro Valley Junior Hockey League, the league was founded in 1967 by Fred McGillivray and Louie Lewis of Halifax, Nova Scotia and Don Stewart of Berwick, Nova Scotia as a Junior "B" level hockey league. Originally an exclusively Nova Scotia hockey league, it included six teams: East Hants Junior Penguins, Halifax Colonels, Dartmouth Hoyts, Windsor Royals, Kentville Riteways, and Berwick Shell Juniors. 1968 saw the Truro Bearcats and Amherst Ramblers replace the teams from Kentville and Berwick. In 1971–72 the New Glasgow Bombers and the Pictou Maripacs entered the league. Stellarton and a new Kentville franchise entered the league in 1973 and 1974 respectively.

In 1977, still known as the "Metro Valley", the league entered into the Tier II Junior "A" level. The jump to Junior "A" was, in theory, to be a catalyst for the development of the league. However The budgets necessary to play at the Jr. 'A' level resulted in the immediate withdrawal of the Chester Ravens and the East Hants Penguins. The Cole Harbour Colts (Scotia Colts), who entered the league in 1976, became the first team in league history to host the national championship, then known as the Centennial Cup, in 1980.

The 1983 season saw the expansion of the Moncton Midland Hawks of Moncton, New Brunswick, the league's first non-Nova Scotia team. The Hawks came from the New Brunswick Junior Hockey League and are now known as the Dieppe Commandos. In 1986, the league expanded to Antigonish and the Scotia Colts, again, hosted the Centennial Cup. The Summerside Western Capitals of the Island Junior Hockey League, Prince Edward Island's junior hockey league, hosted the 1989 Centennial Cup.

In 1991, Summerside and Charlottetown of Prince Edward Island left the IJHL and joined the newly dubbed "Maritime Junior A Hockey League". The IJHL is still PEI's premier Junior league, but now is only a Junior "B" league. The winner of the IJHL's playoffs compete for the Don Johnson Cup, the Maritime Junior "B" Championship.

For the 1996-97 season, the league added the Cape Breton Islanders and Restigouche River Rats. In 1996–97 the league consisted of the Amherst Ramblers, Antigonish Bulldogs, Charlottetown Abbies, East Hants Penguins, Dartmouth Oland Exports, Moncton Gagnon Beavers, Saint John Alpines, and Summerside Western Capitals. The Saint John Alpines folded in January. With financial losses totalling $40,000 and an additional $50,000 shortfall projected should the team finish the season, they simply ran out of money. The Summerside Western Capitals won the league's first ever national title. The Capitals hosted the Royal Bank Cup at Cahill Stadium and won the championship game 4–3 over the South Surrey Eagles.

Truro and Bathurst received approval for new teams to start in 1997-98 but due to the relocation of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Laval Titan to Bathurst, the Truro Bearcats would be the sole new team. The Cape Breton Islanders moved to Glace Bay and became the Glace Bay Miners, but with the arrival of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, they folded in December of that season, leaving the league with nine teams again.

During the 1998–99 season two teams changed their names. The first was the Dartmouth Oland Exports when they moved to the Halifax Forum to become the Halifax Oland Exports. The second was the 1998–99 MJAHL champions, the Restigouche River Rats, as they changed their name to the Campbellton Tigers.

Old Logo

A 10th team was added for the 2000–2001 season, the Miramichi Timberwolves. At the same time, the East Hants Penguins moved to Dartmouth and became the Scotia Dairy Queen Blizzard. At the end of the 2001–02 season, the league approved the transfer of the Blizzard to Yarmouth. The Yarmouth Motormart Mariners began play in September 2002. In early 2003 the league governors approved expansion into Woodstock, N.B., with the Slammers beginning play in the 2003–04 season.

The league hired its first professional full-time league president in 2003, Vernon Doyle.

The league got their second national Championship when the Halifax Oland Exports won the 2002 Royal Bank Cup on home ice. One year later, after financial trouble with Oland Brewery, the franchise's name was changed to Halifax Team Pepsi. In the spring of 2004, the Weeks Hockey Organization bought the club, moved it to New Glasgow and renamed it the Pictou County Weeks Crushers. On that same day Halifax was granted an expansion franchise, the Halifax Wolverines.

In the spring of 2008, the MJAHL had some big changes.

On April 15, the Antigonish Bulldogs announced that they were applying for a leave of absence for one year.[1] On April 26, the Bulldogs had to choose between two groups trying to buy the team and relocate it. The first group would move the franchise to New Richmond, Quebec. The other group would relocate the team to the Halifax area. At the Board of Governors meeting that day, the proposal to relocate the Antigonish franchise to New Richmond, Quebec was not considered to be in the best interests of the league and its members. The Governors did leave the door open to the sale to a Halifax group and a move to Metro Halifax. The sale and relocation of the franchise to Halifax was later approved.

At the same Governors meeting, in response to the decision to leave the door open on the sale of the Bulldogs, the owners of the Halifax Wolverines announced their plans to move to Bridgewater. The Governors voted on the decision and it was approved.[2] Following a name the team contest, the franchise was dubbed the Bridgewater Lumberjacks.

Later that week on April 29, the Moncton Beavers announced that they had failed to come to terms on a new lease for the Tim Hortons 4-Ice centre and had subsequently moved themselves to the neighboring city of Dieppe. The team was renamed the Dieppe Commandos.[3]

Rounding out this very busy month in the history of the MJAHL was the Charlottetown Abbies' decision on May 1 to apply for a leave of absence for one year, which was accepted.[4]

The Halifax franchise (former Antigonish Bulldogs) announced on August 22 that the club would be known as the Halifax Lions. This was the name of the successful Halifax team in the 1980s.[5]

In 2010, the MJAHL changed its name to the Maritime Hockey League and unveiled a new logo.

In 2011 the Halifax Lions moved to Dartmouth and were renamed the Metro Marauders. Two years later the Marauders were renamed the Metro Shipbuilders for the 2012-2013 season. That season was a disaster for the Shipbuilders, as they only recorded four wins in their 52-game schedule and averaged just 232 fans per game.[6] The relocation rumours had them moving back to Halifax after three years in Dartmouth but they finally moved to Kentville and were renamed the Valley Wildcats. After one season in Kentville they moved to Berwick.

In 2014 the league approved an expansion team in St. Stephen named the County Aces. As a result of the expansion, the league was back up to 12 teams for the first time since the folding of the Charlottetown Abbies in April 2008.

In November 2014, the league took over the ownership of the Bridgewater Lumberjacks after owner Ken Petrie left the team because of financial trouble. The team was sold two weeks later to a local businessman and the team was renamed the South Shore Lumberjacks.[7]

In November 2016, the Dieppe Commandos announce they would be moving to Edmundston, New Brunswick after the 2016-2017 season, and be renamed the Edmundston Blizzard.[8]

The current MHL has twelve teams, six in each division. The league has hosted the Royal Bank Cup and Centennial Cup seven times, winning twice. MHL teams have also won seven Fred Page Cups as the Junior "A" Eastern Canadian champions to earn the right to compete for the Royal Bank Cup.

Teams

Team Locations (Click to enlarge)
EastLink North Division
Team Joined Centre Arena
Campbellton Tigers 1996 New BrunswickCampbellton, New Brunswick Memorial Civic Center
Edmundston Blizzard 1983 New BrunswickEdmundston, New Brunswick Jean-Daigle Centre
Miramichi Timberwolves 2000 New BrunswickMiramichi, New Brunswick Miramichi Civic Centre
St. Stephen Aces 2014 New BrunswickSt. Stephen, New Brunswick Garcelon Civic Centre
Summerside Western Capitals 1991 Prince Edward IslandSummerside, Prince Edward Island Consolidated Credit Union Place
Woodstock Slammers 2003 New BrunswickWoodstock, New Brunswick Carleton Civic Centre
Eastlink South Division
Team Joined Centre Arena
Amherst Ramblers 1967 Nova ScotiaAmherst, Nova Scotia Amherst Stadium
Pictou County Crushers 1967 Nova ScotiaNew Glasgow, Nova Scotia Pictou County Wellness Centre
South Shore Lumberjacks 2004 Nova ScotiaBridgewater, Nova Scotia Lunenburg County Life Style Centre
Truro Bearcats 1997 Nova ScotiaTruro, Nova Scotia Rath Eastlink Community Centre
Valley Wildcats 1986 Nova ScotiaBerwick, Nova Scotia Kings Mutual Century Centre
Yarmouth Mariners 1976 Nova ScotiaYarmouth, Nova Scotia Mariners Centre

League Champions

From the 1970s until 1991, the Callaghan Cup was the Atlantic Junior A Championship of Canada. The winners of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland would playdown for this trophy during the Dudley Hewitt Cup and Manitoba Centennial Cup playdowns.

In 1991, the Callaghan Cup became exclusive to the MJAHL. The Callaghan Cup was their championship trophy until after the 2006 playoffs, when it was replaced by the Kent Cup,

In the Kent Cup era the bold team indicates the Kent Cup winner.

Year Champion Runner Up Series
Metro Valley Jr. B Champions
1968 Windsor Royals
1969 East Hants Penguins Truro Bearcats
1970 Truro Bearcats East Hants Penguins 4-3
1971 Truro Bearcats East Hants Penguins 4-0
1972 Truro Bearcats
1973 New Glasgow Bombers Halifax Blazers 4-0
1974 Truro Bearcats
1975 Dartmouth Arrows Truro Bearcats 4-2
1976 Truro Bearcats Dartmouth Arrows 4-3
Metro Valley Jr. A Champions
1977 Dartmouth Arrows
1978 Cole Harbour Colts
1979 Halifax Lions
1980 Cole Harbour Colts
1981 Cole Harbour Colts Halifax Lions
1982 Halifax Lions
1983 Halifax Lions
1984 Halifax Lions
1985 Cole Harbour Colts Halifax Lions
1986 Moncton Hawks Cole Harbour Colts
1987 Dartmouth Fuel Kids
1988 Halifax Lions
1989 Moncton Hawks
1990 Amherst Ramblers Halifax Dairy Queen Blizzard 4-0
1991 Halifax Jr. Canadians Amherst Ramblers
Callaghan Cup Champions
1992 Halifax Mooseheads Chalottetown Abbies 4-3
1993 Antigonish Bulldogs Halifax Mooseheads 4-3
1994 Antigonish Bulldogs Halifax Oland Exports 4-3
1995 Moncton Beavers Amherst Ramblers 4-0
1996 Dartmouth Oland Exports Moncton Beavers 4-2
1997 Summerside Western Capitals Dartmouth Oland Exports
1998 Restigouche River Rats Dartmouth Oland Exports
1999 Charlottetown Abbies Antigonish Bulldogs 4-3
2000 Halifax Oland Exports Summerside Western Capitals
2001 Antigonish Bulldogs Charlottetown Abbies
2002 Halifax Oland Exports Campbellton Tigers 4-1
2003 Charlottetown Abbies Amherst Ramblers 4-1
2004 Campbellton Tigers Yarmouth Mariners 4-1
2005 Truro Bearcats Campbellton Tigers 4-1
2006 Woodstock Slammers Amherst Ramblers 4-1
Year Meek Champion Eastlink Champion Series
Kent Cup Champions
2007 Summerside Western Capitals Truro Bearcats 2-4
2008 Woodstock Slammers Yarmouth Mariners 2-4
2009 Summerside Western Capitals Truro Bearcats 4-1
2010 Woodstock Slammers Pictou County Crushers 4-1
2011 Summerside Western Capitals Pictou County Crushers 4-0
2012 Woodstock Slammers Yarmouth Mariners 4-3
2013 Summerside Western Capitals Truro Bearcats 4-1
2014 Dieppe Commandos Truro Bearcats 2-4
2015 Dieppe Commandos Truro Bearcats 4-0
Year Eastlink North Division Champion Eastlink South Division Champion Series
Kent Cup Champions
2016 Dieppe Commandos Pictou County Crushers 2-4
2017 Miramichi Timberwolves Truro Bearcats 3-4

Fred Page Cup Eastern Canadian Champions

All champions in this table are from the Maritime Junior Hockey League

Year Champion Runner Up Host (if applicable)
1996 Moncton Beavers Dartmouth Oland Exports Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
1999 Charlottetown Abbies Hawkesbury Hawks (CJHL) Charlottetown, PEI
2002 Halifax Oland Exports Ottawa Jr. Senators (CJHL)Truro, Nova Scotia
2008 Pictou County Crushers Pembroke Lumber Kings (CJHL) New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
2009 Summerside Western Capitals Dieppe Commandos Moncton, New Brunswick
2012 Woodstock Slammers Nepean Raiders (CCHL) Kanata, Ontario
2013 Truro Bearcats Summerside Western Capitals Truro, Nova Scotia

Callaghan Cup MVJHL Champions

All champions in this table are from the Metro Valley Junior Hockey League against interleague opponents.

Year Champion Runner Up Series
1981 Cole Harbour Colts Sherwood-Parkdale Metros (IJHL) 4-2
1983 Halifax Lions Sherwood-Parkdale Metros (IJHL) 4-1
1984 Halifax Lions Summerside Western Capitals (IJHL) 4-1
1985 Cole Harbour Colts Charlottetown Eagles (IJHL) 4-2
1986 Moncton Hawks Summerside Western Capitals (IJHL)
1987 Dartmouth Fuel Kids Charlottetown Abbies (IJHL) 4-1
1988 Halifax Lions Summerside Western Capitals (IJHL) 4-3
1990 Amherst Ramblers Charlottetown Abbies (IJHL) 4-1
1991 Halifax Canadians St. John's Jr. 50's (SJJHL) 4-0

Defunct Teams

Timeline of teams in the MHL

Bolded teams indicate the original names of active franchises.

References

  1. ↑ Hockeyscene.com – Your Source For Hockey Information In Atlantic Canada Archived November 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ Hockeyscene.com – Your Source For Hockey Information In Atlantic Canada Archived November 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ MJAHL
  4. ↑ Charlottetown, The Guardian: Sports | Abbies taking break
  5. ↑ Halifax Lions roar into the MJAHL Archived November 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ http://themhl.ca/page.php?page_id=57610
  7. ↑ http://themhl.ca/news.php?news_id=1051672
  8. ↑ http://themhl.ca/news.php?news_id=1412229
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