National Junior Hockey Alliance
The National Junior Hockey Alliance (NJHA) is an organizational ice hockey collaboration between the management of the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League and the WHA Junior West Hockey League.
History
Announced to the public on November 15, 2006, the Alliance is between the two major non-aligned Junior hockey leagues in Canada. The key figures in this alliance are the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League's President Bob Russell and the WHA Junior West Hockey League's President Rick Smith. Neither league is aligned with Hockey Canada and will not participate in Hockey Canada events. The leagues have banded together to increase national exposure for their players and to create a national title for the two leagues as they are not permitted to compete in the Royal Bank Cup [1]. It is likely that the World Hockey Association's Eastern League, planned for next season, will compete in the 2008 championship as well.
The two leagues and the NJHA were created to provide an alternative to Hockey Canada's Canadian Development Model. In response, Hockey Canada has set forth a series of rules for players switching back from the NJHA's leagues to Hockey Canada, including a one-year-ban for any player who walks off a Hockey Canada club without a release to join a NJHA team.
Currently, the NJHA includes two leagues and thirteen teams: seven in Ontario, five in British Columbia, and one in Washington State.
Both the GMHL and WHA are planning to expand for the 2007-08 season. As well, more NJHA-allied leagues may be popping up next year across Canada.
Top Teams
As of January 1st, 2007. [2]
| Rank | Team | Centre | League | W-L-T-OTL | Win% |
| 1 | Bradford Rattlers | Bradford, Ontario | GMHL | 27-0-0-4 | 0.935 |
| 2 | Lumby Fighting Saints | Lumby, British Columbia | WHA | 19-9-0-1 | 0.672 |
| 3 | New Westminster Whalers | New Westminster, British Columbia | WHA | 19-9-0-5 | 0.652 |
| 4 | King Wild | King City, Ontario | GMHL | 19-10-0-1 | 0.650 |
| 5 | Richmond Hill Rams | Richmond Hill, Ontario | GMHL | 20-11-0-1 | 0.641 |
Alliance Cup Champions
The first ever Alliance Cup took place on March 30 through April 1, 2007. The Bradford Rattlers swept the series 3-games-to-none with 6-1, 8-6, and 6-5 (in shootout) victories. The 2008 championship will be hosted by the WHA-West.
- 2007: Bradford Rattlers (GMJHL) defeated New Westminster Whalers (WHA) 3-game-to-none