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Manitoba Junior Hockey League

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Manitoba Junior Hockey League
Current season or competition:
2022–23 MJHL season
CountriesCanada
Region(s)Manitoba
CommissionerKevin Saurette
Former name(s)Winnipeg and District League
Founded1918
No. of teams13
ChampionshipTurnbull Cup
Associated Title(s)ANAVET Cup
Centennial Cup
Recent ChampionsSteinbach Pistons
Most successful clubWinnipeg Blues (17)
WebsiteMJHLhockey.ca

The Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) is a Junior 'A' ice hockey league operating in the Canadian province of Manitoba and one of nine member leagues of the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL).

The MJHL consists of thirteen teams all based within the province of Manitoba, eight of which qualify for each year's playoffs.[1][2] The playoff champion is awarded the Turnbull Cup, the Junior 'A' championship trophy for the province of Manitoba.[3][4][5] The winner of the MJHL playoffs (Turnbull Cup) competes against the champion from Saskatchewan for the ANAVET Cup and a berth in the Centennial Cup (formerly known as the Royal Bank Cup).[6]

History

Early years (1918 to 1949)

The league's first year of operation was the 1918–19 season, making it the oldest junior league in Canada.[7] It was known as the Winnipeg and District League until 1931, when it became the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. During the inaugural season, there were nine teams in two divisions, each playing a six-game schedule. The teams included the Winnipeg Pilgrims, Elmwood, Grand Trunk Pacific, Winnipeg Tigers, Young Men's Lutheran Club, Winnipeg Argonauts, Selkirk Fishermen, Weston, and Winnipeg Monarchs.[citation needed]

Black and white photo of rink's brick exterior
Olympic Rink

In the 1926–27 season, the Winnipeg Junior and Juvenile Hockey League became the north division of the MJHL, with Jimmy Dunn as its secretary, convenor and timekeeper at the Olympic Rink.[8][9]

In the 1936–37 season, both the north and south MJHL divisions wanted to play games at the larger Winnipeg Amphitheatre since they could increase their share of the gate receipts. Multiple disputes arose over the scheduling of games, which led to Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association (MAHA) executives forming a special committee to arbitrate that all north division games be played at the Olympic Rink.[10]

Teams in the north division struggled financially during World War II and sought a new financial arrangement for the 1940–41 season.[11] The teams also disagreed on who played in which division, with some teams threatening to disband if their demands were not met. Jimmy Dunn recommended to split the gate receipts evenly between the teams and the rink owners, and for the MAHA to subsidize the teams as needed.[12] The north division played the season reduced to four teams.[13] The 1944–45 season was the first interlocking schedule between the north and south divisions, and the MAHA implemented of limits on the number of player transfers for balanced competition.[14]

Black and white photo of building exterior
Winnipeg Amphitheatre

In the 1945–46 season, the north division teams threatened to withdraw from the MJHL unless several demands were met. They felt that the south division was given preferential treatment, and sought to equally share games at the larger Winnipeg Amphitheatre and the profits from gate receipts. The north division complained about the lack of available ice time for practices and the deplorable dressing room conditions at the Olympic Rink, and felt that the MAHA had an obligation to make the upgrades if the rink would not.[15] After negotiations broke down, three junior teams withdrew and the MJHL operated with five teams in one division.[16]

The stronger MJHL teams — the Winnipeg Rangers, Winnipeg Monarchs, Brandon Wheat Kings and Portage Terriers — were sponsored by National Hockey League (NHL) clubs and wanted to form an "A" division and play all games at the Winnipeg Amphitheatre for the 1946–47 season, and relegate all other teams to the "B" division at the Olympic Rink.[17] The four teams were also opposed to any other teams being added to their division.[18] The Winnipeg Tribune felt that these teams had pursued their own selfish interests with disregard for the general welfare of the league, and that creating the division would perpetuate the previous issues unless a "minor miracle" happened.[17][19] The MAHA executive chose to include the St. James Orioles as a fifth team in the "A" division after being convinced that the team was soundly operated and would be able to compete.[20]

1950s and 1960s

In 1955, the brothers Art and Gordon Stratton of the Winnipeg Barons set a league record for most points in a single season with 76 each. In 1957, Ray Brunel of the St. Boniface Canadiens broke it with 105.[citation needed]

In the 1959–60 season, MAHA president Earl Dawson sought a better financial arrangement with the Saskatchewan Amateur Hockey Association (SAHA) to recuperate the costs of developing minor hockey players and on-ice officials in Flin Flon, after the Flin Flon Bombers affiliated with the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) instead of the MJHL.[21] When the Brandon Wheat Kings also wanted to play in the SJHL, the MAHA renogotiated the financial arrangement to prevent the loss of another team to an out-of-province league.[22]

In the early 1960s, the powerhouse Brandon Wheat Kings, built by Jake Milford, won three titles in a row, and four in five years. In 1961, goalie Ernie Wakely of the Winnipeg Braves was named Canada's outstanding junior hockey player for the month of January.[citation needed]

The MJHL began the 1961–62 season using international ice hockey rules without body checking as an effort to attract more spectators, and hired a new promotional director.[23] In November 1961, CAHA president Jack Roxburgh ordered the MJHL to revert to standard Canadian rules since it had not been approved by the national body.[24]

In 1962, Clarence Campbell president of the NHL attended inaugural Manitoba–Saskatchewan all-star game in Winnipeg. In 1963, Jim Irving, captain of the Winnipeg Rangers, was named Manitoba's outstanding junior athlete and received the Carl Pederson Memorial Award.[citation needed]

Jimmy Dunn was hired as commissioner of the MJHL in May 1964. The league had been reduced to four teams based in the Greater Winnipeg area after the withdrawal of the Brandon Wheat Kings and the Fort Frances Royals.[25] The MJHL transitioned from a draft of players in the Greater Winnipeg Minor Hockey Association, into a system where each team chose players from a set geographic district. The new "zoning" arrangement was planned to be in effect for three seasons to stimulate more localized interest in junior hockey and aimed to keep teammates together from the minor hockey level to the junior hockey level.[25] Dunn supported the change and noted that the concept had produced forward lines on previous Memorial Cup championship teams from Winnipeg.[25]

For the 1964–65 MJHL season, the Charlie Gardiner Memorial Trophy series was revived as a preseason tournament for the league's teams.[26] Dunn reached an agreement to televise MJHL games on CJAY-TV, and the league experimented with playing games on Sunday evenings instead of afternoons to increase its attendance and avoid competing with televised football games.[27] Dunn requested to the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) that the MJHL waive its bye into the Abbott Cup finals and its playoffs champion meet the Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League champion in the first round. He felt that the loss of gate receipts from a bye was a financial hardship for the MJHL, and shorten the league's playoffs to accommodate the change approved by the CAHA.[28] Goaltender Wayne Stephenson led the Winnipeg Braves to the MJHL Championship in 1965.[citation needed]

For the 1965–66 MJHL season, Dunn implemented an automatic one-game minimum suspension for any player who received a match penalty.[29] He felt that professional hockey influenced fisticuffs in junior hockey and said that, "Any time there's a big fight in the National Hockey League, the kids drop their sticks and put up their dukes in the next game. It happens almost every time".[30]

The MJHL expanded from four to six teams for the 1966–67 MJHL season when it readmitted the Brandon Wheat Kings and accepted the Selkirk Steelers.[31] Dunn announced his resignation as commissioner on October 24, 1966, and cited personal reasons. Despite being offered a pay raise, he felt that the increase in teams made the job too much for him and had "taken the fun out of it".[32] His resignation came shortly after a game between the Winnipeg Rangers and the Brandon Wheat Kings in which 242 penalty minutes were given in the first period.[8]

In 1966–67, future Hall of Famer Bobby Clarke of the Flin Flon Bombers set league records for most goals (71), assists (112), and points (183) in a single season. Clarke led the Bombers to win the MJHL title.[citation needed]

On September 19, 1968, the Winnipeg Monarchs announced the signing of Hiroshi Hori, a defenceman from Japan. Hori, a high school all-star in his homeland, would spend a year with the team and then return home to pass on what he had learned. A Canadian missionary to Japan, Father Moran was behind the idea. With CAHA approval, Moran convinced the Japanese Skating Union to sponsor one player to a year in Canada. The CAHA chose Winnipeg as the site because of the added experience from watching the Canadian National Team, and the Monarchs volunteered.[citation needed]

The New MJHL

During the summer of 1967, the MAHA allowed three teams from Manitoba to enter the new Western Canadian Hockey League (WCHL): the Brandon Wheat Kings and Flin Flon Bombers from the MJHL, and Ben Hatskin's new Winnipeg Jets club. Hatskin already owned three MJHL teams, so as part of the agreement, divested his entire MJHL portfolio to local interests. The Winnipeg Warriors became the West Kildonan North Stars, the St. James Braves became the St. James Canadians, and the Winnipeg Rangers became the St. Boniface Saints. These three teams and the Winnipeg Monarchs became "the new MJHL". The Selkirk Steelers instead departed for the upstart Central Manitoba Junior Hockey League (CMJHL).[citation needed] The CMJHL was short-lived and its four teams were absorbed by the MJHL the following year. The Steelers, Portage Terriers, Dauphin Kings, and Kenora Muskies, who had operated out of Fort Garry the previous year, were placed in the MJHL's new North Division, while the existing MJHL teams made up the South Division.[33]

On Sunday February 9, 1969, the MJHL held a special emergency meeting to discuss Butch Goring leaving the Winnipeg Jets of the WCHL and joining the Dauphin Kings. Goring played the night before in Kenora for the Kings during a regular season game. The MJHL gave the Kings approval to use Goring in regular season and playoff games. Goring was leading the WCHL in goals at the time. Monday, WCHL president Ron Butlin said a court injunction would be sought against Goring and another Jet forward Merv Haney from playing with the Dauphin Kings. Also saying the CHA would be "taking whatever action is necessary against Dauphin and the MAHA for damages." Goring and Haney would play for the Kings, all the way to the Western Memorial Cup Finals.[citation needed]

The reorganization of junior hockey in Canada in 1970 relegated the MJHL to Tier II status, now to be called Junior 'A'. MJHL champions would no longer play for the Memorial Cup; instead, a new national junior 'A' championship, the Manitoba Centennial Cup (now the Centennial Cup) was created. This new alignment would eventually lead to the formation of the Canadian Junior Hockey League in 1993.[citation needed]

1970s, 1980s, and 1990s

The Dauphin Kings were the first "dynasty" of the new MJHL, winning the league three out of four years, 1969, 1970, and 1972, and boasting such stars as Ron Low, Butch Goring, and Ron Chipperfield. The Kings went to the Western Memorial Cup final in 1969, and in 1972 recorded 40 wins, a modern-day MJHL record. Charlie Simmer of the Kenora Muskies won the scoring title in 1973, the same year the Portage Terriers were crowned National Champs, winning the Centennial Cup. In 1974, the Selkirk Steelers won the national crown, giving the MJHL back to back "Canadian Championships". It was players such as Low, Goring, Chipperfield, Simmer, Chuck Arnason, Murray Bannerman, Paul Baxter, John Bednarski, Rick Blight, Dan Bonar, Brian Engblom, Glen Hanlon, Bob Joyce, Barry Legge, Perry Miller, Chris Oddleifson, Curt Ridley, Rick St. Croix, Blaine Stoughton, and Andy Van Hellemond who gave the new MJHL its foundation.[citation needed]

The Selkirk Steelers dominated, between 1974 and 1987, winning eight MJHL championships, including three in a row. The 1974 Steelers were inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame, as were the 1973 Portage Terriers. In 1975, Jim Misener of the Dauphin Kings led the league in goals with 73, breaking Bobby Clarke's single season record of 71. In 1977, the Dauphin Kings won their fourth MJHL title in a decade, led by Misener who became the MJHL career leader in goals, assists, and points.[citation needed]

In September 1971, Winnipeg Monarchs President Bob Westmacott announced 17-year-old Stephan Lindberg of Sweden had been invited to training camp. Jack Bownass, former coach of Canada's national team, recommended Lindberg to the Monarchs.[citation needed]

On April 5, 1977, MJHL commissioner Bill Addison called off the Turnbull Cup Finals between the Dauphin Kings and Kildonan North Stars, saying "No, I am not going to allow these characters an opportunity to beat on each other any longer. I am calling the series (a best-of-seven) and awarding it to Dauphin on the basis they won two of the three games completed." The decision came just hours after the two clubs had engaged in a pre-game brawl, in which two Kings players were taken to hospital and two North Stars were criminally charged. Chris Walby was convicted of common assault, and granted a conditional discharge. The Canadian Amateur Hockey Association was not as kind, suspending Walby for life.[citation needed]

Grant Ledyard led the Winnipeg South Blues to the first of four MJHL Championships in 8 years in 1982. In 1983, Mike Ridley of the St. Boniface Saints broke both Jim Misener's goal scoring record and Bobby Clarke's points record. In 95, Cory Cyrenne of the Saints was chosen Canadian Junior A Hockey League (CJAHL) Player of the Year, and the Winnipeg South Blues won their fifth championship, on their road to a second Anavet Cup, and an Abbott Cup. The 1995 Blues were inducted into Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame. In 1998, Jedd Crumb of the Blues led the CJAHL in goals with 61.[citation needed]

In 1979, the rival NorMan Junior Hockey League was granted Junior 'A' status, putting it into Turnbull Cup competition alongside the MJHL. This arrangement lasted until the demise of the NJHL in 1985, although during this era, no NJHL was ever successful in the provincial playoffs.

The 1980s and 1990s saw the MJHL expand its footprint outside of Winnipeg with the addition of teams in Winkler, Neepawa, Swan River, and three First Nations communities: Sagkeeng, Opaskwayak (The Pas) and Waywayseecappo. Teams were also added in Steinbach and Thunder Bay, Ontario, however neither played more than three seasons before folding. At the same time, the league's presence in Winnipeg began a period decline with the demise of the Kildonan North Stars in 1990. This was the first of several Winnipeg-based teams to fold or relocate from the city; by 2012, only one team remained in the provincial capital.

2000 to present

As the twenty first century dawned, the OCN Blizzard were dominating the MJHL, winning five straight MJHL championships from 1999 to 2003. This was a record previously achieved by only the legendary Elmwood Millionaires (1927–1931). Junior Lessard of the Portage Terriers was named CJAHL Player of the Year in 2000. Blizzard goaltenders Preston McKay (1998) and Marc Andre Leclerc (2001) led the CJAHL in goals against average, and left winger Andrew Coates (2003) led in goals. In 2004, Aaron Starr of the Blizzard became the first MJHL player to lead the CJAHL in scoring with 118 points.[citation needed]

As the Blizzard's dynasty came to an end, the Portage Terriers began their own golden age with a trip to the MJHL finals in 2003-04. The Terriers lost the series, but laid claim to the Turnbull Cup and ANAVET Cup titles the following season. This would start a run of nine championships over fifteen seasons, plus three ANAVET Cup wins and the 2015 national championship. The 2014-15 Terriers set a new league record for single-season winning percentage (.917) when they dominated the MJHL with a 53-3-4 record during the regular season and went undefeated in the playoffs to capture their ninth Turnbull Cup. The Terriers capped off their dream season by winning the 2015 Royal Bank Cup on home ice in Portage la Prairie.[34] The Terriers dominated again the following season, putting up an impressive 31-game winning streak on their way to a second consecutive Turnbull Cup.[35] The Steinbach Pistons have also been a dominant club since relocating to Steinbach in 2009, posting the top regular season record four times, two Turnbull Cup victories, and an ANAVET Cup championship in 2018.

The demise of the St. James Canadians in 2003 and the relocation of the Winnipeg Saints to Virden in 2012 left the Blues and Steelers as the only remaining clubs in the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region. The league reversed this trend in the 2020s by granting a second franchise (Winnipeg Freeze) to 50 Below Sports + Entertainment (which already owned the Blues). The Town of Niverville was also granted a franchise, the Niverville Nighthawks, to begin play in 2022.[1]

Neepawa Natives hazing incident

In October 2011, the Neepawa Natives were involved a hazing incident that garnered significant negative publicity, both locally and nationally. After the league conducted its investigation, commissioner Kim Davis confirmed that a 15-year-old player had come forward with allegations of sexual-based rookie hazing in the team's locker room. A record $5,000 fine and 18 suspensions resulted from the incident and the matter was referred to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, although no criminal charges resulted. The team gained even more negative press by benching and refusing to release or trade the 15-year-old who brought the issue to light.[36]

COVID-19 pandemic

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic during the first round of the MJHL playoffs in March 2020 forced the cancellation of the remainder of the 2019-20 season, marking the first time in its history that the Turnbull Cup was not awarded. The pandemic also forced the cancellation of the 2020 ANAVET and Centennial Cups, the latter of which was to be played in Portage la Prairie in honour of the national championship's 50th season.[37] The league attempted a shortened schedule for the 2020-21 season but was thwarted when tightened health restrictions were enacted by the provincial government that November, requiring the cancellation of all remaining games for a second consecutive season.[38] The MJHL returned to its regular format for the start of the 2021-22 season with a strict COVID-19 vaccination policy, in accordance with provincial health directives, requiring all players, coaches, officials to be immunized and all volunteers and spectators to provide proof of immunization before entering any league venue. This policy lasted until the provincial government dropped most of its public health measures in March 2022.[39][40]

Teams

Current

The MJHL consists of thirteen teams separated geographically into two divisions. The league has gone to a single division format on occasion, most notably from 1945 to 1968 and more recently from 2014 to 2020. A three-division format was implemented for the partially completed 2020–21 season that was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[41]

East Division
Team City Arena Joined
Niverville Nighthawks[1] Niverville Niverville Community Resource & Recreation Centre 2022
Portage Terriers Portage la Prairie Stride Place 1942
Selkirk Steelers Selkirk Selkirk Recreation Complex 1966
Steinbach Pistons Steinbach HyLife Centre 1988
Winkler Flyers Winkler Winkler Arena 1980
Winnipeg Blues Winnipeg hockey for all centre 1930
Winnipeg Freeze Winnipeg hockey for all centre 2020
West Division
Team City Arena Joined
Dauphin Kings Dauphin Credit Union Place 1967
Neepawa Titans Neepawa Yellowhead Centre 1989
OCN Blizzard Opaskwayak Gordon Lathlin Memorial Centre 1996
Swan Valley Stampeders Swan River Swan River Centennial Arena 1999
Virden Oil Capitals Virden Tundra Oil & Gas Place 1956
Waywayseecappo Wolverines Waywayseecappo Waywayseecappo Wolverines Complex 1999

Former/defunct

Turnbull Cup Champions

For the Western regional playoffs, see ANAVET Cup. For the national championship, see Centennial Cup.
The Turnbull Memorial Trophy (2018)
The Turnbull Cup (2006)

The Turnbull Memorial Trophy, or Turnbull Cup, is awarded by Hockey Manitoba to the provincial Junior 'A' hockey champion each season. As the MJHL is the only Junior 'A' league based in Manitoba, its playoffs also serve as the provincial championship. In past years, rival Junior 'A' leagues, namely the Central Manitoba Junior Hockey League (1968) and NorMan Junior Hockey League (1980-85), were sometimes included in Turnbull Cup competition, in which case a playoff series between the respective league champions was held to determine the provincial title.

The trophy was donated by the Winnipeg Hockey Club in 1920 to honour Walter James "Ollie" Turnbull, a captain in the 10th Brigade Canadian Field Artillery, who was killed in the First World War.[42] The trophy underwent a major refurbishment in 2018.[43]

Year Champion Runner-up
Winnipeg & District League Championship[a]
1918 Selkirk Fishermen Fort Rouge Wanderers
1919 Winnipeg YMLC Winnipeg Pilgrims
Turnbull Cup (Memorial Cup Era)
1920 Selkirk Fishermen Winnipeg YMLC
1921 Winnipeg Falcons Portage la Prairie
1922 University of Manitoba Brandon
1923 University of Manitoba Brandon
1924 Winnipeg Tammany Tigers Dauphin
1925 University of Manitoba Portage la Prairie Vics
1926 Winnipeg Tammany Tigers Portage la Prairie Vics
1927 Elmwood Millionaires Dauphin
1928 Elmwood Millionaires Neepawa
1929 Elmwood Millionaires Birtle-Minnedosa
1930 Elmwood Millionaires Brandon
1931 Elmwood Millionaires Winnipeg Monarchs
1932 Winnipeg Monarchs Brandon
1933 Brandon Native Sons Winnipeg Winnipegs
1934 Kenora Thistles[b] Brandon Native Sons
1935 Winnipeg Monarchs The Pas Huskies
1936 Elmwood Maple Leafs Emerson Aces
1937 Winnipeg Monarchs St. Boniface Seals
1938 St. Boniface Seals Winnipeg Monarchs
1939 Brandon Elks Winnipeg Monarchs
1940 Kenora Thistles[b] Elmwood Maple Leafs
1941 Winnipeg Rangers East Kildonan Bisons
1942 Portage Terriers St. Boniface Athletics
1943 Winnipeg Rangers St. Boniface Athletics
1944 St. James Canadians St. Boniface Athletics
1945 Winnipeg Monarchs Winnipeg Esquires-Red Wings
1946 Winnipeg Monarchs Brandon Elks
1947 Brandon Elks Winnipeg Monarchs
1948 Winnipeg Monarchs Winnipeg Canadiens
1949 Brandon Wheat Kings Winnipeg Canadiens
1950 Brandon Wheat Kings
1951 Winnipeg Monarchs Brandon Wheat Kings
1952 Winnipeg Monarchs Brandon Wheat Kings
1953 St. Boniface Canadiens Brandon Wheat Kings
1954 St. Boniface Canadiens Brandon Wheat Kings
1955 Winnipeg Monarchs Winnipeg Barons
1956 St. Boniface Canadiens Winnipeg Monarchs
1957 Winnipeg Monarchs St. Boniface Canadiens
1958 St. Boniface Canadiens Winnipeg Monarchs
1959 Winnipeg Braves St. Boniface Canadiens
1960 Brandon Wheat Kings Winnipeg Rangers
1961 Winnipeg Rangers Brandon Wheat Kings
1962 Brandon Wheat Kings Winnipeg Monarchs
1963 Brandon Wheat Kings St. Boniface Canadiens
1964 Brandon Wheat Kings Fort Frances Royals
1965 Winnipeg Braves Winnipeg Monarchs
1966 Winnipeg Rangers Winnipeg Braves
1967 Flin Flon Bombers Brandon Wheat Kings
1968 St. James Canadians Selkirk Steelers (CMJHL)[c]
1969 Dauphin Kings St. Boniface Saints
1970 Dauphin Kings St. James Canadians
Turnbull Cup (Centennial Cup Era)
1971 St. Boniface Saints Kenora Muskies
1972 Dauphin Kings West Kildonan North Stars
1973 Portage Terriers St. James Canadians
1974 Selkirk Steelers West Kildonan North Stars
1975 Selkirk Steelers West Kildonan North Stars
1976 Selkirk Steelers West Kildonan North Stars
1977 Dauphin Kings Kildonan North Stars
1978 Kildonan North Stars Dauphin Kings
1979 Selkirk Steelers Kildonan North Stars
1980 Selkirk Steelers Thompson King Miners (NJHL)[d]
1981 St. Boniface Saints Thompson King Miners (NJHL)[d]
1982 Winnipeg South Blues Flin Flon Bombers (NJHL)[d]
1983 Dauphin Kings The Pas Huskies (NJHL)[d]
1984 Selkirk Steelers Flin Flon Bombers (NJHL)[d]
1985 Selkirk Steelers Thompson King Miners (NJHL)[d]
1986 Winnipeg South Blues Selkirk Steelers
1987 Selkirk Steelers Winnipeg South Blues
1988 Winnipeg South Blues Portage Terriers
1989 Winnipeg South Blues Selkirk Steelers
1990 Portage Terriers Kildonan North Stars
1991 Winkler Flyers Winnipeg South Blues
1992 Winkler Flyers St. James Canadians
1993 Dauphin Kings St. Boniface Saints
1994 St. Boniface Saints Winkler Flyers
1995 Winnipeg South Blues Winkler Flyers
1996 St. James Canadians Neepawa Natives
1997 St. James Canadians OCN Blizzard
1998 Winkler Flyers St. James Canadians
1999 OCN Blizzard Winnipeg South Blues
2000 OCN Blizzard Winnipeg South Blues
2001 OCN Blizzard Winkler Flyers
2002 OCN Blizzard Winkler Flyers
2003 OCN Blizzard Southeast Blades
2004 Selkirk Steelers Portage Terriers
2005 Portage Terriers Selkirk Steelers
2006 Winnipeg South Blues OCN Blizzard
2007 Selkirk Steelers Dauphin Kings
2008 Portage Terriers Winnipeg Saints
2009 Portage Terriers Selkirk Steelers
2010 Dauphin Kings Winnipeg Saints
2011 Portage Terriers Selkirk Steelers
2012 Portage Terriers Winnipeg Saints
2013 Steinbach Pistons Dauphin Kings
2014 Winnipeg Blues Dauphin Kings
2015 Portage Terriers Steinbach Pistons
2016 Portage Terriers Steinbach Pistons
2017 Portage Terriers OCN Blizzard
2018 Steinbach Pistons Virden Oil Capitals
2019 Portage Terriers Swan Valley Stampeders
2020 No champion[e]
2021 No champion[f]
2022 Dauphin Kings Steinbach Pistons
2023 Steinbach Pistons Virden Oil Capitals
Notes
  1. ^ The league's two first two seasons predated the Turnbull Cup.
  2. ^ a b The Kenora Thistles are the only MJHL club from outside of Manitoba to win the Turnbull Cup.
  3. ^ For the 1967-68 season, the MJHL champion played the Central Manitoba Junior Hockey League champion for the Turnbull Cup.
  4. ^ a b c d e f From 1980 to 1985, the MJHL champion played the NorMan Junior Hockey League champion for the Turnbull Cup.
  5. ^ The 2019-20 playoffs were cancelled midway through the first round in response to the COVID-19 pandemic[44]
  6. ^ The 2020-21 season was halted November 12, 2020 and officially cancelled February 12, 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[45]

Post MJHL Playoffs

Formats

Since 1970-71, the Turnbull Cup champion has played the Saskatchewan champion, the winner of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) playoffs, for the ANAVET Cup. The winner of that series earns a berth in the Centennial Cup, the national Junior 'A' championship (known as the Royal Bank Cup from 1996 to 2018).

Prior to 1991, the ANAVET Cup champions advanced to the Abbott Cup against the winner of Doyle Cup with the winner going on to face the Eastern Canada champions for the national Junior 'A' title. Beginning in 1991, the national championship format was expanded to include both the ANAVET and Doyle Cup champions, after which the Abbott Cup series no longer was played and the champion was crowned from the results of the round robin part of the national championship. The Abbott Cup was formally retired in 1999.

Between 2013 and 2017, the ANAVET and Doyle Cups were replaced by the Western Canada Cup (WCC), a regional tournament that determined the two Western Canadian seeds at the national championship. No MJHL clubs captured the WCC during its five-year run; however, the Dauphin Kings and Portage Terriers as runners-up in 2014 and 2015, respectively, to capture the second Western seed at the national championship.

Since the tournament format for the Centennial Cup began in 1985, MJHL clubs have hosted national championships on three occasions: 1992 in Winnipeg, 2010 in Dauphin, and 2015 in Portage la Prairie. Portage la Prairie was also selected to host the 2020 championship which was cancelled at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to the reorganization of Canadian junior hockey in 1970, the MJHL champion played for the Memorial Cup, the former Canadian Tier I Junior championship. These post-MJHL playoffs were commonly known as the Memorial Cup playoffs. For the MJHL clubs, the road was firstly the western semi-finals and finals for the Abbott Cup, and then the Memorial Cup Finals. During this 53-year era (1918–1970), MJHL clubs won 18 Abbott Cups, and 11 Memorial Cups.

Manitoba/Saskatchewan Junior ‘A’ Hockey Championships

ANAVET Cup (1971–2012, 2017–present)

Western Canadian Junior Hockey Championships

Abbott Cup (1919–1970) Western Canadian Junior Championships

Abbott Cup (1971–1999) Western Canadian Junior ‘A’ Championships

National Junior Hockey Championships

Memorial Cup (1919–1970) National Junior Championships

Centennial Cup (1971–1995, 2019–present) National Junior ‘A’ Championships

Royal Bank Cup (1996–2018) National Junior ‘A’ Championships

Notable players

Over the years, more than 200 MJHL players have gone on to the National Hockey League (NHL), and 11 of those MJHL graduates have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame including; Andy Bathgate, Turk Broda, Art Coulter, Bobby Clarke, Charlie Gardiner, Bryan Hextall, Tom Johnson, Harry Oliver, Babe Pratt, Terry Sawchuk, and Jack Stewart.[citation needed]

Awards and leaders

Individual awards

Scholarships

Records

Commissioners

Timeline of teams in the MJHL

  • 1917 – The league is founded as the Winnipeg & District League
  • 1924 – Elmwood Millionaires join league
  • 1930 – Winnipeg Monarchs and Kenora Thistles join league
  • 1931 – Winnipeg & District League is renamed the Manitoba Junior Hockey League
  • 1931 – Elmwood Millionaires fold
  • 1933 – Elmwood Maple Leafs join league
  • 1934 – St. Boniface Seals join league
  • 1935 – Woodhaven Maple Leafs join league
  • 1935 – Selkirk Fisherman fold
  • 1936 – Woodhaven Maple Leafs become the St. James Canadians
  • 1938 – Brandon Wheat Kings become the Brandon Elks
  • 1939 – Winnipeg Rangers and CUAC Blues join league
  • 1939 – St. Boniface Seals become St. Boniface Athletics
  • 1940 – Brandon Elks become the Brandon Wheat Kings
  • 1940 – Kenora Thistles and Elmwood Maple Leafs fold
  • 1942 – Portage Terriers and Wolseley Flyers join league
  • 1943 – Wolseley Flyers fold
  • 1945 – St. James Canadians become St. James Orioles
  • 1945 – St. Boniface Athletics and CUAC Blues fold
  • 1946 – St. James Orioles relocate to Winnipeg and become the Winnipeg Canadiens
  • 1947 – Portage Terriers fold
  • 1947 – Winnipeg Rangers become the Winnipeg Black Hawks
  • 1952 – Winnipeg Black Hawks become the Winnipeg Barons
  • 1952 – Winnipeg Canadians relocate to St. Boniface and become the St. Boniface Canadiens
  • 1956 – Winnipeg Braves and new Winnipeg Rangers join league
  • 1957 – Winnipeg Barons fold
  • 1957 – Winnipeg Rangers relocate to Brandon and become the Brandon Rangers
  • 1958 – Brandon Rangers relocate to Transcona and become the Transcona Rangers
  • 1959 – Transcona Rangers return to Winnipeg and become the Winnipeg Rangers
  • 1963 – Fort Frances Royals join league for one season
  • 1964 – Brandon Wheat Kings leave to join SJHL
  • 1964 – St. Boniface Canadiens relocate to Winnipeg and become the Winnipeg Warriors
  • 1966 – Brandon Wheat Kings rejoin league
  • 1966 – Winnipeg Braves become the St. James Braves
  • 1966 – Selkirk Steelers join league
  • 1967 – Brandon Wheat Kings leave to join WCHL
  • 1967 – Selkirk Steelers leave to join CMJHL
  • 1967 – St. James Braves become the new St. James Canadians
  • 1967 – Winnipeg Rangers relocate to St. Boniface and become the St. Boniface Saints
  • 1967 – Winnipeg Warriors relocate to Kildonan and become the West Kildonan North Stars
  • 1968 – MJHL/CMJHL merger: Dauphin Kings and Kenora Muskies join league, Portage Terriers and Selkirk Steelers rejoin league
  • 1973 – Brandon Travellers join league
  • 1975 – Kenora Muskies become the Kenora Thistles
  • 1975 – Thompson King Miners join league
  • 1976 – West Kildonan North Stars become Kildonan North Stars
  • 1976 – Winnipeg Monarchs become the Assiniboine Park Monarchs
  • 1977 – Assiniboine Park Monarchs become the Fort Garry Blues
  • 1978 – Thompson King Miners leave to join NJHL
  • 1980 – Brandon Travellers fold
  • 1980 – Winkler Flyers join league
  • 1982 – Kenora Thistles fold
  • 1984 – Fort Garry Blues become the Winnipeg South Blues
  • 1984 – Thunder Bay Hornets join league
  • 1985 – Steinbach Hawks join league
  • 1986 – Thunder Bay Hornets fold
  • 1988 – Southeast Thunderbirds join league
  • 1988 – Steinbach Hawks fold
  • 1989 – Neepawa Natives join league
  • 1990 – Kildonan North Stars fold
  • 1992 – Southeast Thunderbirds relocate to Sakgeeng and became the Southeast Blades
  • 1996 – OCN Blizzard join league
  • 1999 – Waywayseecappo Wolverines and Swan Valley Stampeders join league
  • 2000 – St. Boniface Saints become the Winnipeg Saints
  • 2003 – St. James Canadians take a one-year leave of absence and fold one year later
  • 2007 – Southeast Blades relocate to Beausejour and become the Beausejour Blades
  • 2009 – Beausejour Blades relocate to Steinbach and become the Steinbach Pistons
  • 2010 – Winnipeg Saints relocate to St. Adolphe
  • 2010 – Winnipeg South Blues become the Winnipeg Blues
  • 2011 – Winnipeg Saints relocate back to Winnipeg
  • 2012 – Winnipeg Saints relocate to Virden and become the Virden Oil Capitals
  • 2020 – Winnipeg Freeze join league
  • 2021 - Neepawa Natives become the Neepawa Titans
  • 2022 - Niverville Nighthawks join league

List of MJHL seasons

Main article: List of MJHL seasons

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Niverville awarded expansion franchise for 2022-23". MJHL. 2021-06-04.
  2. ^ "MJHL announces 2021-22 season overview". MJHL. 2021-06-05.
  3. ^ "MJHL Rule Changes for 2016-2017". SteinbachOnline.com. 2016-06-13.
  4. ^ "MJHL Moves To One Division This Fall". PortageOnline.com. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
  5. ^ "In the MJHL, all Addison teams will now make the playoffs". ManitobaHockeyNews.com. Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  6. ^ "Western Canada Cup Scrapped". MyToba.ca. 2017-05-20.
  7. ^ "Unity through diversity". CBC News. February 4, 2008.
  8. ^ a b Beck, Dallis (January 9, 1979). ""Mr. Hockey" a member of Hall of Fame". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. p. 58.Free access icon
  9. ^ Ferguson, Bob (2005). Who's Who in Canadian Sport, Volume 4. Markham, Ontario: Fitzhenry & Whiteside. p. 122. ISBN 1-55041-855-6.
  10. ^ "Ten Junior Clubs to Play This Season". Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. November 2, 1936. p. 17.Free access icon; "M.A.H.A. Executive Appoints Committee to Handle Matter". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. November 10, 1936. p. 16.Free access icon
  11. ^ Buss, Johnny (September 30, 1940). "Johnson Returned As M.A.H.A. Prexy". Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. p. 14.Free access icon
  12. ^ "M.A.H.A. Upholds Ruling of Special Committee". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. November 18, 1940. p. 16.Free access icon
  13. ^ "A's Look Good In North Debut". Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. December 14, 1940. p. 24.Free access icon
  14. ^ "Junior Clubs Set On Inter-Change". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. October 23, 1944. p. 14.Free access icon; "Hannibal Re-elected M.A.H.A. Prexy". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. October 30, 1944. p. 14.Free access icon; "Junior Teams Rule On Transfers". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. November 6, 1944. p. 12.Free access icon
  15. ^ "North Juniors Issue Ultimatum; Jimmy Dunn Elected President". Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. October 29, 1945. p. 22.Free access icon
  16. ^ "Five-team Circuit Is New Setup". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. November 5, 1945. p. 14.Free access icon
  17. ^ a b Allan, Tony (June 15, 1946). "One Man's Opinion". Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. p. 14.Free access icon
  18. ^ "St. James Out? Four-team Loop Looms". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. October 5, 1946. p. 18.Free access icon
  19. ^ Allan, Tony (September 30, 1946). "Jimmy Dunn Re-elected; Craig Out As Convenor". Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. p. 25.Free access icon
  20. ^ Buss, Johnny (October 14, 1946). "St. James Awarded Junior Berth". Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. p. 27.Free access icon
  21. ^ "Flin Flon Team in 'Toba Loop?". Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. December 17, 1959. p. 26.Free access icon
  22. ^ Collins, Fred (April 17, 1961). "Jake Milford Likes MAHA Proposal". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. p. 21.Free access icon
  23. ^ Collins, Fred (September 22, 1961). "Hind Accepts Junior Post". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. p. 26.Free access icon
  24. ^ "Juniors Ordered To Change Back". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. November 23, 1961. p. 42.Free access icon
  25. ^ a b c "MJHL zones city; hires Jimmy Dunn". Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. May 16, 1964. p. 14.Free access icon
  26. ^ "Juniors revive trophy series". Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. September 17, 1964. p. 46.Free access icon
  27. ^ "Open Sunday". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. October 23, 1964. p. 54.Free access icon
  28. ^ "MJHL waives bye into western final". Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. January 25, 1965. p. 41.Free access icon
  29. ^ "Junior Hockey Unpredictable". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. November 2, 1965. p. 24.Free access icon
  30. ^ Collins, Fred (February 12, 1965). "Braves Zero In On Pennant". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. p. 41.Free access icon
  31. ^ "MJHL Opens On Oct. 9". Brandon Sun. Brandon, Manitoba. August 31, 1966. p. 10.Free access icon
  32. ^ a b "Goodbye MJHL". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. October 25, 1966. p. 24.Free access icon
  33. ^ Greatness: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow - A History of the Portage Terriers
  34. ^ "Terriers end memorable regular season with a win". Portage Daily Graphic. 2015-03-03.
  35. ^ "Pistons stop Terriers' win streak". Brandon Sun. 2016-04-18.
  36. ^ "Hazed and now no place to play". 2011-10-27.
  37. ^ "CJHL endorses Portage in their request to host 2023 Centennial Cup". MJHL. 2021-07-08.
  38. ^ "Manitoba Junior Hockey League cancels remainder of season". Global News. 2021-02-12.
  39. ^ "Proof of vaccination required to attend Terriers games". PortageOnline.com. 2021-08-26.
  40. ^ "COVID-19 vaccination required to attend Pistons games". SteinbachOnline.com. 2021-09-02.
  41. ^ "MJHL announces 2020-21 Regular Season schedule". Manitoba Junior Hockey League. 2020-09-10.
  42. ^ "Canadian Virtual War Memorial-Walter James Turnbull". Veterans Affairs Canada. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
  43. ^ "Turnbull Trophy Undergoes Major Refurbishing". MJHL. 2018-04-20.
  44. ^ "Hockey Canada statement in response to coronavirus (COVID-19)". Hockey Canada. March 12, 2020.
  45. ^ "MJHL cancels remainder for the 2020-21 season". Discover Westman. February 12, 2021.
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