Island Junior Hockey League (1973–1991)
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The Island Junior Hockey League (IJHL), also sometimes called the PEI Junior A Hockey League, was a Canadian Junior ice hockey league in Prince Edward Island. Originally Junior B, the league was promoted to Junior A in 1973 after the folding of the Charlottetown Islanders in 1972.
History
The league was promoted to Junior A in 1973. Most of the teams originated from the Island Junior B Hockey League, except for the Charlottetown Abbies who played the previous season in the Central New Brunswick Junior B Hockey League. In its early years, their champions would play the winners of the New Brunswick Junior Hockey League, Eastern Junior A Hockey League, and Newfoundland Junior A Hockey League for advancement in the Centennial Cup playdowns.
In 1989, the Summerside Western Capitals hosted the Canadian Junior A Championship, then known as the Manitoba Centennial Cup, and represented the IJHL at the tourney. The Western Capitals came in second place, losing to the Thunder Bay Flyers of the United States Hockey League 4-1 in the final after beating the Moncton Hawks 3-2 in a triple-overtime thriller in the semi-final. The Western Capitals and the Charlottetown Abbies severed ties with the IJHL in 1991, to join the Maritime Junior A Hockey League.
In 1991, the Charlottetown Abbies and Summerside Western Capitals jumped from the Island Junior Hockey League to the Metro Valley Junior Hockey League. The jump caused the end of the IJHL and caused the MVJHL to change its name to the Maritime Junior A Hockey League
In 1996, a new Island Junior Hockey League was founded at the Junior B level.
Teams
- Charlottetown Abbies
- Charlottetown Colonels
- Eastern Huskies
- Monague Kings
- North River North Stars
- O'Leary Maroons
- Riverview Buccaneers
- Saint John Schooners
- Sherwood-Parkdale Metros
- Summerside Western Capitals
- West Prince Bluefins
Champions
Jr. B
- 1972 Summerside Crystals
- 1973
Jr. A
- 1974 Charlottetown Colonels
- 1975 Charlottetown Colonels
- 1976 Charlottetown Colonels
- 1977 Charlottetown Generals
- 1978 Charlottetown Eagles
- 1979 Sherwood-Parkdale Metros
- 1980 Sherwood-Parkdale Metros
- 1981 Sherwood-Parkdale Metros
- 1982 North River North Stars
- 1983 Sherwood-Parkdale Metros
- 1984 Summerside Western Capitals
- 1985 Charlottetown Eagles
- 1986 Summerside Western Capitals
- 1987 Charlottetown Abbies
- 1988 Summerside Western Capitals
- 1989 Summerside Western Capitals
- 1990 Charlottetown Abbies
- 1991 Charlottetown Abbies