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40-792: The Maritime Junior A Hockey League (MHL) had its origin in the Metro Valley Junior Hockey League , founded in 1967 as a Junior "B" level hockey league consisting of six teams, all of them based in Nova Scotia. In 1977, the Metro Valley League acquired Junior "A" status and in 1983 expanded to New Brunswick with the addition of the Moncton Hawks . In 1991, two franchises from Prince Edward Island, based in Summerside and Charlottetown, joined

80-607: A number of changes in the spring of 2008. On April 15, the Antigonish Bulldogs announced that they were applying for a leave of absence for one year. 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,

120-773: A predetermined host. The winner moved on to compete for the Canadian National Junior A Championship . However with the departure of the British Columbia Hockey League from affiliation with the CJHL in March 2021 as well as Hockey Canada in June 2023, no Centennial Cup qualifying tournaments such as the Kent Cup have been played since 2022, and instead all the league champions directly advance to

160-821: Is a Hockey Québec Canadian Junior A ice hockey league and is a member of Hockey Canada and the Canadian Junior Hockey League . The winner of the QJHL playoffs competes for the Fred Page Cup against the winners of the Central Junior A Hockey League and the Maritime Hockey League and the host team, which is on a three-year cycle between the MHL, CJHL and LHJQ. The winner of the Fred Page Cup then moves on to compete for

200-628: Is a Junior A ice hockey league under Hockey Canada , a part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL). It consists of six teams from New Brunswick , which make up the EastLink North Division (formerly Roger Meek), five teams from Nova Scotia , and one team from Prince Edward Island , which make up the Eastlink South Division. The winner of the MHL playoffs competes for the Centennial Cup against

240-964: The Camrose Kodiaks of the AJHL. In 2003–04, the CJAHL and the LHJAAAQ saw the St-Eustache Gladiateurs ranked #5 overall in Canada. However, the Gladiateurs lost the finals to the Valleyfield Braves. Because Valleyfield was hosting the Fred Page Cup, the Gladiateurs got a berth in the tournament. Saint-Eustache and Valleyfield each held a 2–0 tournament record going into the all-LHJAAAQ match-up that would decide

280-698: The Centennial Cup . The Quebec Junior Hockey League is an offshoot of the Quebec Junior A Hockey League that lasted from 1972 to 1982. Founded in 1988, the QJHL has been a rather strong league, with three Central Canadian Champions ( Dudley Hewitt Cup ) in its early years: the Longueuil Sieurs in 1990 and the Chateauguay Elites in 1993 and 1994. In 1994–95 they were grouped into the Eastern Canadian region to compete for

320-897: The Chambly Forts . Shortly after that move, the Gatineau Mustangs of the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League made the jump to the league as the Gatineau Flames , becoming the first Hull-based team since the Aylmer Extreme that had lasted one season in 2000–01. Several weeks after announcing the Gatineau Flames as a member, the Flames purchased the Lachine Maroons and absorbed the franchise rights. The league expelled

360-612: 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. Note: Those listed in yellow are currently home to an MHL franchise. All champions in this table are from

400-540: The Fred Page Cup . The Joliette Nationals won the first Fred Page Cup in 1995. To this day, the QJHL has four Eastern Canadian titles, the others going to the Joliette Action , Lennoxville Cougars , and St. Jerome Panthers . No Quebec team has ever won the national title despite attending the tournament seven times since 1988. In 2002–03, Champlain College Lennoxville got a team to play in

440-824: The Pictou County Weeks Crushers . On that same day, Halifax was granted an expansion franchise, the Halifax Wolverines . In 2014 the League approved to add an expansion team in St. Stephen named the St. Stephen Aces . 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

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480-809: 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

520-484: 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 . The MJAHL made

560-615: The 2018–19 season; the team is later sold and relocated to Grand Falls, New Brunswick and renamed the Grand Falls Rapids . In April 2019, the St. Stephen Aces were sold to a group from Fredericton, New Brunswick and became the third team in three years to relocate. The Aces relocated to Fredericton, New Brunswick for the 2019–20 season and were renamed the Fredericton Red Wings . The current MHL has twelve teams, six in each division. The league has hosted

600-607: 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

640-540: The Centennial Cup. Originally known as the Metro Valley Junior Hockey League (MVJHL) , 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

680-923: 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. A tenth team was added for the 2000–01 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

720-521: The LHJAAAQ - Lennoxville Cougars, based on the campus of College Champlain and Bishop's University. The Cougars, who were coached by former NHLer Stéphan Lebeau formed a discipline style of hockey. The method paid off, and Lennoxville captured the Napa Cup as league champions and won the Fred Page Cup. Lennoxville finished the Royal Bank Cup 1–3, the Cougars exited the tournament with semi-finals loss to

760-462: The MHL stepped in and temporarily took over the management of the team until a new owner was found. Larry Creaser, supported by an experienced group of hockey people and enthusiastic volunteers, assumed ownership and complete financial control of the Lumberjacks. The team was renamed the "South Shore Jr. A Lumberjacks" in an effort to expand the fan base of the team to nearby communities. Seats at

800-601: The Maritime Junior Hockey League All champions in this table are from the Metro Valley Junior Hockey League against interleague opponents. Note: Current teams are shaded in dark blue. Gold stars denote league championships. Bolded teams indicate the original names of active franchises. Quebec Junior Hockey League The Ligue de Hockey Junior du Québec (LHJQ) or Quebec Junior Hockey League (QJHL)

840-719: The Quebec Junior Hockey League (dropping the "AAA" designation) and introduced the corresponding new league logo. The summer also saw the return of the Valleyfield Braves to the League. Owners of the team purchased the LaTuque Wolves, regained rights to the Braves name and logo and brought the team back to the Aréna Salaberry. Another long-time QJHL member, Kahnawake Condors, who were established in 1999 moved to Chambly, Quebec , to be re-branded as

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880-684: 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. In September 2024, female goaltender Rhyah Stewart signed with the West Kent Steamers . *relocated franchise 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

920-682: The Summerside Western Capitals and the Charlottetown Abbies left Prince Edward Island 's IJHL and joined the MVJHL, which was immediately renamed the Maritime Junior A Hockey League (MJAHL) . According to league officials, it is believed that goaltender Lisa Herritt of the Dartmouth Oland Exports became the first female MHL player in the 1995–96 season. For the 1996–97 season, the league added

960-664: 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, the MVJHL entered into the Tier II Junior "A" level. The jump to Junior "A" was, in theory, to be a catalyst for the development of

1000-709: 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

1040-656: The biggest rival of the South Shore Lumberjacks . In early 2003, the league governors approved expansion into Woodstock, New Brunswick, with the Woodstock Slammers beginning play in the 2003–04 season. The League got its second national Championship when the Halifax Oland Exports won the 2002 Royal Bank Cup on home ice. In the spring of 2004, the Weeks Hockey Organization bought the club, moved it to New Glasgow, and renamed it

1080-640: The games were once again the "hottest ticket in town". The last home game of the season sold out with an attendance in excess of 1500 fans. In 2023, the Maritime Hockey League Board of Governors approved the relocation of the team to Bouctouche New Brunswick, where they will begin play in the 2023-24 season. In September 2024, the Steamers signed the first female player in franchise history, goaltender Rhyah Stewart . These are franchise records held by previous team rosters. Figures are updated after each completed MHL regular season. Maritime Junior A Hockey League The Maritime Junior Hockey League ( MHL )

1120-429: The league's first non-Nova Scotia team. The Hawks came from the New Brunswick Junior Hockey League and are now known as the Edmundston Blizzard . In 1986, the league expanded to Antigonish and the Scotia Colts, again, hosted the Centennial Cup. Future Maritime Junior Hockey League team Summerside Western Capitals , then competing in the Island Junior Hockey League (IJHL), hosted the 1989 Centennial Cup. In 1991,

1160-460: 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 Junior A championship, then known as the Centennial Cup, in 1980. The 1983 season saw the addition of the expansion Moncton Midland Hawks of Moncton, New Brunswick ,

1200-407: The neighboring city of Dieppe . The team was renamed the Dieppe Commandos. On May 1, with the fifth and final change for the MJAHL within a span of 16 days, the Charlottetown Abbies ' applied for a leave of absence for one year, which was accepted. 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

1240-418: The newly dubbed "Maritime Junior A Hockey League". The Summerside Western Capitals won the League's first ever National Title against South Surrey Eagles from British Columbia. A tenth team, the Miramichi Timberwolves , was added for the 2000–2001 season. At the end of the 2001–02 season, the League approved the transfer of a team to Yarmouth. The Yarmouth Mariners began play in September 2002 and are now

West Kent Steamers - Misplaced Pages Continue

1280-399: The owners of the Halifax Wolverines announced their plans to move to Bridgewater . The Governors approved the move. 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

1320-405: The proposal to relocate the franchise to Quebec was deemed to not 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,

1360-435: The right to compete for the Royal Bank Cup. The origin of the Lumberjacks goes back to April 15, 2008, when the owners of the Halifax Wolverines announced their plans to move to Bridgewater. Following a contest to come up with a name for the new team, the franchise was dubbed the "Bridgewater Lumberjacks." However, by 2014 the Lumberjacks were struggling, and in serious jeopardy of being dissolved or relocated. In November 2014,

1400-616: The successful Halifax team in the 1980s. In 2010, the MJAHL changed its name to the Maritime Junior 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 2012–13 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. The relocation rumours had them moving back to Halifax after three years in Dartmouth but they finally moved to Kentville and were renamed

1440-401: 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 . In November 2016, the Dieppe Commandos announced they would be moving to Edmundston, New Brunswick after the 2016–17 season, and be renamed the Edmundston Blizzard . In May 2018, the Woodstock Slammers applied for a leave of absence for

1480-425: 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,

1520-425: 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 won their second national Junior A championship when the Halifax Oland Exports won

1560-419: The winner and who gets a bye to the championship finals. Valleyfield won the game 4–0, and Saint-Eustache then lost to the Nepean Raiders 3–2 in double-overtime. The Valleyfield Braves lost the championship game 4–0 to Nepean. In 2014, 12-year president Richard Morency announced his resignation, but staying on until the transition to the new leadership. The league also announced that it was re-branding itself

1600-408: The winners of the 8 other tier 2 junior A leagues across Canada (host team also participates). Prior to the pandemic the MHL champions participated in the Fred Page Cup. This tournament involved the Bogart Cup champions from the Central Canada Hockey League (Ontario), the Kent Cup champions from the MHL (Maritimes) and the winner of La Coupe Napa of the Quebec Junior Hockey League (Quebec) as well as

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