The Georgina Ice are a Junior ice hockey team based in Keswick , Ontario , Canada. Starting with the 2016-17 season they play in the Provincial Junior Hockey League . Their prior league, the Central Ontario Junior C Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association amalgamated with the other Southern Ontario junior hockey leagues. It then became the Orr Division in the East conference.
44-955: The Ice were founded in 1994. They have always played in the Central "C" league until the re-organization of junior "C" hockey in 2016-17 when the Ice became part of the Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL). The Ice play most of their home games at the Georgina Ice Palace in Keswick. Each year they play a handful of games in Sutton at the Sutton Arena . The Georgina Ice have developed many young junior players that have risen to higher levels of hockey including Junior, College and professional leagues including
88-608: A director with the Czech Ice Hockey Association , felt that Junior-aged players were enticed to play in North America before maturation, with a negative effect on the development of the player and the European system. He stated that of the 527 Czech Republic players who went to North American Junior hockey, only 22 of them played more than 400 NHL games. He sought to establish a European system that
132-780: A pro contract with the Arizona Sundogs of the Central Hockey League . Justin Soryal , who played for the Ice in 2003–04, now plays for the Connecticut Whale in the American Hockey League . In 2004, The Ice retired Jersey No. 94 in honor of all time Ice leading scorer Trevor Sedore who finished his junior career after 240 games with 179 goals and 172 assists for 351 points. Sedore was named league MVP 3 times in 7 seasons. Also in 2004
176-720: A professional team, and are used by professional teams to develop their own prospects. One example of this is the J20 SuperElit league in Sweden or the Minor Hockey League in Russia . The lack of an amateur draft in Europe means that the onus is on the teams to sign the most talented young players they can get, and the presence of an affiliated junior team provides a place for young players who are not yet ready for
220-653: A significant concentration of teams in the central and southwestern parts of the United States, although the league began to expand to east coast as of 2015. In October 2016, the Tier III United States Premier Hockey League , a league predominately located on the east coast, applied to USA Hockey for approval of a Tier II league to begin in the 2017–18 season, however, the league was denied that December and decided to operate its Tier II league independently. The NAHL, like
264-576: A twin ice pad and also has a library, multi-use facility and a skatepark. Provincial Junior Hockey League The Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) is a Canadian junior ice hockey league spanning parts of Southern Ontario . The PJHL is the third tier of the Ontario Hockey Association and is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation and Hockey Canada . The league was formed in 2016 with
308-817: Is currently the only Tier I league in the country, consisting of teams in the central and midwestern United States. The USHL provides an alternative to the Canadian Hockey League, which pays its major junior hockey players a stipend, for players who wish to maintain NCAA eligibility for later in their career. While playing in the USHL, all player expenses are paid for by the team; no membership or equipment fees are charged. Unlike major junior teams, free-college stipend does not exist. Historically, professional leagues have drafted less directly from USHL teams, although this trend has shifted in recent years, coinciding with
352-426: Is overall PJHL season champion based on win percentage. Listed are Division playoff champions. Bolded are also Conference playoff champions. Bolded is winner of Clarence Schmalz Cup as PJHL and OHA champion. Individual Season Single Game Team Junior ice hockey Junior ice hockey is amateur-level ice hockey for 16 to 21 year-old players. National Junior teams compete annually for
396-959: The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) : The championship teams from each league, as well as a pre-selected host team, compete for the Memorial Cup in a round-robin tournament to determine a national champion. Major Junior players were historically deemed ineligible to play college hockey in the United States , because they were considered to be professionals by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Major Junior players retain their eligibility for Canadian universities however, and all three leagues have scholarship programs for players. The NCAA changed its position and decided that CHL players were no longer ineligible as of
440-616: The Clarence Schmalz Cup which was first awarded in 1938. The Ontario Junior C playoffs are played for between six of the Province's seven different regional leagues. In Quebec and West of Manitoba, Junior C hockey tends to be an extension of the local minor hockey system and is sometimes called Juvenile or House League. In Ontario, Manitoba, and the Maritimes, Junior C is run independently of minor hockey systems, though with
484-823: The Coupe Dodge in Quebec , the Don Johnson Cup in the Atlantic Provinces , and the Keystone Cup that represents all of Western Canada, from British Columbia to Northwestern Ontario . Junior C (Junior A in Québec ) generally consists of local competitions, but is considered competitive in some regions, and serve as seeding or farm-teams for Junior B teams. Ontario Junior C Hockey has six rounds of best-of-seven playoffs (up to 42 games per team) for
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#1732800846479528-694: The Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League has operated as an independent league in Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta. The league widely recruits players from outside of North America. In late 2016, the United States Premier Hockey League , an organization composed of several USA Hockey Tier III Junior as well as many youth hockey leagues, applied for a Tier II league. The Tier II status was denied in December 2016 but
572-922: The IIHF World Junior Championship . The United States men's national junior ice hockey team are the defending champions from the 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships . There are four levels of Junior hockey in the Canadian Club System: 1. Major Junior, 2. Junior A, 3. Junior B, and 4. Junior C. Not all teams playing in Canadian Junior leagues are based in Canada . As of 2024 , there were approximately twelve US-based teams playing in various Major Junior and Junior A leagues in Canada. In 2023, BC Hockey announced plans to restructure its Junior framework following
616-756: The Newmarket Hurricanes in 2006. In 2002–03 The Ice made the ultimate journey advancing to the Clarence Schmalz Cup . The Ice lost the series in 4 games to the Grimsby Peach Kings . Grimsby was making their first of two consecutive runs at the Ontario Championship. 2006 saw Ice alumnus David McIntyre drafted by the Dallas Stars in the 5th round of the NHL Entry Draft. Kyle Orr, also an Ice alumnus signed
660-505: The North American 3 Hockey League Some Junior ice hockey leagues operate outside the framework of governing bodies such as Hockey Canada and USA Hockey , typically due to disagreements with governing bodies over player recruitment policies and finances. These leagues are sometimes referred to as 'unsanctioned', 'rogue' or 'outlaw' leagues due to their lack of sanctioning or oversight from an outside governing body. Since 2006,
704-619: The US . In 2023, the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) withdrew from the Hockey Canada framework, and thus became an independent league. In response, BC Hockey announced plans to restructure its Junior framework, which included an opportunity for some Junior B teams (styled "Junior A Tier 2" by BC Hockey) to be promoted to Junior A (styled "Junior A Tier 1" by BC Hockey) and eventually seek membership with
748-466: The 2025–26 season. The decision was made after a class action was filed on behalf of a player who was declared ineligible after having played two exhibition games in the OHL when he was 16 years old. The CHL places a cap of three 20-year-old players per team, and allows up to four 16-year-olds on each roster. While 15-year-old players were formerly permitted to play a limited number of games per season at
792-585: The CHL level, they are now permitted to play only if they are deemed exceptional by Hockey Canada . As of 2024 , nine players have qualified under this rule: centre John Tavares in 2005, defenceman Aaron Ekblad in 2011, centre Connor McDavid in 2012, defenceman Sean Day in 2013, centre Joe Veleno in 2015, centre Shane Wright in 2019, forward Connor Bedard in 2020, forward Michael Misa in 2022, and defenceman Landon DuPont in 2024. CHL teams are currently permitted two "imports" (players from outside Canada and
836-772: The CJHL. The league expected the evaluations to be completed during the 2024—25 season. Junior B (Junior AA in Québec ; Tier 2 in British Columbia ) was created in 1933, to differentiate between teams eligible for Memorial Cup competition and those who were not. The major championships across Canada are the Sutherland Cup in Southern Ontario , the Barkley Cup in the Ottawa District ,
880-696: The Georgina Ice honored longtime head coach Steve Sedore for his 25 years of coaching. He has been a constant fixture with the Ice over their 13 years. He was the head coach in the first season and has held various positions since. Steve is the longest serving and winningest coach in Ice History and has held coaching positions with the Stouffville Spirit , Couchiching Terriers and the Newmarket Hurricanes . He has also been involved in minor hockey with Georgina and York Simcoe. Aside from Steve
924-599: The ICE and it’s shared with Georgina Blaze and Georgina Golden Hawk teams. 2022-2023 was Head Coach/General Manager Darren Price’s sophomore season behind the bench. Price quickly announced big player signings such as Captain, Mike McCullough, Jack Mayo and local AAA all-star, Ronnie Wiersema who went on the win PJHL Rookie Of The Year with 42 PTS and 72 PIMS. The ’22-’23 season also saw the return of Steve Sedore as an Assistant, bringing many years of experience in
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#1732800846479968-526: The ICE have seen increased attendance, averaging over 500 people due to team success and an established social media presence online. The Georgina Ice Palace in Keswick has been the main home of the Georgina Ice since 1996–97 season. Prior to that the Ice played the bulk of their games at the Sutton Arena where they continue to play a handful of games each season. The Ice Palace is located at 90 Wexford Drive just west of Woodbine Avenue in Keswick. It has
1012-453: The Ice have been led by Mike Sedore, Paul Sinclair and Peter Hughes. Mike returned to the Ice in 2006 after Pete stepped down to assume the assistant coaching role. Mike last served as head coach in 1995–96 taking over for Steve when he took on the head coaching duties with the Spirit. Heading into the 2006–07 Season the Ice have compiled a regular season record of 236-204-30-18. Since entering
1056-605: The Junior A British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) withdrew its membership with Hockey Canada and became an independent league. In 2024, the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) announced that it would also withdraw from the Hockey Canada framework and become an independent farm league for the BCHL beginning in the 2024-25 season. In Europe, Junior teams are usually associated with
1100-635: The National Hockey League. The inaugural team saw players such as Jason Robinson, Jimmy Wilson and Todd Hamblin go on to play for the Stouffville Spirit of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League . In the second year the franchise was affiliated with Stouffville Spirit over the course of their 13-year existence the Ice have also been affiliated with the 2002–03 Dudley Hewitt Cup and Royal Bank Cup winning Aurora Tigers . The Ice reformed their affiliation with
1144-619: The PJHL and OJHL. The ICE continued to see local confidence with the program as another Sarnia Sting OHL drafted player, 16 year old ‘AP’ Michael Denney signed with the team. Denney assisted the ICE in defeating the North Kawartha Knights in the first round, 4 games to 1. The ICE went on to lose 4 straight games to the mighty, Clarington Eagles who went on to appear in the Schmalz Cup Finals. Friday night home games for
1188-606: The PJHL are the former Central , Empire B , Georgian Mid-Ontario , Great Lakes , Midwestern , Niagara & District , Southern , and Western . leagues that are now the eight divisions split into four conferences. The first game in PJHL history was played on September 9, 2016 as the Walkerton Hawks hosted the Hanover Barons in Pollock Division action. Walkerton won the game 6-2. Bolded
1232-576: The Tier III level pay a fee or tuition, commonly ranging from $ 4,000 to $ 9,500. This is for all accounts and purposes an amateur level, although some players go directly to NCAA Division I schools. Most Tier III players are looking to increase their skills in hopes to move up to Tier II or I, while other players go directly to NCAA Division III , ACHA and CHF schools. Prior to July 2011, USA Hockey split Tier III into Junior A and B divisions. USA Hockey currently has one sanctioned Tier III league,
1276-572: The US) each. Up until 1970, the leagues that were classified as Major Junior and "Junior A" today were both part of Junior A. In 1970 they were divided into "Tier I Junior A" or "Major Junior A" and "Tier II Junior A". In 1980, the three Major Junior A leagues opted for self-control over being controlled by the branches of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) and became Major Junior hockey, Tier II Junior A became
1320-500: The USHL, provides young players an alternative to major junior hockey, although the skill level is considered significantly lower than major junior hockey and typically filled with those who would not or did not make the roster of a Tier I team. Unlike Tier I, the NAHL does not pay for all players' expenses, such as room and board, but there is no tuition cost to the player as in Tier III. In addition to paying for room and board, players at
1364-518: The USNTDP moving to the USHL in 2009-10. In the 2019 NHL Entry Draft , 17 of the 44 players drafted out of the USHL played for the USNTDP. Those 44 draft picks were 16 more than any of the three leagues in the Canadian Hockey League, and included 9 first round picks (8 of which came from the USNTDP) and 7 second round picks. For most of its existence the USHL was considered inferior in quality of play to
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1408-773: The USPHL moved forward with the new league anyway, creating the National Collegiate Development Conference. In response, the USPHL has removed all their junior level leagues (the NCDC and the Tier III-level Premier and Elite Divisions) from USA Hockey sanctioning since the 2017–18 season. In 2022, the Eastern Hockey League , which was operating two Tier III leagues, also left USA Hockey sanctioning. In 2023,
1452-472: The York Simcoe Area. While immediate success on the ice took time, momentum off the ice was significant. The staff aimed to put together the best show in Keswick on Friday nights. The 2020-2021 season had early promise with strong player signings and an increased buzz around town that the ICE were committed to putting a skilled team together. In the end, the puck never dropped as Covid-19 cancelled
1496-556: The coveted Cougar beating the No. 1 ranked Lakefield Chiefs 4 games to none to capture their second COJCHL title. In 2019-2020 notable changes came to the ICE program, namely new ownership under Joseph Cornacchia, former Head Coach and General Manager of the U18 AAA Markham Waxers and OJHL Markham Waxers. Joe was able to assemble a management group and coaching staff in Keswick that prioritized local players from Georgina and
1540-567: The departure of its only Junior A league . Its three Junior B leagues ( PJHL , KIJHL and VIJHL ) were re-styled as "Junior A Tier 2", with plans to promote some to "Junior A Tier 1" following an independent evaluation. It was expected that those teams promoted to "Junior A Tier 1" would eventually apply for membership in the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), an association of Junior A leagues governed by Hockey Canada and its regional branches . BC Hockey expected
1584-542: The evaluations to be completed during the 2024-25 season. Before the process was completed, the VIJHL announced that it would also withdraw from the Hockey Canada framework and become an independent farm league for the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) beginning in the 2024-25 season. Major Junior is the highest level of Junior ice hockey in Canada. There are three Major Junior leagues that collectively make up
1628-431: The league in 1994 they have played regular season games against the Port Perry Mojacks , Uxbridge Bruins , Lakefield Chiefs and Little Britain Merchants all of which remain in the league today. The Bowmanville Eagles left the COJCHL in 1995 and the Bobcaygeon Bullets left shortly after. For a period of time The Central League also played crossover games with the Empire B Junior C League . In 2008 The Ice took home
1672-413: The major junior levels. But it continued to improve and as of 2019 about 21 percent of NHL players had played USHL in their career. Between 80 and 90 percent of USHL players continued into NCAA hockey. Currently, the North American Hockey League is the only USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier II league in the United States. The NAHL consists of teams spread across the western two thirds of the United States with
1716-446: The merging of eight Junior C leagues. PJHL teams compete for the Clarence Schmalz Cup . In the works since 2014, it was announced in the spring of 2016 that the eight Junior C leagues of the Ontario Hockey Association would merge for the 2016-17 season to create the Provincial Junior Hockey League. The union was in an effort to streamline rules across the classification and to promote growth and development. The leagues that make up
1760-465: The rigours of the professional game to develop. However, not all players on a European junior team are necessarily property of their professional club, and may elect to sign elsewhere. At the World Hockey Summit in 2010, nations in Europe expressed concern about the number of junior players leaving to play in North America, despite the improved talent level and the increasing popularity of the IIHF Ice Hockey World Junior Championships . Slavomir Lener,
1804-462: The same mostly recreational purpose. Junior ice hockey in the United States is sanctioned by USA Hockey . The top level is Tier I, represented by the United States Hockey League . Tier II is represented by the North American Hockey League . There are several Tier III and independently sanctioned leagues throughout the country. Some US-based teams play in Canadian leagues outside of the USA Hockey framework. The United States Hockey League (USHL)
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1848-399: The season. 2021-2022 saw a roster with increased talent joining the club from the U18 AAA York Simcoe Express program. Player signings like Cameron McClachrie, Austin Paulmert and Justin Diliso showed enhanced confidence from the community in the ICE’s ability to develop players. The most notable signing was 17 year old OHL Sarnia Sting drafted goaltender, Nicholas Surzycia. Nick chose to play
1892-502: The top tier of hockey in the CAHA and became Junior A hockey. Junior A (Junior AAA in Québec ; Tier 1 in British Columbia ) hockey is one level below Major Junior. It is governed by the respective regional branches of Hockey Canada . The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) is an association of nine Junior A leagues: The national championship is the Centennial Cup . Unlike Major Junior players, Junior A players retain their NCAA eligibility and may go on to play college hockey in
1936-404: The ’21-’22 season with the ICE where he posted a .935 save %, won the PJHL Rookie Of The Year Award and brought the ICE to the playoffs where they won their first playoff game in 11 seasons. The biggest win off the ice was the brand-new player dressing room built by Joe; a state-of-the-art changeroom to show his commitment to the players and community. To this day, the room is the crown jewel to
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