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Duluth Clydesdales

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The Duluth Clydesdales were an American Junior ice hockey team based in Duluth , Minnesota . They are former members of the Canadian -based Superior International Junior Hockey League .

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78-875: The Duluth Clydesdales applied for entry into the Superior International Junior Hockey League in the Summer of 2010 along with the Wisconsin Mustangs of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League . Both teams were summarily rejected by the USA Hockey Junior Hockey Council, but after an appeal to the USA Hockey Appeals Council, the decision was overturned. The Clydesdales became official members of

156-954: 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. When the Brandon Wheat Kings also wanted to play in the SJHL, the MAHA renogotiated the financial arrangement to prevent

234-617: 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

312-503: 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 . The Terriers dominated again the following season , putting up an impressive 31-game winning streak on their way to

390-595: A new promotional director. 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. 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

468-561: 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 . The trophy underwent a major refurbishment in 2018. Each season's Turnbull Cup champion advances to Centennial Cup ,

546-793: A return to Marathon, the SIJHL did add the Sioux Lookout Flyers . In the 2008 off-season, the Thunder Bay Bulldogs elected to retract to embolden the Thunder Bay Bearcats . Despite a strong year from the Bearcats and the Schreiber Diesels , both teams elected to cease operation in the summer of 2009. The Fort Frances Jr. Sabres claimed that they would be back for 2009–10, but their owners sold

624-585: A second consecutive Turnbull Cup. 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

702-399: 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. Dunn supported the change and noted that the concept had produced forward lines on previous Memorial Cup championship teams from Winnipeg. For

780-729: Is a junior A ice hockey league and a member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) and Hockey Canada . The league operates in the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Michigan . Winners of the SIJHL playoffs compete for the Centennial Cup , the Canadian Junior A championship. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the winner of each tier 2 junior A league across Canada shows up to

858-502: Is within Duluth's metropolitan area. The move was approved by both the league and USA Hockey , leaving the weaker Clydesdales organization fighting for local talent, fans, and player personnel against the tuition-free league champions. The Clydesdales barely had enough players to start the season and only put up two wins in thirty-six league games. After having to cancel a road trip for the second time that season due to player injuries and

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936-615: The 1964–65 MJHL season , the Charlie Gardiner Memorial Trophy series was revived as a preseason tournament for the league's teams. 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. Dunn requested to the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) that

1014-503: The 1965–66 MJHL season , Dunn implemented an automatic one-game minimum suspension for any player who received a match penalty . 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". The MJHL expanded from four to six teams for

1092-552: The 1966–67 MJHL season when it readmitted the Brandon Wheat Kings and accepted the Selkirk Steelers . 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". His resignation came shortly after a game between the Winnipeg Rangers and

1170-714: The Centennial Cup . The Flyers folded after the 1999–2000 USHL Season. The Northwestern Ontario region has also been represented in the past in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League . From 1968 until 1982, the city of Kenora , Ontario, was represented by the Kenora Muskies/Thistles and in the mid-1980s, Thunder Bay had an entry with the Thunder Bay Hornets . The folding of the Thunder Bay Flyers led to

1248-791: The Duluth Clydesdales of their franchise. Then, after clinching their third regular season and playoff crowns, the Wilderness won the league's second ever Dudley Hewitt Cup as Central Canadian champions. Minnesota Wilderness became the first American team to win the Dudley Hewitt Cup and the first to gain berth into the Royal Bank Cup Canadian Junior A Championship. After winning the Central Canadian Championship, it

1326-579: The Minnesota Iron Rangers . Wisconsin was sold and relocated into the same market as Duluth and renamed the Minnesota Wilderness . Three games into the season, the Sioux Lookout Flyers ceased operations and eventually their franchise when a scandal over the carding of players by their new general manager and coach left them without enough players to continue. In early 2013, the league, after multiple cancelled games, stripped

1404-440: 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

1482-492: 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. 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. In the 1959–60 season, MAHA president Earl Dawson sought

1560-755: The Thief River Falls Norskies . In 2019, the league added another team in Spooner, Wisconsin, called the Wisconsin Lumberjacks for the 2019–20 season. After several seasons of ownership issues and lack of player recruitment, the Minnesota Iron Rangers ceased operations for the 2019–20 season, returning the league to six teams. The 2019–20 season was then curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic with one week left in

1638-836: 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). 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

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1716-665: The Western Canada Cup (WCC), a regional tournament that determined the two Western Canadian seeds at the national championship. 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

1794-733: 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. In October 2011, the Neepawa Natives were involved a hazing incident that garnered significant negative publicity, both locally and nationally. After

1872-614: The 15-year-old who brought the issue to light. 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

1950-532: 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 . 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

2028-517: The 1946–47 season, and relegate all other teams to the "B" division at the Olympic Rink. The four teams were also opposed to any other teams being added to their division. 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. The MAHA executive chose to include

2106-440: The 1970s that the region has effectively supported a junior hockey league. In 2007, the SIJHL expanded east of Thunder Bay with the Schreiber Diesels and Marathon Renegades . A Wawa, Ontario , franchise was also in the works, but never came to fruition. On December 17, 2007, the Schreiber Diesels folded mid-season claiming lack of fan support. On December 21, the team was bought by a group of local fans in an effort to keep

2184-693: 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. 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

2262-592: 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. ANAVET Cup (1971–2012, 2017–2021) Abbott Cup (1919–1970) Western Canadian Junior Championships Abbott Cup (1971–1999) Western Canadian Junior ‘A’ 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 Over

2340-547: The Brandon Wheat Kings in which 242 penalty minutes were given in the first period. 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. On September 19, 1968, the Winnipeg Monarchs announced the signing of Hiroshi Hori , a defenceman from Japan . Hori,

2418-618: The CJAHL in scoring with 118 points. 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

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2496-641: The COVID-19 pandemic. 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

2574-663: The Canadian National Junior 'A' championship. From 1970 to 2021, the Turnbull Cup champion first 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 (known as the Royal Bank Cup from 1996 to 2018). Between 2013 and 2017, the ANAVET and Doyle Cups were replaced by

2652-776: The Carl Pederson Memorial Award. 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 . The MJHL transitioned from a draft of players in the Greater Winnipeg Minor Hockey Association, into a system where each team chose players from

2730-452: 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. 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. On April 5, 1977, MJHL commissioner Bill Addison called off

2808-413: The Diesels alive. The Marathon Renegades at one point were as high as third place in the SIJHL during the 2007–08 season, but after 37 games played were forced to cancel the rest of its season citing a lack of players through injuries and player defections to other leagues. Al Cresswell, team president, claimed that the shortage of players had become a health risk. Although the 2008–09 season did not see

2886-414: 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. The Dauphin Kings were the first " dynasty " of the new MJHL, winning

2964-410: 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

3042-423: 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. Goaltender Wayne Stephenson led the Winnipeg Braves to the MJHL Championship in 1965. For

3120-522: 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

3198-423: The Monarchs volunteered. 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

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3276-434: The SIJHL also made a 20-game interleague setup with the Minnesota Junior Hockey League 's Wisconsin Mustangs to diversify the league's competition. The 2010–11 season was the tenth season of the SIJHL. The SIJHL received applications for expansion by two American teams: the Duluth Clydesdales and Wisconsin Mustangs . In June, the Thunder Bay Wolverines pulled out of the SIJHL. A few days later USA Hockey rejected

3354-404: The SIJHL on July 12, 2010. On September 16, 2010, the Clydesdales played their first ever regular season game, on the road, against the Sioux Lookout Flyers . Sioux Lookout won the game 6-1. On September 24, 2010, the Clydesdales won their first ever game, while on the road, defeating the Dryden Ice Dogs 4-1. On October 3, 2010, the Clydesdales played their first ever home game. They dropped

3432-470: 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. In 1979, the rival NorMan Junior Hockey League was granted Junior 'A' status, putting it into Turnbull Cup competition alongside

3510-497: 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

3588-524: The War Veterans and existed until 1980. From 1980 until 2000, the region ( Hockey Northwestern Ontario ) was represented by a single team at the junior A level: the Thunder Bay Flyers . The Flyers played their regular season games in the United States Hockey League (USHL), a USA Hockey junior A league, and returned to Canada for the playoffs. The Flyers won the Dudley Hewitt Cup as Central Canadian Junior Champions in 1989, 1991, 1992, and 1995. The Flyers were also National Champions in 1989 and 1992, winning

3666-435: The branch championship. [REDACTED] Media related to Superior International Junior Hockey League at Wikimedia Commons Manitoba Junior Hockey League 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

3744-424: The game 5-4 in a shootout to the Wisconsin Wilderness . The game also marked the first regulation game in the SIJHL where both the home and away teams were American. Their first home win came on October 10, 2010, a 4-3 win over the Dryden Ice Dogs . The 2012-13 season began with much controversy. The defending champion Wilderness decided to relocate from Spooner, Wisconsin to Cloquet, Minnesota . Cloquet

3822-438: The game 5–4 eliminating the Wilderness. With the Wilderness and Clydesdales gone, the Minnesota Iron Rangers were the remaining American team with membership in the league. In the spring of 2013, the SIJHL announced expansion to Ear Falls, Ontario , with the English River Miners and on July 11, 2013, admitted a new team in Spooner, Wisconsin , also called the Wisconsin Wilderness . The new Wilderness lasted one season. In

3900-444: The gate receipts evenly between the teams and the rink owners, and for the MAHA to subsidize the teams as needed. The north division played the season reduced to four teams. 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. In the 1945–46 season, the north division teams threatened to withdraw from

3978-451: 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

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4056-429: 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,

4134-476: The loss of another team to an out-of-province league. 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. The MJHL began the 1961–62 season using international ice hockey rules without body checking as an effort to attract more spectators, and hired

4212-468: The movement of players to the Amateur Athletic Union 's Western States Hockey League , the league voted to remove them as league members on January 19, 2013 and confirmed that vote on January 20, 2013. The team claims to have had enough players to field a team and was still expecting to stay financially afloat, but the league feared the opposite. Superior International Junior Hockey League The Superior International Junior Hockey League ( SIJHL )

4290-658: The national championship's 50th season. 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. 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

4368-414: The national championship. Founded in 2001, the SIJHL is successor of several former Thunder Bay junior A hockey leagues and teams. The Fort William War Veterans were the first representatives of the Thunder Bay region, winning the 1922 Memorial Cup as Canadian National Junior A Champions. Although there is not abundant information on the subject, the Thunder Bay Junior Hockey League may date back to

4446-400: The new MJHL its foundation. 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,

4524-468: The previous year, were placed in the MJHL's new North Division, while the existing MJHL teams made up the South Division. 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

4602-424: The province of Manitoba, eight of which qualify for each year's playoffs. The playoff champion is awarded the Turnbull Cup, the Junior 'A' championship trophy for the province of Manitoba. The winner of the MJHL playoffs (Turnbull Cup) earns a berth in the national championship, the Centennial Cup . The league's first year of operation was the 1918–19 season, making it the oldest junior league in Canada. It

4680-408: The provincial government dropped most of its public health measures in March 2022. 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

4758-472: The rebirth of junior A hockey in the Thunder Bay region. The league started under the "Superior International" label in 2001 with five teams, including the Dryden Ice Dogs , First Nation Featherman Hawks , Fort Frances Borderland Thunder , Thunder Bay Bulldogs , and the Thunder Bay Wolves . In 2006, the Fort William North Stars won the Dudley Hewitt Cup with a 7–6 overtime win over the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League 's Sudbury Jr. Wolves to earn

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4836-415: The regular season and no postseason tournaments were held. The ongoing pandemic border-crossing restrictions caused the two American teams to withdraw from the 2020–21 season while the league added a new team called the Kam River Fighting Walleye . The five Canadian teams would play a few games in November and December 2020 along with two U18 minor teams , the Kenora Thistles and Thunder Bay Kings, to fill in

4914-452: The rights to their players to teams across Canada. In a last-ditch effort, the town of Fort Frances bought the team and renamed them the Fort Frances Lakers , but were forced to find all new players due to the actions of the previous ownership. The Thunder Bay Wolverines elected to apply for promotion to the SIJHL for 2009–10 fresh off of their silver medal performance at the Keystone Cup Canadian Jr. B Championships. Back up to five teams,

4992-419: 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. As the twenty first century dawned, the OCN Blizzard were dominating the MJHL, winning five straight MJHL championships from 1999 to 2003. This

5070-454: The schedule before the season was cancelled entirely. In 2024, the Wisconsin Lumberjacks relocated from Spooner, Wisconsin , to Ironwood, Michigan , and were renamed the Ironwood Lumberjacks . The winners of the SIJHL Playoffs are awarded the Bill Salonen Cup. Although the Jack Adams Trophy is supposed to be awarded to the branch Junior A champion, Hockey Northwestern Ontario will not bring it out unless there are two leagues vying for

5148-494: 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. Teams in the north division struggled financially during World War II and sought a new financial arrangement for the 1940–41 season. 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

5226-404: The summer of 2014, commissioner and president Ron Whitehead was relieved of his post. Whitehead held his position from 2005 until 2014 and had been a member of the league executive since its inception in 2001. In 2011, Hockey Northwestern Ontario named Whitehead their Central Zone volunteer of the year. The league added a second team in Minnesota and their sixth franchise for 2016–17 season with

5304-414: The team and the league its first regional title and its first shot at the national title in the 2006 Royal Bank Cup . The North Stars were eliminated in the Royal Bank Cup semifinal in Brampton, Ontario , with a 3–2 overtime loss to the British Columbia Hockey League 's Burnaby Express led by eventual NHL player Kyle Turris . The presence of the SIJHL in Northwestern Ontario marks the first time since

5382-414: The team was sold to new ownership and became the Thunder Bay North Stars. The Wisconsin Wilderness jumped into the lead mid-season and won the regular season and playoff titles in their first season in the league. In the summer of 2011, the SIJHL elected to expand with the Iron Range Ironheads awaiting the permission of USA Hockey and Minnesota Hockey . USA Hockey again denied the league. The decision

5460-437: The transfer bid by the Wisconsin Mustangs to join the SIJHL and the expansion bid of the potential of Duluth, Minnesota , despite approval by Hockey Canada and the SIJHL. The league sat at four teams. The two teams appealed the decision and won, officially giving the league six teams and making the league an international league. The Fort William North Stars were dominant early in 2010–11, but due to financial difficulties,

5538-413: The upgrades if the rink would not. After negotiations broke down, three junior teams withdrew and the MJHL operated with five teams in one division. 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

5616-475: 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

5694-550: 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

5772-650: Was announced that the Wilderness would leave the SIJHL at the end of the Royal Bank Cup to join the North American Hockey League , a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier II league. The Wilderness finished fourth in the National Championship round-robin, earning a berth into the semi-final. Despite leading 4–2 in the third, the Wilderness took too many penalties and lost their lead with seconds to go in the third period. The Alberta Junior Hockey League 's Brooks Bandits scored in overtime to win

5850-527: Was appealed and on July 12, 2011, expansion was allowed by USA Hockey as well as the continuation of the Duluth and Spooner franchises. Wisconsin won their second straight league title, coming from behind in the final to beat the Fort Frances Lakers in seven games. The 2012–13 season was a season of decline for the league's American expansion. During the off-season, USA Hockey allowed the league to transfer Iron Range to new ownership and rename it

5928-496: Was convicted of common assault, and granted a conditional discharge. The Canadian Amateur Hockey Association was not as kind, suspending Walby for life. 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

6006-615: 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 . In

6084-720: 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. The reorganization of junior hockey in Canada in 1970 relegated

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