The Lakehead Junior Hockey League ( LJHL ) is a Canadian Junior ice hockey league in Northwestern Ontario , sanctioned by Hockey Northwestern Ontario and Hockey Canada . An earlier edition of this league existed in the 1970s.
36-701: The Thunder Bay-based league has produced three Keystone Cup Western Canada Junior "B" champion and six Brewers Cup Western Canada Junior "C" champions. Formerly referred to as the Thunder Bay Junior B/Juvenile/AAA Hockey League, the LJHL league has, in the past, mixed itself with Juvenile and Midget "AAA" teams in the Thunder Bay region for regular season games. In those seasons, only the Junior teams are eligible for
72-627: A Thunder Bay Junior B team finished the Keystone Cup round robin with a perfect record. The Wolverines (5–0) went into the final against the Pacific International Junior Hockey League 's Richmond Sockeyes , but fell 6–5 in double overtime to take the Silver Medal. The finish was the best performance by a Thunder Bay Junior B club since the 1999 Fort William Hurricanes , who won the Keystone Cup. At
108-634: A berth into the gold medal game with a 4–1–0 record. After four victories in a row, the Northern Hawks fell to the Pilots in the gold medal game, 9–1. The Northern Hawks' silver medal is the league's second in four seasons after being shut out from 2000 until the Wolverines won silver in 2009. Northern Hawks – third Keystone Cup The Keystone Cup is the Junior B ice hockey championship and trophy for Western Canada . From 1983 to 2017,
144-670: A fast-paced first period, that ended 0–0, the Sockeyes depth and focused, persistent play once again led to some quick goals and a 3–0 lead after two. The big Saskatoon team battled hard in the final frame, but the Sockeyes held on for a 5–2 win and their second Keystone Cup championship in franchise history. The Sockeyes depth was again a big factor in their success in the gruelling schedule as valuable contributions from Jordan Andrews, Derek Hughes, Bret Higham, William Latimer and affiliate player Austin Adamson proved crucial. The Red Line torched
180-568: A month. The Richmond Sockeyes came out strong and pulled off a 5–2 victory to clinch their only National title. In 1990, the town of Chilliwack, British Columbia bought the franchise rights to the team and created the Chilliwack Chiefs to make up for the Chilliwack Eagles ownership moving to Ladner, British Columbia . The Sockeyes reformed in the Junior "B" Pacific International Junior Hockey League . Richmond defeated
216-426: A point in the tournament, and every player contributed with key shot blocks, face-off wins and strong, team-first play. In the tournament, Richmond was able to outscore its opponents 44–12 and outshoot them 264–125. The Sockeyes have also been tied or leading a game for 871 minutes and 25 seconds in 900 minutes of hockey, which means they only trailed for 28 minutes and 35 seconds in 15 hockey games. The only times that
252-1222: A round-robin of the winner of the Cyclone Taylor Cup in British Columbia , the winner of the Russ Barnes Trophy in Alberta , the winner of the Athol Murray Trophy in Saskatchewan , the Keystone Junior Hockey League , and the William Ryan Trophy in Northwestern Ontario . In previous years, the winner of the Keystone Junior B League would have had to go through the Manitoba Provincial Junior B Hockey Championship , but in 2004 their only competition,
288-813: A three-way tie for second place and a berth into the gold medal game with the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League 's Campbell River Storm and the South Saskatchewan Junior B Hockey League 's Assiniboia Southern Rebels . During the robin, the Herks defeated Assiniboia 7–5 and Campbell River 6–4, thus winning the tie breaker. In the final they met the Edmonton Royals of the Capital Junior Hockey League and defeated them 5–3 to win
324-605: Is the team's general manager. The Richmond Sockeyes were one of the founding members in the new Pacific Junior A Hockey League in 1973-1974 along with the Nor'Wes Caps, Coquitlam Comets, Surrey Stampeders, Chilliwack Bruins, Kerrisdale Couriers and Vancouver Junior Canucks. As PJHL Champions, the Sockeyes defeated the BCJHL Champions in 1977 and 1979 for the Mowat Cup as British Columbia Junior "A" hockey champions. In 1977
360-1074: The Northwest Junior Hockey League , folded. The same thing happened in the William Ryan Trophy Championship for the Thunder Bay Junior B League, as their only competition, the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League , folded in 2004. For the 2018 edition of the tournament in Thunder Bay, Ontario , teams from British Columbia and Alberta pulled out of the event. NEAJBHL President Ned Graling cited economic concerns while Kamloops Storm general manager Barry Dewar made claims about playing conditions and accommodations in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. The Prairie Junior Hockey League followed British Columbia and Alberta and also withdrew from
396-685: The 2012 Keystone Cup . Despite leading 3–1 at one point, the Northern Hawks lost their opening game to the Abbotsford Pilots of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League , 7–4. The Northern Hawks then went on a tear, defeating the Host Saskatoon Royals 6–3, Keystone Junior Hockey League 's Arborg Ice Dawgs 7–5, North West Junior Hockey League 's Whitecourt Wolverines 7–4, and the Prairie Junior Hockey League 's Pilot Butte Storm 3–1 to earn
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#1732801100649432-655: The 2018 Keystone Cup bringing it to a cross-border clash between the Keystone Junior Hockey League and the Lakehead Junior Hockey League, won by the host Northern Hawks. In mid-November 2019 the teams of the Prairie Junior Hockey League of Saskatchewan decided to send their provincial champion as their representative to the 2020 Keystone Cup. However, the 2020 competition was cancelled as part of
468-784: The Abbotsford Pilots in the 1990–1991 PIJHL playoffs and then went on to beat the Nelson Leafs in the Cyclone Taylor Cup in two games. The team won the Bronze in the Keystone Cup in 2003 after missing out on the title game based on goal-ratio. The next year, 2004, they again won the PIJHL league championship, the Cyclone Taylor Cup provincial championship and this time placed 2nd in the Keystone Cup. In 2009
504-739: The Dartmouth Fuel Kids of the Metro Valley Junior Hockey League 7–3. They then lost out to host Humboldt Broncos 6–1. They pulled themselves together in the final game of the Round Robin to defeat the Central Junior A Hockey League 's Pembroke Lumber Kings 4–1. The next day, Richmond and Pembroke squared off again, resulting in a 9–3 victory for the Sockeyes. This set up a Humboldt-Richmond final, their ninth game against each other in less than
540-613: The Keystone Cup tournament in Schreiber, Ontario . At the Keystone Cup, the Northern Hawks finished with 2 wins, 1 loss, and 2 ties, which earned them a spot in the tournament's bronze medal game. The Hawks fell in the Bronze Medal Game 7–5 to the Heritage Junior B Hockey League 's Red Deer Vipers . The K&A Wolverines were awarded the right to host the 2009 Keystone Cup . For the first time in over ten years,
576-661: The Keystone Cup. This championship marked the first Western Canada Jr. B championship since the league's inception in 1993. In the 2003–04 season, the Thunder Bay Northern Hawks were a dominant champion, sporting a 22–0–2 perfect record and a Thunder Bay Junior B championship. In the Northern Ontario Regional Junior B Hockey Championship , the Northern Hawks defeated the Wawa Travellers four-games-straight to advance to
612-855: The North Okanagan Kings of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League 8-7 to win the Keystone Cup Bronze medal game. At the Northern Ontario regionals, the Fort William Hurricanes were dropped by the Hearst Elans of the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League . The Herks hosted the 1999 Keystone Cup regardless of regional qualifying. The Hurricanes finished the Keystone Cup round robin in
648-765: The PAC-A Junior League versus the BCJHL winners), a Fred Page Championship as BCHL champions and a Centennial Cup as National Junior A Champions (both in 1987). They also won the Abbott Cup and Doyle Cup in 1987 - defeating Alberta and Saskatchewan Junior A champions on their way to a national title. The Richmond Sockeyes currently play in the Tom Shaw Conference of the Junior B Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL). The Sockeyes play their home games at Minoru Arena in central Richmond. Richard Petrowsky
684-845: The Sockeyes eventually lost the Tom Shaw Conference Finals to their rival the Delta Ice Hawks 4-games-to-2. The 2012–2013 season was also Richmond's 40th year of operation. With the name changed to the PIJHL in 2012/2013 to the Pacific Junior Hockey League(PJHL), the Richmond Sockeyes hoped for a better season than last year losing in the Tom Shaw Conference finals to the Delta Ice Hawks 4–2. The Sockeyes would have another outstanding regular season finishing first for
720-658: The Sockeyes lost out to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League 's Prince Albert Raiders for the Abbott Cup as Western Canadian Champions after winning the Doyle Cup as Alberta/BC Champions. In 1979, the PJHL merged with the BCJHL and along with it came the Richmond Sockeyes. From 1979 until 1990, the Sockeyes finished first place in the league 3 times and won the league in 1987. After winning
756-926: The Sockeyes were down since game 6 of the Tom Shaw Final was in the first game of the Cyclone Taylor Cup to Victoria for 2:06, the gold medal game against Victoria for 24:10, and briefly to the Saskatoon Royals for 2:06 and Thunder Bay Northern Hawks for 0:13 in the Keystone Cup. Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against British Columbia Jr B Provincial Championships Centennial Cup Abbott Cup Doyle Cup Mowat Cup Keystone Cup Cyclone Taylor Cup Fred Page Cup PJHL or PAC-A Championships(1972–1979) PIJHL Championship(1990–2012) PJHL Championship(2012–Present) Most Valuable Player Best Defenceman Best Goaltender Rookie of
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#1732801100649792-560: The Sockeyes won the PIJHL league championship, they hosted and won the Cyclone Taylor Cup provincial championship, and the Keystone Cup . In the 2010–11 PIJHL season, the Sockeyes won the PIJHL championship over the Abbotsford Pilots 4-games-to-none. In the 2011–12 PIJHL season, the Sockeyes won the Regular season championship for the second year in a row. Due to numerous injuries in the playoffs and less than stellar play,
828-524: The TBJBHL competed against the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League in the William Ryan Trophy (Hockey Northwestern Ontario regionals) for the right to compete at the Keystone Cup . After the 2003–04 season, the NSHL folded with their last champion, the Wawa Travellers , losing their final game at the regional to the TBJBHL's Thunder Bay Northern Hawks . The Fort William Hurricanes did not manage to win
864-479: The Western Canadian Junior B Championships. Facing a daunting travel and game schedule that included six games in four days, the Sockeyes had numerous victories. They went 5–0 in the round-robin and outscored the provincial championship teams from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario by a total of 39–10. They faced the Saskatoon Royals for a second time in the final on Sunday, April 21. After
900-773: The championship was the culmination of the champions of 12 hockey leagues in British Columbia , Alberta , Saskatchewan , Manitoba , and Northwestern Ontario . In 2018, citing costs for travel and accommodations, British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan withdrew from competition for the Keystone Cup, making it a championship between Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. There is no national championship for Junior B hockey in Canada, but similar championships are held in Southern Ontario ( Sutherland Cup ), Ottawa District ( Barkley Cup ), Quebec ( Coupe Dodge ), and Atlantic Canada ( Don Johnson Memorial Cup )—leaving five teams at
936-698: The effort to minimize the COVID-19 pandemic . In Flin Flon , Manitoba – PBCN Selects host team Richmond Sockeyes The Richmond Sockeyes are a Junior ice hockey team based in Richmond, British Columbia . They were named the "Sockeyes" by the original owner and longtime Richmond resident and B.C. hockey volunteer and leader Bruce Allison in 1972. Allison was motivated to bring top-level junior hockey to Richmond while also encouraging local players to play closer to home and stay in school. The first captain of
972-681: The end of each year with a shared claim to being the best Junior B team in Canada. The Keystone Cup was donated to the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association by Keystone Sports from Selkirk, Manitoba . The inaugural tournament took place in 1983 in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba , and was won by the Selkirk Fishermen of the Manitoba Junior B Hockey League . The championship is determined through
1008-689: The end of the season, the Wolverines jumped to Junior A, joining the Superior International Junior Hockey League . The Northern Hawks finished first in the league with a 30–2–0 record. They blasted the Schreiber Falcons 3-games-to-none in a lopsided semifinal playoff series and then defeated the Nipigon Elks 4-games-to-1 to win the Thunder Bay championship in a very hard-fought series. The Northern Hawks shipped out to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan , for
1044-546: The league championship in its first season, but it won the league's first National medal. The Westfort Maroons won the league championship while the Hurricanes played host to the Keystone Cup. The Hurricanes finished the round robin with a 3–1–1 record, losing a tiebreaker for second place to the Kinistino Tigers ( North Saskatchewan Junior B Hockey League ) due to a head-to-head 4-1 loss. The Hurricanes defeated
1080-440: The league, they defeated the Peace Cariboo Junior Hockey League 's Quesnel Millionaires 2-games-to-none to win the Mowat Cup . Then they defeated the Red Deer Rustlers of the Alberta Junior Hockey League for the Doyle Cup 4-games-to-3. They moved on from there to beat the Humboldt Broncos of the SJHL to win the Abbott Cup and to earn a berth in the Centennial Cup . They started on their National title quest by beating
1116-444: The other teams top forwards. It is worth noting that Allison is the grandson of the Richmond Sockeyes original owner, the late Bruce Allison. All of the teams at the Keystone Cup had some very talented players, but the Sockeyes two deadly power play units, stellar penalty killing and their ability to play all four lines and both goaltenders separated them from the other provincial champions. In total, 19 different Sockeyes notched at least
Lakehead Junior Hockey League - Misplaced Pages Continue
1152-425: The playoffs. The league playoff champions earn the right to compete for the Keystone Cup , the Western Canadian Junior "B" championship. Hockey Canada does not offer a Junior "B" National championship therefore regional (Southern Ontario- Sutherland Cup , Ottawa District- Carson Trophy , Quebec- Coupe Dodge , Atlantic Canada- Don Johnson Memorial Cup ) winners lay claim as top teams at the level. From 1996 until 2004,
1188-416: The round-robin and face the Victoria Cougars from the VIJHL in the championship game. Richmond would end up winning 4–1 and book their ticket to the 2013 Keystone Cup in St. Malo, Manitoba. After four tough games in four days in Comox, the team had only a couple of days of rest before flying to Winnipeg and boarding a team bus to St. Malo, Manitoba to represent British Columbia at the 2013 Keystone Cup –
1224-460: The team was Richmond product Doug Paterson - who is one of the team's current owners. The Sockeyes franchise has had success as a Junior B team, and for several years as a Junior A team in the PAC-A league and later the BC Junior Hockey League. The Sockeyes have won nine PJHL championships, six Cyclone Taylor Junior B BC Championship titles, two Keystone Cup National Junior B Championship titles, two Mowat Cup BC Junior A Championship titles (winners of
1260-421: The third straight year and fourth time in five years with a record of 32–8–4. The playoffs started with a 4–0 sweep of the North Delta Devils, followed by a seven-game series versus the Delta Ice Hawks. Richmond would end up dominating the Aldergrove Kodiaks in four games to claim their 9th PJHL title. Richmond would then go on to the Cyclone Taylor Cup being hosted by the Comox Valley Glacier Kings and go 3–0 in
1296-559: The tournament and MVP Rudi Thorsteinson scored an incredible 11 goals in 6 games (after scoring 7 in the regular season). Thorsteinson led the tournament in scoring with 16 points while he, Jake Roder and Jeremy Hamaguchi combined for an amazing 39 points. Super rookies Danton Heinen and Daniel Lange also notched five goals apiece while veteran Stephen Campbell scored four. Dean Allison, the team's regular season and playoff leading scorer and team MVP in 2012–2013, and team captain Sam Chichak played exemplary two-way hockey, typically shutting down
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