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19-847: Originally known as the South Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (1992–2006) the Prairie Junior Hockey League was founded in 2007–2008 with the merger of the SSJHL and the North Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (NSJHL). Previously the playoff winners played-off against the champion of the NSJHL in the Provincial championships ( Athol Murray Trophy ). Since the amalgamation of the two leagues in 2007,

38-557: 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 the end of each year with a shared claim to being the best Junior B team in Canada. The Keystone Cup

57-592: Is the Junior B ice hockey championship and trophy for Western Canada . From 1983 to 2017, 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

76-808: The New Westminster Bruins in British Columbia, for example. However, though uncommon, players in Junior "B", much like Junior "A" or Major Junior Hockey in Canada, were eligible for professional draft by the National Hockey League or at the time of their existence, the World Hockey Association . Teams from the Saskatchewan Junior "B" leagues had some loose, but informal affiliations with Junior "A" or Major Junior teams, however there

95-884: The Pilot Butte Storm advanced to the finals eleven years (2005–15) in a row, while the Ochapawace Thunder (0-40-0-0) didn't win a game in the 2015–16 PJHL season. Former member Current member To see the champions for the North Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League before 2007, see North Saskatchewan Junior B Hockey League To see the full list of champions of the Athol Murray Trophy, see Athol Murray Trophy Saskatoon Royals (host) - 4th North Saskatchewan Junior B Hockey League The now defunct North Saskatchewan Junior B Hockey League (NSJHL)

114-916: 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

133-572: 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

152-518: The Junior "B" level were approximately 14-20 years old, and Junior "B" was considered the entry level and a "feeder league" into Junior Hockey in Canada (except where Junior "C" or "D" teams existed). Many players who exhibited a high degree of skill eventually graduated to Junior "A", Collegiate, or Major Junior such as the Western Hockey League teams such as the local Saskatoon Blades or teams located in other western provinces such as

171-576: The Nipawan Hawks. Over the years, teams have come and gone, names have changed, however, specific cities have always had teams in the NSJHL, such as Saskatoon and North Battleford. The Saskatoon Wesleys and the Battlefords teams being two of the longstanding franchises to survive and ice a team year over year, until the dissolution of the league in 2007. In some cities for example, Junior B hockey

190-562: The PJHL has been the only Junior 'B' league in the province; thus its champion has been awarded the provincial title. The provincial champion moves on to compete for the Keystone Cup Western Canadian Junior 'B' championship. The league draws many players from Saskatchewan. Most teams draft players from nearby towns and cities, though it is not mandatory. Some teams outweigh other teams in the PJHL. For example,

209-489: The age of 17 were eligible for the NHL amateur draft . Several outstanding NHLers have played Junior B level hockey, these include San Jose Sharks players Logan Couture and Joe Thornton . Teams from the NSJHL or the SSJHL did not play each other during the regular season, however, the champion of each league at the end of the season played for the overall Saskatchewan Junior "B" championship. The overall provincial winner then had

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228-684: The league from 1966 to 1969. In the '69-'70 season, Shellbrook and Melfort both left the league to join other leagues, which provided the opportunity for four new teams to join and represent the cities and towns of North Battleford /St. Thomas, Milden, Unity (Canucks), and another mainstay in the league for years to come, the Saskatoon Wesleys. In 1973 for example, the league consisted of 9 teams including Saskatoon Wesleys, The Saskatoon Quakers , Delisle Bruins, Colonsay Clippers, Battleford Barons , St. Thomas Imperials (1973 League Champs) Kinistino Tiger-Bruins, ( Kinistino Tigers ) Melfort TMs, and

247-797: The opportunity to play in the Canadian Junior B championships for the Keystone Cup . In 2007, the North Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League joined the Prairie Junior Hockey League with the intention of creating one league. The NSJHL was originally formed in 1966. The first season the league included a team from Saskatoon, the Saskatoon Macs, the Shellbrook Knights, the Melfort TM's, and teams from Prince Albert , Humboldt and Outlook . These six teams participated in

266-480: The professional level. The team in the city of Humboldt , eventually left the NSJHL, and became the Humboldt Broncos , a very highly regarded franchise in the Junior "A" level Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League since 1970. This team has produced many Major Junior and Collegiate level players, as well as many former and current NHL players. 1991-92 NSJHL Season Keystone Cup The Keystone Cup

285-992: 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, the Northwest Junior Hockey League , folded. The same thing happened in

304-568: Was an independent, successful Junior "B" ice hockey league in Saskatchewan , Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada . The league comprised teams from cities and towns such as Saskatoon and Melfort , situated in the northern part of the province of Saskatchewan. Conversely, a second Junior "B" league, the South Saskatchewan (SSJHL) included teams which were located in towns primarily in the southern part of Saskatchewan, such as Regina , Weyburn and Melville . Players who played at

323-900: 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 a round-robin of the winner of the Cyclone Taylor Cup in British Columbia , the winner of the Russ Barnes Trophy in Alberta ,

342-604: Was extremely popular drawing large fan bases, so some of these franchises on the heels of their success moved into bigger, more exciting leagues. An example being the city of Prince Albert, which stepped away from Junior B eventually joining the CHL Western Hockey League as the Prince Albert Raiders to become one of the most prominent Major Junior hockey franchises in Canada with a significant fan base, and many players going to major careers at

361-659: Was no development system in Junior "B", such as the Bantam Draft for Major Junior Hockey in Canada, in which Major Junior teams for example, could formalize specific access to players, through a draft system. Junior "B" players at the time could try out for any other teams which expressed interest, whether it be in Saskatchewan or elsewhere. No NSJHL team provided other teams a development platform for players where they could be "cherry picked" by Major Junior, Junior "A" or Collegiate teams. Additionally, Junior "B" players over

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