Maritime Hockey League
Encyclopedia
The Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) is a Junior A ice hockey
league under Hockey Canada
, a part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. It consists of four teams from New Brunswick
and one team from Prince Edward Island
, which make up the Roger Meek Division, and six teams from Nova Scotia
which make up the Maurice Bent Division. The winner of the MJAHL playoffs competes for the Fred Page Cup
against the winners of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League
and the Central Junior A Hockey League
. The winner of the Fred Page Cup then moves on to compete for the Canadian National Junior A Championships, the Royal Bank Cup
.
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 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, still known as the "Metro Valley", the league entered into the Tier II Junior "A" level. The jump to Junior "A" was, in theory, to be a catalyst for the development of the league. The Cole Harbour Colts (Scotia Colts), who entered the league in 1976, became the first team in league history to host the national championship, then known as the Centennial Cup, in 1980.
The 1983 season saw the expansion of the Moncton Midland Hawks of Moncton, New Brunswick
, the league's first non-Nova Scotia team. The Hawks came from the New Brunswick Junior Hockey League
and are now known as the Dieppe Commandos. In 1986, the league expanded to Antigonish
and the Scotia Colts, again, hosted the Centennial Cup. The Summerside Western Capitals
of the Island Junior Hockey League
, Prince Edward Island
's junior hockey league, hosted the 1989 Centennial Cup.
In 1991, Summerside
and Charlottetown
of Prince Edward Island left the IJHL and joined the newly dubbed "Maritime Junior A Hockey League". The IJHL is still PEI's premier Junior league, but now is only a Junior "B" league. The winner of the IJHL's playoffs compete for the Don Johnson Cup
, the Maritime Junior "B" Championship.
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. At the beginning of the season the league welcomed the Cape Breton Islanders and Restigouche River Rats but unfortunately the Saint John Alpines did not survive the season. The league should have pride in this season as the Summerside Western Capitals won the leagues first ever National Title. The Summerside Western Capitals hosted the Royal Bank Cup and on the home ice of the Cahill Stadium
, won the 1997 Royal Bank Cup
championship game by a score 4–3 against the South Surrey Eagles
.
The Truro Bearcats joined the league in 1997–98 but this was overshadowed by the failure of the Cape Breton Islanders which had become the Glace Bay Miners. With the arrival of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, they folded part way through the 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 the Halifax Forum to become the Halifax Oland Exports. The second was the 1998–99 MJAHL champions, Restigouche River Rats, as they changed their name to the Campbellton Tigers.
A tenth team was added for the 2000–2001 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 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 got their second national Championship when the Halifax Oland Exports won 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 got a new team as they were granted an expansion franchise, the Halifax Wolverines.
In the spring of 2008, the MJAHL had some big changes.
On 15 April, the Antigonish Bulldogs announced that they were applying for a leave of absence for one year. On 26 April, 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 was a group based in Halifax and they would relocate the team to the Halifax area. At the Board of Governors meeting that day, the proposal to relocate the Antigonish franchise to New Richmond
, Quebec
was not considered to be in the best interests of the league and its members. The Goverors 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, the owners of the Halifax Wolverines announced their plans to move to Bridgewater
. The Governors voted on the decision and it was approved.. Following a name the team contest, the franchise was dubbed the Bridgewater Lumberjacks.
Later that week on 29 April, 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 the neighboring city of Dieppe
. The team was renamed the Dieppe Commandos.
Rounding out this very busy month in the history of the MJAHL was the Charlottetown Abbies
decision, on 1 May, to apply for a leave of absence for one year, which ended up being accepted.
The Halifax franchise (former Antigonish Bulldogs) announced on 22 August 2008, that the club would be known as the Halifax Lions
. This was the name of the successful Halifax team in the 1980s.
The current MJAHL has eleven teams, down from a maximum of twelve at one time. The league has hosted the Royal Bank Cup and Centennial Cup seven times, winning twice. MJAHL teams have also won three Fred Page Cups as the Junior "A" Eastern Canadian Champions to earn the right to compete for the Royal Bank Cup.
The league hired its first professional full time League President in 2003, Vernon Doyle. In 2010, the league dropped the "A" from their name and changed their abbreviation to "MHL".
, Prince Edward Island
, Nova Scotia
, and Newfoundland and Labrador
would playdown for this trophy during the Hewitt-Dudley Memorial Trophy 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,
Bolded teams indicate the original names of active franchises.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
league under Hockey Canada
Hockey Canada
Hockey Canada, formally known as the Canadian Hockey Association, is the national governing body of ice hockey in Canada and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Hockey Canada controls a vast majority of ice hockey in Canada, with a few exceptions...
, a part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. It consists of four teams from New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
and one team from Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, which make up the Roger Meek Division, and six teams from Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
which make up the Maurice Bent Division. The winner of the MJAHL playoffs competes for the Fred Page Cup
Fred Page Cup
The Fred Page Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy, won by tournament, conducted by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The award is given to the winner of a round robin and playoff between the Bogart Cup champions of the Central Junior Hockey League, the Kent Cup champions of the Maritime...
against the winners of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League
Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League
The Ligue de Hockey Junior AAA Quebec or Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League is a Hockey Quebec Junior "AAA" ice hockey league and is a member of Hockey Canada and the Canadian Junior Hockey League...
and the Central Junior A Hockey League
Central Junior A Hockey League
The Central Canada Hockey League is a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey league operating in eastern Ontario, Canada. The league is sanctioned by the Ottawa District Hockey Association and Hockey Canada and is a member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League...
. The winner of the Fred Page Cup then moves on to compete for the Canadian National Junior A Championships, the Royal Bank Cup
Royal Bank Cup
The Royal Bank Cup is an annual ice hockey tournament held to determine the Canadian Junior A champion. The winner of the tournament wins the Royal Bank Cup...
.
History
Originally known as the Metro Valley Junior Hockey League, the league was founded in 1967 by Fred McGillivray and Louie Lewis of Halifax, Nova ScotiaCity of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
and Don Stewart of Berwick, Nova Scotia
Berwick, Nova Scotia
Berwick is a Canadian town in Kings County, Nova Scotia. The town is located in the eastern part of the Annapolis Valley on the Cornwallis River. The town site stretches south from the river and Exit 15 of Highway 101 to Highway 1...
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 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, still known as the "Metro Valley", the league entered into the Tier II Junior "A" level. The jump to Junior "A" was, in theory, to be a catalyst for the development of the league. The Cole Harbour Colts (Scotia Colts), who entered the league in 1976, became the first team in league history to host the national championship, then known as the Centennial Cup, in 1980.
The 1983 season saw the expansion of the Moncton Midland Hawks of Moncton, New Brunswick
Moncton, New Brunswick
Moncton is a Canadian city, located in Westmorland County, New Brunswick. The city is situated in southeastern New Brunswick, within the Petitcodiac River Valley, and lies at the geographic centre of the Maritime Provinces...
, the league's first non-Nova Scotia team. The Hawks came from the New Brunswick Junior Hockey League
New Brunswick Junior Hockey League
The New Brunswick Junior C Hockey League was a Junior ice hockey league in New Brunswick, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The winner of the playoffs competed in the Maritime-Hockey North Junior C Championships.-History:...
and are now known as the Dieppe Commandos. In 1986, the league expanded to Antigonish
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
Antigonish is a Canadian town in Antigonish County, Nova Scotia. The town is home to St. Francis Xavier University and the oldest continuous highland games in North America.-History:...
and the Scotia Colts, again, hosted the Centennial Cup. The Summerside Western Capitals
Summerside Western Capitals
The Summerside Western Capitals are a Junior "A" hockey team based out of Summerside, Prince Edward Island. They play out of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. The team currently plays their home games at the Consolidated Credit Union Place, but played at the Cahill Stadium for every other...
of the Island Junior Hockey League
Island Junior Hockey League
The Island Junior Hockey League is a Junior "B" ice hockey league in Prince Edward Island, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada.-History:Since being founded in 1996, the IJHL has been strictly a Junior "B" League—one tier below the Maritime Junior A Hockey League and two tiers below the Quebec Major...
, Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
's junior hockey league, hosted the 1989 Centennial Cup.
In 1991, Summerside
Summerside Western Capitals
The Summerside Western Capitals are a Junior "A" hockey team based out of Summerside, Prince Edward Island. They play out of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. The team currently plays their home games at the Consolidated Credit Union Place, but played at the Cahill Stadium for every other...
and Charlottetown
Charlottetown Abbies
The Charlottetown Abbies were a Junior "A" team based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. They played in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. Their home rink was the MacLauchlan Arena on the campus of UPEI.-History:...
of Prince Edward Island left the IJHL and joined the newly dubbed "Maritime Junior A Hockey League". The IJHL is still PEI's premier Junior league, but now is only a Junior "B" league. The winner of the IJHL's playoffs compete for the Don Johnson Cup
Don Johnson Cup
The Don Johnson Cup is the Junior "B" ice hockey championship for the Atlantic Provinces of Canada -- Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island....
, the Maritime Junior "B" Championship.
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. At the beginning of the season the league welcomed the Cape Breton Islanders and Restigouche River Rats but unfortunately the Saint John Alpines did not survive the season. The league should have pride in this season as the Summerside Western Capitals won the leagues first ever National Title. The Summerside Western Capitals hosted the Royal Bank Cup and on the home ice of the Cahill Stadium
Cahill Stadium
The Cahill Stadium was an arena in Summerside, Prince Edward Island designed for ice hockey events and was home to the Summerside Western Capitals hockey team, who won a Royal Bank Cup in the building in 1997...
, won the 1997 Royal Bank Cup
Royal Bank Cup 1997
The Royal Bank Cup 1997 was the Junior "A" 1997 ice hockey national championship for the Canadian Junior A Hockey League.The Royal Bank Cup was competed for by the winners of the Doyle Cup, the Anavet Cup, the Dudley Hewitt Cup, the Fred Page Cup and a host city.The tournament was hosted by the...
championship game by a score 4–3 against the South Surrey Eagles
Surrey Eagles
The Surrey Eagles are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League . They play their home games at South Surrey Arena.-New Westminster:...
.
The Truro Bearcats joined the league in 1997–98 but this was overshadowed by the failure of the Cape Breton Islanders which had become the Glace Bay Miners. With the arrival of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, they folded part way through the 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 the Halifax Forum to become the Halifax Oland Exports. The second was the 1998–99 MJAHL champions, Restigouche River Rats, as they changed their name to the Campbellton Tigers.
Miramichi Timberwolves
The Miramichi Timberwolves are a Junior "A" hockey team based out of Miramichi, New Brunswick. They play in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. The team was founded in 2000 and plays their home games at the Miramichi Civic Centre.- History :...
. 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 the transfer of the Blizzard to Yarmouth
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Yarmouth is a town and fishing port located on the Gulf of Maine in rural southwestern Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the shire town of Yarmouth County. The town is located in the heart of the world's largest lobster fishing grounds and has Canada's highest lobster catch.- History :The townsite may...
. 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 got their second national Championship when the Halifax Oland Exports won the 2002 Royal Bank Cup on home ice. One year later, after financial trouble with Oland Brewery
Oland Brewery
Oland Brewery is a brewing company in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and a unit of Labatt Brewing Company, itself a unit of InBev.The Oland family, which formerly owned Oland Brewery, has been active in public life in Nova Scotia. Victor de Bedia Oland was lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia from...
, 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
New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
New Glasgow is a town in Pictou County, in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It is situated on the banks of the East River of Pictou, which flows into Pictou Harbour, a sub-basin of the Northumberland Strait....
and renamed it the Pictou County Weeks Crushers. On that same day Halifax got a new team as they were granted an expansion franchise, the Halifax Wolverines.
In the spring of 2008, the MJAHL had some big changes.
On 15 April, the Antigonish Bulldogs announced that they were applying for a leave of absence for one year. On 26 April, 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 was a group based in Halifax and they would relocate the team to the Halifax area. At the Board of Governors meeting that day, the proposal to relocate the Antigonish franchise to New Richmond
New Richmond, Quebec
New Richmond is an incorporated municipality in Quebec, Canada situated on the southern coast of the Gaspé Peninsula between the municipalities of Maria and Caplan. The first European settlers arrived from Scotland in 1755. The first arrivals were the Duthie brothers, George and John Duthie and...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
was not considered to be in the best interests of the league and its members. The Goverors 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, the owners of the Halifax Wolverines announced their plans to move to Bridgewater
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia
Bridgewater is a town in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, Canada, at the navigable limit of the LaHave River. It is the largest town in the South Shore region. While the majority of the South Shore's economy is based upon the tourist trade, Bridgewater is more a commercial and industrial centre and...
. The Governors voted on the decision and it was approved.. Following a name the team contest, the franchise was dubbed the Bridgewater Lumberjacks.
Later that week on 29 April, 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 the neighboring city of Dieppe
Dieppe, New Brunswick
Dieppe is a Canadian city in Westmorland County, New Brunswick.-Geography:Dieppe is located on the Petitcodiac River east of the adjacent city of Moncton...
. The team was renamed the Dieppe Commandos.
Rounding out this very busy month in the history of the MJAHL was the Charlottetown Abbies
Charlottetown Abbies
The Charlottetown Abbies were a Junior "A" team based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. They played in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. Their home rink was the MacLauchlan Arena on the campus of UPEI.-History:...
decision, on 1 May, to apply for a leave of absence for one year, which ended up being accepted.
The Halifax franchise (former Antigonish Bulldogs) announced on 22 August 2008, that the club would be known as the Halifax Lions
Halifax Lions
The Metro Marauders are a junior A hockey franchise based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. They play their home games at the Dartmouth Sportsplex. The team is a member of the Maritime Hockey League and plays in the Bent Division.-History:...
. This was the name of the successful Halifax team in the 1980s.
The current MJAHL has eleven teams, down from a maximum of twelve at one time. The league has hosted the Royal Bank Cup and Centennial Cup seven times, winning twice. MJAHL teams have also won three Fred Page Cups as the Junior "A" Eastern Canadian Champions to earn the right to compete for the Royal Bank Cup.
The league hired its first professional full time League President in 2003, Vernon Doyle. In 2010, the league dropped the "A" from their name and changed their abbreviation to "MHL".
Teams
| Maurice Bent Division | ||||||||||
| Team | Centre | |||||||||
| Amherst Ramblers Amherst Ramblers The Amherst Ramblers are a Junior A Hockey League team based in Amherst, Nova Scotia. The team is a member of the Maritime Hockey League and are in the Bent Division. All home games are played out of the 2,500 seat Amherst Stadium... |
Amherst, Nova Scotia Amherst, Nova Scotia Amherst is a Canadian town in northwestern Cumberland County, Nova Scotia.Located at the northeast end of the Cumberland Basin, an arm of the Bay of Fundy, Amherst is strategically situated on the eastern boundary of the Tantramar Marshes 3 kilometres east of the interprovincial border with New... |
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| Bridgewater Lumberjacks | Bridgewater, Nova Scotia Bridgewater, Nova Scotia Bridgewater is a town in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, Canada, at the navigable limit of the LaHave River. It is the largest town in the South Shore region. While the majority of the South Shore's economy is based upon the tourist trade, Bridgewater is more a commercial and industrial centre and... |
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| Metro Marauders | Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Dartmouth founded in 1750, is a community and planning area of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. Located on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour, Dartmouth has been nicknamed the City of Lakes after the large number of lakes located in the city.On April 1, 1996, the provincial... |
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| Pictou County Crushers | New Glasgow, Nova Scotia New Glasgow, Nova Scotia New Glasgow is a town in Pictou County, in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It is situated on the banks of the East River of Pictou, which flows into Pictou Harbour, a sub-basin of the Northumberland Strait.... |
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| Truro Bearcats Truro Bearcats The Truro Bearcats are a Junior "A" team based out of Truro, Nova Scotia. The Bearcats are one of six Nova Scotian teams in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League.-History:The Truro Bearcats were formed in 1997 as a member of the Maritime Jr A Hockey League... |
Truro, Nova Scotia Truro, Nova Scotia -Education:Truro has one high school, Cobequid Educational Centre. Post-secondary options include a campus of the Nova Scotia Community College, as well as the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in the neighboring town of Bible Hill.- Sports :... |
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| Yarmouth Mariners Yarmouth Mariners The Yarmouth Mariners are a Junior "A" team based out of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. They play in the Maritime Junior Hockey League. All home games are played out of the 1750 seat Mariners Centre. The season usually runs from mid-September to early March every year.-History:It may surprise some to know... |
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia Yarmouth, Nova Scotia Yarmouth is a town and fishing port located on the Gulf of Maine in rural southwestern Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the shire town of Yarmouth County. The town is located in the heart of the world's largest lobster fishing grounds and has Canada's highest lobster catch.- History :The townsite may... |
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| Roger Meek Division | ||||||||||
| Team | Centre | |||||||||
| Campbellton Tigers Campbellton Tigers The Campbellton Tigers are a Junior "A" ice hockey team based in Campbellton, New Brunswick. They play in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. The team plays their home games at the Memorial Civic Center.-Season-by-season record:-External links:**... |
Campbellton, New Brunswick Campbellton, New Brunswick Campbellton is a Canadian city in Restigouche County, New Brunswick.Situated on the south bank of the Restigouche River opposite Pointe-à-la-Croix, Quebec, Campbellton was officially incorporated in 1889 and achieved city status in 1958.Forestry and tourism are major industries in the regional... |
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| Dieppe Commandos | Dieppe, New Brunswick Dieppe, New Brunswick Dieppe is a Canadian city in Westmorland County, New Brunswick.-Geography:Dieppe is located on the Petitcodiac River east of the adjacent city of Moncton... |
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| Miramichi Timberwolves Miramichi Timberwolves The Miramichi Timberwolves are a Junior "A" hockey team based out of Miramichi, New Brunswick. They play in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. The team was founded in 2000 and plays their home games at the Miramichi Civic Centre.- History :... |
Miramichi, New Brunswick Miramichi, New Brunswick Miramichi is the largest city in northern New Brunswick, Canada. It is situated at the mouth of the Miramichi River where it enters Miramichi Bay... |
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| Summerside Western Capitals Summerside Western Capitals The Summerside Western Capitals are a Junior "A" hockey team based out of Summerside, Prince Edward Island. They play out of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. The team currently plays their home games at the Consolidated Credit Union Place, but played at the Cahill Stadium for every other... |
Summerside, Prince Edward Island Summerside, Prince Edward Island Summerside is a Canadian city in Prince County, Prince Edward Island. It is the second largest city in the province and the principal municipality for the western part of the island.- History :... |
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| Woodstock Slammers Woodstock Slammers The Woodstock Slammers are a Junior "A" team based out of Woodstock, New Brunswick. They play out of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. The team plays their home games at the Carleton Civic Centre.-History:... |
Woodstock, New Brunswick Woodstock, New Brunswick Woodstock is a Canadian town in Carleton County, New Brunswick located on the west bank of the Saint John River at the mouth of the Meduxnekeag River, 92 km west of Fredericton and close to the Canada – United States border and Houlton, Maine.- History :Woodstock was settled by Loyalists... |
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League Champions
From the 1970s until 1991, the Callaghan Cup was the Atlantic Junior A Championship of Canada. The winners of New BrunswickNew Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, and Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
would playdown for this trophy during the Hewitt-Dudley Memorial Trophy 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,
Defunct Teams
- Cape Breton Islanders/Glace Bay Miners
- Charlottetown AbbiesCharlottetown AbbiesThe Charlottetown Abbies were a Junior "A" team based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. They played in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. Their home rink was the MacLauchlan Arena on the campus of UPEI.-History:...
- Dartmouth Arrows/Eagles/Fuel Kids/Pepsi
- Kentville Colonels
- Saint John Alpines
- Truro Bearcats (1977-1983) (Joined MJAHL again in 1997 with new franchise)
- Valley Wildcats
- Windsor Royals
Timeline of teams in the MHL
- 1967 – Metro Valley Junior Hockey League is founded at Junior B level
- 1967 - East Hants Junior Penguins, Halifax Colonels, Dartmouth Hoyts Arrows, Windsor Royals, Kentville Riteway Rangers, and Berwick Shell Junior Bruins are founding members of the league.
- 1968 – Kentville Riteway Rangers move to Truro and are renamed the Truro Bearcats
- 1968 - Berwick Shell Junior Bruins move to Amherst and are renamed the Amherst Ramblers
- 196? - The Halifax Colonels become the Halifax Blazers sometime between the inagural season and the 1972-73 season.
- 1972 - Chester Ravens enter league?
- 1972 - New Glasgow Bombers enter league
- 1972 - Pictou Maripacs enter league
- 1973 – Stellarton Spitfires join league
- 1974 – Kentville Colonels join league
- 1975 – Stellarton Spitfires leave league
- 1975 – Pictou Maripacs leave league
- 1975 – Halifax Blazers are renamed Halifax Centennials
- 1976 – Cole Harbour Colts join league
- 1976 – New Glasgow Bombers leave league
- 1977 – League is promoted to Junior A
- 1977 – East Hantz Penguins leave league
- 1977 – Chester Ravens leave league but franchise is demoted to Jr. B in 1980
- 1977 – Halifax Centennials are renamed Halifax Lions
- 1978 – Windsor Royals expelled from league mid-season for short roster
- 1980 – Kentville Colonels leave league
- 1980 – Valley Wildcats join league
- 1983 – Truro Bearcats fold mid-season (November)
- 1983 – Moncton Hawks join league from New Brunswick Junior Hockey LeagueNew Brunswick Junior Hockey LeagueThe New Brunswick Junior C Hockey League was a Junior ice hockey league in New Brunswick, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The winner of the playoffs competed in the Maritime-Hockey North Junior C Championships.-History:...
- 1984 – Valley Wildcats leave league
- 1986 – Antigonish Bulldogs join league
- 1987 – Dartmouth Arrows renamed Dartmouth Fuel Kids
- 1988 – Dartmouth Fuel Kids renamed Dartmouth Eagles
- 1989 – Dartmouth Eagles renamed Dartmouth Pepsis
- 1989 – Halifax Lions renamed Halifax DQ Blizzards
- 1990 – Moncton Hawks renamed Moncton Classics
- 1990 – Halifax DQ Blizzards renamed Halifax Canadians
- 1991 – Metro Valley Junior Hockey League is renamed Maritime Junior A Hockey League
- 1991 – Charlottetown Abbies join league from Island Junior Hockey LeagueIsland Junior Hockey LeagueThe Island Junior Hockey League is a Junior "B" ice hockey league in Prince Edward Island, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada.-History:Since being founded in 1996, the IJHL has been strictly a Junior "B" League—one tier below the Maritime Junior A Hockey League and two tiers below the Quebec Major...
- 1991 - Summerside Western Capitals join league from Island Junior Hockey LeagueIsland Junior Hockey LeagueThe Island Junior Hockey League is a Junior "B" ice hockey league in Prince Edward Island, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada.-History:Since being founded in 1996, the IJHL has been strictly a Junior "B" League—one tier below the Maritime Junior A Hockey League and two tiers below the Quebec Major...
- 1991 – Halifax Canadians renamed Halifax Mooseheads
- 1991 – Moncton Classics renamed Moncton-Dieppe Classics
- 1992 – Dartmouth Pepsis leave league
- 1993 – Moncton-Dieppe Classics become Moncton-Dieppe Beavers
- 1993 – Halifax Mooseheads renamed Halifax Oland Exports
- 1994 – Moncton-Dieppe Beaves renamed Moncton Beavers
- 1994 – Amherst Ramblers renamed Amherst Mooseheads
- 1994 – Charlottetown Abbies take one year leave
- 1995 – Charlottetown Abbies return to league
- 1995 – Saint John Alpines join league
- 1995 – Halifax Oland Exports move to Dartmouth and are renamed Dartmouth Oland Exports
- 1995 – Cole Harbour Colts move to East Hants and are renamed East Hants Penguins
- 1996 – Restigouche River Rats join league
- 1996 – Cape Breton Islanders join league
- 1997 – Saint John Alpines fold mid-season (January)
- 1997 – Truro Bearcats join league
- 1997 – Cape Breton Islanders leave league
- 1998 – Dartmouth Oland Exports move to Halifax and are renamed Halifax Oland Exports
- 1998 – Amherst Mooseheads renamed Amherst Ramblers
- 1999 – Restigouche River Rats renamed Campbellton Tigers
- 2000 – Miramichi Timberwolves join league
- 2000 – East Hants Penguins move to Darmouth and are renamed Dartmouth DQ Blizzard
- 2002 – Dartmouth DQ Blizzard move from Dartmouth and renamed Yarmouth Mariners
- 2003 – Halifax Oland Exports renamed Halifax Team Pepsi
- 2003 – Woodstock Slammers join league
- 2004 – Halifax Team Pepsi move from Halifax to New Glasgow and renamed Pictou County Weeks Crushers
- 2004 – Halifax Wolverines join league
- 2005 – Campbellton Tigers change their name to Restigouche Tigers
- 2008 – Charlottetown Abbies leave league
- 2008 – Halifax Wolverines move from Halifax to Bridgewater and are renamed Bridgewater Lumberjacks
- 2008 – Antigonish Bulldogs move from Antigonish to Halifax and are renamed Halifax Lions
- 2008 – Moncton Beavers move from Moncton to Dieppe and are renamed Dieppe Commandos
- 2009 – Restigouche Tigers renamed Campbellton Tigers
- 2010 – Halifax Lions move from Halifax to Darmouth and are renamed Metro Marauders (Dartmouth)
- 2010 – Maritime Junior A Hockey League changes their name to Maritime Hockey League
Bolded teams indicate the original names of active franchises.