Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League
Encyclopedia
The Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League is a Junior ice hockey
league in Manitoba
, Canada
. Founded in 1970, the league is not a member of Hockey Canada
and has operated privately since its inception on private funds and donations.
in the area, recently relegated from Major Junior to Tier II Junior A, there was no active second tier league. The league filed for application to the Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association
and was initially accepted. When the MAHA was informed the league wanted to call itself the "Manitoba Junior B Hockey League", the MAHA objected on the grounds that the MJHL was helping construct a feeder league for itself with that name. After negotiations between the MJHL and the new league did not work out, as the MJHL wanted a submissive development league, the new league informed the MAHA that it would not join the MAHA.
Early in the league's first season, the original four teams started playing: River Heights, Fort Garry, Charleswood, and Stonewall. Only a week into the season, the league was contacted by teams in Portage la Prairie and St. James who were looking for a league to play in as the MJHL's attempt at a Jr. B league failed. Soon after, Neepawa approached the league with a similar concern. Due to travel, the could not be a part of the league, but did participate in at least two interleague games against each team. In the second season, a team from Kenora, Ontario did this as well. At the end of the first season, the MMJHL was allowed to send a "champion" (St. James) to compete against the MAHA Junior B champion.
The Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League name comes from the league's adaptation of the Western Canada Hockey League
's player eligibility rules.
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 in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Founded in 1970, the league is not a member of 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...
and has operated privately since its inception on private funds and donations.
History
Founded in 1970, the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League was created due to the lack of playing opportunities for Winnipeg-area players. With only the Manitoba Junior Hockey LeagueManitoba Junior Hockey League
The Manitoba Junior Hockey League is a Junior 'A' ice hockey league operating in the Canadian province of Manitoba. The MJHL is one of eleven Junior 'A' Hockey Leagues in Canada and is a member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League ....
in the area, recently relegated from Major Junior to Tier II Junior A, there was no active second tier league. The league filed for application to the Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association
Hockey Manitoba
Hockey Manitoba is the governing body of all amateur ice hockey in Manitoba, Canada. Hockey Manitoba is a branch affiliate of Hockey Canada. Hockey Manitoba was founded in 1914 as the Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association.-Leagues:...
and was initially accepted. When the MAHA was informed the league wanted to call itself the "Manitoba Junior B Hockey League", the MAHA objected on the grounds that the MJHL was helping construct a feeder league for itself with that name. After negotiations between the MJHL and the new league did not work out, as the MJHL wanted a submissive development league, the new league informed the MAHA that it would not join the MAHA.
Early in the league's first season, the original four teams started playing: River Heights, Fort Garry, Charleswood, and Stonewall. Only a week into the season, the league was contacted by teams in Portage la Prairie and St. James who were looking for a league to play in as the MJHL's attempt at a Jr. B league failed. Soon after, Neepawa approached the league with a similar concern. Due to travel, the could not be a part of the league, but did participate in at least two interleague games against each team. In the second season, a team from Kenora, Ontario did this as well. At the end of the first season, the MMJHL was allowed to send a "champion" (St. James) to compete against the MAHA Junior B champion.
The Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League name comes from the league's adaptation of the Western Canada Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
's player eligibility rules.
The teams
| Team | Centre |
| Charleswood Hawks | Charleswood Charleswood, Manitoba Charleswood is a residential community within the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is located in the southwestern part of the city, and is bordered by the Assiniboine River to the north, the Rural Municipality of Macdonald to the south, the Rural Municipality of Headingley on the west and the... |
| Fort Garry/Fort Rouge Twins | Fort Garry/Fort Rouge Fort Rouge, Manitoba Fort Rouge is a district of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Located in the south-central part of the city, it is bounded on the north by the Assiniboine River, on the east and south by the Red River, and on the west by Stafford Street and Pembina Highway... |
| Pembina Valley Twisters Pembina Valley Twisters The Pembina Valley Twisters are a Canadian junior ice hockey team currently based in Morris, Manitoba, Canada. They are part of the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League .-History:... |
Morris Morris, Manitoba Morris is a small town of about 1700 people in the Pembina Valley region of Manitoba, Canada, located about 50 km south of Winnipeg and 50 km north of Emerson. Morris is host to the annual Manitoba Stampede & Exhibition. Highway 75 which turns in to Interstate 29 is the major highway... |
| River East Royal Knights River East Royal Knights The River East Royal Knights are a junior ice hockey team in the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League.Founded by Barry Bonni in 1981, they are based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.... |
River East River East River East is a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was officially created by redistribution in 1979, and has formally existed since the provincial election of 1981. The riding is located on the northeast corner of the City of Winnipeg... |
| St. Boniface Riels St. Boniface Riels The St Boniface Riels are a Canadian junior ice hockey team currently based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They are part of the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League .... |
St. Boniface |
| St. James Canucks | St. James |
| St. Vital Victorias St. Vital Victorias The St. Vital Victorias are an MMJHL Team. They play out of St. Vital Centennial Arena, which is in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.... |
St. Vital |
| Seven Oaks Raiders | Winnipeg |
| Stonewall Jets Stonewall Jets The Stonewall Jets are a MMJHL hockey team that plays in Stonewall, Manitoba, Canada. They joined ther MMJHL in 2001 after being in the MJBHL since 1964. Their first head coach in the MMJHL was Ed harvie. Their first general manager was Bill Smith. Their biggest rival is the Charleswood Hawks... |
Stonewall Stonewall, Manitoba Stonewall is a town in the Canadian province of Manitoba with a population of 4,376 as of the 2006 census. The town is situated approximately north of Winnipeg on PTH 67. It is known for its limestone quarries. The local festival is the Quarry Days which is usually held over three days in August... |
Champions
- 1971 River Heights Cardinals
- 1972 St. Boniface Riels
- 1973 St. Boniface Riels
- 1974 Charleswood Hawks
- 1975 Ft. Garry Blues
- 1976 Ft. Garry Blues
- 1977 Ft. Garry Blues
- 1978 Ft. Garry Blues
- 1979 Charleswood Hawks
- 1980 Seven Oaks Raiders
- 1981 Charleswood Hawks
- 1982 River East Royal Knights
- 1983 Ft. Garry 90's Jr Bisons
- 1984 Transcona Railers
- 1985 St. Boniface Riels
- 1986 St. Boniface Riels
- 1987 River East Royal Knights
- 1988 River East Royal Knights
- 1989 River East Royal Knights
- 1990 River East Royal Knights
- 1991 Transcona Railers
- 1992 Transcona Railers
- 1993 River East Royal Knights
- 1994 Charleswood Hawks
- 1995 Charleswood Hawks
- 1996 Charleswood Hawks
- 1997 Charleswood Hawks
- 1998 St. James Canucks
- 1999 Ft. Garry/Rouge Twins
- 2000 Ft. Garry/Rouge Twins
- 2001 River East Royal Knights
- 2002 Charleswood Hawks
- 2003 Charleswood Hawks
- 2004 St. Vital Victorias
- 2005 Charleswood Hawks
- 2006 Charleswood Hawks
- 2007 Charleswood Hawks
- 2008 Pembina Valley Twisters
- 2009 Charleswood Hawks
- 2010 Charleswood Hawks
- 2011 Charleswood Hawks