Minnesota Junior Hockey League
Encyclopedia
The Minnesota Junior Hockey League (MJHL) is a USA Hockey
Tier III sanctioned junior ice hockey
league operated out of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul in Minnesota. The league currently has eight member teams in Minnesota
and Wisconsin
. The league's purpose is to develop 16-20 year olds hockey skills to prepare athletes for career advancement in a collegiate and/or professional opportunity, while providing them secondary school educational opportunities.
and Wisconsin
. The league has had a history of USA Hockey national championship teams.
USA Hockey
USA Hockey is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for amateur ice hockey in the United States and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has...
Tier III sanctioned junior ice hockey
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 operated out of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul in Minnesota. The league currently has eight member teams in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
and Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. The league's purpose is to develop 16-20 year olds hockey skills to prepare athletes for career advancement in a collegiate and/or professional opportunity, while providing them secondary school educational opportunities.
Current Teams
Team | City | Arena |
Dells Ducks | Lake Delton, Wisconsin Lake Delton, Wisconsin Lake Delton is a village located on the Wisconsin River in Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 1,982, but in 2009, it had an estimated population of 3,081 which is a 55.4% increase. It also makes it the largest community in the Dells... |
Poppy Waterman Ice Arena |
Edina Lakers Edina Lakers The Edina Lakers is a Tier III Jr. A ice hockey team located in Edina, Minnesota, a Southern suburb of Minneapolis-Saint Paul. The Edina Lakers play in the Minnesota Junior Hockey League... |
Edina, Minnesota Edina, Minnesota Edina is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and a first-ring suburb situated immediately southwest of Minneapolis. Edina began as a small farming and milling community in the 1860s. The population was 47,941 at the 2010 census.-Geography:... |
Minnesota Made Ice Arena |
Hudson Crusaders Hudson Crusaders The Hudson Crusaders are a Tier III Jr. A ice hockey playing in the Minnesota Junior Hockey League . The team was founded in 2007 and plays their home games at the Hudson Civic Center, located in Hudson, Wisconsin... |
Hudson, Wisconsin Hudson, Wisconsin Hudson is a city in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 18,937, making it the principal and largest city of the Minneapolis - St. Paul metropolitan area . The Hudson area however had a population of 39,713... |
Hudson Civic Center |
Minnesota Owls Minnesota Owls The Minnesota Owls are a Tier III Junior A ice hockey team and member of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League . The team plays their games at the David C. Johnson Arena located in Isanti, Minnesota. The team broke their franchise home attendance record in 08-09 with close to 1,400 people attending... |
Isanti, Minnesota Isanti, Minnesota As of the census of 2000, there were 2,324 people, 816 households, and 576 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,095.3 people per square mile . There were 834 housing units at an average density of 393.1 per square mile... |
David Johnson Civic Arena |
Maple Grove Energy | Maple Grove, Minnesota Maple Grove, Minnesota As of the census of 2000, there were 50,365 people , 17,532 households, and 13,955 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,532.3 people per square mile . There were 17,745 housing units at an average density of 539.9 per square mile... |
Maple Grove Ice Arena and Community Center |
Rochester Ice Hawks Rochester Ice Hawks The Rochester Ice Hawks are a Tier III Jr. A ice hockey playing in the Minnesota Junior Hockey League . The team plays their home games at the 2,600-seat Rochester Olmsted Recreation Center, located in Rochester, Minnesota... |
Rochester, Minnesota Rochester, Minnesota Rochester is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Olmsted County. Located on both banks of the Zumbro River, The city has a population of 106,769 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it Minnesota's third-largest city and the largest outside of the... |
Rochester Olmstead Recreation Center |
Steele County Blades (2012-13) | Owatonna, Minnesota Owatonna, Minnesota Owatonna is a city in Steele County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 25,599 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Steele County. Owatonna is home to the Steele County Fairgrounds, which hosts the Steele County Free Fair in August.... |
Four Seasons Centre |
Twin Cities Northern Lights Twin Cities Northern Lights The Twin Cities Northern Lights is a Tier III Jr. A ice hockey team located in Bloomington, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis-Saint Paul. The Northern Lights Hockey team plays in the Minnesota Junior Hockey League .... |
Bloomington, Minnesota Bloomington, Minnesota Bloomington is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota in Hennepin County. Located on the north bank of the Minnesota River above its confluence with the Mississippi River, Bloomington lies at the heart of the southern... |
Bloomington Ice Garden |
Former teams
- Minnesota Flying AcesMinnesota Flying AcesThe Minnesota Flying Aces are a Tier III Jr. A ice hockey playing in the North American 3 Hockey League. The team plays their home games at the Exchange Arena, located in Little Falls, Minnesota. The Aces play a 48 game regular season games, in addition to showcase and post season tournament games...
(-2011) - moved to NA3HL - Minnesota WildcatsMinnesota WildcatsThe Minnesota Wildcats are a Tier III Jr. A ice hockey playing in the Minnesota Junior Hockey League . The team plays their home games at the 1,200-seat Maple Grove Community Center located in Maple Grove, Minnesota...
(2008-2011) - folded - Granite City LumberjacksGranite City LumberjacksThe Granite City Lumberjacks are a Tier III Jr. A ice hockey playing in the North American 3 Hockey League .The team was founded in 2007 as a member of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League . and plays their home games at the Sports Arena East, located in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota...
(2007-2011) - moved to NA3HL - Wisconsin MustangsWisconsin MustangsThe Wisconsin Wilderness are an American Junior ice hockey team based in Spooner, Wisconsin. The Wilderness play in the Canadian-based Superior International Junior Hockey League...
(2004-2010) - moved to SIJHLSuperior International Junior Hockey LeagueThe Superior International Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under the supervision of the Canadian Junior Hockey League and Hockey Canada. The winner of the SIJHL playoffs competes for the Dudley Hewitt Cup with the winners of the Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Northern... - Iron Range Yellow JacketsIron Range Yellow JacketsThe Iron Range Yellow Jackets were a Junior "B" ice hockey team from Coleraine, Minnesota, United States. This defunct hockey team was a part of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League and an interleague member of the Junior "A" Superior International Junior Hockey League.-History:The Yellow Jackets...
(1999-2002) - moved to SIJHLSuperior International Junior Hockey LeagueThe Superior International Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under the supervision of the Canadian Junior Hockey League and Hockey Canada. The winner of the SIJHL playoffs competes for the Dudley Hewitt Cup with the winners of the Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Northern... - Dubuque ThunderbirdsDubuque ThunderbirdsThe Dubuque Thunderbirds replaced the Dubuque Fighting Saints and prceeded the Dubuque Fighting Saints . The Thunderbirds played in the CSHL from 2001-2010. They won the Hurster Cup in 2007, 2008 and 2009....
- moved to CSHL
History
The league began in 1974 and has grown into a nine-team league in MinnesotaMinnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
and Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. The league has had a history of USA Hockey national championship teams.
Teams qualifying for National Tournament
note: League Champion listed first- 2010-11: Granite City Lumberjacks, Hudson Crusaders, and Rochester Ice Hawks
- 2009-10: Minnesota Ice Hawks (Semifinalist), Northern Lights Hockey
- 2008-09: Granite City Lumberjacks, Minnesota Ice Hawks
- 2007-08: Minnesota Ice Hawks, Minnesota Owls
- 2006-07: Minnesota Ice Hawks, Minnesota Owls
- 2005-06: Minnesota Ice Hawks, Northern Lights Hockey (Semifinalists)
- 2004-05: Minnesota Ice Hawks, Dubuque Thunderbirds
- 2003-04: Dubuque Thunderbirds, Minnesota Ice Hawks
- 2002-03: Northern Lights, Dubuque Thunderbirds
- 2001-02: Iron Range Yellow Jackets
- 2000-01: Iron Range Yellow Jackets
- 1999-00: Iron Range Yellow Jackets
- 1998-99: East Metro Lakers
- 1997-98: North Metro Owls, South Suburban Steers
Playoff champions
- 2010-11: Granite City Lumberjacks,
- 2009-10: Minnesota Ice Hawks
- 2008-09: Minnesota Ice Hawks
- 2007-08: Minnesota Ice Hawks
- 2006-07: Minnesota Ice Hawks
- 2005-06: Minnesota Ice Hawks
- 2004-05: Minnesota Ice Hawks
- 2003-04: Dubuque Thunderbirds
- 2002-03: Twin Cities Northern Lights
- 2001-02: Iron Range Yellow Jackets
- 2000-01: Iron Range Yellow Jackets
- 1999-00: Iron Range Yellow Jackets
- 1998-99: East Metro Lakers (USA Hockey National Champions)
- 1997-98: North Metro Owls
- 1996-97: Jr. Kodiaks (USA Hockey National Champions)
- 1995-96: Minneapolis Kodiaks
- 1994-95: Minneapolis Kodiaks (USA Hockey National Champions)
- 1993-94: North Metro Owls
- 1992-93: West Suburban Kodiaks (USA Hockey National Champions)
- 1991-92: Northland Voyageurs (USA Hockey National Champions)
- 1990-91: Tri-Metro Whalers
- 1989-90: West Suburban Kodiaks
- 1989-90: Runner Up - Northland Voyageurs (USA Hockey National Champions)
- 1988-89: North Suburban Hawks
- 1987-88: Tri-Metro Whalers
- 1986-87: Tri-Metro Whalers