Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League Explained
The
Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League (
GHL) was a
junior ice hockey league in
Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the
Ontario Hockey Association from 1974 until 2007. In 2007, the league became a division of the newly formed
Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League along with the
Mid-Western Junior Hockey League and
Western Ontario Hockey League.
History
The year 1974 saw the founding of the Golden Horseshoe Junior B Hockey League. The league consisted mostly of "inner ring" teams from the Niagara District Junior B Hockey League. The "outer ring" teams maintained with the Niagara league. In 1978, the Golden Horseshoe league jumped from six to nine teams by swallowing the majority of the short-lived Southwestern Junior B Hockey League. A season later, the Niagara District league folded and their final champion, the Fort Erie Meteors, came aboard as the GHL's tenth team.
In 1995-96 and 1996–97, the GHL played an interlocking schedule with USA Hockey's North Eastern Junior Hockey League. In 1997-98, the league even allowed the expansion of one of the NEJHL's teams, the Rochester Jr. Americans for a single season.
In 2005-06, the GHL allowed another former NEJHL team, the Wheatfield Jr. Blades, to participate in the league.
In 2007, the league merged with the Western Ontario Hockey League and the Mid-Western Junior Hockey League to form the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.
2007-08 season
For information on the 2007-08 season, please see: Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.
Final teams
These are the teams that were in the league during its final independent season (2006-07).
Other former members
Former interleague opponents
Playoff Champions
| | Year | Champion | Finalist | Result in Provincials | | 1975 | Hamilton Red Wings | | Lost SF vs. Oakville (C) | | 1976 | St. Catharines Falcons | | Lost QF vs. St. Marys (WO) | | 1977 | St. Catharines Falcons | | Lost SF vs. Streetsville (C) | | 1978 | St. Catharines Falcons | | Lost QF vs. Windsor (WO) | | 1979 | St. Catharines Falcons | | Lost Final vs. Streetsville (C) | | 1980 | Welland Cougars | | Lost SF vs. Windsor (WO) | | 1981 | St. Catharines Falcons | | Lost SF vs. Stratford (MW) | | 1982 | St. Catharines Falcons | | Lost QF vs. Sarnia (WO) | | 1983 | Welland Cougars | | | | 1984 | Brantford Alexander B's | | | | 1985 | St. Catharines Falcons | | | | 1986 | St. Catharines Falcons | | | | 1987 | Niagara Falls Canucks | | Lost Final vs. St. Thomas (WO) | | 1988 | Niagara Falls Canucks | | Lost SF vs. Bramalea (Met) | | 1989 | Niagara Falls Canucks | | Lost Final vs. St. Michael's (Met) | | 1990 | St. Catharines Falcons | | Lost Final vs. Stratford (MW) | | 1991 | Welland Aerostars | | Lost SF vs. Oakville (C) | | 1992 | St. Catharines Falcons | | Lost SF vs. Milton (C) | | 1993 | Hamilton Kilty B's | | Lost SF vs. Barrie (C) | | 1994 | St. Catharines Falcons | | Lost Final vs. Waterloo (MW) | | 1995 | Niagara Falls Canucks | | Lost in Round Robin | | 1996 | Niagara Falls Canucks | | Won SC vs. St. Thomas (WO) | | 1997 | St. Catharines Falcons | | Lost Final vs. Elmira (MW) | | 1998 | Niagara Falls Canucks | | Won SC vs. Elmira (MW) | | 1999 | St. Catharines Falcons | Niagara Falls Canucks | Lost in Round Robin | | 2000 | St. Catharines Falcons | Thorold Blackhawks | Lost Final vs. Cambridge (MW) | | 2001 | Thorold Blackhawks | Port Colborne Sailors | Lost Final vs. Elmira (MW) | | 2002 | Niagara Falls Canucks | Thorold Blackhawks | Lost in Round Robin | | 2003 | Thorold Blackhawks | Niagara Falls Canucks | Lost Final vs. Stratford (MW) | | 2004 | Thorold Blackhawks | Niagara Falls Canucks | Lost Final vs. Stratford (MW) | | 2005 | Thorold Blackhawks | Niagara Falls Canucks | Won SC vs. Chatham (WO) | | 2006 | Niagara Falls Canucks | Thorold Blackhawks | Lost Final vs. Cambridge (MW) | | 2007 | St. Catharines Falcons | Niagara Falls Canucks | Lost in Round Robin | |
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Records
Records taken from Official Website.
- Best record: 1997-98 Niagara Falls Canucks (43-3-3)
- Worst record: 1993-94 Fort Erie Meteors (1-38-1)
External links
