Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League Explained

Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League
Pixels:225
Sport:Ice hockey
Founded:1970
Inaugural:1970-71
Teams:10
Champion:St. James Canucks
Champ Season:2024
Most Champs:Charleswood Hawks (16)
Website:MMJHL.ca
President:Kerry Lines

The Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League (MMJHL) is a junior ice hockey league in Manitoba, Canada. Founded in 1970, the league was operated as an independent league. MMJHL affiliated with Hockey Manitoba and Hockey Canada in the mid-1990s. Teams compete annually for the Art Moug Trophy (regular season winner) and Jack McKenzie Trophy (playoff champion).

History

Founded in 1970,[1] the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League was created due to a lack of playing opportunities for Winnipeg-area players. After the restructuring of junior hockey in the country, Hockey Canada relegated the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) from Major Junior (previously known as Tier I) to Junior 'A' (Tier II), meaning there was no active "second-tier" league in the Winnipeg area.

The new league applied to the Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association (now Hockey Manitoba) for membership and was initially accepted. When the MAHA was informed the league wanted to call itself the "Manitoba Junior 'B' Hockey League", MAHA objected on the grounds that the MJHL was in the process of constructing a developmental league for itself with that name. After negotiations between the MJHL and the new league did not work out, the league informed the MAHA that it would operate independently.

In 1977, the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association offered the league a Junior B status, instead of its requested Junior A status.[2] Affiliation with Hockey Manitoba did happen during the mid-1990s as insurance premiums became too much for league members.[3]

The league's first season started with the original four teams: Charleswood Hawks, Fort Garry Blues, River Heights Cardinals and Stonewall Rockets. 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 after the MJHL's attempt to create a Junior 'B' league failed. Soon after, Neepawa approached the league also, but due to travel did not join. Instead, Neepawa participated 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 Hockey League's player eligibility rules (permitted to roster four "over-age" 21-year-old players).

Teams

Team CentreFoundedMcKenzie Trophy titlesMoug Trophy titles
Charleswood Hawks Eric Coy Arena19701614
Fort Garry/Fort Rouge Twins Century Arena197075
Pembina Valley Twisters Morris Multiplex 200133
Raiders Junior Hockey ClubSeven Oaks Sportsplex197734
River East Royal Knights Terry Sawchuk Memorial Arena198178
St. Boniface Riels Southdale Community Centre 197157
St. James Canucks St.James Civic Centre Arena197843
St. Vital Victorias St. Vital Centennial Arena197513
Stonewall Jets Veterans Memorial Sports Complex200110
Transcona Railer Express Ed Golding Memorial Arena201200

Former teams

Champions

SeasonJack McKenzie Trophy (playoff champion)Art Moug Trophy (regular season winner)Regular season record
1970-71River Heights CardinalsRiver Heights Cardinals23-3-6
1971-72St. Boniface RielsSt. Boniface Riels22-6-2
1972-73St. Boniface RielsSt. Boniface Riels24-7-4
1973-74Charleswood HawksCharleswood Hawks25-8-2
1974-75Fort Garry/Fort Rouge BluesWest Kildonan Nev Knights19-11-7
1975-76Fort Garry/Fort Rouge BluesSt. Boniface Riels22-7-7
1976-77Fort Garry/Fort Rouge BluesFort Garry/Fort Rouge Blues30-7-5
1977-78Fort Garry/Fort Rouge BluesFort Garry/Fort Rouge Blues28-7-7
1978-79Charleswood HawksSeven Oaks Raiders31-10-1
1979-80Seven Oaks RaidersSeven Oaks Raiders36-6-0
1980-81Charleswood HawksCharleswood Hawks31-11-0
1981-82River East Royal KnightsSt. Boniface Riels28-13-0
1982-83Fort Garry/Fort Rouge BisonsSt. James Canucks25-6-1
1983-84Transcona RailersTranscona Railers27-12-1
1984-85St. Boniface RielsSt. Boniface Riels32-7-1
1985-86St. Boniface RielsSt. Boniface Riels29-10-3
1986-87River East Royal KnightsRiver East Royal Knights28-13-0
1987-88River East Royal KnightsRiver East Royal Knights34-6-2
1988-89River East Royal KnightsRiver East Royal Knights37-3-2
1989-90River East Royal KnightsRiver East Royal Knights35-6-1
1990-91Transcona RailersSt. Vital Victorias27-14-1
1991-92Transcona RailersTranscona Railers33-8-1
1992-93River East Royal KnightsRiver East Royal Knights33-9-0
1993-94Charleswood HawksRiver East Royal Knights33-8-1
1994-95Charleswood HawksRiver East Royal Knights33-9-0
1995-96Charleswood HawksCharleswood Hawks39-2-1
1996-97Charleswood HawksCharleswood Hawks33-8-1
1997-98St. James CanucksCharleswood Hawks30-10-2
1998-99Fort Garry/Rouge TwinsFort Garry/Rouge Twins36-5-1
1999-00Fort Garry/Rouge TwinsFort Garry/Rouge Twins31-9-2
2000-01River East Royal KnightsFort Garry/Rouge Twins28-9-2-3
2001-02Charleswood HawksCharleswood Hawks35-7-1-2
2002-03Charleswood HawksCharleswood Hawks37-6-1-1
2003-04St. Vital VictoriasSt. Vital Victorias41-1-2-1
2004-05Charleswood HawksCharleswood Hawks42-2-0-1
2005-06Charleswood HawksSt. Vital Victorias34-8-1-2
2006-07Charleswood HawksCharleswood Hawks41-2-1-1
2007-08Pembina Valley TwistersCharleswood Hawks34-6-2-3
2008-09Charleswood Hawks[4] Charleswood Hawks35-8-2
2009-10Charleswood HawksPembina Valley Twisters35-7-3
2010-11Charleswood HawksCharleswood Hawks40-3-2
2011-12Charleswood Hawks[5] [6] Charleswood Hawks33-4-3
2012-13Pembina Valley Twisters[7] [8] Charleswood Hawks37-4-4
2013-14Raiders Jr. Hockey Club[9] St. Boniface Riels37-6-2
2014-15St. Boniface RielsRaiders Jr. Hockey Club31-8-5
2015-16Stonewall JetsRaiders Jr. Hockey Club32-9-4
2016-17Raiders Jr. Hockey ClubCharleswood Hawks30-10-5
2017-18Raiders Jr. Hockey ClubRaiders Jr. Hockey Club37-3-5
2018-19Pembina Valley TwistersPembina Valley Twisters35-6-4
2019-20Playoffs cancelled due to COVID-19Pembina Valley Twisters35-7-3
2020-21noneSeason cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic- - -
2021-22St.James CanucksSt. James Canucks37-4-4
2022-23St.James CanucksSt. James Canucks40-4-1
2023-24St.James CanucksSt. James Canucks37-7-1

League records

CategoryTeam/PlayerStatsSeason
Best regular season recordSt. Vital Victorias41-1-2-12003-04
Most goals scored (team) in a seasonRiver East Royal Knights346 (42 games)1989-90
Fewest goals against (team) in a seasonCharleswood Hawks84 (40 games)2011-12
Most points (individual) in a seasonTim Lorentz, Transcona Railers51 goals, 103 assists1991-92
Most goals (individual) in a seasonScott Parker, River East Royal Knights72 goals1989-90
Best goalie GAA in a season**Ryan Hall, Charleswood Hawks1.58 GAA2017-18
Best goalie save% in a season**Ryan Hall, Charleswood Hawks.948 save%2017-18
** = minimum of 12 games played

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: League Formation and early years. 29 December 2014. MMJHL.
  2. News: Memorial Cup games shared. October 3, 1977. Lethbridge Herald. Lethbridge, Alberta. 28.
  3. Web site: Independent or outlaw hockey league?. 17 January 2011. The Globe And Mail.
  4. Web site: Charleswood Hawks win MMJHL Championship . https://archive.today/20150105024030/http://www.calgarysun.com/videos/life/mike-drew/5790926001/charleswood-hawks-win-mmjhl-championship/20741440001 . dead . 5 January 2015 . 22 April 2009 . Calgary Sun .
  5. Web site: Charleswood Hawks win MMJHL championship. 20 April 2012. Winnipeg Free Press.
  6. Web site: Feeding The Beast. 30 November 2012. Winnipeg Free Press.
  7. Web site: Twisters Win MMJHL Title. 22 April 2013. PembinaValley.com.
  8. Web site: Can Pembina Valley Twisters defend their MMJHL title?. 20 September 2013. Metro News.
  9. Web site: Raiders beat favoured Riels to win MMJHL crown. 12 April 2014. MyToba.ca.

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