Noralta Junior Hockey League Explained

Noralta Junior Hockey League
Pixels:200px
Leader Title:President
Leader Name:Chris Hurley
Former Names:North Central Junior Hockey League (1992–2003)
Founded:1992
Teams:14
Website:NJHL.ca
Champions:SWZ Oil Kings (2023)
Most Successful Club:Edmonton Avalanche (5)

The Noralta Junior Hockey League is a Junior "C" ice hockey league in Alberta, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada, under Hockey Alberta. It currently has 11 teams throughout the greater Edmonton area.

History

The league was founded in 1992 as a non-contact juvenile league known as the North Central Junior Hockey League. The original two teams were located in St. Albert and Sherwood Park. The league added a team in Edmonton in 1993 on condition it would be a non-contact league. The league was back down to two teams in 1994.

Body contact and strict fighting rules were adopted for the 1995–96 season which attracted teams back. Teams from Drayton Valley, Edmonton Braves, St Albert Shooters and Thorhild competed in the circuits first full season. Provincial play was contested for the first time in 1996 with St Albert hosting a four-team provincial. Sexsmith Vipers were the first Hockey Alberta Junior C Provincial winner defeating Grande Prairie Wheelers in the final.

The circuit was reorganized for the 1996–97 season expanding to eight teams (Beaumont Braves, Calahoo, Fort Saskatchewan, Legal, Morinville Super C's, Paul Band, St. Albert Shooters and Thorhild),

St. Albert rebranded as the Mustangs for the 1997–98 while Fort Saskatchewan, Legal and Thorhild folded. Calahoo and Paul Band would fold after the 1998–99 season.

On January 18, 2001 the league held its first annual All-Star Game in memory of longtime local volunteer John Anderson.

The league was incorporated as the Noralta Junior Hockey League on December 22, 2003 as league membership grew to 13 teams.

In 2015 Noralta Junior Hockey League partnered with Friends of Alberta Junior Hockey Society to provide hockey players with scholarships to continue on to higher education after high school while staying in competitive ice hockey. Since its inception the scholarships have been given out on a yearly basis to many recipients.

The league added the New Sarepta Falcons to the league for the 2017–18 season. Fort Saskatchewan Jr. C Traders withdrew before that same season over speculation of the city getting a new Alberta Junior Hockey League team.

The Edmonton-based Junior Braves were added to the league for the 2018–19 season. Beaumont Buccaneers joined for 2021–22. In the 2022-23 season, three new teams were added (Millet Lightning, NEZ North Stars & Devon Bison).

Teams

TeamCentre1st Season
St. Albert Comets St. Albert1992–93
Beaumont Buccaneers Beaumont2021–22
Edmonton Mavericks Edmonton2014–15
Gibbons Broncos Gibbons2006–07
Junior Braves Edmonton2018–19
Seera Icemen Edmonton2006–07
Sherwood Park Renegades Sherwood Park2006–07
SouthWest Zone Ice Kings Edmonton2014–15
SouthWest Zone Oil Kings Edmonton1999–00
NorthEast Zone NorthstarsEdmonton2022-23
Strathcona WarriorsStrathcona2020–21
Devon BisonDevon2022-23
Millet LightningMillet2022-23
CR KnightsRivière Qui Barre2023-24

Champions

Typically the champion and two runners-up compete against the top three teams of the Calgary Junior C Hockey League for the Hockey Alberta Provincial Junior "C" title.

!Year!League playoff champion!Provincial champion
1996St. Albert ShootersSexsmith Vipers
1997St. Albert ShootersCalgary Southland (CJCHL)
1998St. Albert Mustangs---
1999Beaumont Braves---
2000Morinville Super C'sOyen Bees (CJCHL)
2001Morinville Super C's---
2002Beaumont Braves---
2003St. Albert BluesSpringbank Rockies (CJCHL)
2004RCAC RivermenSpringbank Rockies (CJCHL)
2005SWZ Oil KingsSWZ Oil Kings
2006SWZ Oil KingsSWZ Oil Kings
2007Millet LightningSpringbank Rockies (CJCHL)
2008Edmonton IceSherwood Park Renegades
2009SWZ SentinelsEdmonton Ice
2010Beaumont BravesSeera Icemen
2011Beaumont BravesBeaumont Braves
2012Edmonton AvalancheEdmonton Avalanche
2013Gibbons BroncosEdmonton Avalanche
2014Gibbons BroncosEdmonton Avalanche
2015Edmonton AvalancheEdmonton Avalanche
2016Edmonton AvalancheEdmonton Avalanche [1]
2017SWZ Oil KingsNEZ North Stars
2018Edmonton AvalancheSherwood Park Renegades [2] [3]
2019Edmonton AvalancheEdmonton Avalanche [4] [5]
2020Play suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic---
2021Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic[6] ---
2022Gibbons BroncosSpringbank Rockies (CJCHL)
2023SWZ Oil KingsCalgary Wolverines (CJCHL)
2024Edmonton MavericksWolverines Jr HC (CJCHL)

Former teams

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2016 Provincial Champions. Hockey Alberta.
  2. Web site: April 5, 2018. Renegades roll to Junior C provincial title. Sherwood Park News.
  3. Web site: April 19, 2019. Provincial champion Renegades look for repeat run. Sherwood Park News.
  4. Web site: 2019 Provincial Champions. Hockey Alberta.
  5. Web site: May 31, 2019. Pair of awards salvages season for Junior Renegades. Sherwood Park News.
  6. Web site: February 11, 2021. Hockey Alberta announces cancellation of senior, junior seasons. rdnewsNOW.