Provincial Junior Hockey League Explained

Provincial Junior Hockey League
Pixels:	300px
Region:	Southern Ontario Central Ontario
Leader Title:	Commissioner
Leader Title2:	Chairman
Founded:	2016
Teams:	60
Champions:	Lakeshore Canadiens (6th)
Season:	2023-24
Assc Champ:	Clarence Schmalz Cup
Headquarters:	Cambridge, Ontario
Website:	PJHL

The Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) is a Canadian junior ice hockey league spanning parts of Southern Ontario. The PJHL is the third tier of the Ontario Hockey Association and is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation and Hockey Canada. The league was formed in 2016 with the merging of eight Junior C leagues. PJHL teams compete for the Clarence Schmalz Cup.

History

In the works since 2014, it was announced in the spring of 2016 that the eight Junior C leagues of the Ontario Hockey Association would merge for the 2016-17 season to create the Provincial Junior Hockey League. The union was in an effort to streamline rules across the classification and to promote growth and development.^{[1] [2]}

The leagues that make up the PJHL are the former Central, Empire B, Georgian Mid-Ontario, Great Lakes, Midwestern, Niagara & District, Southern, and Western.^{[3] [4] [5]} leagues that are now the eight divisions split into four conferences.

The first game in PJHL history was played on September 9, 2016 as the Walkerton Hawks hosted the Hanover Barons in Pollock Division action.^[6] Walkerton won the game 6-2.^[7]

Teams

North Conference Carruthers Division Team Centre Founded Arena Alliston Hornets 1971 New Tecumseth Recreation Complex Huntsville Otters 1990 Canada Summit Centre Innisfil Spartans 2022 Innisfil Recreation Complex Midland Flyers 1978 North Simcoe Sports & Recreation Centre Muskoka Bears 2024 Muskoka Lumber Community Centre Orillia Terriers 2013 West Orillia Sports Complex Penetang Kings 1977 Penetanguishene Memorial Community Centre Stayner Siskins 1972 Stayner Memorial Arena Pollock Division Team Centre Founded Arena Fergus Whalers 2023 Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex Goderich Flyers 2003 Goderich & District Community Centre Hanover Barons 1964 P&H Centre Kincardine Bulldogs 1994 Davidson Centre Arena Mitchell Hawks 1966 Mitchell & District Arena Mount Forest Patriots 1987 Mount Forest & District Community Centre Walkerton Capitals 1976 Walkerton Community Centre Wingham Ironmen 1975 North Huron Wescast Community Complex South Conference Doherty Division Team Centre Founded Arena Dorchester Dolphins 2012 The Flight Exec Centre Hespeler Shamrocks 1959 Hespeler Memorial Arena New Hamburg Firebirds 1953 Wilmot Township Arena Norwich Merchants 1968 Norwich Community Centre Paris Titans 1985 Brant Sports Complex Tavistock Braves 1970 Tavistock & District Recreation Centre Wellesley Applejacks 1987 Wellesley Arena Woodstock Navy-Vets 1966 Woodstock District Community Complex Bloomfield Division Team Centre Founded Arena Dundas Blues 1963 J.L.Grightmire Arena Dunnville Jr. Mudcats 1974 Dunnville Memorial Arena Glanbrook Rangers 1975 Glanbrook Arena Grimsby Peach Kings 1922 Peach King Centre Hagersville Hawks 1992 Hagersville Memorial Arena Niagara Riverhawks 1987 Gale Centre Port Dover Sailors 1988 Port Dover & Area Arena Streetsville Derbys 2024 Vic Johnston Community Centre East Conference Orr Division Team Centre Founded Arena Caledon Golden Hawks 2010 Caledon East Arena Clarington Eagles 2011 Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex Georgina Ice 1994 Georgina Ice Palace Little Britain Merchants 1978 Little Britain Community Centre Port Perry Lumberjacks 1972 Scugog Community Recreation Centre Schomberg Cougars 1969 Trisan Centre Uxbridge Bruins 1975 Uxbridge Arena and Recreation Centre Tod Division Team Centre Founded Arena Amherstview Jets 1989 W J Henderson Recreation Centre Frankford Huskies 2021 Frankford Arena Lakefield Chiefs 1980 Lakefield-Smith Community Centre Napanee Raiders 1989 Strathcona Paper Centre North Kawartha Knights 2014 North Kawartha Community Centre Picton Pirates 1989 Prince Edward Community Centre Port Hope Panthers 2004 Jack Burger Sports Complex Trent Hills Thunder 1992 Campbellford-Seymour Arena West Conference Stobbs Division Team Centre Founded Arena Amherstburg Admirals 1987 Libro Centre Blenheim Blades 1968 Blenheim Community & Recreation Centre Dresden Jr. Kings 1959 Lambton-Kent Memorial Arena Essex 73's 1973 Essex Centre Sports Complex Lakeshore Canadiens 1978 Atlas Tube Centre Mooretown Flags 1971 Mooretown Sports Complex Walpole Island Wild 1972 Walpole Island Sports Complex Wheatley Sharks 1995 Wheatley Area Arena Yeck Division Team Centre Founded Arena Aylmer Spitfires 1974 East Elgin Community Complex Exeter Hawks 1961 South Huron Recreation Centre Lucan Irish 1968 Lucan Community Memorial Centre Mount Brydges Bulldogs 1975 Tri-Township Arena North Middlesex Stars 1993 North Middlesex Arena Petrolia Flyers 1988 Greenwood Recreation Centre Port Stanley Sailors 1969 Port Stanley Arena Thamesford Trojans 1976 Thamesford Area Recreation Centre

Regular Season Champions

Bolded is overall PJHL season champion based on win percentage.

	East	North	South	West
Season	Orr	Pct	Tod	Pct	Carruthers	Pct	Pollock	Pct	Bloomfield	Pct	Doherty	Pct	Stobbs	Pct	Yeck	Pct
2016-17		.805		.910		.929		.819		.925		.869		.788	Dorchester	.988
2017-18		.854		.938	Stayner	.952		.800		.825		.917		.738		.872
2018-19		.810	Napanee	.886		.786		.774		.838		.881		.788		.775
2019-20		.726		.859		.857		.810		.800		.774	Lakeshore	.900		.714
2020-21	Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021-22		.797		.833		.850		.607		.792		.700	Lakeshore	.906		.783
2022-23	Clarington	.759		.659		.741		.607		.681		.691		.752		.617
2023-24		.857	Frankford	.762		.857	Hanover	.881		.810		.798	Lakeshore	.881		.763

Playoff Division and Conference Champions

Listed are Division playoff champions. Bolded are also Conference playoff champions.

	East	North	South	West
Season	Orr	Tod	Carruthers	Pollock	Doherty	Bloomfield	Stobbs	Yeck
2017		Port Hope	Alliston		Ayr		Essex	Dorchester
2018	Lakefield		Stayner			Glanbrook		Lambeth
2019		Napanee	Alliston			Grimsby		Exeter
2020	Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021	Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2022	Clarington		Stayner			Grimsby	Lakeshore	North Middlesex
2023	Clarington		Stayner		Wellesley		Lakeshore	Thamesford
2024	Clarington		Alliston	Hanover	New Hamburg	Grimsby	Lakeshore	Thamesford

League Championship Series

Bolded is winner of Clarence Schmalz Cup as PJHL and OHA champion.

Season	North/East champion	South/West champion	Series (Best of 7)	Scores
2017		Ayr Centennials	2-4	8-1, 4-1, 2-4, 1-3, 1-4, 3-6
2018	Lakefield Chiefs		4-1	2-1 OT, 2-3, 4-3 OT, 5-2, 4-0
2019	Napanee Raiders		4-1	2-0, 2-3, 3-1, 4-1, 3-1
2020	Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021	Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Championship Tournament
Season	Champion	Finalist	Score	Location
2022	Lakeshore Canadiens	Clarington Eagles	3-2 OT	Guelph, Ontario
2023	Wellesley Applejacks	Clarington Eagles	3-2	Woodstock, Ontario
Season	North/East champion	South/West champion	Series (Best of 7)	Scores
2024		Lakeshore Canadiens	1-4	1-0, 1-2, 2-3, 2-4, 4-5

Records

Individual Season

• Goals: JD Falconer (Stayner Siskins) - 56 (2017–18)
• Assists: Ryan Casselman (Napanee Raiders) - 69 (2017–18)
• Points: Ryan Casselman (Napanee Raiders) - 117 (2017–18)
• Penalty Minutes: Mitchell Robinson (Schomberg Cougars) - 211 (2017–18)
• Wins in Net: Riley Maskell (Grimsby Peach Kings) - 27 (2017–18) & Brett Brochu (Dresden Jr. Kings) - 27 (2018–19)
• Minutes in Net: Mathew Boere (North Middlesex Stars) - 2187:56 (2016–17)
• Goals Against Average: Romano Liburdi (Lakeshore Canadiens) - 0.93 (2019–20)
• Saves: Mathew Boere (North Middlesex Stars) - 1396 (2016–17)
• Save Percentage: Brock MacDonald (Lambeth Lancers) - 0.956 (2017–18)
• Shutouts: Garrett Golley (Wingham Ironmen) - 9 (2022–23)
• Longest Point Streak: William Stadder (Essex 73's) - 31 (September 11, 2018 to January 22,2019)

Single Game

• Most Goals in Game: Drake Board (Alliston Hornets) - 8 (November 3, 2017)
• Most Assists in Game: Jordan Taylor (Stayner Siskins) - 8 (October 20, 2016) & Ryan Young (Alliston Hornets) - 8 (November 3, 2017)
• Most Points in Game: Matt Walilko (Midland Flyers) - 10 (January 8, 2017) & Drake Board (Alliston Hornets) - 10 (November 3, 2017)
• Most PIM in Game: Garret Magalas (Delhi Travellers) - 34 (December 30, 2018)
• Most Saves in Game: Nicholas Bolton (Lakeshore Canadiens) - 96 (March 29, 2023)

Team

• Best Record: 2016-17 Dorchester Dolphins (39-0-1)
• Worst Record: 2019-20 Delhi Travellers (0-40-0)
• Highest Goals For: 2016-17 Ayr Centennials & 2017-18 Napanee Raiders (302)
• Lowest Goals For: 2019-20 Delhi Travellers (47)
• Highest Goals Against: 2019-20 Delhi Travellers (532)
• Lowest Goals Against: 2019-20 Lakeshore Canadiens (57)
• Longest Game: 145:32 -- Lakeshore Canadiens 5 - Wheatley Sharks 4 5OT (March 29, 2023)
• Largest Margin of Victory: Wellesley Applejacks 23 - Delhi Travellers 1 (January 12, 2020)
• Highest Scoring Shutout: Ayr Centennials 21 - Delhi Travellers 0 (January 14, 2020)
• Most Goals in Game (One Team): Wellesley Applejacks 23 (January 12, 2020)
• Longest Win Streak: Dorchester Dolphins 31 (September 17, 2016 to January 6, 2017)

External links

• PJHL website
• OHA website

Notes and References

1. Web site: The OHA 125th Collectors Edition of the Blueline Magazine Now Online. 16 March 2016. Ontario Hockey Association.
2. Web site: Junior C League Going Province Wide As PJHL. 26 April 2016. Chatham-Kent Sports Network.
3. Web site: Junior C loop to be renamed Bill Stobbs. 27 April 2016. Chatham Daily News.
4. Web site: Eight different loops coming together under new Provincial Junior Hockey League. 29 April 2016. Sarnia Observer.
5. Web site: Junior C loop taking time in rebranding. 3 August 2016. Cambridge Times.
6. Web site: Provincial Junior Hockey League - league schedule Pointstreak Sports Technologies.
7. Web site: PJHL Pointstreak Stats.