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).
 | |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1970 |
| First season | 1970-71 |
| President | Kerry Lines |
| No. of teams | 10 |
| Most recent champion(s) | St. James Canucks (2024) |
| Most titles | Charleswood Hawks (16) |
| Official website | MMJHL.ca |
History
editFounded 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
edit| Team | Centre | Founded | McKenzie Trophy titles | Moug Trophy titles |
| Charleswood Hawks | Eric Coy Arena | 1970 | 16 | 14 |
| Fort Garry/Fort Rouge Twins | Century Arena | 1970 | 7 | 5 |
| Pembina Valley Twisters | Morris Multiplex | 2001 | 3 | 3 |
| Raiders Junior Hockey Club | Seven Oaks Sportsplex | 1977 | 3 | 4 |
| River East Royal Knights | Terry Sawchuk Memorial Arena | 1981 | 7 | 8 |
| St. Boniface Riels | Southdale Community Centre | 1971 | 5 | 7 |
| St. James Canucks | St.James Civic Centre Arena | 1978 | 4 | 3 |
| St. Vital Victorias | St. Vital Centennial Arena | 1975 | 1 | 3 |
| Stonewall Jets | Veterans Memorial Sports Complex | 2001 | 1 | 0 |
| Transcona Railer Express | Ed Golding Memorial Arena | 2012 | 0 | 0 |
Former teams
edit- East Kildonan Knights (1972–81)
- Kern-Hill Nationals (1973–75)
- Midland Flyers (1975–85)
- Portage la Prairie (1970–72)
- River Heights Cardinals (1970–78)
- Selkirk (1972–73)
- Stonewall (1970–71)
- Transcona Railers (1983-2011)
- Transcona Titans (1972–76)
- West Kildonan Nev Knights (1972–75)
Champions
edit| Season | Jack McKenzie Trophy (playoff champion) | Art Moug Trophy (regular season winner) | Regular season record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970-71 | River Heights Cardinals | River Heights Cardinals | 23-3-6 |
| 1971-72 | St. Boniface Riels | St. Boniface Riels | 22-6-2 |
| 1972-73 | St. Boniface Riels | St. Boniface Riels | 24-7-4 |
| 1973-74 | Charleswood Hawks | Charleswood Hawks | 25-8-2 |
| 1974-75 | Fort Garry/Fort Rouge Blues | West Kildonan Nev Knights | 19-11-7 |
| 1975-76 | Fort Garry/Fort Rouge Blues | St. Boniface Riels | 22-7-7 |
| 1976-77 | Fort Garry/Fort Rouge Blues | Fort Garry/Fort Rouge Blues | 30-7-5 |
| 1977-78 | Fort Garry/Fort Rouge Blues | Fort Garry/Fort Rouge Blues | 28-7-7 |
| 1978-79 | Charleswood Hawks | Seven Oaks Raiders | 31-10-1 |
| 1979-80 | Seven Oaks Raiders | Seven Oaks Raiders | 36-6-0 |
| 1980-81 | Charleswood Hawks | Charleswood Hawks | 31-11-0 |
| 1981-82 | River East Royal Knights | St. Boniface Riels | 28-13-0 |
| 1982-83 | Fort Garry/Fort Rouge Bisons | St. James Canucks | 25-6-1 |
| 1983-84 | Transcona Railers | Transcona Railers | 27-12-1 |
| 1984-85 | St. Boniface Riels | St. Boniface Riels | 32-7-1 |
| 1985-86 | St. Boniface Riels | St. Boniface Riels | 29-10-3 |
| 1986-87 | River East Royal Knights | River East Royal Knights | 28-13-0 |
| 1987-88 | River East Royal Knights | River East Royal Knights | 34-6-2 |
| 1988-89 | River East Royal Knights | River East Royal Knights | 37-3-2 |
| 1989-90 | River East Royal Knights | River East Royal Knights | 35-6-1 |
| 1990-91 | Transcona Railers | St. Vital Victorias | 27-14-1 |
| 1991-92 | Transcona Railers | Transcona Railers | 33-8-1 |
| 1992-93 | River East Royal Knights | River East Royal Knights | 33-9-0 |
| 1993-94 | Charleswood Hawks | River East Royal Knights | 33-8-1 |
| 1994-95 | Charleswood Hawks | River East Royal Knights | 33-9-0 |
| 1995-96 | Charleswood Hawks | Charleswood Hawks | 39-2-1 |
| 1996-97 | Charleswood Hawks | Charleswood Hawks | 33-8-1 |
| 1997-98 | St. James Canucks | Charleswood Hawks | 30-10-2 |
| 1998-99 | Fort Garry/Rouge Twins | Fort Garry/Rouge Twins | 36-5-1 |
| 1999-00 | Fort Garry/Rouge Twins | Fort Garry/Rouge Twins | 31-9-2 |
| 2000-01 | River East Royal Knights | Fort Garry/Rouge Twins | 28-9-2-3 |
| 2001-02 | Charleswood Hawks | Charleswood Hawks | 35-7-1-2 |
| 2002-03 | Charleswood Hawks | Charleswood Hawks | 37-6-1-1 |
| 2003-04 | St. Vital Victorias | St. Vital Victorias | 41-1-2-1 |
| 2004-05 | Charleswood Hawks | Charleswood Hawks | 42-2-0-1 |
| 2005-06 | Charleswood Hawks | St. Vital Victorias | 34-8-1-2 |
| 2006-07 | Charleswood Hawks | Charleswood Hawks | 41-2-1-1 |
| 2007-08 | Pembina Valley Twisters | Charleswood Hawks | 34-6-2-3 |
| 2008-09 | Charleswood Hawks[4] | Charleswood Hawks | 35-8-2 |
| 2009-10 | Charleswood Hawks | Pembina Valley Twisters | 35-7-3 |
| 2010-11 | Charleswood Hawks | Charleswood Hawks | 40-3-2 |
| 2011-12 | Charleswood Hawks[5][6] | Charleswood Hawks | 33-4-3 |
| 2012-13 | Pembina Valley Twisters[7][8] | Charleswood Hawks | 37-4-4 |
| 2013-14 | Raiders Jr. Hockey Club[9] | St. Boniface Riels | 37-6-2 |
| 2014-15 | St. Boniface Riels | Raiders Jr. Hockey Club | 31-8-5 |
| 2015-16 | Stonewall Jets | Raiders Jr. Hockey Club | 32-9-4 |
| 2016-17 | Raiders Jr. Hockey Club | Charleswood Hawks | 30-10-5 |
| 2017-18 | Raiders Jr. Hockey Club | Raiders Jr. Hockey Club | 37-3-5 |
| 2018-19 | Pembina Valley Twisters | Pembina Valley Twisters | 35-6-4 |
| 2019-20 | Playoffs cancelled due to COVID-19 | Pembina Valley Twisters | 35-7-3 |
| 2020-21 | none | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | - - - |
| 2021-22 | St.James Canucks | St. James Canucks | 37-4-4 |
| 2022-23 | St.James Canucks | St. James Canucks | 40-4-1 |
| 2023-24 | St.James Canucks | St. James Canucks | 37-7-1 |
League records
edit| Category | Team/Player | Stats | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best regular season record | St. Vital Victorias | 41-1-2-1 | 2003-04 |
| Most goals scored (team) in a season | River East Royal Knights | 346 (42 games) | 1989-90 |
| Fewest goals against (team) in a season | Charleswood Hawks | 84 (40 games) | 2011-12 |
| Most points (individual) in a season | Tim Lorentz, Transcona Railers | 51 goals, 103 assists | 1991-92 |
| Most goals (individual) in a season | Scott Parker, River East Royal Knights | 72 goals | 1989-90 |
| Best goalie GAA in a season** | Ryan Hall, Charleswood Hawks | 1.58 GAA | 2017-18 |
| Best goalie save% in a season** | Ryan Hall, Charleswood Hawks | .948 save% | 2017-18 |
** = minimum of 12 games played
References
edit- ^ "League Formation and early years". MMJHL. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
- ^ "Memorial Cup games shared". Lethbridge Herald. Lethbridge, Alberta. October 3, 1977. p. 28.
- ^ "Independent or outlaw hockey league?". The Globe And Mail. 17 January 2011.
- ^ "Charleswood Hawks win MMJHL Championship". Calgary Sun. 22 April 2009. Archived from the original on 5 January 2015.
- ^ "Charleswood Hawks win MMJHL championship". Winnipeg Free Press. 20 April 2012.
- ^ "Feeding The Beast". Winnipeg Free Press. 30 November 2012.
- ^ "Twisters Win MMJHL Title". PembinaValley.com. 22 April 2013.
- ^ "Can Pembina Valley Twisters defend their MMJHL title?". Metro News. 20 September 2013.
- ^ "Raiders beat favoured Riels to win MMJHL crown". MyToba.ca. 12 April 2014.
