The Prairie Junior Hockey League is a Junior "B" ice hockey league in Saskatchewan, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada.

Prairie Junior Hockey League
FormerlySouth Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Founded1992 as SSJHL
First season1992–93
CommissionerMike Zambon
No. of teams10
CountryCanada
Most recent
champion(s)
Pilot Butte Storm
(2023)
Most titlesAssiniboia Southern Rebels (7)
Official websitewww.pjhl.ca

History

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Originally known as the South Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (1992–2006) the Prairie Junior Hockey League was founded in 2007–2008 with the merger of the SSJHL and the North Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (NSJHL).

Previously the playoff winners played-off against the champion of the NSJHL in the Provincial championships (Athol Murray Trophy). Since the amalgamation of the two leagues in 2007, the PJHL has been the only Junior 'B' league in the province; thus its champion has been awarded the provincial title. The provincial champion moves on to compete for the Keystone Cup Western Canadian Junior 'B' championship.

The league draws many players from Saskatchewan. Most teams draft players from nearby towns and cities, though it is not mandatory. Some teams outweigh other teams in the PJHL. For example, the Pilot Butte Storm advanced to the finals eleven years (2005–15) in a row, while the Ochapawace Thunder (0-40-0-0) didn't win a game in the 2015–16 PJHL season.

Teams

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Bob Dybvig (North Division)
Team City Arena Joined PJHL
Carrot River Outback Thunder Carrot River Carrot River Arena 2005
Delisle Chiefs Delisle Delisle Arena 2008
Prince Albert Timberjaks Prince Albert Buckland Arena 2023
Saskatoon Quakers Saskatoon Harold Latrace/Rod Hamm Arena 2007
Saskatoon Royals Saskatoon Harold Latrace/Rod Hamm Arena 2007
Saskatoon Westleys Saskatoon Harold Latrace/Rod Hamm Arena 2007
Bill Johnston (South Division)
Team City Arena Joined PJHL/SSJHL
Assiniboia Southern Rebels Assiniboia Assiniboia Civic Centre 1992
Fort Knox Fort Qu'Appelle Fort Qu’Appelle Rexentre 1996
Pilot Butte Storm Pilot Butte Pilot Butte Recreation Centre 1993
Regina Capitals Regina Al Ritchie Arena 1992
Regina Silver Foxes Regina Doug Wickenheiser Arena 2013

Franchise history

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Former member Current member

  • Assiniboia Southern Rebels (1992–present)
  • Briercrest College Clippers (1992–96) → joined the ACAC
  • Moose Jaw Canucks (1992–94)
  • Notre Dame Hounds (1992–94, 2003–05)
  • Regina Capitals (1992–present)
  • Regina Express (1993–98) → Pilot Butte Express (1998–2001) → Pilot Butte Storm (2001–present)
  • Grenfell Spitfires (1994–96) → Grenfell Storm (1996–2000)
  • Canora Cobras (1995–2001)
  • Fort Knox (1996–present)
  • St. Phillips Rangers (1996–2003) → Moose Mountain Rangers (2003–07)
  • Tri-Town Thunder (2005–16) → Carrot River Outback Thunder (2016–present)
  • Cypress Cyclones (2005–14)
  • Saskatoon Quakers (2007–present; joined from NSJHL)
  • Saskatoon Royals (2007–present; joined from NSJHL)
  • Saskatoon Westleys (2007–present; joined from NSJHL)
  • Delisle Chiefs (2008–present)
  • Ochapowace Thunder (2008–16)
  • Prince Albert Ice Hawks (2008–16) → Prince Albert Titans (2016–21)
  • West Central Rage (2009–21)
  • Regina Silver Foxes (2013–present)
  • Whitefish Flyers (2023) announced but never fielded team

Champions

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SSJHL and PJHL Champions
Defunct teams not included.
Team Titles
Assiniboia Southern Rebels 7
Pilot Butte Storm 6
Saskatoon Quakers 5
Regina Capitals 3
Saskatoon Royals 2
Tri-Town Thunder 1

To see the champions for the North Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League before 2007, see North Saskatchewan Junior B Hockey League

To see the full list of champions of the Athol Murray Trophy, see Athol Murray Trophy

Season SSJHL Playoff champion Runner-up Result Keystone Cup finish
1992-93 Assiniboia Southern Rebels Regina Capitals
1993-94 Notre Dame Hounds Moose Jaw Canucks
1994-95 Regina Capitals Grenfell Spitfires
1995-96 Assiniboia Southern Rebels Regina Capitals Gold medalist
1996-97 Grenfell Storm Briercrest Clippers Gold medalist
1997-98 St. Phillips Rangers Regina Capitals
1998-99 Assiniboia Southern Rebels Regina Capitals
1999-00 Assiniboia Southern Rebels Fort Knox
2000-01 Assiniboia Southern Rebels St. Phillips Rangers Gold medalist
2001-02 Assiniboia Southern Rebels St. Phillips Rangers 4-0 (best-of 7)
2002-03 Assiniboia Southern Rebels Regina Capitals 4-1 (best-of 7) Gold medalist
2003-04 Regina Capitals Gold medalist
2004-05 Pilot Butte Storm Fort Knox 4-3 (best-of 7) DNQ
2005-06 Regina Capitals Pilot Butte Storm 4-1 (best-of 7) DNQ
2006-07 Pilot Butte Storm Fort Knox 4-1 (best-of 7) Fort Knox (host) - Silver medalist
2007-08 Pilot Butte Storm Saskatoon Royals 4-2 (best-of 7) 5th
2008-09 Saskatoon Royals Pilot Butte Storm 4-1 (best-of 7) 4th
2009-10 Tri-Town Thunder Pilot Butte Storm 4-3 (best-of 7) Silver medalist
2010-11 Pilot Butte Storm Saskatoon Royals 4-3 (best-of 7) Bronze medalist
2011-12 Pilot Butte Storm Delisle Chiefs 4-1 (best-of 7) Pilot Butte Storm - 6th

Saskatoon Royals (host) - 4th

2012-13 Saskatoon Royals Pilot Butte Storm 4-1 (best-of 7) Silver medalist
2013-14 Saskatoon Quakers Pilot Butte Storm 4-3 (best-of 7) 5th
2014-15 Saskatoon Quakers Pilot Butte Storm 4-0 (best-of 7) Bronze medalist[1]
2015-16 Saskatoon Quakers Regina Capitals 4-0 (best-of 7)[2] Saskatoon Quakers - Silver medalist
Regina Capitals (host) - 4th
2016-17 Regina Capitals Saskatoon Quakers 4-2 (best-of 7)[3] Bronze medalist
2017-18 Regina Capitals Delisle Chiefs 4-1 (best-of 7) Sask did not send rep
2018-19 Regina Capitals Saskatoon Quakers 4-0 (best-of 7)[4] Sask did not send rep
2019-20 none (COVID-19 pandemic) --- --- ---
2020-21 none (COVID-19 pandemic) --- --- ---
2021-22 Saskatoon Quakers Pilot Butte Storm 4-1 (best-of 7) Sask did not send rep
2022-23 Pilot Butte Storm Saskatoon Quakers 4-3 (best-of 7) Sask did not send rep
2023-24 Saskatoon Quakers Regina Capitals 4-1 (best-of 7) Saskatoon Royals - 2nd

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Campbell River storm past North Edmonton Red Wings to capture Keystone Cup gold". Bonnyville Nouvelle. 21 April 2015. Archived from the original on 18 November 2015.
  2. ^ "Saskatoon AGI Insurance Quakers win third straight PJHL championship". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. March 31, 2016.
  3. ^ "Extreme Hockey Regina Capitals capture Prairie Junior Hockey League title". Regina Leader-Post. April 3, 2017.
  4. ^ "Extreme Hockey Regina Capitals celebrate three-peat". Regina Leader-Post. April 7, 2019.
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