Keystone Junior Hockey League
 | |
| President | Marcel Fontaine |
|---|---|
| Former name(s) | Manitoba Junior 'B' Hockey League (1977-2004) |
| Founded | 1977 |
| No. of teams | 5 |
| Associated Title(s) | Baldy Northcott Trophy Keystone Cup |
| Recent Champions | Peguis Juniors (2024) |
| Most successful club | Peguis Juniors (10) |
| Website | keystonejr |
The Keystone Junior Hockey League (KJHL) is a Junior 'B' ice hockey league in the province of Manitoba, Canada. The league, sanctioned by Hockey Manitoba, was formerly known as the Manitoba Junior 'B' Hockey League.
History
[edit]The KJHL champion used to play the champion of the Northwest Junior Hockey League (NJHL) for the Baldy Northcott Trophy. Since the demise of the NJHL in 2004, the KJHL 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 Western Canadian Junior 'B' championship, the Keystone Cup.[1]
In 2018, five southern teams of the KJHL announced they were leaving and forming their own league, the Capital Region Junior Hockey League (CRJHL). The five departing clubs Arborg Ice Dawgs, Lundar Falcons, North Winnipeg Satelites, Selkirk Fishermen and St. Malo Warriors cited travel costs as well as parents expressing concerns for bus travel in light of the 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus tragedy.[2][3] The Fisher River Hawks also announced they would be taking a one-year leave of absence from the league.[4]
The league added another team after their 2019 AGM with the NCN Flames joining for the 2019–20 season.[5] NCN Flames last competed in the Northwest Junior Hockey League in 2004 winning two league championships and one Baldy Northcott Trophy (2002).
The Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation PBCN Selects joined as an expansion franchise in 2022, and the Waywayseecappo Wild joined as an expansion franchise in 2023. The league announced at the beginning of the 2024–25 season that both teams were taking a one-year leave of absence due to "unfortunate and unforeseen circumstances", but that both teams would return in the 2025–26 season.[6]
Teams
[edit]| Team | City/Area | Arena | Founded | Head Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross Lake Islanders | Cross Lake | Cross Lake Sports Complex | 2006 | Jeff Monias |
| NCN Flames | Nelson House | Gilbert McDonald Arena | 2019 | Brian Patterson |
| Norway House North Stars | Norway House | Kinosao Sipi Multiplex | 2004 | Skyler Tait-Reaume |
| OCN Storm | Opaskwayak Cree Nation | Gordon Lathlin Memorial Centre | 2012 | Marcel Fontaine |
| Peguis Juniors | Peguis | Peguis Multiplex | 1994 | Marty Favel |
Defunct teams
[edit]- Arborg Ice Dawgs (2006–2018) - charter member of the CRJHL
- Brandon Stingers (1991–1999)
- Carberry Plainsmen (1989–1992)
- Central Plains Feathermen (1994–1995)
- Ebb & Flow Flyers (1998–2000; 2002–2003)
- Fisher River Hawks (2014–2018)
- Gimli Vikings (1978–1998)
- Kewatin Canucks (1982–1984)
- Lorette Roadrunners (1986–1987)
- Lundar Falcons (2010–2018) - charter member of the CRJHL
- North East Comets (1980–1983)
- Beausejour Comets (1984–1996)
- North Lake United (1986–1994)
- North Winnipeg Satelites (1980–2018) - charter member of the CRJHL
- Oak Bluff Raiders (1986–1990)
- Pine Creek Warriors (1999–2000)
- Pineview Saints (1981–1982; 1983–1985)
- Portage Terriers (1981–1987)
- Red River Rockets (1989–1994)
- Sagkeeng Braves (1994–1997)
- Sagkeeng Hawks (2001–2008; 2010–2011)
- Sanford Titans (2008–2010)
- Selkirk Fishermen (1977–2018) - charter member of the CRJHL
- Souris Elks (1993–1996)
- St. Boniface Seals (1998–2005)
- Winnipeg Saints (2005–2008)
- St. Claude Knights (1981–1984; 1986–1992; 1996–1997; 2000–2003)
- St. Malo Warriors (1994–2018) - charter member of the CRJHL
- Ste. Anne Aces (1991–1993)
- Ste. Rose Royals (1992–1994)
- Steinbach Millers (1974–1979; 1981–1983)
- Stonewall Jets (1997–2001) - joined MMJHL in 2001
- Transcona Railers (1977–1982) - joined MMJHL in 1983
- Two Nation River Hawks (2006–2009) - Peguis Juniors and Fisher River Hawks merge
- PBCN Selects (2022–2024)
- Waywayseecappo Wild (2023–2024)
Champions
[edit]| Year | Playoff winner | Keystone Cup result | Year | Playoff winner | Keystone Cup result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Transcona Railers | 2001 | St. Malo Warriors | |||
| 1979 | Transcona Railers | 2004 | Selkirk Fishermen | |||
| 1980 | Transcona Railers | Railers - Gold Fishermen - Silver |
2005 | Selkirk Fishermen | ||
| 1981 | Transcona Railers | Railers - Gold | 2006 | North Winnipeg Satelites | ||
| 1982 | Transcona Railers | 2007 | Winnipeg Saints | Saints - Bronze | ||
| 1983 | North Winnipeg Satelites | Fishermen - Gold | 2008 | Norway House North Stars | North Stars - Silver | |
| 1984 | Selkirk Fishermen | Fishermen - Silver | 2009 | St. Malo Warriors | ||
| 1985 | North Winnipeg Satelites | 2010 | Selkirk Fishermen | |||
| 1986 | North Winnipeg Satelites | 2011 | Arborg Ice Dawgs | |||
| 1987 | Oak Bluff Raiders | 2012 | Arborg Ice Dawgs | |||
| 1988 | North Winnipeg Satelites | 2013 | Peguis Juniors | |||
| 1989 | North Winnipeg Satelites | 2014 | Selkirk Fishermen | |||
| 1990 | Beausejour Comets | 2015 | Selkirk Fishermen | |||
| 1991 | Selkirk Fishermen | 2016 | Peguis Juniors | Juniors - 5th of 6 | ||
| 1992 | Selkirk Fishermen | Fishermen - Bronze | 2017 | Peguis Juniors | Ice Dawgs - 4th of 6 Juniors - 5th of 6 | |
| 1993 | Selkirk Fishermen | 2018 | Peguis Juniors | Juniors - Silver Warriors - 4th of 4 | ||
| 1994 | Selkirk Fishermen | Fishermen - Silver | 2019 | Peguis Juniors | Islanders - Bronze | |
| 1995 | St. Malo Warriors | 2020 | none | No Keystone Cup | ||
| 1996 | Peguis Juniors | 2021 | none | No Keystone Cup
Juniors - 4th of 4 | ||
| 1997 | St. Malo Warriors | Warriors - Silver | 2022 | none | No Keystone Cup | |
| 1998 | Peguis Juniors | 2023 | Peguis Juniors | 4th of 4 | ||
| 1999 | Selkirk Fishermen | 2024 | PBCN Selects Peguis Juniors |
4th of 5 5th of 5 | ||
| 2000 | St. Malo Warriors | |||||
| 2001 | St. Malo Warriors | |||||
| 2002 | North Winnipeg Satelites | |||||
| 2003 | North Winnipeg Satelites |
Notable alumni
[edit]- Darren Helm (2003–04) – Selkirk Fishermen
- Brady Keeper (2012–13) – Norway House North Stars[7]
- Thomas Stuart-Dant (2010–13) – Selkirk Fishermen
- Neil Wilkinson (1984–85) – Selkirk Fishermen
- Bryce Young (2017–18) – OCN Storm[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Peguis Juniors off to St. Malo for Keystone Cup". Interlake Spectator. 17 April 2013.
- ^ "Report: KJHL Looking For New Teams". ThompsonOnline. 18 August 2018.
- ^ "Warriors join new CRJHL". The Carillon. 12 October 2018.
- ^ "Notice regarding the Fisher River Hawks Jr. B". Fisher River Cree Nation. 11 October 2018.
- ^ "NCN Flames to join KJHL for 2019-20". GameOn Magazine. 11 May 2019.
- ^ Westhaver, Eric (20 September 2024). "PBCN Selects will not play this season: league". Flin Flon Reminder. Glacier Media Group. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
- ^ "Brady Keeper, first Pimicikamak Cree Nation member to play in the NHL, makes a visit home". Thompson Citizen. 17 April 2019.
- ^ "CJHL announces Top Rookie Award finalists for 2018-19". Canadian Junior Hockey League. 2 May 2019.
Further reading
[edit]- Billeck, Scott (9 November 2018). "Northern KJHL teams file suit against southern teams that left the league". Winnipeg Sun. Postmedia. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- Grabish, Austin (9 November 2018). "First Nations allege junior hockey league poached their players, leaving their teams in jeopardy". CBC News. CBC/Radio-Canada. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- Hendricks, Jon (9 November 2018). "Hockey fight over new league heading to court". CTV News Winnipeg. Bell Media. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- "'Lines were crossed': First Nations say new junior hockey league divides Indigenous, non-Indigenous players". CBC News. CBC/Radio-Canada. 9 November 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- Petz, Sarah (19 December 2018). "First Nations argue new hockey league is 'blatant racism,' segregates Indigenous, non-Indigenous teams". CBC News. CBC/Radio-Canada. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- Geraldine Malone, Kelly (21 December 2018). "First Nations denied injunction in Keystone Junior Hockey League split". CBC News. CBC/Radio-Canada. Retrieved 5 August 2024.