2018-19 Newfoundland Senior Hockey League Season

This is the 2018-19 Newfoundland Senior Hockey League season. This is the league's first season.

Formation
The league was established on October 2, 2018. The league was established by merging the Central/West Senior Hockey League and the East Coast Senior Hockey League. The seven (7) participating franchises will include: the St John's Sr. Capitals, Southern Shore Breakers, Conception Bay Blues, Northeast Eagles, Clarenville Caribous, Gander Flyers and the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts. The teams ended up being aligned into two divisions with Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor making up the Central Division and the remaining five teams making up the East Division.

The league is the only league eligible to compete for the 2019 Herder Memorial Trophy when they play in what was originally planned as a four team Memorial Cup style round robin tournament with a champion to be crowned over Easter weekend. The format has been modified with the new alignment to the two division playoff champions meeting in a series for the Herder.

Sanctions
The Northeast Eagles and St. John's Capitals eventually decided against playing the games in the rinks of the Central Division teams after an agreement was reached on the scheduling for the season. Both teams would be banned from participating in qualifying for the 2019 Herder Memorial Trophy. The issue appeared to be a per diem paid to the players and teams from the East were to get to make trips to play the two Central teams. St. John's finished fourth and participated in the league playoffs and Northeast did not qualify for the playoffs.

Format
Both Central Division teams qualify. The top four teams participate in the playoffs in the Eastern Division.

East Semifinals

 * Clarenville Caribous defeated St. John's Capitals 4 games to none
 * Southern Shore Breakers defeated Conception Bay Blues 4 games to 3

Central Final

 * Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts defeated Gander Flyers 4 games to 2

East Final

 * Southern Shore Breakers defeated Clarenville Caribous 4 games to none

Herder Final

 * .Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts defeated Southern Shore Breakers 4 games to 1