2015-16 Canadian Senior Season

This is the 2015-16 Canadian Senior Hockey season.

2016 Senior "AAA" Hockey/Allan Cup Qualifying
There were 18 teams that are registered for the Senior "AAA" level in Canada and are thus eligible to compete for the Allan Cup.

Only two leagues are entirely made up of teams that are Senior "AAA": Both league champions were supposed to advance to regional qualifying for a berth in the 2016 Allan Cup; however due to  the Kenora Thistles suspending operations and the Powell River Regals dropping out of the Senior AAA  both league champions advance directly to the Allan Cup tournament without any additional qualifying
 * 2015-16 Allan Cup Hockey Season (six teams)
 * 2015-16 Chinook Hockey League Season (four teams)

Atlantic Region
The Atlantic Region qualifying series was scheduled for April 1st, 2nd and (if needed) 3rd in Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador between the two declared Senior AAA teams in the region. They won of this series 2 games to none (9-5, 4-0) to advance to the Allan Cup tournament.

Newfoundland and Labrador

 * The Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts represented the province of Newfoundland and Labrador as they were the defending (2014-15) Herder Memorial Trophy (Men's Senior Provincial championship). Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador has begun having the Herder champion become the only Senior AAA team in the province the following season when the Allan Cup is not held in the Atlantic region.

New Brunswick

 * The Lameque Au Ptit Mousse are members of the New Brunswick based North East Senior Hockey League were the only other declared Senior "AAA" team in the Atlantic Canada Region.

Nova Scotia

 * No Senior "AAA" registered teams

Prince Edward Island

 * No Senior "AAA" registered teams

Quebec Region

 * There were no Senior "AAA" registered teams in the province.  The province's spot in the Allan Cup tournament goes to the host branch.

Ontario Hockey Federation

 * The only Senior "AAA" teams in the OHF jurisdiction were all members of Allan Cup Hockey (playing under the supervision of the Ontario Hockey Association).  The league's playoff champion traditionally advances to a playoff with the representative of Hockey Northern Ontario for the branches spot in the Renwick Cup against Hockey Northwestern Ontario's representative in the 2016 Allan Cup

Hockey Northwestern Ontario

 * The Kenora Thistles were the only Senior "AAA" team in the region and were to serve as the region's representative in the Renwick Cup against the representative of the OHF for a spot in the 2016 Allan Cup; but the team ceased operations January 10th.

West Region (Rathgaber Cup)
Traditionally, if a region (Quebec) is not participating in the Allan Cup qualifying process the spot goes to the host branch. With the withdrawal of the Rosetown Red Wings on December 1st, it was been announced if the Rathgaber Cup will not be needed to determine a spot as both the Manitoba and Saskatchewan champions would qualify.

Manitoba

 * The South East Prairie Thunder hosted the 2016 Allan Cup and thus automatically qualify for the tournament.
 * The remaining two teams in the province were the Ile des Chênes North Stars and the Manitoba Lightning and participated in the 2016 Manitoba Senior AAA Hockey Playoffs to determine the spot that was reserved for Quebec's representative.  The Ile des Chênes North Stars won the series and qualified for the Allan Cup.

Saskatchewan

 * The Rosetown Red Wings and the Shellbrook Elks were the only two teams in the province that are registered Senior "AAA".  The Rosetown Red Wings dropped out of the AAA level on December 1, 2015 to play in the AA level.  The Shellbrook Elks qualified in what would be the West Region champions spot

Alberta

 * The playoff champion of the Chinook Hockey League were the province's representative at the McKenzie Cup as the league contained the only four Senior "AAA" team in the province. But with the announcement that the Powell River Regals would not be playing at the  Senior AAA level for Allan Cup qualifying, the CHL champ now advanced directly to the Allan Cup as the league had the only Senior AAA teams in the Pacific Region

British Columbia

 * The only team that had been registered as Senior "AAA" in the province over the past few seasons has been the Powell River Regals but the team withdrew for the 2014-15 season and no definitive word has been released if the team will participate in the McKenzie Cup tournament with the Alberta champions.  The Regals are celebrating their 60th anniversary this season and are waiting for word on hosting the BC Senior "AA" championship (Coy Cup) in the spring.

The Territories

 * There are no registered Senior "AAA" teams in any of the three territories. Teams from Whitehorse has previously played under BCAHA sanctioning.

Regional Qualifiers

 * 2016 McKenzie Cup (not held due to BC not having any teams)
 * 2016 Rathgaber Cup (not held due to extra spot available due to no Quebec entry)
 * 2016 Renwick Cup (event cancelled due to folding of Kenora Thistles on January 10, 2016)
 * 2016 Atlantic Canada Allan Cup Qualifier
 * 2016 Quebec Allan Cup Qualifier (not held due to no teams)

Provincial Qualifiers

 * 2015 Herder Memorial Trophy(Newfoundland Senior Championship)
 * 2016 Quebec Allan Cup Qualifier (not held due to no teams)
 * 2015 Renwick Cup (Ontario/Central Region)
 * 2016 Manitoba Senior AAA Hockey Playoffs
 * 2016 Saskatchewan Senior Provincials
 * 2015-16 Chinook Hockey League Season playoffs (doubles as Alberta Senior AAA playoffs)
 * 2016 Savage Cup (British Columbia Senior AAA championship) not needed due to lack of entries

Senior AA/A
Many leagues play with mixed level of Senior "AA" and Senior "A" teams

Newfoundland and Labrador
The two league champions met for the Herder Memorial Trophy and the province's spot in the 2017 Atlantic region qualifying tournament for the Allan Cup (if there are any other team's Senior "AAA" registered in the region).
 * 2015-16 Avalon East Sr Hockey League Season
 * 2015-16 Central Newfoundland Hockey League Season
 * 2015-16 Newfoundland and Labrador Senior A Hockey League Season (league also used Central/West Senior Hockey League name for season)

Nova Scotia

 * No (known) leagues

New Brunswick

 * Fredericton Christian Hockey League
 * 2015-16 North East Senior Hockey League Season
 * 2015-16 Circuit de Hockey Senior Roger-Lizotte Season

Prince Edward Island

 * No (known) leagues

Quebec

 * 2015-16 Ligue de Hockey Beauce Bellechasse Frontenac season
 * 2015-16 Laval Senior A Hockey League season
 * 2015-16 Ligue de Hockey Cote-Sud season
 * 2015-16 Ligue de Hockey Senior A de la Mauricie season
 * 2015-16 Ligue de Hockey Senior du Richelieu season

Ontario

 * 2015-16 WOAA Senior Season

Manitoba
The league champions and a wildcard team advance to the 2016 Manitoba Senior A Hockey Provincials.
 * 2015-16 Carillon Senior Hockey League Season
 * 2015-16 Manitoba Senior Hockey League Season
 * 2015-16 North Central Hockey League Season
 * 2015-16 South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League Season
 * 2015-16 Tiger Hills Hockey League Season

Saskatchewan
The Saskatchewan Hockey Association held provincal playoffs seperate of the league playoffs. There were four class champions (A,B,C, and D). The Fishing Lake Hockey League folds prior to the season. note: The Sask/Alta Senior Hockey League had teams that are based in Saskatchewan but the league champion of that league will advance to the Alberta Senior AA/A playoffs.
 * 2015-16 Beaver Lakes Hockey League season
 * 2015-16 Big Six Hockey League season
 * 2015-16 Fort Carlton Hockey League season
 * 2015-16 Highway Hockey League season
 * 2015-16 Long Lake Hockey League season
 * 2015-16 Notekeu Hockey League Season
 * 2015-16 North Saskatchewan River Hockey League season
 * 2015-16 Qu'Appelle Valley Hockey League season
 * 2015-16 Saskatchewna Prairie Hockey League season
 * 2015-16 Sask Valley Hockey League season
 * 2015-16 Sask West Hockey League season
 * 2015-16 Triangle Hockey League season
 * 2015-16 Wheatland Hockey League Season
 * 2015-16 White Mud Hockey League season

Alberta
The league champions (and possibly several wildcard teams) as well as a host team qualified for the 2016 Alberta Senior AA/A playoffs. Last season the champions of several of the league's eligible to participate chose not to do so. The Battle River Hockey League was also not operating this season after its members joined other leagues for 2015-16.


 * 2015-16 East Central Senior Hockey League Season
 * 2015-16 North Central Hockey League (Alberta) Season
 * 2015-16 North Peace Hockey League Season
 * 2015-16 Ranchland Hockey League Season
 * 2015-16 Sask/Alta Senior Hockey League Season

British Columbia
BC only has one league that plays completely within its borders. However, the North Peace Hockey League has teams from BC and Alberta. The NPHL champion qualifies for the Alberta Senior AA/A Provincial tournament.


 * 2015-16 Central Interior Hockey League Season

The British Columbia Men's senior "AA" championship for the province is called the Coy Cup. The 2016 Coy Cup was hosted by the Terrace River Kings from March 22 to 26, 2016 at the Terrace Sportsplex in Terrace, British Columbia. The host team and the winner CIHL playoffs automatically qualify. The league runner up were to play in the qualifier for the final spot against the independent team that has won the qualifiers. In past years (and this year) teams from the Yukon (which play under the authority of BC Hockey) have also played for the Coy Cup. Due to scheduling issues the defending champion was given a spot in the tournament in lieu of winning a qualifier.

The Fort Nelson Yeti were playing an independent schedule but announced on October 31st that they were not going to be able to play for the balance of the season due to not being able to schedule the required six games required to be eligible for the Coy Cup

Yukon
In past years (and this year) teams from the Yukon (which play under the authority of BC Hockey) have also played for the Coy Cup. Due to scheduling issues the defending champion was given a spot in the tournament in lieu of winning a qualifier.

Northwest Territories
No leagues

Nunavut

 * 2015-16 Iqaluit Senior Hockey League season
 * 2015-16 Rankin Inlet Senior Hockey League season