This is the 2021-22 Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League season. This is the league's 72nd season overall dating back to the Eastern Junior B Hockey League, Metro Junior A Hockey League, and the Western Junior B Hockey League in 1950. The league has used the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League name since 2007 when 3 leagues (Mid-Western Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League and Western Ontario Hockey League) merged to form the present league.
Elevation to Junior A Status Petition[]
On May 27, 2021 the GOJHL issued an open letter to the Ontario Hockey Association petitioning for an elevation to Junior "A" status stating that it's Junior "B" status was impeding the advancement of players to higher ranks of hockey such as the NCAA, U Sports, and the Ontario Hockey League. It also stated that the Junior "B" label has forced many players in southwestern Ontario to move upwards of 8 hours away to play at a higher level of hockey and that another Junior "A" league was charging upwards of $10,000 per player per season to play. The letter also stated that the move could also benefit the Provincial Junior Hockey League as it could be elevated to Junior B status thus giving even more players an opportunity.
The letter also stated that they were being forced to go public with the battle as the OHA membership was not given an opportunity to even consider the motion at the 2021 OHA AGM.[1]
Forteitures due to COVID-19 vacination policy violations[]
On December 17th the league announced that the results of 60 games were being changed as a result of violations committed by teams in the Golden Horseshoe conference. Hamilton forfeited 2 wins, Niagara Falls forfeited 13 wins and 2 overtime loses, St. Catharines forfeited 1 win, Thorold forfeited 6 wins, and Welland forfeited one win. As a result of these changes Caledonia was given 5 points Fort Erie was given 1 point, Hamilton lost 4 points, Niagara Falls lost 29 points, Pelham was given 6 points, St. Catharines did not change, Thorold lost 1 point and Welland gained 4 points.
Niagara Falls kept a previous win (September 25th) against Caledonia as Caledonia forfeited the game prior to the beginning and no ineligible Niagara Falls players played. A member of the Niagara Falls Canucks organization was also indefinitely suspended due to the violations.[2]
Membership Changes[]
- The lone American team in the league, the Buffalo Regals are no longer on the league schedule.[3] The team apparently resigned from the league.[4]
- The Kitchener Dutchmen were sold and relocated to Ayr where they will assume the Ayr Centennials name which was the new ownership's former team that played in the Provincial Junior Hockey League (OHA) until the purchase of the Junior B franchise.
- Due to the Kitchener team relocating the Waterloo Siskins are renamed the Kitchener-Waterloo Siskins.
Teams[]
Standings[]
Golden Horseshoe Conference[]
| Team | GP | W | L | OL | SL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Kilty B's | 48 | 40 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 203 | 86 | 81 |
| St. Catharines Falcons | 48 | 36 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 178 | 78 | 74 |
| Caledonia Corvairs | 48 | 31 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 164 | 108 | 66 |
| Fort Erie Meteors | 48 | 26 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 163 | 137 | 53 |
| Welland Jr. Canadians | 48 | 19 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 124 | 170 | 41 |
| Thorold Blackhawks | 48 | 15 | 32 | 0 | 1 | 89 | 155 | 31 |
| Pelham Panthers | 48 | 14 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 110 | 192 | 30 |
| Niagara Falls Canucks | 48 | 7 | 37 | 3 | 1 | 64 | 169 | 18 |
Midwestern Conference[]
| Team | GP | W | L | OL | SL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elmira Sugar Kings | 48 | 35 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 169 | 102 | 72 |
| Cambridge Redhawks | 48 | 33 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 190 | 127 | 69 |
| Kitchener-Waterloo Siskins | 48 | 31 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 185 | 129 | 67 |
| Stratford Warriors | 48 | 29 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 175 | 131 | 60 |
| Ayr Centennials | 48 | 22 | 19 | 3 | 4 | 151 | 151 | 51 |
| Listowel Cyclones | 48 | 17 | 25 | 5 | 1 | 130 | 162 | 40 |
| Caledon Bombers | 48 | 18 | 28 | 1 | 2 | 135 | 190 | 37 |
| Brantford Bandits | 48 | 8 | 36 | 4 | 0 | 78 | 221 | 20 |
Western Conference[]
| Team | GP | W | L | OL | SL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leamington Flyers | 48 | 36 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 194 | 119 | 72 |
| London Nationals | 48 | 34 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 187 | 121 | 71 |
| Chatham Maroons | 48 | 29 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 202 | 157 | 65 |
| LaSalle Vipers | 48 | 27 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 163 | 140 | 58 |
| St. Marys Lincolns | 48 | 26 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 158 | 148 | 53 |
| Komoka Kings | 48 | 22 | 22 | 2 | 2 | 147 | 185 | 48 |
| St. Thomas Stars | 48 | 18 | 26 | 3 | 1 | 149 | 175 | 40 |
| Strathroy Rockets | 48 | 13 | 29 | 2 | 4 | 130 | 187 | 32 |
| Sarnia Legionnaires | 48 | 11 | 35 | 1 | 1 | 122 | 220 | 24 |
Sutherland Cup Playoffs[]
Revised Format[]
The league announced on March 11, 2022 that the playoffs would be slightly modified returning to a format last used in 2012-13. The top eight teams in each coference qualify for the playoffs. The first three rounds remain best-of-seven series within each conference. The fourth round consist of the three conference champions playing a home and home round robin. If the second and third place team finish tied they will meet in a single game tie-breaker. If all three teams finish tied, regular season standing tie-breaker procedures will be used to determine first place and the other two teams will meet in a tie-breaker game. The first place team and the second place team (or winner of the tie-breaker) will meet in a best-of-three series to determine the Sutherland Cup champion.[5]
Golden Horseshoe Conference Quarterfinals[]
- Hamilton Kilty B's defeated Niagara Falls Canucks 4 games to none
- St. Catharines Falcons defeated Pelham Panthers 4 games to none
- Caledonia Corvairs defeated Welland Jr. Canadians 4 games to none
- Fort Erie Meteors defeated Welland Jr. Canadians 4 games to none
Midwestern Conference Quarterfinals[]
- Elmira Sugar Kings defeated Brantford Bandits 4 games to none
- Cambridge Redhawks defeated Caledon Bombers 4 games to 1
- Kitchener-Waterloo Siskins defeated Listowel Cyclones 4 games to none
- Stratford Warriors defeated Ayr Centennials 4 games to none
Western Conference Quarterfinals[]
- Leamington Flyers defeated Strathroy Rockets 4 games to none
- London Nationals defeated St. Thomas Stars 4 games to 2
- Chatham Maroons defeated Komoka Kings 4 games to 1
- St. Marys Lincolns defeated LaSalle Vipers 4 games to 3
Golden Horseshoe Conference Semifinals[]
- Hamilton Kilty B's defeated Fort Erie Meteors 4 games to 3
- St. Catharines Falcons defeated Caledonia Corvairs 4 games to none
Midwestern Conference Semifinals[]
- Elmira Sugar Kings defeated Stratford Warriors 4 games to 2
- Cambridge Redhawks defeated Kitchener-Waterloo Siskins 4 games to 3
Western Conference Semifinals[]
- Leamington Flyers defeated St. Marys Lincolns 4 games to 2
- Chatham Maroons defeated London Nationals 4 games to 1
Golden Horseshoe Conference Final[]
- St. Catharines Falcons defeated Hamilton Kilty B's 4 games to 2
Midwestern Conference Final[]
- Cambridge Redhawks defeated Elmira Sugar Kings 4 games to 1
Western Conference Final[]
- Chatham Maroons defeated Leamington Flyers 4 games to 2
Sutherland Cup Round Robin[]
May 17
- St. Catharines Falcons 3-2 Chatham Maroons (ot)
May 18
May 20
May 21
- St. Catharines Falcons vs Cambridge Redhawks (postponed due to power outage due to storm-recheduled to May 25th)
May 22
May 24
- Cambridge Redhawks 4-3 St. Catharines Falcons (ot)
May 25
Round Robin Standings[]
| Team | GP | W | L | GF | GA | Goal Avg. | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Catharines Falcons | 4 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 9 | .609 | 6 |
| Cambridge Redhawks | 4 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 10 | .471 | 4 |
| Chatham Maroons | 4 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 12 | .400 | 2 |
Sutherland Cup Final[]
- St. Catharines Falcons defeated Chatham Maroons 2 games to none
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References[]
- ↑ https://www.gojhl.ca/the-greater-ontario-junior-hockey-league-shoots-for-junior-a-status
- ↑ https://www.gojhl.ca/gojhl-announces-discipline-and-forfeiture-of-30-gojhl-games-due-to-ineligibility
- ↑ https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-buffalo-regals-officially-dead/
- ↑ https://www.gojhl.ca/2021-22-regular-season-schedule-announced
- ↑ https://www.gojhl.ca/2021-22-sutherland-cup-playoffs-format-announced