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Founded | 2006 |
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No. of teams | 23 |
Recent Champions | Bradford Rattlers (2024) |
Most successful club | Bradford Rattlers (5) |
Website | GMHL.net |
The Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League is an independent Junior "A" ice hockey league. They were founded in 2006.
History[]
In revolt to Hockey Canada's Canadian Development Model and their banning of European players below the Major Junior level, the GMHL was founded with seven teams during the fall of 2006. The original teams were the Bradford Rattlers, Deseronto Thunder, King Wild, Nipissing Alouettes, Richmond Hill Rams, South Muskoka Shield, and Toronto Canada Moose.
In five years of operation, the league had doubled in size. Bradford won the league playoffs in 2007 and 2008, South Muskoka won in 2009, Deseronto won it in 2010, and 2007 expansion team Elliot Lake Bobcats took home the Russell Cup in 2011.
As of 2011, five of the original teams are still in operation: Bradford, Deseronto (now called the Storm), King (now known as the Lefroy Wave), South Muskoka, and Toronto. Nipissing and Richmond Hill both folded after three seasons, but Nipissing was replaced in 2010 by the Sturgeon Falls Lumberjacks in their hometown.
The league had boasted two teams of foreigner-only teams, Russians on the Shelburne Red Wings (2010-2014) and Americans on the Orangeville Americans (2011-2015). Hockey Canada and the GMHL have always been at odds. In 2007-08, Hockey Canada initiated a policy of a quarantine system on players, officials, and coaches involved with the GMHL. In the Summer of 2008, this was investigated by the Canadian Government and deemed illegal. Despite this, intimidation has persisted. During the 2010-11 season, this situation grew extreme in Shelburne and resulted in the Mayor of Shelburne forcing a sitdown between the town, Hockey Canada, and the GMHL.
As of September 2011, the league is operating in its sixth season with fourteen active franchises and two dormant franchises set to operate in 2012.
For 2015-16, the league is scheduled to have 34 franchises including 11 expansion teams and two teams on hiatus.
In late October or early November 2015 the Brantford Steelfighters folded.
On March 9, 2016 the league president announced that the Bobcaygeon Storm, Coldwater Falcons, Grey County Grizzlies, and Haliburton Wolves would no longer be members of the league.
On March 11, 2017 the league announced the addition of the Ville-Marie Pirates to the league for the 2017-18 season.
On August 31, 2017 the league announced that the Parry Sound Islanders were taking a leave of absence for the 2017-18 and would be able to return to the league for 2018-19.[1] On November 22, 2017 the league announced the Fergua Force were removed from the league and would not be allowed to return for the 2018-19 season.[2]
On April 13, 2018 the league announced the addition of the Ottawa Sharpshooters who were formerly members of the Canadian Premier Junior Hockey League.[3]
The South Muskoka Shield would relocate from Gravenhurst to Port Carling, Ontario for the 2018-19 season
The Wiarton Schooners were removed from the schedule on November 19, 2018. The franchise had been terminated without option for return.[4]
In March of 2019 postings on the St. George Ravens twitter page indicated that Tilsonburg was forced to forfeit games 3 and 4 of their semifinal playoff series due to a lack of players caused by food poisoning.[5] Later reports indicated the team may have in fact folded.[6]
On January 23, 2019 the league announced the addition of the Bancroft Rockhounds, which will be based out of the North Hastings Community Centre in Bancroft, Ontario.[7][8] The team will start play with the 2019-20 season.
On June 13, 2019 it was announced that the Western Provinces Hockey Association teams that had been previously affiliated with the Western States Hockey League for the 2018-19 season would become affiliated with the GMHL and form the GMHL's Western Division.[9] By early July the WSHL had two teams, the Edson Aeros and Meadow Lake Mustangs that had opted stay with the WSHL and announced the formation of new teams in Cold Lake[10] and Hinton, Alberta[11][12], The previous teams in those towns apparently left a trail of unpaid bills [13]
On June 18, 2019 the South Muskoka Shield announced that they would be relocating again for the 2019-20 season. They will be based out of the Bracebridge Memorial Arena.[14]
On June 21, 2019 the GMHL announced that the Niagara-on-the-Lake Nationals were folding ahead of the 2019-20 season.[15]
On August 7, 2019 the Tilsonburg Hurricanes announced they were taking a leave of absence for the 2019-20 season.[16]
The Oshawa Riverkings were sold and rebranded as the Durham Roadrunners prior to the 2019-20 season.
On January 3, 2020 the league announced that the Ottawa Sharpshooters were removed from the league schedule "due to the ownership folding their operation"[17]
On May 10, 2021, the Toronto Predators announced they were relocating to the Meridian Credit Union Arena in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario for the 2021-22 season and will be renamed the Niagara-on-the-Lake Predators.[18]
Teams[]
2024–25 teams[]
North Division[]
South Division[]
Regular season champions[]
Bolded are overall regular season champions.
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Russell Cup playoff champions[]
Bolded are overall champions, Italics are finalist.
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College Showcase Tournament[]
Since 2009, the GMHL has had a mid-season prospect tournament. Generally, the top seven teams of the league compete in the tournament with an eighth team, the GMHL Selects representing the other teams in the league.
The 2012 tournament featured both the Bradford Rattlers and South Muskoka Shield being thrown out in the semifinal round. An incident, both on-ice and later off-ice, involving a player from each team and later two more players and a parent from one team entering the altercation, resulted in a police investigation[19] and one team refusing to continue. The league disqualified both teams after the game failed to continue.
Since the 2012 tournament, the league changed the format to a prospect weekend with no championship rounds.
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League records[]
Scoring champions[]
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Goals against average champions[]
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Team records[]
- Best record: 2012–13 Bradford Rattlers (42–0–0–0)
- Worst record: 2007–08 Douro Dukes (2–40–0–0)
- Most goals for by team, one season: 2017–18 St. George Ravens (404)
- Fewest goals for by team, one season: 2013–14 Toronto Predators (91)
- Fewest goals against by team, one season: 2015–16 Kingsville Kings (71)
- Most goals against by team, one season: 2015–16 Bobcaygeon Storm (491)
- Largest margin of victory: Elliot Lake Bobcats 29, Ville-Marie Dragons 1 on December 6, 2008
Individual records[]
- Most goals, one season: Bryce Yetman (81) — 2018–19 Windsor Aces
- Most assists, one season: Chris Haigh (89) — 2017–18 St. George Ravens
- Most points, one season: Bryce Yetman (153) — 2018–19 Windsor Aces
- Lowest goals against average, one season: Wes Werner (1.20) — 2015–16 Kingsville Kings
- Highest save percentage, one season: Jan Pechek (0.951) — 2015–16 Kingsville Kings
Former teams[]
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Timeline of teams[]
- 2006–07
- League is formed with seven teams: Bradford Rattlers, Deseronto Thunder, King Wild, Nipissing Alouettes, Richmond Hill Rams, South Muskoka Shield, Toronto Canada Moose
- 2007–08
- Deseronto Thunder become Deseronto Storm
- League expands by six teams: Douro Dukes, Elliot Lake Bobcats, Espanola Kings, Innisfil Lakers, Tamworth Cyclones, Temiscaming Royals
- 2008–09
- Douro Dukes move and become Brock Bucks
- Richmond Hill Rams become Ontario Lightning Rams
- Oro-Medonte 77's join league
- Ville-Marie Dragons join league
- Minden Riverkings join league
- Temiscaming Royals leave league for Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
- 2009–10
- Ville-Marie Dragons fold mid-season (January)
- Tamworth Cyclones fold mid-season (January)
- Ontario Lightning Rams leave league
- Espanola Kings leave league
- Nipissing Alouettes leave league
- Algoma Avalanche join league
- Ville-Marie Dragons move and become Powassan Dragons
- Minden Riverkings fold mid-season (November)
- 2010–11
- Shelburne Red Wings join league
- Sturgeon Falls Lumberjacks join league
- King Wild move and become Vaughan Wild
- Brock Bucks move and become Bobcaygeon Bucks
- Innisfil Lakers leave league
- Jamestown Jets join league from Northern Junior Hockey League (league's first American team)
- 2011–12
- Mattawa Voyageurs join league
- Temiscaming Titans join league
- Halton Huskies join league
- Orangeville Americans join league
- Vaughan Stars join league
- Vaughan Wild move and become Lefroy Wave
- Powassan Dragons change name to Powassan Eagles
- Oro-Medonte 77's leave league
- Jamestown Jets leave league
- 2012–13
- Rama Aces join league
- Powassan Eagles return
- Bradford Bulls join league
- Toronto Attack join league
- Bracebridge Phantoms join league[20]
- Elliot Lake Bobcats leave league for Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
- Deseronto Storm leave league for Empire B Junior C Hockey League
- Algoma Avalanche leave league
- 2013–14
- Expansion granted to the Alliston Coyotes of Alliston, Ontario.
- Expansion granted to the Seguin Huskies of Seguin, Ontario.
- Expansion granted to the Toronto Predators of Toronto, Ontario.
- Expansion granted to Halton Ravens of Burlington, Ontario.
- Expansion granted to Knights of Meaford of Meaford, Ontario.
- Toronto Canada Moose renamed Toronto Blue Ice Jets.
- 2014–15
- Expansion granted to the Cambridge Bears of Cambridge, Ontario.[21]
- Lefroy Wave relocate to Markdale, Ontario and become Grey Highlands Bravehearts.
- Expansion granted to the Tottenham Steam of Tottenham, Ontario.[22][23]
- Bobcaygeon Bucks leave league for CIHL.[24]
- Mattawa Voyageurs relocate to South River, Ontario and become Almaguin Spartans.[25]
- Expansion granted to the North York Renegades of Toronto, Ontario.
- Bracebridge Phantoms change name to Bracebridge Blues.[26]
- Expansion granted to Niagara Whalers of Port Colborne, Ontario.
- Powassan Eagles relocate to Parry Sound, Ontario and become Parry Sound Islanders.
- Shelburne Red Wings are sold; change name to Shelburne Stars and take season off to restructure.
- 2015–16
- Expansion granted to Bobcaygeon Storm of Bobcaygeon, Ontario.
- Expansion granted to Brantford Steelfighters of Brantford, Ontario.
- Expansion granted to Colborne Chiefs of Colborne, Ontario.
- Expansion granted to Coldwater Falcons of Coldwater, Ontario.
- Expansion granted to Grey County Grizzlies of Feversham, Ontario.
- Expansion granted to Haliburton Wolves of Haliburton, Ontario.
- Expansion granted to Kingsville Kings of Kingsville, Ontario.
- Expansion granted to Komoka Dragons of Komoka, Ontario.[27]
- Expansion granted to London Lakers of London, Ontario.
- Expansion granted to Norfolk Vikings of Simcoe, Ontario.
- Expansion granted to Oshawa Riverkings of Oshawa, Ontario.
- Orangeville Americans were renamed the Orangeville Ice Crushers.
- Shelburne Stars were renamed the Shelburne Sharks.
- Brantford Steelfighters take leave of absence after 18 games played; league revokes membership.[28]
- Grey County Grizzlies cease operations after 23 games played and only one win.
- Sturgeon Falls Lumberjacks end season early due to lack of players.[29]
- 2016–17
- Grey Highlands Bravehearts relocate to Wiarton, Ontario.[30] The newly named Wiarton Rock would then fold midway through their first season on 14 December.
- Expansion granted to Tillsonburg Hurricanes.[31]
- Bobcaygeon Storm membership revoked
- Coldwater Falcons membership revoked
- Grey County Grizzlies membership revoked
- Haliburton Wolves membership revoked
- Brantford Steelfighters membership revoked.
- Expansion granted to Lincoln Mavericks of Lincoln, Ontario, but withdrew from the league on November 21 during their first season.
- Colbourne Chiefs rebranded as Northumberland Stars after ownership change.
- Alliston Coyotes rebranded as New Tecumseth Civics after ownership change.
- Sturgeon Falls Lumberjacks return to league. Change of ownership and rebranded as the West Nipissing Lynx.
- Shelburne Sharks rebrand as Shelbourne Stars but fold prior to the beginning of the season.
- Norfolk Vikings take 2016–17 hiatus
- Toronto Blue Ice Jets fold just before start of season.
- Bracebridge Blues removed from schedule after playing five games and forfeiting a sixth.
- Komoka Dragons folded after 12 games.
- Orangeville Ice Crushers suspended operations in January. Three of the team's owners had been arrested for drug distribution in November 2016 and were suspended by the league. The league transferred control to another shareholder who ceased operations of the team after two months.
- 2017–18
- Fergus Force granted membership as an expansion team. Folded after playing 16 games, all loses, with one credited win for a Wiarton forfeit.
- Ville-Marie Pirates granted membership as an expansion team.
- Wiarton Schooners granted membership as an expansion team. Folded after eight winless games and a 25–1 loss to the Knights of Meaford.
- Toronto Attack removed from GMHL's list of teams on website.
- Windsor Aces granted membership as an expansion franchise.
- Parry Sound Islanders cease operations and merged with Seguin Huskies.
- 2018–19
- Niagara-on-the-Lake Nationals expansion team added from the Canadian Premier Junior Hockey League after the Nationals decided to not participate in the CPJHL.[32][33][34]
- Ottawa Sharpshooters joined as expansion team for 2018–19 season from the Canadian Premier Junior Hockey League.[35]
- The Seguin Huskies folded prior to the 2018–19 season.
- Wiarton Schooners returned to league after folding during the previous season. Folded again after 17 games played, and a 1–16 record, in 2018.[36]
- 2019–20
- Bancroft, Ontario, was granted an expansion franchise with the Bancroft Rockhounds.[37]
- Oshawa Riverkings sold and rebranded as Durham RoadRunners.[38]
- Niagara-on-the-Lake Nationals folded after one season.
- Tillsonburg Hurricanes ceased operations
- The Western Provinces Hockey Association (WPHA) joins from the Western States Hockey League (WSHL) and rebrands as the GMHL West. The new West Division added five teams from Alberta and Saskatchewan: the Cold Lake Wings, Hinton Wildcats, Northern Alberta Tomahawks, Rosetown Red Wings, and Slave Lake Icedogs. The Hinton Wildcats did not make the final schedule after a lease dispute with the city and the WSHL while the Cold Lake Wings suspended operations and were replaced by YEG Edmonton Academy on the schedule, which then used the Wings branding. The Rosetown team also postponed the start of their season and then never played, while the YEG Edmonton Academy began using their uniforms as the High Prairie Red Wings and settled on a home rink in November.[39]
- The Ottawa Sharpshooters folded in December 2019.[40]
- 2020–21
- The London Lakers moved to Plattsville, Ontario, as the Plattsville Lakers.[41][42]
- The Tottenham Steam rebranded as the Tottenham Thunder.
- An expansion team called the Fox Creek Ice Kings in Fox Creek, Alberta, added to the West Division.[43]
- 2021–22
- The Toronto Predators relocated to Niagara-on-the-Lake as the Niagara-on-the-Lake Predators.[44]
References[]
- ↑ https://gmhl.net/article.php?article_id=56987
- ↑ https://gmhl.net/article.php?article_id=57041
- ↑ https://gmhl.net/article.php?article_id=57128
- ↑ https://gmhl.net/article.php?article_id=57252
- ↑ https://twitter.com/StGeorgeRavens?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Eembeddedtimeline%7Ctwterm%5Eprofile%3AStGeorgeRavens&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fravensjrahockey.ca%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR318kkblyai9Onm77qvBu7e984gSmhbcyISxq0p69JGaf_3QnZoISgxZvI
- ↑ https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-gmhl-tillsonburg-folds-in-playoff-semi-finals/
- ↑ https://gmhl.net/article.php?article_id=57286
- ↑ https://gmhl.net/article.php
- ↑ https://gmhl.net/article.php?article_id=57383
- ↑ http://www.wshl.org/news/wshl-returns-to-cold-lake-alberta-for-the-2019-202
- ↑ https://www.hintontimberwolvesjuniora.com/news/wshl-welcomes-timberwolves
- ↑ http://www.wshl.org/news/welcome-timberwolves
- ↑ https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-wpha-gmhl-already-creating-problems-out-west/
- ↑ https://gmhl.net/article.php?article_id=57386
- ↑ https://gmhl.net/article.php
- ↑ https://gmhl.net/news/_/57421
- ↑ https://gmhl.net/news/president-s-message-january-3-2020/57494
- ↑ https://gmhl.net/news/predators-relocate-to-niagara-on-the-lake/57656
- ↑ Charges pending in junior hockey game brawl (6 December 2012).
- ↑ Bracebridge lands GMHL expansion team (4 April 2012).
- ↑ Outlaw hockey league expanding to Cambridge.
- ↑ Hockey league expanding to Tottenham.
- ↑ madhunt.com: Ryan Wood General Manager GM, Tottenham Steam, GMHL, 2014-15.
- ↑ CIHL moving forward - Welcome to Hockey News North (en-US).
- ↑ Junior A hockey franchise on its way to Sundridge.
- ↑ Agreement would pave the way for new junior 'A' hockey club to operate out of Bracebridge Memorial Arena - My Muskoka Now (en-US).
- ↑ New Jr A team in town (11 February 2015).
- ↑ Brantford SteelFighters Take Leave of Absence (6 November 2015).
- ↑ THE DEATH POOL – GMHL STURGEON FALLS LUMBERJACKS MERCIFULLY KILLED OFF. The Junior Hockey News (1 February 2016).
- ↑ No Name for Wiarton Team.
- ↑ nurun.com. Junior hockey returns to Tillsonburg.
- ↑ CPJHL TERMINATES MEMBERSHIP OF NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE NATIONALS (July 29, 2018).
- ↑ GMHL Expands to Niagara-On-The-Lake. Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League (July 30, 2018).
- ↑ NIAGARA ON THE LAKE NATIONALS JOIN GMHL (July 29, 2018).
- ↑ GMHL Expands to Ottawa. GMHL (April 13, 2018).
- ↑ The Death Pool – GMHL's Wiarton Folds Again Sets New World Record (November 20, 2018).
- ↑ GMHL is Expanding to Bancroft, Ontario. GMHL (January 23, 2019).
- ↑ Riverkings Rename to Durham Roadrunners (April 29, 2019).
- ↑ West Division: YEG Moves to High Prairie (November 8, 2019).
- ↑ President's Message - January 3, 2020 (January 3, 2020).
- ↑ London Lakers Relocate To Plattsville (February 29, 2020).
- ↑ Lakers Relocate to Plattsville (March 2, 2020).
- ↑ GMHL West Expands to Fox Creek, Alberta (March 10, 2020).
- ↑ Predators Relocate to Niagara-on-the-Lake (May 10, 2021).