| Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League | |
| 2023-24 MMJHL season | |
| |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Founded | 1970 |
| CEO | Kerry Lines |
| No. of teams | 10 |
| Most recent champion(s) | St. James Canucks (2023-24) |
| Most championship(s) | Charleswood Hawks (16) |
| Official website | MMJHL.ca |
The Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League (MMJHL) is a junior ice hockey league in Manitoba, Canada. Founded in 1970, the league was operated as an independent league. MMJHL affiliated with Hockey Manitoba and Hockey Canada in the mid-1990s. Teams compete annually for the Art Moug Trophy (regular season winner) and Jack McKenzie Trophy (playoff champion).
History[]
Founded in 1970, the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League was created due to the lack of playing opportunities for Winnipeg-area players. With only the Manitoba Junior Hockey League in the area, recently relegated from Major Junior to Tier II Junior A, there was no active second tier league. The league filed for application to the Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association and was initially accepted. When the MAHA was informed the league wanted to call itself the "Manitoba Junior B Hockey League", the MAHA objected on the grounds that the MJHL was helping construct a feeder league for itself with that name. After negotiations between the MJHL and the new league did not work out, as the MJHL wanted a submissive development league, the new league informed the MAHA that it would not join the MAHA.
Early in the league's first season, the original four teams started playing: River Heights, Fort Garry, Charleswood, and Stonewall. Only a week into the season, the league was contacted by teams in Portage la Prairie and St. James who were looking for a league to play in as the MJHL's attempt at a Jr. B league failed. Soon after, Neepawa approached the league with a similar concern. Due to travel, the could not be a part of the league, but did participate in at least two interleague games against each team. In the second season, a team from Kenora, Ontario did this as well. At the end of the first season, the MMJHL was allowed to send a "champion" (St. James) to compete against the MAHA Junior B champion.
Affiliation with Hockey Manitoba did happen during the mid-1990s as insurance premiums became too much for league members.
The Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League name comes from the league's adaptation of the Western Canada Hockey League's player eligibility rules.
Teams[]
| Team | Centre | Arena | Founded | McKenzie Trophy titles |
Moug Trophy titles |
| Charleswood Hawks | Winnipeg | Eric Coy Arena | 1970 | 16 | 14 |
| Fort Garry/Fort Rouge Twins | Winnipeg | Century Arena | 1970 | 7 | 5 |
| Pembina Valley Twisters | Morris, Manitoba | Morris Multiplex | 2001 | 2 | 1 |
| Raiders Junior Hockey Club | Winnipeg |
Seven Oaks Sportsplex |
1977 | 2 | 4 |
| River East Royal Knights | Winnipeg | Terry Sawchuk Memorial Arena | 1981 | 7 | 8 |
| St. Boniface Riels | Winnipeg | Southdale Community Centre | 1971 | 5 | 7 |
| St. James Canucks | Winnipeg | St. James Civic Centre | 1978 | 2 | 2 |
| St. Vital Victorias | Winnipeg | St. Vital Centennial Arena | 1975 | 1 | 3 |
| Stonewall Jets | Winnipeg | Veterans Memorial Sports Complex | 2001 | 1 | 0 |
| Transcona Railer Express | Winnipeg | Ed Golding (East End) Arena | 2012 | 0 | 0 |
Former teams[]
- East Kildonan Knights (1972–81) folded
- Kern-Hill Nationals (1973–75)
- Midland Centennials (1975–85)
- Portage la Prairie (1970–72)
- River Heights Cardinals (1970–78)
- St. James (1970-71)
- Selkirk (1972–73)
- Stonewall (1970–72) folded during 1971-72 season
- Transcona Railers (1983-2011) folded
- Transcona Titans (1972–76)
- West Kildonan Nev Knights (1972–75)
Champions[]
| Season | Jack McKenzie Trophy (playoff champion) |
Art Moug Trophy (regular season winner) |
Regular season record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970-71 | River Heights Cardinals | River Heights Cardinals | 23-3-6 |
| 1971-72 | St. Boniface Riels | St. Boniface Riels | 22-6-2 |
| 1972-73 | St. Boniface Riels | St. Boniface Riels | 24-7-4 |
| 1973-74 | Charleswood Hawks | Charleswood Hawks | 25-8-2 |
| 1974-75 | Fort Garry/Fort Rouge Blues | West Kildonan Nev Knights | 19-11-7 |
| 1975-76 | Fort Garry/Fort Rouge Blues | St. Boniface Riels | 22-7-7 |
| 1976-77 | Fort Garry/Fort Rouge Blues | Fort Garry/Fort Rouge Blues | 30-7-5 |
| 1977-78 | Fort Garry/Fort Rouge Blues | Fort Garry/Fort Rouge Blues | 28-7-7 |
| 1978-79 | Charleswood Hawks | Seven Oaks Raiders | 31-10-1 |
| 1979-80 | Seven Oaks Raiders | Seven Oaks Raiders | 36-6-0 |
| 1980-81 | Charleswood Hawks | Charleswood Hawks | 31-11-0 |
| 1981-82 | River East Royal Knights | St. Boniface Riels | 28-13-0 |
| 1982-83 | Fort Garry/Fort Rouge Bisons | St. James Canucks | 25-6-1 |
| 1983-84 | Transcona Railers | Transcona Railers | 27-12-1 |
| 1984-85 | St. Boniface Riels | St. Boniface Riels | 32-7-1 |
| 1985-86 | St. Boniface Riels | St. Boniface Riels | 29-10-3 |
| 1986-87 | River East Royal Knights | River East Royal Knights | 28-13-0 |
| 1987-88 | River East Royal Knights | River East Royal Knights | 34-6-2 |
| 1988-89 | River East Royal Knights | River East Royal Knights | 37-3-2 |
| 1989-90 | River East Royal Knights | River East Royal Knights | 35-6-1 |
| 1990-91 | Transcona Railers | St. Vital Victorias | 27-14-1 |
| 1991-92 | Transcona Railers | Transcona Railers | 33-8-1 |
| 1992-93 | River East Royal Knights | River East Royal Knights | 33-9-0 |
| 1993-94 | Charleswood Hawks | River East Royal Knights | 33-8-1 |
| 1994-95 | Charleswood Hawks | River East Royal Knights | 33-9-0 |
| 1995-96 | Charleswood Hawks | Charleswood Hawks | 39-2-1 |
| 1996-97 | Charleswood Hawks | Charleswood Hawks | 33-8-1 |
| 1997-98 | St. James Canucks | Charleswood Hawks | 30-10-2 |
| 1998-99 | Fort Garry/Rouge Twins | Fort Garry/Rouge Twins | 36-5-1 |
| 1999-00 | Fort Garry/Rouge Twins | Fort Garry/Rouge Twins | 31-9-2 |
| 2000-01 | River East Royal Knights | Fort Garry/Rouge Twins | 28-9-2-3 |
| 2001-02 | Charleswood Hawks | Charleswood Hawks | 35-7-1-2 |
| 2002-03 | Charleswood Hawks | Charleswood Hawks | 37-6-1-1 |
| 2003-04 | St. Vital Victorias | St. Vital Victorias | 41-1-2-1 |
| 2004-05 | Charleswood Hawks | Charleswood Hawks | 42-2-0-1 |
| 2005-06 | Charleswood Hawks | St. Vital Victorias | 34-8-1-2 |
| 2006-07 | Charleswood Hawks | Charleswood Hawks | 41-2-1-1 |
| 2007-08 | Pembina Valley Twisters | Charleswood Hawks | 34-6-2-3 |
| 2008-09 | Charleswood Hawks | Charleswood Hawks | 35-8-2 |
| 2009-10 | Charleswood Hawks | Pembina Valley Twisters | 35-7-3 |
| 2010-11 | Charleswood Hawks | Charleswood Hawks | 40-3-2 |
| 2011-12 | Charleswood Hawks | Charleswood Hawks | 33-4-3 |
| 2012-13 | Pembina Valley Twisters | Charleswood Hawks | 37-4-4 |
| 2013-14 | Raiders Jr. Hockey Club | St. Boniface Riels | 37-6-2 |
| 2014-15 | St. Boniface Riels | Raiders Jr. Hockey Club | 31-8-5 |
| 2015-16 | Stonewall Jets | Raiders Jr. Hockey Club | 32-9-4 |
| 2016-17 | Raiders Jr. Hockey Club | Charleswood Hawks | 30-10-5 |
| 2017-18 | Raiders Jr. Hockey Club | Raiders Jr. Hockey Club | 37-3-5 |
| 2018-19 | Pembina Valley Twisters | Pembina Valley Twisters | 35-6-4 |
| 2019-20 | Playoffs cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Pembina Valley Twisters | 35-7-3 |
| 2020-21 | Season cancelled February 20th due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||
| 2021-22 | St. James Canucks | St. James Canucks | 37-4-4 |
| 2022-23 | St. James Canucks | St. James Canucks | 40-4-1-0 |
| 2023-24 | St. James Canucks | St. James Canucks | 37-7-0-1 |
| Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League | |
|---|---|
| Teams | Charleswood Hawks · Fort Garry/Fort Rouge Twins · Pembina Valley Twisters · Raiders Junior Hockey Club · River East Royal Knights · St. Boniface Riels · St. James Canucks · St. Vital Victorias · Stonewall Jets · Transcona Railer Express |
| Former teams | East Kildonan Knights · Kern-Hill Nationals · Midland Centennials · Portage la Prairie · River Heights Cardinals · St. James · Selkirk · Stonewall · Transcona Railers · Transcona Titans · West Kildonan Nev Knights |
| Related articles | Jack McKenzie Trophy · Art Moug Trophy |