The National Junior Hockey League is an independent self-professed Junior A hockey level league based in the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. The league was formally announced on May 29 2023.[1][2] The league was started due to the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League announcing on May 28 that it was ceasing the operations of all of the league's West Division teams.[3][4] However, the first mention of the league name was on May 26th. [5] All eight of the founding members of the league are former members of the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League's West Division from the 2022-23 season.
Membership Changes Prior to the 2023-24 season[]
- In mid-June the Mackenzie Mountaineers had their lease terminated by the Mackenzie Community Council.[6]
- On July 16, 2023 the Kitimat Saax announced that they were deferring operations for the 2023-24 season. The announcement also indicated that the other British Columbia based teams were also not playing for the 2023-24, indicating that the Burns Lake Timbermen would also be sitting out the season.[7] Another source indicated that the teams may have not been able to secure a lease with there community arena.[8]
2024-25 Season changes[]
- On October 20, 2023 the league announced the addition of a team to be based out of the Crowsnest Pass Sports Complex in Crowsnest Pass, Alberta for the 2024-25 season.[9] The team would be named the Crowsnest Crush.
- On January 25, 2024 the league announced the additon of a team to be based out of the Bold Center Multiplex in Lac La Biche, Alberta for the 2024-25 season.[10] The team would be named the Lac La Biche Lakers.
- On May 8, 2024 the league announced the addition of a new franchise to be based out of the Claresholm Arena in Claresholm, Alberta.[11] The team would end up being named the Claresholm Thunder.
- On September 6, 2024 reports indicated that the Gibbons Pioneers had been removed from the Gibbons Arena.[12] The team would end up playing out of the Pembina Place in Redwater, Alberta and be renamed the Redwater Pioneers.
- On September 18, 2024 it was indicated that the Fox Creek Ice Kings had folded.[13]
Teams 2024-25[]
Links[]
References[]
- ↑ https://www.njhlhockey.com/news/a-message-from-the-njhl
- ↑ https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-njhl-is-latest-hockey-genius-derek-prue-scheme/
- ↑ https://gmhl.net/news/presidents-message/57954
- ↑ https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-gmhl-west-is-killed-off/
- ↑ https://www.njhlhockey.com/news/a-message-from-the-njhl
- ↑ https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-mackenzie-mountaineers-are-dead-in-off-season-mercy-killing/
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/gmhlkitimat/posts/pfbid02zmmiFVZRq2En8ACJeoZBGS3dD8nPwEJhPn6WZzfyGZsnC43NENdea8Z7rsHdfjaJl
- ↑ https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-battle-of-the-bastards-cajhl-vs-njhl-update/
- ↑ https://www.njhlhockey.com/news/njhl-adds-crowsnest-pass
- ↑ https://www.njhlhockey.com/news/for-immediate-release
- ↑ https://www.njhlhockey.com/news/for-immediate-release1
- ↑ https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-njhl-gibbons-pioneers-vanish-in-middle-of-the-night/
- ↑ https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-fox-creek-ice-kings-first-to-fold-this-week/