Current season, competition or edition: 2025–26 MHL season | |
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| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1967 |
| President | Connor Cameron |
| No. of teams | 12 |
| Countries | Canada |
| Headquarters | Bedford, Nova Scotia |
| Most recent champion | Edmundston Blizzard (2025) |
| Most titles |
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| Broadcaster | Eastlink Community TV |
| Official website | www |
TheMaritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) is aJunior Aice hockey league underHockey Canada, a part of theCanadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL). It consists of six teams fromNew Brunswick, which make up the EastLink North Division (formerly Roger Meek), five teams fromNova Scotia, and one team fromPrince Edward Island, which make up the Eastlink South Division. The winner of the MHL playoffs competes for theCentennial Cup against the winners of the 8 other tier 2 junior A leagues across Canada (host team also participates). Prior to the pandemic the MHL champions participated in the Fred Page Cup. This tournament involved the Bogart Cup champions from theCentral Canada Hockey League (Ontario), the Kent Cup champions from the MHL (Maritimes) and the winner of La Coupe Napa of theQuebec Junior Hockey League (Quebec) as well as a predetermined host. The winner moved on to compete for the CanadianNational Junior A Championship. However with the departure of theBritish Columbia Hockey League from affiliation with the CJHL in March 2021 as well as Hockey Canada in June 2023, no Centennial Cup qualifying tournaments such as the Kent Cup have been played since 2022, and instead all the league champions directly advance to the Centennial Cup.
Originally known as theMetro Valley Junior Hockey League (MVJHL), the league was founded in 1967 by Fred McGillivray and Louie Lewis ofHalifax, Nova Scotia, and Don Stewart ofBerwick, Nova Scotia, as a Junior "B" level hockey league. Originally an exclusively Nova Scotia hockey league, it included six teams: East Hants Junior Penguins, Halifax Colonels, Dartmouth Hoyts, Windsor Royals, Kentville Riteways, and Berwick Shell Juniors. 1968 saw the Truro Bearcats and Amherst Ramblers replace the teams from Kentville and Berwick. In 1971–72 the New Glasgow Bombers and the Pictou Maripacs entered the league. Stellarton and a new Kentville franchise entered the league in 1973 and 1974 respectively.
In 1977, the MVJHL entered into the Tier II Junior "A" level. The jump to Junior "A" was, in theory, to be a catalyst for the development of the league. However the budgets necessary to play at the Jr. 'A' level resulted in the immediate withdrawal of the Chester Ravens and the East Hants Penguins. The Cole Harbour Colts (Scotia Colts), who entered the league in 1976, became the first team in league history to host the national Junior A championship, then known as the Centennial Cup, in 1980.
The 1983 season saw the addition of the expansion Moncton Midland Hawks ofMoncton, New Brunswick, the league's first non-Nova Scotia team. The Hawks came from theNew Brunswick Junior Hockey League and are now known as theEdmundston Blizzard. In 1986, the league expanded toAntigonish and the Scotia Colts, again, hosted the Centennial Cup. Future Maritime Junior Hockey League teamSummerside Western Capitals, then competing in theIsland Junior Hockey League (IJHL), hosted the 1989 Centennial Cup.
In 1991, the Summerside Western Capitals and theCharlottetown Abbies leftPrince Edward Island's IJHL and joined the MVJHL, which was immediately renamed theMaritime Junior A Hockey League (MJAHL).
According to league officials, it is believed that goaltenderLisa Herritt of theDartmouth Oland Exports became the first female MHL player in the 1995–96 season.[1]
For the 1996–97 season, the league added the Cape Breton Islanders and Restigouche River Rats. In 1996–97 the league consisted of the Amherst Ramblers, Antigonish Bulldogs, Charlottetown Abbies, East Hants Penguins, Dartmouth Oland Exports, Moncton Gagnon Beavers, Saint John Alpines, and Summerside Western Capitals. The Saint John Alpines folded in January. With financial losses totalling $40,000 and an additional $50,000 shortfall projected should the team finish the season, they simply ran out of money. The Summerside Western Capitals won the league's first ever national title. The Capitals hosted the Royal Bank Cup at Cahill Stadium and won the championship game 4–3 over theSouth Surrey Eagles.
Truro and Bathurst received approval for new teams to start in 1997–98 but due to the relocation of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Laval Titan to Bathurst, the Truro Bearcats would be the sole new team. The Cape Breton Islanders moved to Glace Bay and became the Glace Bay Miners, but with the arrival of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, they folded in December of that season, leaving the league with nine teams again.
During the 1998–99 season two teams changed their names. The first was the Dartmouth Oland Exports when they moved to the Halifax Forum to become the Halifax Oland Exports. The second was the 1998–99 MJAHL champions, the Restigouche River Rats, as they changed their name to the Campbellton Tigers.
A tenth team was added for the 2000–01 season, theMiramichi Timberwolves. At the same time, the East Hants Penguins moved to Dartmouth and became the Scotia Dairy Queen Blizzard. At the end of the 2001–02 season, the league approved the transfer of the Blizzard toYarmouth. The Yarmouth Motormart Mariners began play in September 2002. In early 2003 the league governors approved expansion into Woodstock, N.B., with the Slammers beginning play in the 2003–04 season.
The league hired its first professional full-time league president in 2003, Vernon Doyle.
The league won their second national Junior A championship when the Halifax Oland Exports won the 2002 Royal Bank Cup on home ice. One year later, after financial trouble withOland Brewery, the franchise's name was changed to Halifax Team Pepsi. In the spring of 2004, the Weeks Hockey Organization bought the club, moved it toNew Glasgow and renamed it thePictou County Weeks Crushers. On that same day Halifax was granted an expansion franchise, theHalifax Wolverines.
The MJAHL made a number of changes in the spring of 2008.
On April 15, the Antigonish Bulldogs announced that they were applying for a leave of absence for one year.[2] On April 26, the Bulldogs had to choose between two groups trying to buy the team and relocate it. The first group would move the franchise toNew Richmond, Quebec. The other group would relocate the team to the Halifax area. At the board of governors meeting that day, the proposal to relocate the franchise to Quebec was deemed to not be in the best interests of the league and its members. The Governors did leave the door open to the sale to a Halifax group and a move to Metro Halifax. The sale and relocation of the franchise to Halifax was later approved.
At the same Governors meeting, in response to the decision to leave the door open on the sale of the Bulldogs, the owners of the Halifax Wolverines announced their plans to move toBridgewater. The Governors approved the move.[3] Following a name the team contest, the franchise was dubbed theBridgewater Lumberjacks.
Later that week on April 29, the Moncton Beavers announced that they had failed to come to terms on a new lease for theTim Hortons 4-Ice centre and had subsequently moved themselves to the neighboring city ofDieppe. The team was renamed the Dieppe Commandos.[4]
On May 1, with the fifth and final change for the MJAHL within a span of 16 days, the Charlottetown Abbies applied for a leave of absence for one year, which was accepted.[5]
The Halifax franchise (formerAntigonish Bulldogs) announced on August 22 that the club would be known as theHalifax Lions. This was the name of the successful Halifax team in the 1980s.[6]
In 2010, the MJAHL changed its name to theMaritime Junior Hockey League and unveiled a new logo.
In 2011, the Halifax Lions moved toDartmouth and were renamed theMetro Marauders. Two years later the Marauders were renamed theMetro Shipbuilders for the 2012–13 season. That season was a disaster for the Shipbuilders, as they only recorded four wins in their 52-game schedule and averaged just 232 fans per game.[7] The relocation rumours had them moving back toHalifax after three years in Dartmouth but they finally moved toKentville and were renamed theValley Wildcats. After one season in Kentville they moved to Berwick.
In 2014 the league approved an expansion team inSt. Stephen named theCounty Aces. As a result of the expansion, the league was back up to 12 teams for the first time since the folding of the Charlottetown Abbies in April 2008.
In November 2014, the league took over the ownership of the Bridgewater Lumberjacks after owner Ken Petrie left the team because of financial trouble. The team was sold two weeks later to a local businessman and the team was renamed theSouth Shore Lumberjacks.[8]
In November 2016, theDieppe Commandos announced they would be moving toEdmundston, New Brunswick, after the 2016–17 season, and be renamed the Edmundston Blizzard.[9]
In May 2018, theWoodstock Slammers applied for a leave of absence for the 2018–19 season; the team is later sold and relocated toGrand Falls, New Brunswick, and renamed theGrand Falls Rapids.
In April 2019, theSt. Stephen Aces were sold to a group fromFredericton, New Brunswick, and became the third team in three years to relocate. The Aces relocated to Fredericton for the 2019–20 season and were renamed theFredericton Red Wings.[10]
The current MHL has twelve teams, six in each division. The league has hosted the Royal Bank Cup and Centennial Cup seven times, winning twice. MHL teams have also won seven Fred Page Cups as the Junior "A" Eastern Canadian champions to earn the right to compete for the Royal Bank Cup.
In September 2024, female goaltenderRhyah Stewart signed with theWest Kent Steamers.[1]
In 2025, the franchise formerly known as the Fredericton Red Wings relocated toBathurst, New Brunswick, and was renamed theChaleur Lightning.[11]
*relocated franchise
From the 1970s until 1991, the Callaghan Cup was the Atlantic Junior A Championship of Canada. The winners ofNew Brunswick,Prince Edward Island,Nova Scotia, andNewfoundland would playdown for this trophy during theDudley Hewitt Cup andManitoba Centennial Cup playdowns.
In 1991, the Callaghan Cup became exclusive to the MJAHL. The Callaghan Cup was their championship trophy until after the 2006 playoffs, when it was replaced by the Kent Cup,
In the Kent Cup era the bold team indicates the Kent Cup winner.
| Year | Champion | Runner Up | Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Valley Jr. B Champions | |||
| 1968 | Windsor Royals | ||
| 1969 | East Hants Penguins | Truro Bearcats | |
| 1970 | Truro Bearcats | East Hants Penguins | 4–3 |
| 1971 | Truro Bearcats | East Hants Penguins | 4–0 |
| 1972 | Truro Bearcats | ||
| 1973 | New Glasgow Bombers | Halifax Blazers | 4–0 |
| 1974 | Truro Bearcats | ||
| 1975 | Dartmouth Arrows | Truro Bearcats | 4–2 |
| 1976 | Truro Bearcats | Dartmouth Arrows | 4–3 |
| Metro Valley Jr. A Champions | |||
| 1977 | Dartmouth Arrows | ||
| 1978 | Cole Harbour Colts | ||
| 1979 | Halifax Lions | ||
| 1980 | Cole Harbour Colts | ||
| 1981 | Cole Harbour Colts | Halifax Lions | |
| 1982 | Halifax Lions | ||
| 1983 | Halifax Lions | ||
| 1984 | Halifax Lions | ||
| 1985 | Cole Harbour Colts | Halifax Lions | |
| 1986 | Moncton Hawks | Cole Harbour Colts | |
| 1987 | Dartmouth Fuel Kids | ||
| 1988 | Halifax Lions | ||
| 1989 | Moncton Hawks | ||
| 1990 | Amherst Ramblers | Halifax Dairy Queen Blizzard | 4–0 |
| 1991 | Halifax Jr. Canadians | Amherst Ramblers | |
| Callaghan Cup Champions | |||
| 1992 | Halifax Mooseheads | Charlottetown Abbies | 4–3 |
| 1993 | Antigonish Bulldogs | Halifax Mooseheads | 4–3 |
| 1994 | Antigonish Bulldogs | Halifax Oland Exports | 4–3 |
| 1995 | Moncton Beavers | Amherst Ramblers | 4–0 |
| 1996 | Dartmouth Oland Exports | Moncton Beavers | 4–2 |
| 1997 | Summerside Western Capitals | Dartmouth Oland Exports | |
| 1998 | Restigouche River Rats | Dartmouth Oland Exports | |
| 1999 | Charlottetown Abbies | Antigonish Bulldogs | 4–3 |
| 2000 | Halifax Oland Exports | Summerside Western Capitals | |
| 2001 | Antigonish Bulldogs | Charlottetown Abbies | |
| 2002 | Halifax Oland Exports | Campbellton Tigers | 4–1 |
| 2003 | Charlottetown Abbies | Amherst Ramblers | 4–1 |
| 2004 | Campbellton Tigers | Yarmouth Mariners | 4–1 |
| 2005 | Truro Bearcats | Campbellton Tigers | 4–1 |
| 2006 | Woodstock Slammers | Amherst Ramblers | 4–1 |
| Year | Meek Champion | Eastlink Champion | Series |
| Kent Cup Champions | |||
| 2007 | Summerside Western Capitals | Truro Bearcats | 2–4 |
| 2008 | Woodstock Slammers | Yarmouth Mariners | 2–4 |
| 2009 | Summerside Western Capitals | Truro Bearcats | 4–1 |
| 2010 | Woodstock Slammers | Pictou County Crushers | 4–1 |
| 2011 | Summerside Western Capitals | Pictou County Crushers | 4–0 |
| 2012 | Woodstock Slammers | Yarmouth Mariners | 4–3 |
| 2013 | Summerside Western Capitals | Truro Bearcats | 4–1 |
| 2014 | Dieppe Commandos | Truro Bearcats | 2–4 |
| 2015 | Dieppe Commandos | Truro Bearcats | 4–0 |
| Year | Eastlink North Division Champion | Eastlink South Division Champion | Series |
| Kent Cup Champions | |||
| 2016 | Dieppe Commandos | Weeks Jr 'A' Crushers | 2–4 |
| 2017 | Miramichi Timberwolves | Truro Bearcats | 3–4 |
| 2018 | Edmundston Blizzard | Yarmouth Mariners | 4–2 |
| Canadian Tire Cup Champions | |||
| 2019 | Campbellton Tigers | Yarmouth Mariners | 0–4 |
| 2020 | Cancelled due toCOVID-19 pandemic | ||
| 2021 | Cancelled due toCOVID-19 pandemic | ||
| 2022 | Summerside Western Capitals | Truro Bearcats | 4-1 |
| Metalfab MHL Cup | |||
| 2023 | Edmundston Blizzard | Yarmouth Mariners | 4-0 |
| 2024 | Miramichi Timberwolves | Summerside Western Capitals | 4-2 |
| 2025 | Edmundston Blizzard | Pictou County Crushers | 4-0 |
Note: Those listed in yellow are currently home to an MHL franchise.
| City/town | Province | Cups won | Championship teams | Years in league |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halifax | Nova Scotia | 9 | Lions (1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1988), Jr. Canadians (1991), Mooseheads (1992), Oland Exports (2000, 2002) | 1967-1995, 1998-2010 |
| Truro | Nova Scotia | 9 | Bearcats (original) (1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976), Bearcats (current) (2005, 2007, 2014, 2017) | 1968-1983, 1997–present |
| Summerside | Prince Edward Island | 5 | Western Capitals (1997, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2022) | 1991–present |
| Cole Harbour | Nova Scotia | 4 | Colts (1978, 1980, 1981, 1985) | 1976-1995 |
| Dartmouth | Nova Scotia | 4 | Arrows (1975, 1977), Fuel Kids (1987), Oland Exports (1996) | 1967-1992, 1995-1998, 2000–2002, 2010-2013 |
| Antigonish | Nova Scotia | 3 | Bulldogs (1993, 1994, 2001) | 1986-2008 |
| Moncton | New Brunswick | 3 | Hawks (1986, 1989), Beavers (1995) | 1983-2008 |
| Woodstock | New Brunswick | 3 | Slammers (2006, 2010, 2012) | 2003-2018 |
| Yarmouth | Nova Scotia | 3 | Mariners (2008, 2019, 2023) | 2002–present |
| Campbellton | New Brunswick | 2 | River Rats (1998), Tigers (2004) | 1996–present |
| Charlottetown | Prince Edward Island | 2 | Abbies (1999, 2003) | 1991-1994, 1995-2008 |
| Edmundston | New Brunswick | 2 | Blizzard (2018, 2025) | 2017–present |
| New Glasgow | Nova Scotia | 2 | Bombers (1973), Crushers (2016) | 1972-76, 2004–present |
| Amherst | Nova Scotia | 1 | Ramblers (1990) | 1968–present |
| Dieppe | New Brunswick | 1 | Commandos (2015) | 2008-2017 |
| East Hants | Nova Scotia | 1 | Penguins (1969) | 1967-1977, 1995-2000 |
| Miramichi | New Brunswick | 1 | Timberwolves (2024) | 2000–present |
| Windsor | Nova Scotia | 1 | Royals (1968) | 1967-1978 |
All champions in this table are from the Maritime Junior Hockey League
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All champions in this table are from the Metro Valley Junior Hockey League against interleague opponents.
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Note: Current teams are shaded in dark blue. Gold stars denote league championships.[12]
Bolded teams indicate the original names of active franchises.
