 | |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | May 2, 2014 |
| President | Shaun Hathaway |
| Commissioner | Adrian Veideman[1] |
| No. of teams | 5 |
| Country | United States |
| Most recent champion(s) | Steamboat Wranglers (2018) |
| Official website | RMJHL.co |
TheRocky Mountain Junior Hockey League (RMJHL) was an AmericanTier III juniorice hockey league sanctioned byUSA Hockey. The RMJHL was approved for play starting in the 2015–16 season.
The league was announced and sanctioned by USA Hockey on May 2, 2014.[2][3][4] Six teams played in the inaugural 2015–16 season.[5]
In December 2015, league officials announced that they were applying to USA Hockey to expand the league by adding franchises in Vail and Pueblo,[6] but neither team came to fruition.
On May 3, 2016, the RMJHL announced the addition of an expansion team in Steamboat Springs, led by managing partner, Troy Mick, CEO and president of theCanadian Junior ASalmon Arm Silverbacks of theBritish Columbia Hockey League.[7]
On May 31, 2016, the Breckenridge Bucks left the RMJHL for theWestern States Hockey League (WSHL).[8] On July 11, the RMJHL would announce a new Breckenridge team, called the Bears, with an ownership group headed by Joe Dibble, the general manager and head coach of theTier II juniorJanesville Jets of theNorth American Hockey League.[9] When the 2016–17 season schedule was announced, the Glacier Yetis were placed in dormancy due to lack of players.[10] On the opening day of the second season, the new Breckenridge team was removed from the schedule as well.
For the 2017–18 season, formerDenver Pioneers captain Adrian Veidman was named the league's new commissioner in May.[11] The league again announced a team in Breckenridge called the Bolts.[12] The new Breckenridge team is to be operated by the Summit Youth Hockey organization and coached by Kory DeKoevend. In August, the Aspen Leafs announced they would go dormant for the upcoming season.[13]
After three seasons, the RMJHL ceased all operations and folded in 2018.[14] The Steamboat Wranglers were the only organization to continue with a junior team and joined the WSHL for 2018–19, but ceased operations midway through the 2019–20 season.
| Team | Location | Arena | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breckenridge Bolts | Breckenridge, Colorado | Stephen C. West Ice Arena | 2017 |
| Colorado Rampage | Monument, Colorado | Colorado Sports Center | 2015 |
| Colorado Thunderbirds | Littleton, Colorado | South Suburban Ice Arena | 2015 |
| Pikes Peak Miners | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Sertich Ice Arena | 2015 |
| Steamboat Wranglers | Steamboat Springs, Colorado | Howelsen Arena | 2016 |
| Season | Regular Season | Playoff Champion | Runner-up | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | Pikes Peak Miners (69 pts) | Aspen Leafs[15] | Pikes Peak Miners | Championship Game 4–3 (OT) |
| 2016–17 | Pikes Peak Miners (64 pts) | Pikes Peak Miners | Steamboat Wranglers | 2-games-to-1 (9–4, 1–5, 6–5) |
| 2017–18 | Steamboat Wranglers (65 pts) | Steamboat Wranglers | Pikes Peak Miners | Championship Game 9–2 |