Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League
Encyclopedia
----
The Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League was a Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey
that lasted from the late 1960s until 1977 in Southern Ontario
, Canada
. The league was swallowed by what is now called the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
in 1977.
In the 1960s, the Western Junior "B" Hockey League was arguably the top league of Junior "B" hockey in Ontario. The Western's brass and the team owners felt that they should, as a whole, be promoted to Junior "A" status. In 1968 they pushed the issue with the Ontario Hockey Association
. The the OHA refused the promotion and in return the league declared itself renegade. Declaring themselves the Western Junior "A" Hockey League, the WOJAHL operated independently for the next two seasons.
After the 1969 playoffs, the WOJAHL champion St. Thomas Barons
, starring future NHLer Ken Murray
, faced off against future Hockey Hall of Fame
r Bobby Clarke
and the Flin Flon Bombers
of the Western Canada Hockey League
to determine a National Champion outside of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association
. The first two games of the Best-of-Seven series took place in St. Thomas, Ontario
. Flin Flon won game one 6-2, while St. Thomas returned the favour in game two with a 6-3 win. The teams then shipped out to Flin Flon
, where the Bombers took game three 5-0. In game four, the Bombers led 4-0 at 10:10 of the second period, and the last of two brawls in the game would break out. In retaliation, the Barons walked off the ice. When St. Thomas made it clear they would not finish the series, the Canadian Hockey Association
awarded the championship to the Bombers. Coach Keith Kewly and Manager Jack Cassidy were suspended one season by their league and the team was fined $700. The town of St. Thomas had to raise $4500 to bring the team back home from Manitoba
. Initially the CHA suspended the Barons for the entire 1969-70 season, but the suspension was overturned by the WOJAHL.
In 1970, the Top Tier of Junior Hockey
in Ontario
broke away from the OHA as well. To save face, the OHA opened negotiations with the WOJAHL. The league was welcomed back into the OHA as the top level in its system and changed its name to the Southern Ontario Junior "A" Hockey League.
The 1971 League title went to the Detroit Jr. Red Wings
, starring Mark Howe
and Marty Howe, sons of legend Gordie Howe
. Detroit defeated Guelph 3-games-to-2 with two ties to clinch the title. Detroit went on to defeat the Ottawa M & W Rangers in the quarterfinals of the Centennial Cup before losing to the Charlottetown Islanders in the Eastern Final. The next season saw the Guelph CMC's
challenge and defeat Detroit in the final 4-games-to-1. The CMC's pushed further and ended up winning the Manitoba Centennial Cup
as Canadian Tier II Junior "A" Champions.
In 1973, the Chatham Maroons
took the league crown and then defeated the newly formed Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
's champion the Wexford Warriors for the OHA Crown. The next season's title was won by the Windsor Spitfires
who then fell to the Warriors in seven games.
The '75 title was won by the CMC's again. They made it all the way to the National title, but fell to the Alberta Junior Hockey League
champion. In 1975-76, the CMC's were bought and renamed the Guelph Platers
. They won the league once again, and moved on to the national title playdowns. Their first opponent was the Rockland Nationals
of the Central Junior A Hockey League
. After going up 3-games-to-none on them, the Platers fell apart and lost in seven games.
The league had six teams in 1975-76 but that was only due to the additions of the Hamilton Mountain A's
and the Owen Sound Greys
. The Jr. Red Wings had gone back to playing in the United States
, the Sarnia Bees
went to the newly formed Western Junior B Hockey League
and the Windsor Spitfires
moved up to the Ontario Hockey League
.
In 1976-77 the Collingwood Blues
also joined the league but three other teams dropped out, reducing the number of clubs to four. The Niagara Falls Flyers
folded to make way for a new OHL franchise in that city, the Welland Sabres
also folded and Chatham returned to Junior B.
After the 1977 playoffs, the league folded and the Platers and A's were invited to join the OPJHL. The Greys went on hiatus for one season and then moved up to the Major Intermediate A Hockey League
. Collingwood returned to Junior B. The Guelph Platers
joined the OHL in 1982 and are now known as the Owen Sound Attack
.
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| OHA Junior "A" | |
|---|---|
| SOJHL | (1970-1977) |
| OPJHL | (1972–1987) |
| MetJHL Metro Junior A Hockey League ----The Metro Junior "A" Hockey League was a junior level ice hockey league based out of Southern Ontario. The league originated in 1956 as the Metro Junior "B" Hockey League, which lasted until 1991, when it changed its designation from Junior B to Junior A. It remained a Jr... |
(1991-1998) |
| OJHL | (1993-Present) |
| Ontario Hockey Association Ontario Hockey Association The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the... |
|
| Canadian Junior Hockey League | |
| OHA Junior "B" | |
| WJBHL | (1950-1968) |
| EJBHL Eastern Junior B Hockey League The Eastern Junior B Hockey League was a Junior "B" ice hockey league based in Eastern Ontario. They were sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association and Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, and competed for the All-Ontario Junior "B" title, the Sutherland Cup.-History:In 1951, the Eastern Group... |
(1950-1972) |
| MetJHL Metro Junior A Hockey League ----The Metro Junior "A" Hockey League was a junior level ice hockey league based out of Southern Ontario. The league originated in 1956 as the Metro Junior "B" Hockey League, which lasted until 1991, when it changed its designation from Junior B to Junior A. It remained a Jr... |
(1950-1989) |
| NDJBHL Niagara District Junior B Hockey League The Niagara District Junior B Hockey League was a Canadian Junior ice hockey league in the Golden Horseshoe of Ontario from 1954 until 1979. The league was a part of the Ontario Hockey Association of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association and was eligible for the Sutherland Cup.-History:The... |
(1954-1979) |
| CJBHL | (1954-1993) |
| BCJHL | (1958-1964) |
| MOJBHL Mid-Ontario Junior B Hockey League The Mid-Ontario Junior B Hockey League was a Junior "B" ice hockey league based in Southern Ontario. They were sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association and Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, and competed for the All-Ontario Junior "B" title, the Sutherland Cup.-History:The league was formed... |
(1970-1978) |
| SWJBHL | (1976-1978) |
| WOHL | (1969-2007) |
| MWJHL | (1973-2007) |
| GHL | (1974-2007) |
| GOJHL Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League The Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Canadian junior ice hockey league based in Southern Ontario, Canada. The league is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association, Ontario Hockey Federation, and Hockey Canada... |
(2007-Present) |
| Sutherland Cup Sutherland Cup The Sutherland Cup is the ice hockey Ontario Junior "B" Provincial Championship trophy. The Sutherland Cup is now the championship trophy of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. Until 2007, the Cup served as an interleague provincial championship... |
|
The Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League was a Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
that lasted from the late 1960s until 1977 in Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario is a region of the province of Ontario, Canada that lies south of the French River and Algonquin Park. Depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, its surface area would cover between 14 to 15% of the province. It is the southernmost region of...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The league was swallowed by what is now called the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
The Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under the supervision of the Ontario Hockey Association and the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The league dates back to 1954 as the Central Junior B Hockey League. In 1993, the Central Junior B Hockey League was promoted to the...
in 1977.
- The Big '10' Western Division Prior to 1956
- Western Ontario Junior "B" Hockey League 1956 - 1968
- Western Ontario Junior "A" Hockey League 1968 - 1970
- Southern Ontario Junior "A" Hockey League 1970 - 1977
History
In 1956 the tradition Big '10' League was divided, its Western Division became the Western Ontario Junior "B" Hockey League, and the Central Division became the Central Junior "B" Hockey League.In the 1960s, the Western Junior "B" Hockey League was arguably the top league of Junior "B" hockey in Ontario. The Western's brass and the team owners felt that they should, as a whole, be promoted to Junior "A" status. In 1968 they pushed the issue with the Ontario Hockey Association
Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
. The the OHA refused the promotion and in return the league declared itself renegade. Declaring themselves the Western Junior "A" Hockey League, the WOJAHL operated independently for the next two seasons.
After the 1969 playoffs, the WOJAHL champion St. Thomas Barons
St. Thomas Stars
The St. Thomas Stars are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
, starring future NHLer Ken Murray
Ken Murray (ice hockey)
Kenneth Richard Murray is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 106 games in the National Hockey League for the Kansas City Scouts, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings.-External links:...
, faced off against future Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
r Bobby Clarke
Bobby Clarke
Robert Earle Clarke, OC , better known as Bobby Clarke or, in later life, Bob Clarke, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played his entire National Hockey League career with the Philadelphia Flyers and is currently an executive with the team...
and the Flin Flon Bombers
Flin Flon Bombers
The Flin Flon Bombers are a junior ice hockey team and current member of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League , and are based in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada. The team moved and became the Edmonton Oil Kings in 1978, but the Flin Flon Bomber name was retained...
of the Western Canada Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
to determine a National Champion outside of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association
Hockey Canada
Hockey Canada, formally known as the Canadian Hockey Association, is the national governing body of ice hockey in Canada and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Hockey Canada controls a vast majority of ice hockey in Canada, with a few exceptions...
. The first two games of the Best-of-Seven series took place in St. Thomas, Ontario
St. Thomas, Ontario
St. Thomas is a city in southern , Ontario, Canada. It is the seat for Elgin County and gained its city charter on March 4, 1881.-History:...
. Flin Flon won game one 6-2, while St. Thomas returned the favour in game two with a 6-3 win. The teams then shipped out to Flin Flon
Flin Flon
Flin Flon is a Canadian mining city located on the border of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, with the majority of the city located within Manitoba.- Founding :...
, where the Bombers took game three 5-0. In game four, the Bombers led 4-0 at 10:10 of the second period, and the last of two brawls in the game would break out. In retaliation, the Barons walked off the ice. When St. Thomas made it clear they would not finish the series, the Canadian Hockey Association
Canadian Hockey Association
Canadian Hockey Association can refer to:* Canadian Hockey Association , a men's professional ice hockey league* Hockey Canada, formally known as the Canadian Hockey Association, the governing body for ice hockey in Canada...
awarded the championship to the Bombers. Coach Keith Kewly and Manager Jack Cassidy were suspended one season by their league and the team was fined $700. The town of St. Thomas had to raise $4500 to bring the team back home from Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. Initially the CHA suspended the Barons for the entire 1969-70 season, but the suspension was overturned by the WOJAHL.
In 1970, the Top Tier of Junior Hockey
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
broke away from the OHA as well. To save face, the OHA opened negotiations with the WOJAHL. The league was welcomed back into the OHA as the top level in its system and changed its name to the Southern Ontario Junior "A" Hockey League.
The 1971 League title went to the Detroit Jr. Red Wings
Detroit Jr. Red Wings (SOJHL)
The Detroit Jr. Red Wings are a defunct Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey team that was based out of Detroit, Michigan. They played out of the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League and were the feeder team for the National Hockey League's Detroit Red Wings....
, starring Mark Howe
Mark Howe
Mark Steven Howe is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League and 6 seasons in the World Hockey Association . He is the son of Colleen and Gordie Howe, and early in his career was a teammate of his father...
and Marty Howe, sons of legend Gordie Howe
Gordie Howe
Gordon "Gordie" Howe, OC is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League , and the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association . Howe is often referred to as Mr...
. Detroit defeated Guelph 3-games-to-2 with two ties to clinch the title. Detroit went on to defeat the Ottawa M & W Rangers in the quarterfinals of the Centennial Cup before losing to the Charlottetown Islanders in the Eastern Final. The next season saw the Guelph CMC's
Guelph CMC's
The Guelph CMC's or sometimes known as the Guelph CMC's Biltmore Mad Hatters were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association as a Junior 'B' team in the Central League from 1956 to 1970, and merged with the Western A League's Guelph Beef Kings to become a Junior 'A' team from 1970...
challenge and defeat Detroit in the final 4-games-to-1. The CMC's pushed further and ended up winning the Manitoba Centennial Cup
Royal Bank Cup
The Royal Bank Cup is an annual ice hockey tournament held to determine the Canadian Junior A champion. The winner of the tournament wins the Royal Bank Cup...
as Canadian Tier II Junior "A" Champions.
In 1973, the Chatham Maroons
Chatham Maroons
----The Chatham Maroons are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
took the league crown and then defeated the newly formed Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
The Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under the supervision of the Ontario Hockey Association and the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The league dates back to 1954 as the Central Junior B Hockey League. In 1993, the Central Junior B Hockey League was promoted to the...
's champion the Wexford Warriors for the OHA Crown. The next season's title was won by the Windsor Spitfires
Windsor Spitfires
The Windsor Spitfires are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The franchise was granted for the 1975–76 season and revived a previous OHA Jr. A Spitfires team which moved to become the Hamilton Tiger Cubs in 1953.-History:The...
who then fell to the Warriors in seven games.
The '75 title was won by the CMC's again. They made it all the way to the National title, but fell to the Alberta Junior Hockey League
Alberta Junior Hockey League
The Alberta Junior Hockey League is an Alberta-based Junior A hockey league that belongs to the Canadian Junior Hockey League . It was formed as a five-team league in 1964. There are currently 16 teams in the league. The regular season league champions receive the Dave Duchak Trophy...
champion. In 1975-76, the CMC's were bought and renamed the Guelph Platers
Guelph Platers
The Guelph Platers were a junior ice hockey team in theOntario Hockey Association from 1975 to 1982, and the Ontario Hockey League from 1982 to 1989, based in Guelph, Ontario.-History:...
. They won the league once again, and moved on to the national title playdowns. Their first opponent was the Rockland Nationals
Rockland Nationals
The Rockland Nationals are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team from Rockland, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the National Capital Junior Hockey League.-History:...
of the Central Junior A Hockey League
Central Junior A Hockey League
The Central Canada Hockey League is a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey league operating in eastern Ontario, Canada. The league is sanctioned by the Ottawa District Hockey Association and Hockey Canada and is a member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League...
. After going up 3-games-to-none on them, the Platers fell apart and lost in seven games.
The league had six teams in 1975-76 but that was only due to the additions of the Hamilton Mountain A's
Hamilton Mountain A's
The Hamilton Mountain A's are a defunct Junior "A" ice hockey team from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They were a part of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League.-History:...
and the Owen Sound Greys
Owen Sound Greys
The Owen Sound Greys are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Mid-Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League...
. The Jr. Red Wings had gone back to playing in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the Sarnia Bees
Sarnia Blast
The Sarnia Legionnaires are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
went to the newly formed Western Junior B Hockey League
Western Junior B Hockey League
The Western Ontario Hockey League was a junior ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association from 1969 until 2007. As of 2007, the league has become a division of the newly formed Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League...
and the Windsor Spitfires
Windsor Spitfires
The Windsor Spitfires are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The franchise was granted for the 1975–76 season and revived a previous OHA Jr. A Spitfires team which moved to become the Hamilton Tiger Cubs in 1953.-History:The...
moved up to the Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
.
In 1976-77 the Collingwood Blues
Collingwood Blues
The Collingwood Blues were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Collingwood, Ontario, Canada. They were a part of the Ontario Junior A Hockey League and earlier the Central Junior B Hockey League.-History:...
also joined the league but three other teams dropped out, reducing the number of clubs to four. The Niagara Falls Flyers
Niagara Falls Flyers (SOJHL)
The Niagara Falls Flyers were a Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey team and member of the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League. The team played home games at the Niagara Falls Memorial Arena in Niagara Falls, Ontario.-History:...
folded to make way for a new OHL franchise in that city, the Welland Sabres
Welland Sabres
The Welland Sabres are a defunct Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey team that were based out of Welland, Ontario. The team was a part of the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League.-Season-by-season results:-Playoffs:...
also folded and Chatham returned to Junior B.
After the 1977 playoffs, the league folded and the Platers and A's were invited to join the OPJHL. The Greys went on hiatus for one season and then moved up to the Major Intermediate A Hockey League
Major Intermediate A Hockey League
The Major Intermediate A Hockey League was an ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association. It existed from 1978 to 1983. Its champion was eligible to compete for the W.G. Hardy Trophy, emblematic of Canadian Intermediate A hockey supremacy.The Georgian Bay...
. Collingwood returned to Junior B. The Guelph Platers
Guelph Platers
The Guelph Platers were a junior ice hockey team in theOntario Hockey Association from 1975 to 1982, and the Ontario Hockey League from 1982 to 1989, based in Guelph, Ontario.-History:...
joined the OHL in 1982 and are now known as the Owen Sound Attack
Owen Sound Attack
The Owen Sound Attack are a junior ice hockey in the Ontario Hockey League since the year 2000. The Attack are based in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada.-History:...
.
Teams
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Jack Oakes Memorial Trophy Playoff Champions
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Western Junior "B" Champions
- 1968 Sarnia Legionnaires
- 1967 St. Thomas Barons
- 1966 Sarnia Legionnaires
- 1965 London Nationals
- 1964 London Nationals
- 1963 St. Marys Lincolns
- 1962 St. Thomas Barons
- 1961 St. Marys Lincolns
- 1960 St. Marys Lincolns
- 1959 Sarnia Legionnaires
- 1958 Sarnia Legionnaires
- 1957 Sarnia Legionnaires
- 1956 Simcoe Gunners
- 1955 Seaforth Baldwins
- 1954 Seaforth Baldwins
- 1953 Seaforth Baldwins
- 1952 London Lou Ball
- 1951 Sarnia Jr. Sailors
Eastern Centennial Cup semi-final champions
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Centennial Cup champions
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See also
- Ontario Hockey AssociationOntario Hockey AssociationThe Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
- Ontario Hockey LeagueOntario Hockey LeagueThe Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
- Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey LeagueOntario Provincial Junior A Hockey LeagueThe Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under the supervision of the Ontario Hockey Association and the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The league dates back to 1954 as the Central Junior B Hockey League. In 1993, the Central Junior B Hockey League was promoted to the...
- Centennial CupRoyal Bank CupThe Royal Bank Cup is an annual ice hockey tournament held to determine the Canadian Junior A champion. The winner of the tournament wins the Royal Bank Cup...
- Dudley Hewitt CupDudley Hewitt CupThe Dudley Hewitt Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy, won by tournaments conducted by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The trophy was first awarded in 1979. The winner of the Dudley Hewitt Cup competes at the 2011 Royal Bank Cup.-History:...
- List of ice hockey leagues