Canadian Junior Hockey League

The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), an association of Canadian Junior A ice hockey leagues and teams, formed in November 1993, emerging from the Canada West Association of Junior 'A' Hockey.

History

In reality, the CJHL received its start in 1970 when the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association officially split Junior "A" hockey into Tier I and Tier II. The leagues deemed Tier I Junior "A" only competed against each other, ultimately for the Memorial Cup in what later became the Canadian Hockey League. The Tier II Junior "A" teams, spread across the country, could only play against other Tier II teams. Even in the very first year, the many Tier II league formed a national championship and competed for the Manitoba Centennial Cup. The leagues that would be involved in that first year were the British Columbia Junior Hockey League (BCJHL), Kootenay Junior Hockey League (KJHL), Alberta Junior Hockey League, Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL), Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League (SOJHL), Central Junior A Hockey League (CenJHL), Northern Ontario Junior Hockey Association (NOJHA) and Island Junior Hockey League (PEIJHL).

Some of these leagues formed a formal precursor to the CJHL in 1990 that would be known as the Canada West Association. This organization would be the catalyst for the creation of the Canadian Junior A Hockey League in 1993. In 2008, the league was rebranded the "Canadian Junior Hockey League".

There are currently ten competing leagues in the CJAHL: the BCHL, AJHL, SJHL, MJHL, the Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL), the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL), the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), CenJHL, the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League (QJAAAHL), and the Maritime Junior A Hockey League (MJAHL).

Leagues that have been involved in the CAHA Tier II playoff structure have been: the Pacific Coast Junior Hockey League (PCJHL), the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League (RMJHL), KJHL, the Thunder Bay Junior Hockey League (TBJHL), SOJHL, the Metro Junior A Hockey League (MetJHL), and the PEIJHL. Also, a single team from the United States Hockey League known as the Thunder Bay Flyers, which originated in the TBJHL, played sporadically in the National structure between 1984 and 1995.

To determine a Grand Champion, the winners of each league playdown in four regional championships -- the Fred Page Cup, the Dudley Hewitt Cup, the Anavet Cup, and the Doyle Cup. The winners of the four regionals playoff with a host city for the Royal Bank Cup to determine the National Champion.

Leagues

Top CJHL Picks::Kyle Turris - "2007 1st Rd - 3rd Overall" to Phoenix Coyotes (Burnaby Express BCHL):Dainius Zubrus - "1996 1st Rd - 15th Overall" to Philadelphia Flyers (Caledon Canadians MetJHL):Joe Colborne - "2008 1st Rd - 16th Overall" to Boston Bruins (Camrose Kodiaks AJHL):Travis Zajac - "2004 1st Rd - 20th Overall" to New Jersey Devils (Salmon Arm Silverbacks BCHL):Riley Nash - "2007 1st Rd - 21st Overall" to Edmonton Oilers (Salmon Arm Silverbacks BCHL):Kris Chucko - "2004 1st Rd - 24th Overall" to Calgary Flames (Salmon Arm Silverbacks BCHL):Andrew Cogliano - "2005 1st Rd - 25th Overall" to Edmonton Oilers (St. Michael's Buzzers OPJHL):Brendan Smith - "2007 1st Rd - 27th Overall" to Detroit Red Wings (St. Michael's Buzzers OPJHL)

Top 5 Prior to CJHL::James Patrick - "1981 1st Rd - 9th Overall" to New York Rangers (Prince Albert Raiders) SJHL):Rod Brind'Amour - "1988 1st Rd - 9th Overall" to St. Louis Blues (Notre Dame Hounds SJHL):Jason Marshall - "1989 1st Rd - 9th Overall" to St. Louis Blues (Vernon Lakers BCJHL):John Van Boxmeer - "1972 1st Rd - 14th Overall" to Montreal Canadiens (Guelph CMC's SOJHL):Brent Sutter - "1980 1st Rd - 17th Overall" to New York Islanders (Red Deer Rustlers SJHL)"(*) BCHL totals includes picks from defunct Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League"

"(**) OPJHL totals include picks from defunct Metro Junior A Hockey League"

President's Cup

The President's Cup is awarded to the winning team at the CJAHL Prospects Game. Teams East (CenJHL, MJAHL, NOJHL, OPJHL, and QJAAAHL players) and Team West (AJHL, BCHL, MJHL, SJHL, and SIJHL players) playoff in an annual event for the trophy at a host city in front of scores of fans and scouts.

:2007 Team East defeated Team West "5-3" in Winkler, Manitoba:2006 Team West defeated Team East "6-2" in Vernon, British Columbia:2005 Team West defeated Team East "5-4" in Yorkton, Saskatchewan

Former Competing Leagues & Entities

*Island Junior Hockey League
*Metro Junior A Hockey League
*Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League (1972-1987)
*Pacific Coast Junior Hockey League
*Quebec Provincial Junior A Hockey League
*Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League
*Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League
*Thunder Bay Flyers (USHL)
*Thunder Bay Junior Hockey League

ee also

*Royal Bank Cup 2007
*Royal Bank Cup
*Dudley Hewitt Cup
*Fred Page Cup
*Anavet Cup
*Doyle Cup
*World Junior A Challenge
*Ontario Hockey Association
*List of ice hockey leagues

External links

* [http://www.cjhlhockey.com/ New CJHL site]
* [http://www.cjahl.com/ Old CJAHL site]