Capital Region Junior Hockey League

Not to be confused with National Capital Junior Hockey League or Capital Junior Hockey League.
Capital Region Junior Hockey League
CommissionerGrant Heather
Founded2018
No. of teams7
Associated Title(s)Baldy Northcott Trophy
Keystone Cup
Recent ChampionsSt. Malo Warriors (2023–24)
Websitecrjhl.com

The Capital Region Junior Hockey League (CRJHL) is a junior B ice hockey league in the province of Manitoba, Canada. The league, sanctioned by Hockey Manitoba, began play for 2018–19 season.

History

The CRJHL was formed in 2018 when five teams from the Keystone Junior Hockey League (KJHL) withdrew to form a new league.[1] These five clubs, all located within an hour-and-a-half drive of Winnipeg, cited the long travel distance to northern Manitoba, where the KJHL's other six teams are located, as the main reason for leaving to create the new league.[2][3] The split resulted in litigation, with the remaining KJHL teams alleging that the decision to form a new league was racially motivated.[4] The remaining KJHL teams filed a complaint with governing body, Hockey Manitoba, which ruled that the new league had breached the organization's constitution when it did not give proper notice to the KJHL.[5] Moreover, it ruled that former KJHL players would need a release to play in the new league and there would be a $500 fee.[5] The KJHL applied to the Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba for an injunction halting the CRJHL's inaugural season, and seeking damages for alleged breaches of contracts with players.[6] The court denied the request for injunction, finding that the KJHL teams had not exhausted their appeals through Hockey Manitoba and couldn't prove the split would cause irreparable harm to the league.[7]

The Selkirk Fishermen defeated the North Winnipeg Satelites in six games to capture the first-ever CRJHL championship in 2019. The Fishermen, who defeated the Arborg Ice Dawgs in five games, were set to defend that title in 2020 against the St. Malo Warriors, but the finals were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2020–21 CRJHL season began in October 2020 with games played with spectator limits before provincial-wide restrictions forced the cancellation of the remainder of the season.[8][9]

In 2024, the St. Malo Warriors became the second club to win the league championship.[10]

Teams

The league has expanded twice since it began with 5 teams in 2018. The Beausejour Comets joined in the 2022–23 CRJHL season, and the La Broquerie Habs will debut in the 2024–25 CRJHL season.[11]

Franchises
Team City/Area Arena Founded
Arborg Ice Dawgs Arborg Arborg & District Arena 2006
Beausejour Comets Beausejour Sun Gro Centre 2022
La Broquerie Habs La Broquerie HyLife Centre 2024
Lundar Falcons Lundar Lundar Arena 2010
North Winnipeg Satelites Inkster East Neighbourhood Billy Mosienko Arena 1980
Selkirk Fishermen Selkirk Selkirk Recreation Complex 1917
St. Malo Warriors St. Malo St. Malo Arena 1993

Champions

CRJHL champions
Year Playoff winner Runner-up Result
2019 Selkirk Fishermen North Winnipeg Satelites 4-2
2020 playoff finals cancelled due to COVID-19 outbreak
2021 season cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions
2022 Selkirk Fishermen Arborg Ice Dogs 4-0
2023 Selkirk Fishermen St. Malo Warriors 4-1
2024 St. Malo Warriors Beausejour Comets 4-2

References

  1. ^ "A new league begins". Steinbach Online. October 14, 2018.
  2. ^ "Warriors join new CRJHL". The Carillon. October 12, 2018. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021.
  3. ^ "KJHL Looking for New Teams". Thompsononline.ca. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  4. ^ Petz, Sarah (19 December 2018). "First Nations argue new hockey league is 'blatant racism,' segregates Indigenous, non-Indigenous teams". CBC News. CBC/Radio-Canada. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  5. ^ a b Malone, Kelly Geraldine (21 December 2018). "First Nations denied injunction in Keystone Junior Hockey League split". CBC News. CBC/Radio-Canada. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  6. ^ Billeck, Scott (9 November 2018). "Northern KJHL teams file suit against southern teams that left the league". Winnipeg Sun. Postmedia. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  7. ^ "First Nations denied injunction against split of junior hockey leagues". Global News. Corus Entertainment. Canadian Press. 21 December 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  8. ^ "Treasuring our time together". Winnipeg Free Press. October 14, 2020.
  9. ^ "Fishermen Sit Atop CRJHL Standings Entering 'Code Red' Pause". Game On. November 3, 2020.
  10. ^ Dueck, Shannon (10 April 2024). "St. Malo Warriors honoured in Manitoba Legislature". SteinbachOnline. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  11. ^ Dankochik, Cassidy (13 June 2024). "'We're Habs to the end' — Junior hockey returns to La Broquerie". The Carillon. Retrieved 5 August 2024.

Further reading