Nova Scotia U18 Major Hockey League

Nova Scotia U18 Major Hockey League

Current season, competition or edition: 2022–23 MHL season
Sport	Ice hockey
Founded	1978
President	Paul Graham[1]
No. of teams	8
Countries	Canada
Headquarters	Halifax, Nova Scotia
Continent	North America
TV partner(s)	Eastlink TV
Official website	NSU18MHL Website

The Nova Scotia U18 Major Hockey League (NSU18MHL, formerly NSMMHL) is a Nova Scotian ice hockey league for Major AAA players under 18 years old. It is a part of and follows the regulations set by the Hockey Nova Scotia organisation.[2][3] Successful players in this league often go on to play in the MHL and QMJHL.[4]

History

The league was founded and began playing in the 1978–79 season as the Maritime Midget Hockey League. During the first season there were seven teams in the league with four based in Nova Scotia and three based in New Brunswick. Since its founding the league has rebranded multiple times, first as the Nova Scotia AAA Midget Hockey League (NSAAAMHL) in 1983, then as the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League (NSMMHL) in 2002, and finally as the Nova Scotia U18 Major Hockey League in 2019.[5] It was founded to offer an opportunity for under 18 players from the Maritimes to compete at the highest possible level for their age group, with many associations spinning off their AAA teams to play in the broader Nova Scotia league.[6]

Teams

2022–2023 Season Team Joined Centre Arena Cape Breton West Islanders - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia Al MacInnis Sports Centre Halifax Macs 1978 Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax Forum South Shore Mustangs 1985[7] Bridgewater, Nova Scotia Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre Sydney Rush - Sydney, Nova Scotia Membertou Steele Subaru 2011[8] Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Dartmouth Sportsplex Weeks U18 Majors 1986[9] Pictou County, Nova Scotia Pictou County Wellness Centre Valley Wildcats (U18) - Berwick, Nova Scotia Kings Mutual Century Center Cole Harbour Wolfpack - Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia Cole Harbour Place

League champions

During the regular season the league tracks the teams with the most wins who then go on to compete in the league finals for the champion title.

For the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons no league champion was crowned due to the finals being cancelled by COVID-19 pandemic related lock-downs.[10]

Season	Season Champions	Provincial Champions
2022–23	Weeks U18 Majors	Weeks U18 Majors
2021–22	Halifax Macs	Halifax Macs
2020–21	Halifax Macs	Playoffs Cancelled due to Covid-19
2019–20	South Shore Mustangs	Playoffs Cancelled due to Covid-19
2018–19	Cole Harbour	Halifax Macs
2017–18	Halifax Macs	Steele Subaru
2016–17	Cape Breton West Islanders[11]	Cape Breton West Islanders
2015–16	Cole Harbour	Steele Subaru
2014–15	Halifax Macs	Newbridge Academy
2013–14	Halifax Macs	Halifax Macs
2012–13	Valley Wildcats	Valley Wildcats
2011-12	Halifax Titans	Halifax Titans
2010-11	Dartmouth Ice Dawgs	Halifax Titans
2009-10	Halifax Titans	Cole Harbour McCains
2008-09	Cole Harbour McCains	Cole Harbour McCains
2007-08	Dartmouth Subways	Cole Harbour McCains
2006-07	Pictou County Weeks	Dartmouth Subways

Notable players

• Morgan Barron
• Shane Bowers
• Sidney Crosby
• Ryan Graves
• Nathan MacKinnon
• Brad Marchand
• Glen Murray
• Logan Shaw
• James Sheppard

References

1. Graham, Nick. "Executive". Nova Scotia U18 Hockey League. RYNA Consulting. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
2. "NSU18MHL Info & Player Eligibility". Nova Scotia U18 Major Hockey League. RYNA Consulting. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
3. Palov, Willy (5 July 2022). "Nova Scotians fare well at QMJHL draft, Mooseheads add more talent | SaltWire". saltwire.com. Saltwire. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
4. Spurr, Bill (23 June 2021). "A look at the top Nova Scotia prospects for this weekend's QMJHL draft | SaltWire". saltwire.com. Saltwire. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
5. Graham, Nick. "About Us". Nova Scotia U18 Hockey League. RYNA Consulting. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
6. "South Shore Mustangs : Powered by GOALLINE". ssmustangs.ca. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
7. "South Shore Mustangs : Powered by GOALLINE". ssmustangs.ca. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
8. "Steele Subaru U18". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
9. Lynn, John K. "Weeks Hockey Organization Histroy [sic]". Weeks Major Midget Hockey Club. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
10. "Halifax McDonald's Major Midget Hockey Club : Powered by GOALLINE". halifaxmajormidget.ca. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
11. Colello, Tj. "West Islanders in first place in NSMMHL | SaltWire". www.saltwire.com. Retrieved 16 December 2022.

External links

• NSU18MHL Website