Heritage Junior B Hockey League
The Heritage Junior B Hockey League (HJHL) is a Junior "B" ice hockey league in Alberta, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The HJHL was founded in 1987 and is made up of teams from southern and central Alberta. The HJHL is the largest Junior B league in the province, with 15 teams that competed in 2006-07.
As one of the largest Junior B leagues in Alberta, both the league champion, and the losing finalist qualify for the Alberta Provincial Junior B Hockey Championship. The winner of this tournament earns the right to compete for the Western Canadian Junior "B" Crown, the Keystone Cup.
The Lacombe Wranglers won the 2007 league championship over the Airdrie Thunder and Okotoks Bisons in a three team, round robin final. The Wranglers also captured the Alberta provincial title. The Wranglers chose not to participate in the Keystone Cup tournament due to scheduling conflicts.
During the 2010-2011 HJHL finals, Okotoks won the best-of-three series vs. Blackfalds (formerly Lacombe) 2-1, winning their 8th league title. Both teams advanced to the Junior 'B' Provincials in Leduc. Blackfalds won the final 2-1 over the Beaumont Chiefs to advance to the 2011 Keystone Cup in Sherwood Park. With a 4-1 record going into the final, Blackfalds defeated the host Sherwood Park 2-1 to win the Western Canadian Crown.
Current teams
The HJHL has 2 divisions for the 2016-2017 season.
Team | Centre | 2015-16 Record (W–L–T–OTL) | Points | Finish |
---|---|---|---|---|
North Division | ||||
Mountainview Colts | Didsbury | 27–10–x–1 | 55 | 1st |
Airdrie Thunder | Airdrie | 26–10–x–2 | 54 | 2nd |
Red Deer Vipers | Red Deer | 25–9–x–4 | 54 | 3rd |
Blackfalds Wranglers | Blackfalds | 22–12–x–4 | 48 | 4th |
Three Hills Thrashers | Three Hills | 19–16–x–3 | 41 | 5th |
Ponoka Stampeders | Ponoka | 11–25–x–2 | 24 | 6th |
Stettler Lightning | Stettler | 9–26–x–3 | 21 | 7th |
South Division | ||||
Cochrane Generals | Cochrane | 29–5–x–4 | 62 | 1st |
Okotoks Bisons | Okotoks | 29–9–x–0 | 58 | 2nd |
Coaldale Copperheads | Coaldale | 26–10–x–2 | 54 | 3rd |
Banff Academy Bears | Banff | 14–23–x–1 | 29 | 4th |
Strathmore Wheatland Kings | Strathmore | 13-23-x-2 | 28 | 5th |
High River Flyers | High River | 11–24–x–3 | 25 | 6th |
Medicine Hat Cubs | Medicine Hat | 5–33–x–0 | 10 | 7th |
Champions
- 2016 - Mountainview Colts
- 2015 - Coaldale Copperheads
- 2014 - Okotoks Bisons
- 2013 - Okotoks Bisons*
- 2012 - Okotoks Bisons
- 2011 - Okotoks Bisons**
- 2010 - Blackfalds Wranglers
- 2009 - Cochrane Generals
- 2008 - Cochrane Generals
- 2007 - Lacombe Wranglers
- 2006 - Okotoks Bisons1
- 2005 - Okotoks Bisons
- 2004 - Red Deer Vipers
- 2003 - Foothills Bisons
- 2002 - Foothills Bisons
- 2001 - Foothills Bisons
- 2000 - Airdrie Thunder
- 1999 - Red Deer Vipers
- 1998 - Airdrie Thunder
- 1997 - Foothills Bisons
- 1996 - Foothills Bisons
- 1995 - Lacombe Wranglers
- 1994 - Lacombe Wranglers
- 1993 - Lacombe Wranglers
- 1992 - Ponoka Knight Hawks
- 1991 - Hobbema Knight Hawks
- 1990 - Terraco Knights
- 1989 - Red Deer Cowboys
- 1988 - Barrhead Jr. Elks
- 1987 - Drayton Valley Devils
- Bold denotes won Alberta provincial title
- 1League finalists Red Deer Vipers captured the Alberta Provincials and Keystone Cup championship
- (*) 2011 - Blackfalds wins 2011 Provincials as HJHL finalists, and went on too win the 2011 Keystone Cup
- (**)2013 - Blackfalds wins 2013 Provincials as HJHL finalists.
Previous league members
- - Barrhead Jr. Elks
- - Drayton Valley Devils
- - Hobbema Knight Hawks
- - Lacombe Wranglers (became the Blackfalds Wranglers)
- - Rimbey Rock
- - Rimbey West Stars
- - Claresholm Storm
- - Southern Express
- - Siksika Ice
- - Maskwacis Attack
- - Livingstone Rockmen
See also
External links
- Heritage Junior Hockey league
- Airdrie
- Banff
- High River
- Medicine Hat
- Okotoks
- Red Deer
- Rimbey
- Three Hills
- Ponoka
- Cochrane
- Coaldale