The Greater Ontario Hockey League (GOHL) is a Canadian junior ice hockey league based in Southern Ontario, Canada. The league is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA), Ontario Hockey Federation, and Hockey Canada. The league is considered Junior B by the OHA despite several attempts to be promoted to Junior A.
Established as the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) in 2007, it was created through merging the Western Ontario Hockey League, Mid-Western Junior Hockey League, and Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League, to dissuade perceived player raiding from teams in the then-Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League. The twenty-three teams of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League come from Southwestern Ontario and the Golden Horseshoe.
In September 2025, the GOJHL became the development league for the Ontario Hockey League, and was renamed to the Greater Ontario Hockey League.
History
In the late 1990s, the Western Ontario Junior B Hockey League began complaining about their top level players being pulled from their teams at trade deadline time by Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League clubs without permission or compensation. A common view in Southern Ontario Junior B circles is that Junior "A" and Junior "B" are approximately the same skill level. In fact the OPJHL was known as the Central Ontario Junior B Hockey League until 1993, as well the Metro Junior A Hockey League which folded in 1998 was a Junior "B" league until 1991.
During the 2006–07 season, the general managers of all Ontario Hockey Association Junior "B" teams came together and voted unanimously to merge and create the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) effective for the 2007–08 season. The GOJHL will become the sole competing body of the Sutherland Cup, which had as many as eight leagues competing for it at one time.
The 2007–08 season did not begin as planned. The management of the Mid-Western league resigned and needed to be replaced, and with a lack of organization due to the short time the new management had to get organized, the MWJHL had to opt out of an interlocking schedule. As a result, the entire GOJHL went without an interlocking schedule for 2007–08. The 2008–09 season saw the complete liquidation of all three divisional managements and a single governing body was put in place for the league. Additionally, inter-divisional play would also commence.
In the future, the league has stated that it will pursue club expansion, a reconfiguration that will move the league from three to four divisions, and possibly a move to join the Canadian Junior A Hockey League in future years.
On September 8, 2007, the Cambridge Winterhawks and the Guelph Dominators played the first ever game since the inception of the GOJHL. Despite leading 2–0 and outshooting Guelph, the defending Sutherland Cup Champions allowed five unanswered goals to drop the game 5–2. On May 3, 2008, the Tecumseh Chiefs finished a four-game sweep of the Elmira Sugar Kings to win the first ever GOJHL championship.
On September 24, 2008, the GOJHL hosted its first interdivisional regular season game between the Golden Horseshoe's Wheatfield Jr. Blades and the Western's London Nationals in London, Ontario. The Nationals won the game 6–2.
The LaSalle Vipers, 2010 Sutherland Cup champions, were asked to represent the Ontario Hockey Association and Hockey Canada for "Canada Day" in Mexico. On December 16, 2010, the Vipers played the Mexico Under-20 National Team and defeated them 9–2 in Mexico City. In January 2011, the GOJHL's Golden Horseshoe Conference and Midwestern Conference hosted the Russian Minor Hockey League's "Red Stars" who did not make their Under-20 Team. On January 1, the MHL Red Stars defeated the Golden Horseshoe Conference 7–4 and on January 3, the Red Stars defeated the Midwestern Conference 11–3. The MHL is Russia's top tier Junior league, while each conference of the GOJHL is a third of Southern Ontario's third-tier of Junior hockey.
On October 10, 2012, the OHA announced its intention to expand east of Guelph and form a new fourth conference for the GOJHL. The announcement comes on the heels of the relocation of the Owen Sound Greys to Brampton by their sponsor, leaving the northerly city out of OHA junior hockey for the first time in ninety-nine years (not including wartime). In January 2014, the OHA announced that the plan to expand was on hold due to lack of serious parties. They announced that of eleven applicants, only four were substantial enough to play in the league. A Brantford group applied for expansion none-the-less, while the other three parties are currently in limbo. The Brantford group was approved for membership into the Midwestern Conference as the Brantford 99'ers.
On March 28, 2014, the GOJHL's representatives filed for promotion from Junior B to Junior A with the Ontario Hockey Association. The matter was discussed at the OHA head office on April 5, 2014. A few weeks later, the OHA rejected the promotion and the GOJHL's chairman was dismissed by the OHA. During the 2014–15 season, the Golden Horseshoe Conference held a vote to determine their future with the GOJHL. The teams voted to leave the GOJHL with OHA approval and govern autonomously from the league. In retaliation, the GOJHL invited no players from the Golden Horseshoe to the league's all-star game, forcing the Golden Horseshoe to play their own game in short order late in the season. The GOJHL playoff format remains unchanged for 2015 despite the shuffle. Before the playoffs began in 2015, the GOJHL announced that the Golden Horseshoe had rejoined the fold and that its annexation was averted.
In early May 2017, the Cambridge Winterhawks announced their intentions to sever ties with the OHA, stating that they would not be part of the GOJHL going forward. The GOJHL initial response was to withhold comment until further details could be established.
In June 2024, the GOJHL announced new realigned conferences, moving to an "East/West" format from the long standing 3 conference arrangement.
In September 2025, the GOJHL became the first development league for the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). In the same month, the GOJHL was renamed to the Greater Ontario Hockey League (GOHL) as part of rebranding with the OHL.
Teams
Team City Arena FoundedChatham MaroonsChatham, OntarioChatham Memorial Arena1959Elmira Sugar KingsElmira, OntarioWoolwich Memorial Centre1987Komoka KingsKomoka, OntarioKomoka Wellness Centre2017LaSalle VipersLaSalle, OntarioVollmer Culture and Recreation Complex1970Listowel CyclonesListowel, OntarioSteve Kerr Memorial Complex1972London NationalsLondon, OntarioWestern Fair District Sports Centre1950Sarnia LegionnairesSarnia, OntarioPat Stapleton Arena1969St. Marys LincolnsSt. Marys, OntarioPyramid Recreation Complex1956St. Thomas StarsSt. Thomas, OntarioJoe Thornton Community Centre1961Stratford WarriorsStratford, OntarioWilliam Allman Memorial Arena1962Strathroy RocketsStrathroy, OntarioWest Middlesex Memorial Arena1965Woodstock Navy-VetsWoodstock, OntarioWoodstock District Community Complex 2026 Team City Arena FoundedAyr CentennialsAyr, OntarioNorth Dumfries Community Complex2020Brantford TitansBrantford, OntarioWayne Gretzky Sports Centre2013Caledonia CorvairsCaledonia, OntarioHaldimand County Caledonia Centre1970Cambridge RedhawksCambridge, OntarioGalt Arena Gardens2018Fort Erie MeteorsFort Erie, OntarioFort Erie Leisureplex1957Hamilton SteelHamilton, OntarioDave Andreychuk Mountain Arena & Skating Centre1974Pelham PanthersPelham, OntarioMeridian Community Centre2014Port Colborne Sailors Port Colborne, OntarioVale Centre1963St. Catharines FalconsSt. Catharines, OntarioSeymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre1968Stoney Creek GeneralsStoney Creek, OntarioGateway Ice Centre2026Waterloo SiskinsWaterloo, OntarioWaterloo Memorial Recreation Complex1971Welland Jr. CanadiansWelland, OntarioWelland Arena1975
Former teams Future GOJHL/GOHL TeamsTeamCityArenaFoundedFolded/Moved Ancaster Avalanche Ancaster Morgan Firestone Arena 2014 2019, moved to Hamilton as the Hamilton Kilty B's Brantford 99ers Brantford Brantford Civic Centre 2013 2019, renamed Brantford Bandits Brantford Bandits Brantford Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre 2019 2024, franchise sold to Titan Hockey Group, rebranded as the Brantford Titans Brampton Bombers Brampton Brampton Memorial Arena 2012 2020, moved to Caledon as the Caledon Bombers Buffalo Blades Cheektowaga Buffalo State College Ice Complex 2012 2013, renamed as the Buffalo Regals Buffalo Regals Buffalo Holiday Twin Rinks 2014 2013, moved to Lockport, NY as the Lockport Regals Caledon Bombers Caledon 2020 2026, franchise converted to Stoney Creek Cambridge Winter Hawks Cambridge Galt Arena Gardens 1982 2017, withdrew from the OHA Guelph Hurricanes Guelph Sleeman Centre (Guelph) 2009 2018, moved to Cambridge as the Cambridge Redhawks Kitchener Dutchmen Kitchener Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex 1988 2020, franchise bought by Ayr Jr C, moved to Ayr as the Ayr Centennials Lambton Shores Predators Forest The Shores Recreation Centre 2008 2017, moved to Komoka as the Komoka Kings Leamington Flyers Leamington Nature Fresh Farms Recreation Centre 1954 2023, moved to OJHL Lockport Regals Lockport Buffalo State College Ice Complex 2019 2020, moved to Cheektowaga, NY as the Buffalo Regals, resign from the GOJHL for 2020 season Niagara Falls Canucks Niagara Falls Gale Centre 1971 2023, moved to OJHL Petrolia Jets Petrolia Petrolia Arena 1960 2008, moved to Forest as the Lambton Shores Predators Port Colborne Pirates Port Colborne Gale Centre 2008 2014, moved to Pelham as the Pelham Pirates Sarnia Blast Sarnia Pat Stapleton Arena 2001 2009, renamed as the Sarnia Legionnaires Stoney Creek Warriors Stoney Creek Morgan Firestone Arena 1974 2014, moved to Ancaster as the Ancaster Avalanche Tecumseh Chiefs Tecumseh Tecumseh Arena 1995 2008, moved to LaSalle as the LaSalle Vipers Thorold Blackhawks Thorold Thorold Community Arena 1963 2022, temporarily to Port Colborne for 2022/23 season, permanently relocate for the 2023/24 season as the Port Colborne Sailors Wheatfield Jr. Blades Wheatfield Hockey Outlet 1987 2012, moved to Cheektowaga as the Buffalo Blades
Future teams Future GOHL TeamsTeamCityArenaCapcityFoundedJoiningWoodstock Navy-VetsWoodstock, OntarioWoodstock District Community Complex 2,000 1966 2026Stoney Creek GeneralsStoney Creek, OntarioGateway Ice Centre 3,000 2026 2026
Timeline of teams
2007 – Mid-Western Junior Hockey League, Western Ontario Hockey League, and Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League merge to form GOJHL 2008 – Tecumseh Chiefs move and become LaSalle Vipers 2008 – Petrolia Jets move and become Lambton Shores Predators 2008 – Sarnia Blast become Sarnia Legionnaires 2008 – Brantford Golden Eagles become Brantford Eagles 2008 – Port Colborne Sailors become Port Colborne Pirates 2009 – Guelph Dominators become Guelph Hurricanes 2009 – Owen Sound Greys take one-year leave 2010 – Owen Sound Greys return to league 2011 – Wheatfield Jr. Blades move and become Buffalo Blades 2012 – Owen Sound Greys relocate and become Brampton Bombers 2012 – Brantford Eagles relocate and become Caledonia Corvairs 2013 – Buffalo Blades are renamed Buffalo Regals 2013 – Brantford 99'ers are granted expansion 2013 – Stoney Creek Warriors relocated and become Ancaster Avalanche 2013 – Caledonia Corvairs switch from Mid-Western to Golden Horseshoe Conference 2013 – Round Robin eliminated after Conference finals, a Wild Card entry added to league semi-final 2014 – Port Colborne Pirates relocate and become Pelham Pirates 2014 – Buffalo Regals take one-year leave 2014 – Pelham Pirates change name to Pelham Panthers mid-season. 2015 – Buffalo Regals take another one-year leave after failing to properly file paperwork for reinstatement 2016 – Buffalo Regals return after two-year hiatus