The Manitoba U-18 'AAA' Hockey League (MU18HL), formerly the Manitoba Midget 'AAA' Hockey League, is an ice hockey league in the province of Manitoba, Canada. It is the highest level of minor hockey in the province. The league operates under the supervision of Hockey Manitoba.
History The league was founded in 1985 and provides elite hockey players in Manitoba the opportunity to play at a high level of competition. The league is heavily scouted by the Western Hockey League, Junior 'A' teams, and NCAA programs. A number of players have gone to play in these leagues and the majority of Manitobans playing professional hockey have played in the 'AAA' league.
Teams All teams are regionally based and are operated by Hockey Manitoba's regional minor hockey associations, with the exception of the Kenora Thistles, who are affiliated with Hockey Northwestern Ontario. The Winnipeg region has the option to field multiple teams. Players for each of the teams are selected from the local minor hockey associations within their respective regions.
Team Centre League Titles National Titles First Season Previous Team NameBrandon Midget Wheat Kings Brandon 4 1 1985–86 Central Plains Capitals Portage la Prairie 0 0 1989–90 Eastman Selects Steinbach 3 0 1986–87 Interlake Lightning Teulon 0 0 1985–86 Interlake Raiders (1985–88) Kenora Thistles Kenora, ON 1 0 1986–87 Kenora Boise (1986–95), Kenora Stars (1995-04) Norman Northstars Thompson 1 0 1986–87 Parkland Rangers Dauphin 0 0 1990–91 Pembina Valley Hawks Morden 3 0 1985–86 Southwest Cougars Souris 2 0 1985–86 Winnipeg Bruins Winnipeg 0 0 2017–18 Winnipeg Thrashers Winnipeg 3 1 1993–94 Winnipeg Sharks (1993-04) Winnipeg Wild Winnipeg 13 0 1985–86 Winnipeg Saints (1985–89), Winnipeg Warriors (1989-03) Yellowhead Chiefs Shoal Lake 1 0 1987–88
Former Teams
Parkland Stars (1985–87) River East Royals (1985–87) St. James Canadians (1985–87) Winnipeg Stars (1986–87), Winnipeg Hawks (1987-03) Winnipeg Monarchs (1985–89; 1992–94), Winnipeg Mavericks (1989–92)
League Champions The league champion is awarded the Jack Forsyth Trophy, which is named after a former league commissioner. The MU18HL playoffs are also to determine the provincial championship for Manitoba (teams based outside of Manitoba are not eligible for the Manitoba championship).
YearJack Forsyth Trophy winnerRunner-upTelus Cup West Regional1986Winnipeg SaintsPembina Valley Hawks1987Winnipeg SaintsSouthwest Cougars1988Winnipeg SaintsSouthwest Cougars1989Eastman SelectsYellowhead Chiefs1990Winnipeg MavericksBrandon Wheat Kings1991Winnipeg HawksNorman NorthstarsWinner1992Winnipeg HawksBrandon Wheat Kings1993Kenora BoiseWinnipeg Hawks1994Yellowhead ChiefsWinnipeg Hawks1995Brandon Wheat KingsParkland Rangers1996Norman NorthstarsYellowhead Chiefs1997Pembina Valley HawksEastman Selects1998Southwest CougarsPembina Valley Hawks1999Southwest CougarsPembina Valley Hawks2000Eastman SelectsWinnipeg Warriors2001Winnipeg WarriorsPembina Valley Hawks2002Eastman SelectsWinnipeg Sharks2003Brandon Wheat KingsWinnipeg Sharks2004Brandon Wheat KingsWinnipeg ThrashersWinner2005Winnipeg WildPembina Valley Hawks2006Winnipeg ThrashersPembina Valley Hawks2007Brandon Wheat KingsWinnipeg Thrashers2008Winnipeg ThrashersPembina Valley HawksWinner2009Winnipeg WildWinnipeg Thrashers2010Pembina Valley HawksEastman Selects2011Winnipeg ThrashersSouthwest CougarsWinner2012Winnipeg WildSouthwest Cougars2013Winnipeg WildWinnipeg Thrashers2014Winnipeg WildEastman Selects2015Pembina Valley HawksBrandon Wheat Kings2016Winnipeg WildEastman Selects2017Winnipeg WildYellowhead Chiefs2018Winnipeg WildBrandon Wheat Kings2019Brandon Wheat KingsWinnipeg Wild2020no champion2021 no champion2022 Winnipeg WildBrandon Wheat Kings2023Winnipeg Wild2024Brandon Wheat KingsWinnipeg WildRunner Up2025Winnipeg WildBrandon Wheat Kings2026Winnipeg BruinsBrandon Wheat Kings Notes
Telus Cup Playoffs The Manitoba champion earns a berth to the West Regional Championship and competes against the champions from Saskatchewan and Northwestern Ontario. The winner advances to the national Telus Cup, known as the Air Canada Cup until 2003 .
MU18HL teams have hosted the national championships three times: the Brandon Wheat Kings in 1994, the Winnipeg Thrashers in 2009 (in Selkirk), and the Kenora Stars in 2004. Winnipeg hosted the inaugural national championship in 1979, before the MU18HL was formed.
National Championship Appearances 1991 – Winnipeg Hawks representing West Region 1994 – Brandon Wheat Kings as host team 2004 – Kenora Stars as host team; Brandon Wheat Kings representing West Region Gold Medalist 2008 – Winnipeg Thrashers representing West Region Silver Medalist 2009 – Winnipeg Thrashers as host team 2011 – Winnipeg Thrashers representing West Region Gold Medalist
Alumni
National Hockey League Players
Other Corey Koskie, former Major League Baseball player Daren Millard, sportscaster
References
External links Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League website League Record Book