The Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) is a Canadian junior ice hockey league spanning parts of Southern Ontario. The PJHL is the third tier of the Ontario Hockey Association and is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation and Hockey Canada. The league was formed in 2016 with the merging of eight Junior C leagues. PJHL teams compete for the Clarence Schmalz Cup.
History
In the works since 2014, it was announced in the spring of 2016 that the eight Junior C leagues of the Ontario Hockey Association would merge for the 2016-17 season to create the Provincial Junior Hockey League. The union was in an effort to streamline rules across the classification and to promote growth and development.
The leagues that make up the PJHL are the former Central, Empire B, Georgian Mid-Ontario, Great Lakes, Midwestern, Niagara & District, Southern, and Western. leagues that are now the eight divisions split into four conferences.
The first game in PJHL history was played on September 9, 2016 as the Walkerton Hawks hosted the Hanover Barons in Pollock Division action. Walkerton won the game 6-2.
Teams
North ConferenceCarruthers Division Team Centre Founded Arena Alliston Hornets Alliston 1971 New Tecumseth Recreation Complex Huntsville Otters Huntsville 1990 Canada Summit Centre Innisfil Spartans Innisfil 2022 Innisfil Recreation Complex Midland Flyers Midland 1978 North Simcoe Sports & Recreation Centre Muskoka Bears Bracebridge 2024 Muskoka Lumber Community Centre Orillia Terriers Orillia 2013 West Orillia Sports Complex Penetang Kings Penetanguishene 1977 Penetanguishene Memorial Community Centre Stayner Siskins Stayner 1972 Stayner Memorial ArenaPollock Division Team Centre Founded Arena Clinton Radars Clinton 2026 Central Huron Community Complex Fergus Whalers Fergus 2023 Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex Hanover Barons Hanover 1964 P&H Centre Kincardine Bulldogs Kincardine 1994 Davidson Centre Arena Mitchell Hawks Mitchell 1966 Mitchell & District Arena Mount Forest Patriots Mount Forest 1987 Mount Forest & District Community Centre Walkerton Capitals Walkerton 1976 Walkerton Community Centre Wingham Ironmen Wingham 1975 North Huron Wescast Community ComplexSouth ConferenceDoherty Division Team Centre Founded Arena Dorchester Dolphins Dorchester 2012 The Flight Exec Centre Hespeler Shamrocks Hespeler 1959 Hespeler Memorial Arena New Hamburg Firebirds New Hamburg 1953 Wilmot Township Arena Norwich Merchants Norwich 1968 Norwich Community Centre Paris Titans Paris 1985 Brant Sports Complex Tavistock Braves Tavistock 1970 Tavistock & District Recreation Centre Wellesley Applejacks Wellesley 1987 Wellesley ArenaBloomfield Division Team Centre Founded Arena Dundas Blues Dundas 1963 J.L.Grightmire Arena Dunnville Jr. Mudcats Dunnville 1974 Dunnville Memorial Arena Glanbrook Rangers Glanbrook 1975 Glanbrook Arena Grimsby Peach Kings Grimsby 1922 Peach King Centre Hagersville Hawks Hagersville 1992 Hagersville Memorial Arena Niagara Riverhawks Chippawa 1987 Gale Centre Port Dover Sailors Port Dover 1988 Port Dover & Area Arena Streetsville Derbys Streetsville 2024 Vic Johnston Community CentreEast ConferenceOrr Division Team Centre Founded Arena Caledon Golden Hawks Caledon 2010 Caledon East Arena Clarington Eagles Bowmanville 2011 Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex Georgina Ice Keswick 1994 Georgina Ice Palace Little Britain Merchants Little Britain 1978 Little Britain Community Centre Port Perry Lumberjacks Port Perry 1972 Scugog Community Recreation Centre Schomberg Cougars Schomberg 1969 Trisan Centre Uxbridge Bruins Uxbridge 1975 Uxbridge Arena and Recreation CentreTod Division Team Centre Founded Arena Amherstview Jets Amherstview 1989 W J Henderson Recreation Centre Frankford Huskies Frankford 2021 Frankford Arena Lakefield Chiefs Lakefield 1980 Lakefield-Smith Community Centre Napanee Raiders Napanee 1989 Strathcona Paper Centre Picton Pirates Picton 1989 Prince Edward Community Centre Port Hope Panthers Port Hope 2004 Jack Burger Sports Complex Trent Hills Thunder Campbellford 1992 Campbellford-Seymour ArenaWest ConferenceStobbs Division Team Centre Founded Arena Amherstburg Admirals Amherstburg 1987 Libro Centre Blenheim Blades Blenheim 1968 Blenheim Community & Recreation Centre Dresden Jr. Kings Dresden 1959 Lambton-Kent Memorial Arena Essex 73's Essex 1973 Essex Centre Sports Complex Lakeshore Canadiens Belle River 1978 Atlas Tube Centre Mooretown Flags Mooretown 1971 Mooretown Sports Complex Walpole Island Wild Walpole Island 1972 Walpole Island Sports Complex Wheatley Sharks Wheatley 1995 Wheatley Area ArenaYeck Division Team Centre Founded Arena Aylmer Spitfires Aylmer 1974 East Elgin Community Complex Exeter Hawks Exeter 1961 South Huron Recreation Centre Lucan Irish Lucan 1968 Lucan Community Memorial Centre Mount Brydges Bulldogs Mount Brydges 1975 Tri-Township Arena North Middlesex Stars Parkhill 1993 North Middlesex Arena Petrolia Flyers Petrolia 1988 Greenwood Recreation Centre Port Stanley Sailors Port Stanley 1969 Port Stanley Arena Thamesford Trojans Thamesford 1976 Thamesford Area Recreation Centre
Regular season champions Bolded is overall PJHL season champion based on win percentage. East North South West Season Orr Pct Tod Pct Carruthers Pct Pollock Pct Bloomfield Pct Doherty Pct Stobbs Pct Yeck Pct 2016-17 Lakefield .805 Port Hope .910 Stayner .917 Walkerton .819 Grimsby .869 Ayr .925 Lakeshore .788 Dorchester .988 2017-18 Lakefield .857 Napanee .938 Stayner .952 Mount Forest .800 Glanbrook .905 Ayr .825 Lakeshore .738 Lambeth .872 2018-19 Uxbridge .810 Napanee .886 Stayner .786 Mount Forest .774 Glanbrook .881 Tavistock .838 Essex .788 Dorchester .775 2019-20 Clarington .726 Napanee .852 Alliston .857 Mount Forest .810 Grimsby .774 Tavistock .800 Lakeshore .900 Thamesford .714 2020-21 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2021-22 Little Britain .797 Amherstview .833 Stayner .850 Hanover .828 Grimsby .700 Woodstock .792 Lakeshore .906 Exeter .783 2022-23 Clarington .854 Napanee .866 Stayner .900 Mount Forest .774 Glanbrook .881 New Hamburg .798 Essex .881 Mount Brydges .775 2023-24 Clarington .857 Frankford .762 Alliston .857 Hanover .881 Grimsby .798 New Hamburg .810 Lakeshore .881 Thamesford .763 2024-25 Clarington .845 Frankford .810 Alliston .976 Hanover .893 Dundas .845 Norwich .810 Essex .893 Petrolia .702 2025-26 Uxbridge .845 Lakefield .738 Stayner .774 Fergus .821 Dundas .821 Woodstock .750 Essex .893 Exeter .679
Playoffs division and conference champions
Listed are Division playoff champions. Bolded are also Conference playoff champions. East North South West Season Orr Tod Carruthers Pollock Doherty Bloomfield Stobbs Yeck 2017 Lakefield Port Hope Alliston Mount Forest Ayr Grimsby Essex Dorchester 2018 Lakefield Port Hope Stayner Mount Forest Tavistock Glanbrook Lakeshore Lambeth 2019 Uxbridge Napanee Alliston Mount Forest Wellesley Grimsby Lakeshore Exeter 2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2022 Clarington Napanee Stayner Mitchell New Hamburg Grimsby Lakeshore North Middlesex 2023 Clarington Port Hope Stayner Mount Forest Wellesley Glanbrook Lakeshore Thamesford 2024 Clarington Napanee AllistonHanover New Hamburg Grimsby Lakeshore Thamesford 2025 Clarington Napanee Orillia Hanover New Hamburg Grimsby Essex Petrolia 2026 Uxbridge Frankford Stayner Fergus Tavistock Dundas Lakeshore Mount Brydges
League championship series Bolded is winner of Clarence Schmalz Cup as PJHL and OHA champion. Season North/East champion South/West champion Series (Best of 7) Scores 2017 Port Hope Panthers Ayr Centennials {1st} 2-4 8-1, 4-1, 2-4, 1-3, 1-4, 3-6 2018 Lakefield Chiefs {1st} Glanbrook Rangers 4-1 2-1 OT, 2-3, 4-3 OT, 5-2, 4-0 2019 Napanee Raiders {1st} Grimsby Peach Kings 4-1 2-0, 2-3, 3-1, 4-1, 3-1 2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Championship Tournament Season Champion Finalist Score Location2022 Lakeshore Canadiens {1st} Clarington Eagles3-2 OT Guelph, Ontario2023 Wellesley Applejacks {1st} Clarington Eagles3-2 Woodstock, Ontario Season North/East champion South/West champion Series (Best of 7) Scores 2024 Clarington Eagles Lakeshore Canadiens {2nd} 1-4 1-0, 1-2, 2-3, 2-4, 4-5 2025 Hanover Barons (1st) Essex 73's 4-0 6-1, 2-1, 4-0, 5-4 OT 2026 Fergus Whalers (1st) Tavistock Braves 4-1 2-1 OT, 2-3 OT, 7-4, 6-5, 4-3 OT
References
External links PJHL website OHA website