The 2024–25 CCHL season is the 64th season of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL). The regular season started on 19 September 2024, when the Cornwall Colts and the Hawkesbury Hawks played their first game in Cornwall, Ontario at the Cornwall Civic Complex. The Bogart Cup playoffs began in March 2025, ending with the Bogart Cup Finals in May.
In November 2024, the CCHL and Ontario Junior Hockey League staged a two-day, four-team tournament, marketed as the "Battle of Ontario". Each league was represented by an all-star team and a prospect team. The tournament took place at the Smiths Falls Memorial Centre in Smiths Falls.
League chair, Steve Barban, died suddenly in October. Barban was also the owner and president of the Navan Grads and served on the Canadian Junior Hockey League Board of Governors.
Regular season
The regular season started on September 19, 2024 and ran until March 17, 2024. Each team played 55 games, playing against each opponent five times. The annual showcase event, during which each team played two regular season games, was held during opening weekend at the Benson Centre in Cornwall. While teams were nominally assigned to either the East or West Division, the top 8 teams overall advanced to the playoffs regardless of their division assignment.
1Rockland Nationals554582250138922Carleton Place Canadians5536154203149763Navan Grads5532167230186714Smiths Falls Bears5530196168142665Pembroke Lumber Kings5528243194177596Brockville Braves5527244181195587Kemptville 73's5526236152168588Cornwall Colts5526245156196579Hawkesbury Hawks55242471952045510Ottawa Jr. Senators55262811691865311Nepean Raiders55163361832393812Renfrew Wolves551435613523634
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Post-season
The top 8 teams overall at the end of the regular season advanced to the playoffs. The first seed Rockland Nationals swept the Cornwall Colts 4-0 in the first round, and beat the Smiths Falls Bears 4-3 to advance to the final. The Carleton Place Canadians also advanced to the final after they swept the Kemptville 73's 4-0 in the first round, and beat the 2024 championship Navan Grads 4-3 in the semifinal.
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Quarterfinal: Rockland Nationals v. Cornwall Colts
The first-place Rockland Nationals swept the eighth-place Cornwall Colts 4-0.
Quarterfinal: Smiths Falls Bears v. Pembroke Lumber Kings
The fourth-place Smiths Falls Bears defeated the fifth-place Pembroke Lumber Kings 4-2.
Quarterfinal: Carleton Place Canadians v. Kemptville 73's
The second-place Carleton Place Canadians swept the seventh-place Kemptville 73's 4-0.
Quarterfinal: Navan Grads v. Brockville Braves
Semifinal: Rockland Nationals v. Smiths Falls Bears
Semifinal: Carleton Place Canadians v. Navan Grads
The second-place Carleton Place Canadians defeated third-place Navan Grads 4-3.
Final: Rockland Nationals v. Carleton Place Canadians
The first-place Rockland Nationals swept the second-place Carleton Place Canadians 4-0 to secure the league championship Bogart Cup.
National championship
The 54th annual Junior A national championship tournament will be hosted by the Calgary Canucks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) at the Max Bell Centre in Calgary, and will bring together the championship teams from the 9 leagues that collectively make up the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL). The CCHL was represented by the championship Rockland Nationals. The Nationals were eliminated from competition after losing to the Calgary Canucks in the semifinal. Nationals' forward, Anthony Hall, was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
Round robin
Teams were randomly assigned to Group A or Group B. During the preliminary round robin phase, each team played each other team in their group once. Three points were awarded for a win in regulation time, two points for a win in overtime or shootout, one point for a loss in overtime or shootout, and no points were awarded for a loss in regulation time.
Playoffs
Based on the results of the preliminary round robin, the quarterfinals included the Northern Manitoba Blizzard against the Rockland Nationals; and the Melfort Mustangs against the Greater Sudbury Cubs. The Nationals defeated the Blizzard, 4-0, and the Mustangs defeated the Cubs, 7-1.
The Trenton Golden Hawks and the Calgary Canucks, who placed first in their respective groups, had a bye in the quarterfinal round and advanced to the semifinals. The Canucks faced the Nationals, and the Golden Hawks faced the Mustangs. The Canucks had previously lost to the Nationals by a score of 7-2 in the preliminary round. By the 2nd period of the semifinal, the Nationals were winning, 2-0, and by the end of 3rd period, the score was tied, 2-2. The Canucks scored the game-winning goal in overtime to advance to the final.
The final was between the Canucks and the Mustangs. Notably, it was the Mustangs who eliminated the Canucks at the 2024 Centennial Cup in the semifinal, before losing in the final. This time, however, the Canucks defeated the Mustangs, 7-2, to win the championship Centennial Cup.
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Individual awards
Scoring champion
Sebbie Johnson (Navan Grads)
Most valuable player of the playoffs
Josh O’Connor (Rockland Nationals)
Most valuable player of the regular season
Jayson Alegria (Pembroke Lumber Kings)
Outstanding defenseman
Easton Penna (Pembroke Lumber Kings)
Top goaltender
Ian Vandenberg (Carleton Place Canadians)
Rookie of the year
Finn Barton (Carleton Place Canadians)
Sportsmanship award
Eric Barnard (Pembroke Lumber Kings)
Outstanding graduating player
Sebbie Johnson (Navan Grads)
Top prospect award
Shaan Kingwell (Navan Grads)
General Manager of the year
Carl Robillard (Rockland Nationals)
Coach of the year
Justin Pereira (Rockland Nationals)
Trainer of the year
Denis Dalrymple (Rockland Nationals)
Sam Pollock award
Steve Barban, league chairman
Pat Smith award
Dale McCabe (Smiths Falls Bears)
Chris Messina broadcasting award
Rowan McCarthy received the Chris Messina broadcasting award. The award is presented annually to a broadcaster who exemplifies the professionalism and dedication.
Arthur K. Nielsen scholarship
The top academic player award went to Nick Houben of the Nepean Raiders. This scholarship is awarded to a player who combines hockey excellence, academic success and volunteering.
Mark Yakabuski scholarship
Tristan Boudreau of the Carleton Place Canadians received the Mark Yakabuski scholarship. The scholarship was established in 2023 and is awarded to the league's top graduating high school graduating player.
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References
Further reading
External links
Official website of the CCHL
Official website of the CJHL