The Keystone Junior Hockey League (KJHL) is a Junior 'B' ice hockey league in the province of Manitoba, Canada. The league, sanctioned by Hockey Manitoba, was formerly known as the Manitoba Junior 'B' Hockey League.
History The KJHL champion used to play the champion of the Northwest Junior Hockey League (NJHL) for the Baldy Northcott Trophy. Since the demise of the NJHL in 2004, the KJHL has been the only Junior 'B' league in the province; thus its champion has been awarded the provincial title. The provincial champion moves on to compete for the Western Canadian Junior 'B' championship, the Keystone Cup.
In 2018, five southern teams of the KJHL announced they were leaving and forming their own league, the Capital Region Junior Hockey League (CRJHL). The five departing clubs Arborg Ice Dawgs, Lundar Falcons, North Winnipeg Satelites, Selkirk Fishermen and St. Malo Warriors cited travel costs as well as parents expressing concerns for bus travel in light of the 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus tragedy. The Fisher River Hawks also announced they would be taking a one-year leave of absence from the league.
The league added another team after their 2019 AGM with the NCN Flames joining for the 2019–20 season. NCN Flames last competed in the Northwest Junior Hockey League in 2004 winning two league championships and one Baldy Northcott Trophy (2002).
The Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation PBCN Selects joined as an expansion franchise in 2022, and the Waywayseecappo Wild joined as an expansion franchise in 2023. The league announced at the beginning of the 2024–25 season that both teams were taking a one-year leave of absence due to "unfortunate and unforeseen circumstances", but that both teams would return in the 2025–26 season.
Teams
Team City/Area Arena Founded Head coachCross Lake Islanders Cross Lake Cross Lake Sports Complex 2006 Jeff Monias NCN Flames Nelson House Gilbert McDonald Arena 2019 Alex Primrose Norway House North Stars Norway House Kinosao Sipi Multiplex 2004 Skyler Tait-Reaume OCN Storm Opaskwayak Cree Nation Gordon Lathlin Memorial Centre 2012 Marcel Fontaine Peguis Juniors Peguis Peguis Multiplex 1994 Marty Favel
Defunct teams
Arborg Ice Dawgs (2006–2018) - charter member of the CRJHL Brandon Stingers (1991–1999) Carberry Plainsmen (1989–1992) Central Plains Feathermen (1994–1995) Ebb & Flow Flyers (1998–2000; 2002–2003) Fisher River Hawks (2014–2018) Gimli Vikings (1978–1998) Kewatin Canucks (1982–1984) Lorette Roadrunners (1986–1987) Lundar Falcons (2010–2018) - charter member of the CRJHL North East Comets (1980–1983) Beausejour Comets (1984–1996) North Lake United (1986–1994) North Winnipeg Satelites (1980–2018) - charter member of the CRJHL Oak Bluff Raiders (1986–1990) Pine Creek Warriors (1999–2000) Pineview Saints (1981–1982; 1983–1985) Portage Terriers (1981–1987) Red River Rockets (1989–1994) Sagkeeng Braves (1994–1997) Sagkeeng Hawks (2001–2008; 2010–2011) Sanford Titans (2008–2010) Selkirk Fishermen (1977–2018) - charter member of the CRJHL Souris Elks (1993–1996) St. Boniface Seals (1998–2005) Winnipeg Saints (2005–2008) St. Claude Knights (1981–1984; 1986–1992; 1996–1997; 2000–2003) St. Malo Warriors (1994–2018) - charter member of the CRJHL Ste. Anne Aces (1991–1993) Ste. Rose Royals (1992–1994) Steinbach Millers (1974–1979; 1981–1983) Stonewall Jets (1997–2001) - joined MMJHL in 2001 Transcona Railers (1977–1982) - joined MMJHL in 1983 Two Nation River Hawks (2006–2009) - Peguis Juniors and Fisher River Hawks merge PBCN Selects (2022–2024) Waywayseecappo Wild (2023–2024)
Champions
Year Playoff winner Keystone Cup result Year Playoff winner Keystone Cup result1978Transcona Railers2001St. Malo Warriors1979Transcona Railers2004Selkirk Fishermen1980Transcona RailersRailers - GoldFishermen - Silver2005Selkirk Fishermen1981Transcona RailersRailers - Gold2006North Winnipeg Satelites1982Transcona Railers2007Winnipeg SaintsSaints - Bronze1983North Winnipeg SatelitesFishermen - Gold2008Norway House North StarsNorth Stars - Silver1984Selkirk FishermenFishermen - Silver2009St. Malo Warriors1985North Winnipeg Satelites2010Selkirk Fishermen1986North Winnipeg Satelites2011Arborg Ice Dawgs1987Oak Bluff Raiders2012Arborg Ice Dawgs1988North Winnipeg Satelites2013Peguis Juniors1989North Winnipeg Satelites2014Selkirk Fishermen 1990 Beausejour Comets2015Selkirk Fishermen1991Selkirk Fishermen2016Peguis JuniorsJuniors - 5th of 61992Selkirk FishermenFishermen - Bronze2017Peguis JuniorsIce Dawgs - 4th of 6Juniors - 5th of 61993Selkirk Fishermen2018Peguis JuniorsJuniors - SilverWarriors - 4th of 41994Selkirk FishermenFishermen - Silver2019Peguis JuniorsIslanders - Bronze1995St. Malo Warriors2020noneNo Keystone Cup1996Peguis Juniors2021noneNo Keystone Cup1997St. Malo WarriorsWarriors - Silver2022noneNo Keystone Cup1998Peguis Juniors2023Peguis Juniors4th of 41999 Selkirk Fishermen 2024 Peguis Juniors Juniors - 5th of 5 Wayway Wild - 4th of 52000 St. Malo Warriors 2025 OCN Storm5th of 52001 St. Malo Warriors 2002 North Winnipeg Satelites 2003 North Winnipeg Satelites
Notable alumni Darren Helm (2003–04) – Selkirk Fishermen Brady Keeper (2012–13) – Norway House North Stars Thomas Stuart-Dant (2010–13) – Selkirk Fishermen Neil Wilkinson (1984–85) – Selkirk Fishermen Bryce Young (2017–18) – OCN Storm
See also List of ice hockey teams in Manitoba
References
Further reading
External links Keystone Junior Hockey League @KJHLca Twitter Cross Lake Islanders Norway House North Stars Peguis Juniors