Ontario Junior Hockey League
The Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada. It is under the supervision of the Ontario Hockey Association and the Canadian Junior Hockey League.
With 24 member clubs, the Ontario Junior Hockey League stands as the Canadian Junior Hockey League's largest Junior A circuit, maintaining its position as a crucial stepping stone for aspiring hockey players across the province.
The league's roots trace back to 1993-94, when it emerged from the Central Junior B Hockey League under its original name, the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League. Operating under the Ontario Hockey Association and CJHL banners, the organization has built a reputation for advancing talent to higher levels of competition.
The 2024-25 season demonstrated the league's continued success in player placement, with more than 135 commitments secured. NCAA Division 1 programs claimed 54 players, while the Ontario Hockey League recruited 29. The OJHL's partnership with the OHL extended further through 39 affiliate players who collectively appeared in 152 OHL games throughout the season.
The league's impact reaches the sport's highest level, with 30 former OJHL players on NHL rosters as the 2025-26 season begins. This pipeline spans multiple destinations, including U SPORTS universities, NCAA programs, Canadian Hockey League teams, and professional minor leagues.
The league dates back to 1954 where it began as the "Central Junior B Hockey League". In 1993, the Central Junior B Hockey League was promoted to the Junior A level and renamed the "Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League". In 2009, the league was dissolved by the Ontario Hockey Association and split into two leagues: the "Central Canadian Hockey League" and the "Ontario Junior A Hockey League". By early 2010, the two leagues merged to reform the Ontario Junior Hockey League.
The league has 24 members, from Leamington in the west, to Wellington in the East, south to Buffalo, NY, and north to Collingwood and Haliburton County
The winner of the OJHL playoffs and Frank L. Buckland Trophy compete for the Centennial Cup with the winners of the eight remaining tier two junior A leagues across Canada and the host team. The OJHL's Collingwood Blues won the national championship in 2024. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic taking place, there were qualifier tournaments held around the country.
History
Central Junior B Hockey League
1954 to 1971
In 1954, a variety of teams from different leagues and Ontario Hockey Association junior groupings were put together in the Central Junior B Hockey League. The Central League was formed as a sister league to the Western Ontario Junior B Hockey League that had been running since 1950. During the early years, the two leagues were regarded as the two divisions of the OHA's Big 10. The "Big" moniker was often given to OHA leagues as the OHA pushed away from smaller rural multi-level groupings.The 1954–55 season's members were the Woodstock Warriors, Owen Sound Greys, Waterloo Siskins, Burlington Mohawks, Paris Redshirts, Dundas Flyers, and Ingersoll Reems. Woodstock took the first ever Central League crown as well as that year's Sutherland Cup as provincial champions.
From 1955 until 1964, the Waterloo Siskins won the league six out of nine seasons, losing out to Burlington in 1957 and 1958 and the Owen Sound Greys in 1961. Neither Burlington or Owen Sound managed to win the Sutherland Cup with their league championship, in fact only Owen Sound even made to the finals where they were swept by the St. Michael's Buzzers of the Metro Junior B Hockey League. During that streak, the Waterloo Siskins won the Sutherland Cup four times. In 1956 they defeated the Brampton Regents of the Metro league 4-games-to-1 with 1 tie. In 1960, the Siskins defeated the Marlboros of the Metro League 4-games-to-2 with 1 tie to win the provincial crown. In 1962, they defeated the St. Thomas Elgins of the Western Junior B League 4-games-to-1 and in 1964 they defeated Weston of the Metro League 4-games-to-1 to claim another crown.
In 1964, began a four-year dynasty for the Kitchener Greenshirts. In 1965, 1966, 1967, and 1968, the Greenshirts were Central League champions. They also won the Sutherland Cup in 1965 by defeating Etobicoke of the Metro League 4-games-to-2 and in 1967 by defeating the Metro League's Dixie Beehives 4-games-to-2.
In 1968, their sister league, the Western Ontario Junior B Hockey League, went renegade and left the Ontario Hockey Association. As a result, the Strathroy Rockets were homeless and joined the league. In their only year in the CJBHL they won the league championship and lost the Sutherland Cup final 4-games-to-1 with 1 tie to the Markham Waxers of the Metro League.
In 1969, the Collingwood Blues jumped up to the Central League and stayed until the realignment of 1971, winning both league championships. The Blues failed to make the provincial final in either of those years.
The teams of the 1970–71 season were the Owen Sound Greys, Collingwood Blues, Waterloo Siskins, Preston Raiders, and Kitchener Ranger B's. This would be the final incarnation of the league in its original setup. Much change happened in the summer of 1971.
1971 to 1993
In 1971, the league re-aligned itself geographically. The Owen Sound Greys and Collingwood Blues jumped to the Mid-Ontario Junior B Hockey League. The Waterloo Siskins and Kitchener Ranger B's moved over to the Western Ontario Junior B Hockey League. The Burlington Mohawks were the only team to stay put. In return, the Central League gained many teams from the Mid-Ontario Junior B Hockey League, like the Oakville Blades, Milton Flyers, Hespeler Shamrocks and Streetsville Derbys. They also gained the Dundas Blues and the Brampton Vic Woods.The 1972 champion is unknown, but in 1973 Burlington won the Central League and in 1974 and 1975 Oakville won two straight league titles. The 1974–75 season was special for the Oakville Blades. After winning the league championship, they won their way all the way to the Sutherland Cup final. Unfortunately for the Blades, the Bramalea Blues of the Metro Junior B Hockey League awaited them. The Blues defeated the Blades 4-games-to-3.
From the 1975–76 season until the 1979–80 season, the Central League was dominated by the Streetsville Derbys. In this span, the Derbys won the League title five straight times, made the Ontario finals three times, and won the Sutherland Cup once. In 1977, the Derbys made the All-Ontario final. In the final, they lost to the Stratford Cullitons of the Waterloo-Wellington Junior B Hockey League 4-games-to-2. A year later, the Derbys again met the Stratford Cullitons, but lost 9-points-to-5. The 1978–79 season had the Derbys make the Sutherland Cup final for the third straight year. In the final, the Derbys met the St. Catharines Falcons of the Golden Horseshoe Junior B Hockey League and defeated them 4-games-to-none to finally win a provincial title.
In 1978 the Mid-Ontario league folded, and Orillia Terriers, Thornhill Thunderbirds, the Barrie Colts, and Oak Ridges Dynes joined the Central League.
The 1980–81 season had a team other than the Derbys show dominance, as the Burlington Cougars won the Central League championship. They kept on winning and found themselves in the Sutherland Cup final. The Cougars came up against the Stratford Cullitons of the Mid-Western League and were victorious, winning 8-points-to-4. In 1982, the Oakville Blades won the Central league for the first time in seven years.
From the 1982–83 season until the 1985–86 season, the Streetsville Derbys celebrated another period of dominance. In those four seasons, the Derbys won three league championships, made the Ontario final twice, and received a harsh punishment from the Ontario Hockey Association. In 1982–83, the Derbys won their first league title in three season, a year later they won it again and battled all the way to the Sutherland Cup final. In the final, the Derbys met the Waterloo Siskins of the Mid-Western League and despite a spirited performance, fell 4-games-to-3 to the Siskins. A year later, the Derbys failed to get out of their league. In 1985–86, the Derbys dominated the Central League again and won their third title in four years. They battled to the Sutherland Cup final and again met the Stratford Cullitons of the Mid-Western League. The Cullitons swept the series, 4-games-to-none, and the Derbys lost their discipline. The result was a one-year ban for the Streetsville Derbys from Ontario Hockey Association play. The Derbys were forced to sit out in 1986–87, as the Burlington Cougars won the league, and the Derbys never won another Central League title.
From the 1987–88 season until the 1989–90 season, the Barrie Colts dominated the league with three straight championships. None of these championships transpired into a Sutherland Cup.
In 1991, the Oakville Blades won the Central League, but lost the Sutherland Cup final to the Waterloo Siskins 4-games-to-none. In 1992, the Milton Merchants won the league championship, but also fell in the Sutherland Cup final, this time to the Kitchener Dutchmen. During the summer of 1992, the OHA promoted the Central League to Junior A status, allowing its teams less limitations on signing players then an average Junior B team would have. In 1992–93, the Barrie Colts dominated the CJAHL. With 47 wins and one tie, the Colts celebrated an unheard of undefeated season. They won the Central League championship, and were granted permission to compete in the Provincial Junior B playdowns. In the final of the Sutherland Cup, they met the Kitchener Dutchmen and swept them 4-games-to-none to win the Central League its third and final Sutherland Cup since 1971. The 1993 playoff run, aided by their Junior A status, was the final and most successful Provincial Jr. B playoff run of any Central League champion in at least twelve years.
The 1992–93 season would be the final Junior B season for the Central League. The teams in the league that year were the Barrie Colts, Markham Waxers, Peterborough Jr. Petes, Newmarket 87's, Orillia Terriers, Lindsay Bears, Ajax Axemen, Collingwood Blues, and Cobourg Cougars in the East Division and the Brampton Capitals, Burlington Cougars, Milton Merchants, Caledon Canadians, Oakville Blades, Streetsville Derbys, Georgetown Raiders, and Royal York Rangers in the West Division.