Canadian Junior Hockey League facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Canadian Junior Hockey League

Countries	Canada, United States
President	Andy Harkness
Former name(s)	Canada West Hockey Association (1990–1993) Canadian Junior A Hockey League (1993–2008)
Founded	1993; 32 years ago (1993)
Divisions	9 leagues
Conferences	4 regions
No. of teams	117
Championship	Centennial Cup
Recent Champions	Collingwood Blues (OJHL) (1st)
Most successful club	Vernon Vipers (BCHL) (6)
Headquarters	Calgary, Alberta

The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) is a group of Canadian junior A ice hockey leagues and teams. It started in November 1993. The best team in the CJHL wins the Centennial Cup.

The CJHL covers most of Canada, from the Prairies to the Atlantic Coast. Most parts of Canada have teams or leagues that are part of the CJHL. Some areas, like British Columbia and Newfoundland, do not have their own leagues in the CJHL anymore.

History of Junior A Hockey

How Junior A Hockey Began

In 1970, some major junior hockey leagues, like the Ontario and Quebec leagues, decided to form their own group. They were given special permission to play for the Memorial Cup. This cup used to be for all Junior A teams.

After this, the remaining Junior A leagues needed their own championship. In May 1970, a new national championship was created for them. It was called the Manitoba Centennial Trophy, in honor of 100 years of hockey in Manitoba. This trophy is now known as the Centennial Cup.

Many different leagues joined this new Junior A system over the years. Some of the first leagues included the British Columbia Hockey League, Alberta Junior Hockey League, and Manitoba Junior Hockey League. Over time, new leagues formed, and some old ones changed or merged.

The CJHL is Formed

In 1990, the western Junior A leagues in Canada formed a group called the Canada West Association. This group helped create the Canadian Junior A Hockey League (CJAHL) in 1993. In 2008, the CJAHL changed its name to the "Canadian Junior Hockey League" (CJHL).

When the CJAHL first started in 1993, it included many leagues from across Canada. These included the British Columbia Hockey League, Alberta Junior Hockey League, Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, and Manitoba Junior Hockey League. Leagues from Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes also joined.

Recent Years

In 2018, the CJHL started a program to help players with concussions. This program helps check for concussions and track a player's history. They also created a safety committee to make sure rules are the same across all leagues.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, the CJHL had to cancel many games and championships. This included the 2019–20 season playoffs and the national championship. Leagues tried different ways to play safely, like having no fans in the stands.

In 2021, the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) left the CJHL. This happened because the BCHL wanted to bring in younger players from other provinces, which the rest of the CJHL did not agree with. Even with this change, the other nine leagues stayed committed to the CJHL. Also in 2021, all CJHL leagues agreed to hold special games to support First Nations in Canada.

Current Leagues

Locations of regions and leagues of the CJHL (2021-22 season).

The CJHL is made up of nine different leagues across Canada. Each league has its own teams and plays for a championship. Here are the current leagues:

National Playoffs and Trophies

The Centennial Cup (formerly the Royal Bank Cup) is the championship trophy of the Canadian Junior Hockey League.

To find a national champion, the winners of each league play in regional championships. These are the Fred Page Cup (Eastern Canada), the Dudley Hewitt Cup (Central Canada), and the ANAVET Cup (Western Canada).

The winners of these regional playoffs, along with a host city team, then play in the Centennial Cup. This is the national Junior A championship. The Centennial Cup was known as the Royal Bank Cup for many years, but it returned to its original name after the 2017–18 season.

The 2022 Centennial Cup was held in Estevan, Saskatchewan. It was the first national championship given out since 2019. The format changed to include 10 teams: the host team and the champions from all nine leagues. This meant the regional championships were not held that year.

CJHL Prospects Game

The CJHL also holds a special game called the CJHL Prospects Game. This game features the top young players from the league. They play in a Team West versus Team East format. Scouts from professional teams come to watch these games.

The winning team in the Prospects Game receives the President's Cup. This event helps showcase talented players to scouts. From 2011 to 2013, the Prospects Game was part of the World Junior A Challenge, an international tournament. Since 2015, it has been a stand-alone event again.

Players and Awards

Many players from the CJHL go on to play in higher leagues, including the National Hockey League (NHL). Some are even drafted directly from Junior A teams.

Some famous players who were drafted early in the NHL draft directly from the CJHL include:

• Kyle Turris - 3rd overall pick in 2007
• Cale Makar - 4th overall pick in 2017
• Tyson Jost - 10th overall pick in 2016

Other notable players who played in Junior A hockey and later became well-known include Chris Chelios, Ray Ferraro, and Brett Hull.

The CJHL also gives out a Player of the Year Award. This award recognizes the best player in the league each season. Many talented players have won this award over the years.

There is also the RBC National Junior A Scholarship. Each year, one player from the CJHL is chosen to receive a scholarship for their academic achievements. This award helps players continue their education.

Images for kids

• 

  The official logo of the Canadian Junior Hockey League.