Empire B Junior C Hockey League

Last updated
Empire B Junior "C" Hockey League
Empire Junior C.png
Head Office Cambridge, Ontario
Official website EBJCHL
ChairmenDick Woods
ConvenorCorrie Abrams
Operated1989-2016

The Empire B Junior C Hockey League is a former Junior "C" ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association. The league was merged into the Provincial Junior Hockey League as the Tod Division in the summer of 2016.

Contents

Eastern Ontario Junior "C" Hockey League 1989-1996
Empire B Junior "C" Hockey League 1996-2016

History

Pirates' Captain and goalie in 2013 Schmalz Cup finals in Essex, Ontario. Picton captain and goalie 2013 Schmalz Cup.JPG
Pirates' Captain and goalie in 2013 Schmalz Cup finals in Essex, Ontario.

Formed in 1989 as the Eastern Ontario Junior C Hockey League, the league had to change its name in 1995 to avoid ongoing confusion with the neighbouring Ottawa District Hockey Association's long running Eastern Ontario Junior C Hockey League. The forerunner of the EBJCHL was the Quinte-St. Lawrence Junior C Hockey League, which merged into the Central Junior C Hockey League in 1986.

The league features six franchises, which are located through Central-eastern Ontario in Amherstview, Campbellford, Gananoque, Napanee, Port Hope, and Picton. The Port Hope Panthers is the new name of the transferred Colborne Cobras franchise.

The teams play a 40-game regular season, with four home and away dates against each of the other Empire B teams. The top four teams make the playoffs — two rounds of best-of-seven play. The Empire playoff champions advance to the OHA quarterfinals against the Central champions and compete for an All-Ontario Championship and the Clarence Schmalz Cup. In its 20-year history, two Empire B teams have won the Schmalz Cup. Napanee Raiders were the first in 1993. On May 1, 2013, the Picton Pirates became the second team in Empire league history to win the Clarence Schmalz Cup as OHA Junior C champions, defeating the Essex 73's of the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League 4-games-to-1.

The Empire league has had a number of winners of the OHA Junior C Player of the Year award. Most recently, Napanee's Pete Sergeant took the honours in 2008-2009. Among the previous winners are Jason Sutton (Napanee), Adam Walsh (Picton), Joe Curry (Campbellford), and Ryan Zufelt (Amherstview).

At the conclusion of the 2014-15 hockey season the Eastern Ontario Junior B Hockey League announced a re-organization which saw them remove six teams from the league. One of those teams, the Gananoque Islanders immediately petitioned and was accepted into the Empire B Junior C League.

Following the 2015-16 seasons the Empire B Junior C Hockey League amalgamated with the other southern Ontario junior "C" hockey leagues and became a division within the Provincial Junior Hockey League .

Teams

TeamCentreFounded
Amherstview Jets Amherstview 1989
Campbellford Rebels Campbellford 1992
Gananoque Islanders Gananoque 1972
Napanee Raiders Napanee 1989
Picton Pirates Picton 1989
Port Hope Panthers Port Hope 2004

2015-2016 League Playoffs

For the Ontario Hockey Association "All-Ontario Jr. "C" Championship", please go to the Clarence Schmalz Cup .

Semi-final League Final
      
1Port Hope4
4 Gananoque 0
1Port Hope4
2 Napanee 0
2Napanee4
4Amherstview 1

Tod Trophy Playoff Champions

YearChampionFinalistResult in Provincials
Eastern Ontario League
1959Picton MerchantsLost CSC QF vs. Fort Erie
1960Picton MerchantsLindsay MuskiesLost CSC SF vs. Whitby
1961Gananoque IslandersLost CSC Final vs. Stratford (C)
1962Napanee Red WingsPicton MerchantsLost CSC SF vs. Newmarket (Sub)
1963Napanee Red WingsPicton MerchantsLost CSC Final vs. New Hamburg (C)
1964Picton MerchantsNapanee Red WingsLost CSC QF vs. Lindsay (Sub)
1965Gananoque IslandersPicton MerchantsLost CSC QF vs. Lindsay (Sub)
1966Napanee WarriorsLost CSC SF vs. Parry Sound (GB)
1967Napanee WarriorsLost CSC SF vs. Aurora (Sub)
1968Napanee WarriorsLost CSC QF vs. Huntsville (GB)
1969Napanee WarriorsGananoque IslandersLost CSC QF vs. Parry Sound (GB)
1970Gananoque IslandersLost CSC QF vs. Huntsville (GB)
1971
1972Gananoque G-MenLost CSC SF vs. Cobourg (CO)
Quinte-St. Lawrence League
1973Gananoque G-MenLost SF to Lindsay (CO)
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978Gananoque G-MenLost CSC QF vs. Bowmanville (CO)
1979Gananoque G-MenLost CSC QF vs. Bowmanville (CO)
1980Gananoque G-MenLost CSC SF vs. Bradford (MO)
1981
1982Ernestown JetsLost CSC QF vs. Bowmanville (CO)
1983Wellington DukesLost CSC QF vs. Lindsay (CO)
1984Frankford HuskiesLost CSC QF vs. Bowmanville (CO)
1985Gananoque G-MenLost CSC QF vs. Bowmanville (CO)
1986Wellington DukesLost CSC QF vs. Lakefield (CO)
Eastern Ontario League
1990Napanee RaidersLost CSC SF vs. Orangeville (MO)
1991Frontenac FlyersLost CSC QF vs. Uxbridge (CO)
1992Ernestown JetsLost CSC QF vs. Port Perry (CO)
1993Napanee RaidersWon CSC vs. Hanover (WO)
1994Napanee RaidersLost CSC QF vs. Bowmanville (CO)
1995Napanee RaidersLost CSC QF vs. Bowmanville (CO)
1996Napanee RaidersLost CSC Final vs. Paris (ND)
Empire B League
1997Campbellford RebelsLost CSC QF vs. Lakefield (CO)
1998Campbellford RebelsLost CSC QF vs. Little Britain (CO)
1999Picton PiratesCampbellford RebelsLost CSC QF vs. Lakefield (CO)
2000Campbellford RebelsPicton PiratesLost CSC QF vs. Lakefield (CO)
2001Napanee RaidersCampbellford RebelsLost CSC QF vs. Uxbridge (CO)
2002Frontenac FlyersNapanee RaidersLost CSC QF vs. Uxbridge (CO)
2003Campbellford RebelsNapanee RaidersLost CSC QF vs. Georgina (CO)
2004Campbellford RebelsAmherstview JetsLost CSC QF vs. Lakefield (CO)
2005Amherstview JetsCampbellford RebelsLost CSC QF vs. Uxbridge (CO)
2006Napanee RaidersAmherstview JetsLost CSC QF vs. Port Perry (CO)
2007Amherstview JetsColborne CobrasLost CSC QF vs. Lakefield (CO)
2008Napanee RaidersAmherstview JetsLost CSC SF vs. Alliston (GMO)
2009Amherstview JetsNapanee RaidersLost CSC SF vs. Alliston (GMO)
2010Napanee RaidersPort Hope PanthersLost CSC SF vs. Alliston (GMO)
2011Picton Pirates [1] Napanee RaidersLost CSC SF vs. Alliston (GMO)
2012Campbellford RebelsPicton PiratesLost CSC SF vs. Alliston (GMO)
2013Picton PiratesPort Hope PanthersWon CSC vs. Essex (GL)
2014Picton PiratesAmherstview JetsLost CSC QF vs. Lakefield (CO)
2015Port Hope Panthers [2] Napanee RaidersLost CSC Final vs. Essex (GL)
2016Port Hope PanthersNapanee RaidersLost CSC Final vs Ayr (MW)

Regular season champions

SeasonChampionRecordPoints
Eastern Ontario League
1958-59  
1959-60  
1960-61  
1961-62 Gananoque Islanders *15-7-0-030
1962-63 Napanee Red Wings *12-7-0-024
1963-64 Napanee Red Wings 14-8-0-028
1964-65 Gananoque Islanders 13-6-2-028
1965-66  
1966-67 Napanee Tiremen 12-7-3-027
1967-68  
1968-69 Napanee Tiremen 14-0-2-030
1969-70  
1970-71  
1971-72  
Quinte-St. Lawrence League
1972-73  
1973-74  
1974-75  
1975-76  
1976-77  
1977-78 Wellington Dukes 21-10-1-043
1978-79  
1979-80 Gananoque G-Men 22-10-0-044
1980-81 Campbellford GMC's 21-9-4-046
1981-82 Ernestown Jets 22-9-3-047
1982-83 Wellington Dukes 23-6-5-051
1983-84  
1984-85 Gananoque G-Men 23-6-1-047
1985-86  
Eastern Ontario League
1989-90 Napanee Raiders 25-4-1-051
1990-91 Napanee Raiders 22-7-1-045
1991-92 Napanee Raiders 27-0-3-057
1992-93 Napanee Raiders 32-2-1-067
1993-94 Napanee Raiders 24-9-3-051
1994-95 Napanee Raiders 29-7-4-062
1995-96 Napanee Raiders 28-12-2-058
Empire B League
1996-97 Napanee Raiders 31-9-2-064
1997-98 Picton Pirates 26-6-4-056
1998-99 Campbellford Rebels 30-4-2-062
1999-00 Picton Pirates 24-11-1-049
2000-01 Napanee Raiders 21-8-3-247
2001-02 Napanee Raiders 20-14-0-242
2002-03 Amherstview Jets 20-12-1-142
2003-04 Campbellford Rebels 23-10-1-047
2004-05 Napanee Raiders 23-8-1-249
2005-06 Napanee Raiders 24-6-4-052
2006-07 Colborne Cobras 32-6-1-065
2007-08 Amherstview Jets 34-5-0-169
2008-09 Napanee Raiders 37-3-0-074
2009-10 Napanee Raiders 29-7-0-462
2010-11 Napanee Raiders 22-16-0-246
2011-12 Picton Pirates 27-12-0-155
2012-13 Picton Pirates 34-4-0-270
2013-14 Picton Pirates 36-2-1-174
2014-15 Port Hope Panthers 31-8-1-063
2015-16 Port Hope Panthers 32-4-1-065

(*) At times in the 1960s, the Junior B and C leagues in Eastern Ontario played as a single league. In those years, listed is the best Junior C team in the joint standings.

Former teams

Quinte-St. Lawrence teams

Professional alumni

The league has had a few graduates make it to the NHL. In 2006, Carolina's Justin Williams became the league's first graduate to hoist the Stanley Cup. He played with the former Colborne/Brighton franchise. Former Amherstview Jets defencemen Jay McKee (Pittsburgh Penguins), Bryan Allen (Florida Panthers), and Kip Brennan (New York Islanders) have also skated in the pro league.

National Hockey League

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Ontario Junior C Hockey League</span>

The Western Ontario Junior C Hockey League was a Junior "C" ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association. The Champion of the Western will compete for the All-Ontario Championship and the Clarence Schmalz Cup. The WOJCHL merged into the Provincial Junior Hockey League in the Summer of 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League</span>

The Georgian Mid Ontario Junior C Hockey League is a former Junior "C" ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association. The Champion of the league competed for the All-Ontario Championship and the Clarence Schmalz Cup.

The Central Ontario Junior C Hockey League was a junior ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association. The "Central" played inter-league games with the Empire Junior "C" League. The champion of the Central competed for the All-Ontario Championship and the Clarence Schmalz Cup. The league is now a division in the Provincial Junior Hockey League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clarence Schmalz Cup</span>

The Clarence Schmalz Cup is the Ontario Hockey Association's Junior "C" ice hockey championship and championship trophy. The champions of the Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) are awarded the Cup. The PJHL was formed in 2016 from the former 8 provincial leagues that previously competed in a tournament, commonly called the All-Ontario Championships, to determine the winner of the Cup.

The Pelham Panthers, formerly the Port Colborne Pirates, are a junior ice hockey team based in Pelham, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Golden Horseshoe division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayr Centennials</span> Canadian junior ice hockey team

The Ayr Centennials are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Ayr, Ontario. They play in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alliston Hornets</span> Canadian junior ice hockey team

The Alliston Hornets are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Alliston, Ontario, Canada. Starting with the 2016-17 hockey season the Hornets will be members of the Provincial Junior Hockey League. Prior to the change they played in the Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amherstview Jets</span> Canadian junior ice hockey team

The Amherstview Jets are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Amherstview, Ontario, Canada. As of the 2016–17 hockey season they play in the Provincial Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association. Prior to that they were members of the Empire B Junior C Hockey League. This league became the Tod Division of the Provincial Junior Hockey League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Campbellford Rebels</span> Canadian junior ice hockey team

The Campbellford Rebels are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Campbellford, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Tod Division of the Provincial Junior Hockey League, and were formerly members of the Empire B Junior C Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Hope Panthers</span> Canadian junior ice hockey team

The Port Hope Panthers are a junior hockey team based in Port Hope, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Provincial Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Essex 73's</span> Canadian junior ice hockey team

The Essex 73's are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Essex, Ontario. The 73's are members of the Provincial Junior Hockey League and the Ontario Hockey Association. Prior to becoming members of the PJHL in 2016 the 73's won the GLJHL playoff championship 20 times and the Clarence Schmalz Cup as Provincial Junior C Champions 7 times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grimsby Peach Kings</span> Canadian junior ice hockey team

The Grimsby Peach Kings are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team from Grimsby, Ontario and play in the Provincial Junior Hockey League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lakefield Chiefs</span> Canadian junior ice hockey team

The Lakefield Chiefs are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Lakefield, Ontario, Canada. They played in the Central Ontario Junior C Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association until the 2016–17 season when this league became the Orr Division of the Provincial Junior Hockey League

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Britain Merchants</span> Canadian junior ice hockey team

The Little Britain Merchants are a junior C ice hockey team based in Little Britain, Ontario, Canada. They played in the Central Ontario Junior C Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association until the 2016–17 season when the league became the Orr Division of the Provincial Junior Hockey League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Napanee Raiders</span> Canadian junior ice hockey team

The Napanee Raiders are a Junior ice hockey team based in Napanee, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Provincial Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Picton Pirates</span> Canadian junior ice hockey team

The Picton Pirates are a Junior ice hockey team based in Picton, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Tod Division of the Provincial Junior Hockey League.

The Port Perry LumberJacks are a Junior ice hockey team that play in the Provincial Junior Hockey League and based in Port Perry, Ontario, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niagara & District Junior C Hockey League</span>

The Niagara & District Junior C Hockey League is a former Junior "C" ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association. The Champion of the Niagara competed for the All-Ontario Championship and the Clarence Schmalz Cup.

The Eastern Junior B Hockey League (EJBHL) was a Junior "B" ice hockey league based in Eastern Ontario. They were sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association and Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, and competed for the All-Ontario Junior "B" title, the Sutherland Cup.

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.

References

  1. "Pirates end best season in history". Country Today. 11 April 2011.
  2. "Port Hope Panthers win Empire Junior C title". Northcumberland Today. 9 March 2015.