 | |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1985 |
| First season | 1985-86 |
| No. of teams | 12 |
| Most recent champion | Winnipeg Wild |
| Most titles | Winnipeg Wild (13) |
| Related competitions | Telus Cup |
| Official website | mbu18aaahockey.ca |
The Manitoba U-18 'AAA' Hockey League (MU18HL), formerly the Manitoba Midget 'AAA' Hockey League, is an ice hockey league in the province of Manitoba, Canada. It is the highest level of minor hockey in the province. The league operates under the supervision of Hockey Manitoba.
The league was founded in 1985 and provides elite hockey players in Manitoba the opportunity to play at a high level of competition. The league is heavily scouted by the Western Hockey League, Junior 'A' teams, and NCAA programs. A number of players have gone to play in these leagues and the majority of Manitobans playing professional hockey have played in the 'AAA' league.
All teams are regionally based and are operated by Hockey Manitoba's regional minor hockey associations, with the exception of the Kenora Thistles, who are affiliated with Hockey Northwestern Ontario. The Winnipeg region has the option to field multiple teams. Players for each of the teams are selected from the local minor hockey associations within their respective regions.
| Team | Centre | League Titles | National Titles | First Season | Previous Team Name |
| Brandon Midget Wheat Kings | Brandon | 4 | 1 | 1985-86 | |
| Central Plains Capitals | Portage la Prairie | 0 | 0 | 1989-90 | |
| Eastman Selects | Steinbach | 3 | 0 | 1986-87 | |
| Interlake Lightning | Teulon | 0 | 0 | 1985-86 | Interlake Raiders (1985–88) |
| Kenora Thistles | Kenora, ON | 1 | 0 | 1986-87 | Kenora Boise (1986–95), Kenora Stars (1995-04) |
| Norman Northstars | Thompson | 1 | 0 | 1986-87 | |
| Parkland Rangers | Dauphin | 0 | 0 | 1990-91 | |
| Pembina Valley Hawks | Morden | 3 | 0 | 1985-86 | |
| Southwest Cougars | Souris | 2 | 0 | 1985-86 | |
| Winnipeg Bruins | Winnipeg | 0 | 0 | 2017-18 | |
| Winnipeg Thrashers | Winnipeg | 3 | 1 | 1993-94 | Winnipeg Sharks (1993-04) |
| Winnipeg Wild | Winnipeg | 13 | 0 | 1985-86 | Winnipeg Saints (1985-89), Winnipeg Warriors (1989-03) |
| Yellowhead Chiefs | Shoal Lake | 1 | 0 | 1987-88 |
The league champion is awarded the Jack Forsyth Trophy, which is named after a former league commissioner. The MU18HL playoffs are also to determine the provincial championship for Manitoba (teams based outside of Manitoba are not eligible for the Manitoba championship).
| Year | Jack Forsyth Trophy winner | Runner-up | Telus Cup West Regional |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Winnipeg Saints | Pembina Valley Hawks | |
| 1987 | Winnipeg Saints | Southwest Cougars | |
| 1988 | Winnipeg Saints | Southwest Cougars | |
| 1989 | Eastman Selects | Yellowhead Chiefs | |
| 1990 | Winnipeg Mavericks | Brandon Wheat Kings | |
| 1991 | Winnipeg Hawks | Norman Northstars | Winner |
| 1992 | Winnipeg Hawks | Brandon Wheat Kings | |
| 1993 | Kenora Boise [a] | Winnipeg Hawks | |
| 1994 | Yellowhead Chiefs | Winnipeg Hawks | |
| 1995 | Brandon Wheat Kings | Parkland Rangers | |
| 1996 | Norman Northstars | Yellowhead Chiefs | |
| 1997 | Pembina Valley Hawks | Eastman Selects | |
| 1998 | Southwest Cougars | Pembina Valley Hawks | |
| 1999 | Southwest Cougars | Pembina Valley Hawks | |
| 2000 | Eastman Selects | Winnipeg Warriors | |
| 2001 | Winnipeg Warriors | Pembina Valley Hawks | |
| 2002 | Eastman Selects | Winnipeg Sharks | |
| 2003 | Brandon Wheat Kings | Winnipeg Sharks | |
| 2004 | Brandon Wheat Kings | Winnipeg Thrashers | Winner |
| 2005 | Winnipeg Wild | Pembina Valley Hawks | |
| 2006 | Winnipeg Thrashers | Pembina Valley Hawks | |
| 2007 | Brandon Wheat Kings | Winnipeg Thrashers | |
| 2008 | Winnipeg Thrashers | Pembina Valley Hawks | Winner |
| 2009 | Winnipeg Wild | Winnipeg Thrashers | |
| 2010 | Pembina Valley Hawks | Eastman Selects | |
| 2011 | Winnipeg Thrashers | Southwest Cougars | Winner |
| 2012 | Winnipeg Wild | Southwest Cougars | |
| 2013 | Winnipeg Wild | Winnipeg Thrashers | |
| 2014 | Winnipeg Wild | Eastman Selects | |
| 2015 | Pembina Valley Hawks | Brandon Wheat Kings | |
| 2016 | Winnipeg Wild | Eastman Selects | |
| 2017 | Winnipeg Wild | Yellowhead Chiefs | |
| 2018 | Winnipeg Wild | Brandon Wheat Kings | |
| 2019 | Brandon Wheat Kings | Winnipeg Wild | |
| 2020 | no champion [b] | ||
| 2021 | no champion | ||
| 2022 | Winnipeg Wild | Brandon Wheat Kings | |
| 2023 |
The Manitoba champion earns a berth to the West Regional Championship and competes against the champions from Saskatchewan and Northwestern Ontario. The winner advances to the national Telus Cup, known as the Air Canada Cup until 2003 .
MU18HL teams have hosted the national championships three times: the Brandon Wheat Kings in 1994, the Winnipeg Thrashers in 2009 (in Selkirk), and the Kenora Stars in 2004. Winnipeg hosted the inaugural national championship in 1979, before the MU18HL was formed.