| Norwich Merchants | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Norwich, Ontario |
| League | Provincial Junior Hockey League |
| Conference | South |
| Division | Pat Doherty |
| Founded | 1968 |
| Home arena | Nor-Del Arena |
| Colours | Red, Black, and White |
| General manager | Darren House |
| Head coach | Derek Partlo (2024) |
| Website | norwichjrcmerchants |
The Norwich Merchants are a junior hockey team based in Norwich, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Provincial Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.
Founded in 1968, the Merchants won the Southern Counties Junior D Hockey League championship the next season, then went on to win the OHA Cup as provincial champions by defeating the Haliburton Huskies of the Central League.
In 1980, the Merchants were promoted to Junior C and joined the Niagara & District Junior C Hockey League. In 1986, the Merchants were Niagara League champions. They went on to defeat the Bradford Blues of the Mid-Ontario Junior Hockey League to win the Clarence Schmalz Cup as OHA Junior C champions. In 1987, they were again Niagara League champions. They again made it to the provincial final, but this time lost to the Lakefield Chiefs of the Central Ontario Junior C Hockey League.
In November 2011, the Merchants were sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association for the overpayment of a former player during his time with the team. Although the team claimed the money was for education purposes, the OHA fined the team $25,000, suspended three board members for the rest of the season and three additional seasons, their 2011-12 roster was frozen for the rest of the season, and they were barred from signing imports for three following seasons. [1] The Merchants appealed the decision to the Ontario Hockey Federation. The OHF overturned the roster freeze and import restrictions saying that it was not within the OHA's constitution to wield those powers. Both sides then appealed to Hockey Canada who sided with neither party, which left the fine and suspensions in place. [2]
After thirty-three years as members of the Niagara & District Junior C Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey Association realigned and the Merchants ended up in the new Midwestern Junior C Hockey League. Three years later the eight Southern Ontario junior "C" hockey leagues amalgamated into one league, the Provincial Junior Hockey League. This means that they are now competing in the Pat Doherty Division of the Central Conference.
The playoffs for the 2019-20 season were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the team not being able to play a single game.
Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1968-69 | 30 | 15 | 14 | 1 | - | 170 | 145 | 31 | 4th SCJDHL | |
| 1969-70 | 30 | 15 | 14 | 1 | - | 157 | 127 | 31 | 4th SCJDHL | Won League, Won OHA Cup |
| 1970-71 | 30 | 18 | 10 | 2 | - | 160 | 138 | 38 | 2nd SCJDHL | |
| 1971-72 | 28 | 12 | 13 | 3 | - | 129 | 120 | 27 | 4th SCJDHL | |
| 1972-73 | 30 | 18 | 10 | 2 | - | 200 | 147 | 38 | 3rd SCJDHL | |
| 1973-74 | 28 | 14 | 14 | 0 | - | 163 | 162 | 28 | 4th SCJDHL | |
| 1974-75 | 30 | 15 | 15 | 0 | - | 172 | 159 | 30 | 3rd SCJDHL | |
| 1975-76 | 35 | 21 | 13 | 1 | - | -- | -- | 43 | 4th SCJDHL | |
| 1976-77 | 28 | 15 | 12 | 1 | - | -- | -- | 31 | 3rd SCJDHL | |
| 1977-78 | 35 | 9 | 22 | 4 | - | 155 | 226 | 22 | 7th SJDHL | |
| 1978-79 | 32 | 12 | 20 | 0 | - | 157 | 189 | 22 | 8th SJDHL | |
| 1979-80 | 34 | 18 | 15 | 1 | - | 204 | 186 | 37 | 4th SJDHL | |
| 1980-81 | 32 | 15 | 13 | 4 | - | -- | -- | 34 | 4th NJC-W | |
| 1981-82 | 32 | 26 | 5 | 1 | - | -- | -- | 53 | 1st NJC-W | |
| 1982-83 | 36 | 24 | 8 | 4 | - | -- | -- | 52 | 2nd NJC-W | |
| 1983-84 | 30 | 21 | 7 | 2 | - | -- | -- | 44 | 1st NJC-W | |
| 1984-85 | 32 | 28 | 4 | 0 | - | 230 | 101 | 56 | 1st SWJCHL | |
| 1985-86 | 36 | 24 | 6 | 6 | - | -- | -- | 54 | 2nd NJC-W | Won League, Won CSC |
| 1986-87 | 34 | 20 | 10 | 4 | - | -- | -- | 44 | 1st NJC-W | Won League, Lost CSC Final |
| 1987-88 | 36 | 27 | 5 | 4 | - | -- | -- | 58 | 1st NJC-W | |
| 1988-89 | 35 | 13 | 21 | 1 | - | -- | -- | 27 | 6th NJC-W | |
| 1989-90 | 36 | 25 | 7 | 4 | - | -- | -- | 54 | 1st NJC-W | |
| 1990-91 | 34 | 20 | 12 | 2 | - | -- | -- | 42 | 3rd NJC-W | |
| 1991-92 | 35 | 16 | 14 | 5 | - | 190 | 165 | 37 | 4th NJC-W | |
| 1992-93 | 36 | 12 | 19 | 5 | - | 195 | 244 | 29 | 5th NJC-W | |
| 1993-94 | 36 | 13 | 15 | 8 | - | 145 | 145 | 34 | 4th NJC-W | |
| 1994-95 | 36 | 21 | 11 | 4 | - | 198 | 135 | 46 | 3rd NJC-W | |
| 1995-96 | 40 | 25 | 12 | 3 | - | 222 | 151 | 53 | 2nd NJC-W | |
| 1996-97 | 40 | 23 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 202 | 153 | 49 | 3rd NJC-W | |
| 1997-98 | 40 | 26 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 232 | 160 | 53 | 2nd NJC-W | Won Division, Lost Final |
| 1998-99 | 35 | 24 | 10 | - | 1 | -- | -- | 49 | 2nd NJC-W | Lost Div. Final |
| 1999-00 | 36 | 23 | 10 | - | 3 | -- | -- | 49 | 2nd NJC-W | Won Division, Lost Final |
| 2000-01 | 36 | 24 | 9 | 1 | 2 | -- | -- | 51 | 1st NJC-W | Won Division, Lost Final |
| 2001-02 | 36 | 19 | 13 | 2 | 2 | -- | -- | 42 | 2nd NJC-W | Lost Div. Final |
| 2002-03 | 36 | 23 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 150 | 117 | 49 | 3rd NJCHL | Won Division, Lost Final |
| 2003-04 | 36 | 25 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 160 | 96 | 55 | 2nd NJCHL | Lost Div. Final |
| 2004-05 | 36 | 18 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 136 | 126 | 41 | 4th NJCHL | Lost Div. Final |
| 2005-06 | 36 | 27 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 185 | 118 | 57 | 3rd NJCHL | Lost Div. Final |
| 2006-07 | 36 | 24 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 183 | 120 | 51 | 3rd NJCHL | Won Division, Lost Final |
| 2007-08 | 36 | 22 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 158 | 88 | 47 | 3rd NJCHL | Won Division, Lost Final |
| 2008-09 | 36 | 24 | 7 | - | 5 | 168 | 105 | 53 | 2nd NJCHL | Won League, Lost CSC SF |
| 2009-10 | 36 | 27 | 7 | - | 2 | 162 | 93 | 56 | 2nd NJCHL | Lost Final |
| 2010-11 | 36 | 32 | 2 | - | 2 | 187 | 83 | 66 | 1st NJCHL | Lost Final |
| 2011-12 | 36 | 24 | 9 | - | 3 | 144 | 101 | 51 | 4th NJCHL | Lost Div. Final |
| 2012-13 | 38 | 29 | 7 | - | 2 | 164 | 80 | 60 | 2nd NJC-W | Lost Div. Final |
| 2013-14 | 40 | 27 | 11 | - | 2 | 170 | 115 | 56 | 4th MWJCHL | Won Quarters, 4-3 (Applejacks) Lost Semi's, 0-4 (Mounties) |
| 2014-15 | 40 | 24 | 15 | 1 | - | 145 | 120 | 49 | 3rd MWJCHL | Won Quarters, 4-2 (Bulldogs) Won Semi's, 4-3 (Firebirds) lost League Finals, 0-4 (Centennials) |
| 2015-16 | 40 | 15 | 23 | 2 | - | 129 | 161 | 32 | 7th of 9 MWJCHL | Lost Quarters, 0-4 (Firebirds) |
| 2016-17 | 40 | 22 | 18 | 0 | - | 181 | 153 | 44 | 5th of 9, PJHL Dougherty Div | Won Div Quarters, 4-1 (Firebirds) Lost Div. Semifinals, 0-4 (Centennials) |
| 2017-18 | 40 | 17 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 176 | 150 | 39 | 6th of 9, PJHL Dougherty Div | Lost Div Quarters, 1-4 (Navy-Vets) |
| 2018-19 | 40 | 21 | 16 | 0 | 3 | 176 | 138 | 45 | 5th of 9, PJHL Dougherty Div | Lost Div Quarters, 2-4 (Mounties) |
| 2019-20 | 40 | 21 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 208 | 141 | 44 | 5th of 9, PJHL Dougherty Div | Lost Div Quarters, 1-4 (Centennials) |
| 2020-21 | Season Lost due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||||||||
| 2021-22 | 36 | 10 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 114 | 116 | 27 | 5th of 7, PJHL Dougherty Div | Lost Div Quarters, 1-4 (Firebirds) |
| 2022-23 | 42 | 29 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 190 | 122 | 59 | 3rd of 7, PJHL Dougherty Div | Won Div Quarters, 4-1 (Mounties) Lost Div Semis 1-4 (Applejacks) |
| 2023-24 | 42 | 19 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 141 | 144 | 44 | 4th of 7, PJHL Dougherty Div | Won Div Quarters, 4-3 (Applejacks) tbd Div. Semifinals, 1-4 (Navy-Vets) |
The Montreal Junior Canadiens were a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Junior Hockey League from 1933 to 1961, and the Ontario Hockey Association from 1961 to 1972. They played out of the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
The Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) is a Junior A ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada. It is under the supervision of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) and the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL).
The Metro Junior "A" Hockey League was a junior level ice hockey league based out of Southern Ontario. The league originated in 1956 as the Metro Junior "B" Hockey League, which lasted until 1991, when it changed its designation from Junior B to Junior A. It remained a Jr. A league from 1991 until 1998 when it was absorbed by the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League.
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 Caledon Canadians are a defunct Junior "A" ice hockey team from Caledon, Ontario, Canada. They were a part of the Metro Junior A Hockey League and were the only team in the "Metro" to win an Ontario Hockey Association Junior "A" Championship.
The Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League was a Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey that lasted from the late 1960s until 1977 in Southern Ontario, Canada. The league was swallowed by what is now called the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League in 1977.
The Toronto Jr. Canadiens are a Junior "A" ice hockey team based in the Downsview neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They were known as the Wexford Raiders until the end of the 2005–06 season and are a part of Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) but used to be a part of the Metro Junior A Hockey League.
The Exeter Hawks are a Junior ice hockey team based in Exeter, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Provincial Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.
The Mitchell Hawks are a Junior ice hockey team based in Mitchell, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Provincial Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.
The Bradford Rattlers are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based out of Bradford, Ontario, and members of the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League. The Rattlers, then known as the Bradford Bulls, were bought out towards the end of the 2005–06 season by a local group of investors for the purpose of moving the team up to Junior "A" from the Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League.
The Niagara RiverHawks are a Junior ice hockey team based in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Provincial Junior Hockey League.
The Dundas Blues are a junior ice hockey team based in Dundas, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Bloomfield Division of the Provincial Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.
The Glanbrook Rangers are a Junior ice hockey team based in Glanbrook, Ontario, Canada. They are playing in the Provincial Junior Hockey League. The Rangers are only the second Ontario Hockey Association team to have claimed three consecutive Clarence Schmalz Cups as Junior C champions, winning in 1997, 1998, and 1999. The Rangers are members of the Bloomfield Division in the Southern Conference.
The Grimsby Peach Kings are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team from Grimsby, Ontario and play in the Provincial Junior Hockey League.
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
The Hespeler Shamrocks are a junior ice hockey team based in Hespeler, Ontario, Canada. They are currently members of the Provincial Junior Hockey League. The team was known as the Simcoe Storm from 1989-2017 and had played in Simcoe, Ontario since 1959 before relocating in 2018.
The Uxbridge Bruins are a Junior ice hockey team based in Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada. They play in the PJHL Provincial Junior Hockey League.
The Woodstock Navy Vets are a junior hockey team based in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Provincial Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association.
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 Midwestern Junior C Hockey League (MWJCHL) was a Canadian Junior ice hockey league in Southwestern Ontario. The MWJCHL was a member of the Ontario Hockey Association and Hockey Canada. Its champion competed for the Clarence Schmalz Cup, the OHA Junior C championship.