Ontario Women's Hockey League

Last updated

Ontario Women's Hockey League
Ontario Women's Hockey League U22 Elite logo.svg
Sport Ice hockey
Founded2004;20 years ago (2004)
CEO Fran Rider, OWHA
No. of teams20
CountryFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Most recent
champion(s)
Durham West Jr. Lightning (2)
Most titles Toronto Jr. Aeros (7)
Official website OWHL official site

The Ontario Women's Hockey League U22 Elite (OWHL), formerly the Provincial Women's Hockey League, is a women's junior ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada. Founded in 2004, it is considered to be the highest level of amateur women's ice hockey in Ontario, and is sanctioned by Hockey Canada and the Ontario Women's Hockey Association.

Contents

OWHL alumni have gone on to play in the Professional Women's Hockey League, National Collegiate Athletic Association, and U Sports, and for the Canadian national team.

History

Former Provincial Women's Hockey League logo Pwhlgif.gif
Former Provincial Women's Hockey League logo
Southwest and Barrie battle during 2013-14 season. Southwest Jr. Wildcats versus Barrie Jr. Sharks, PWHL 2013.jpg
Southwest and Barrie battle during 2013–14 season.
Kingston skater during 2013-14 season. Kingston Ice Wolves skater 2013.jpg
Kingston skater during 2013–14 season.

The league was founded in 2004 as the Provincial Women's Hockey League by the Ontario Women's Hockey Association (OWHA). It is the women's equivalent to men's junior hockey, but is officially classified by the OWHA as "Intermediate AA," as the OWHA does not have an official "junior" classification system. Despite this, its teams market themselves as women's junior hockey. [1] [2]

In the early years of the league, when PWHL teams had to compete for OWHA provincials they would do so with representatives of the Ottawa District.[ citation needed ] The PWHL franchises proved much more competitive than their Ottawa counterparts and after two seasons Ottawa applied to and joined the PWHL. By the 2009 league playoffs, the Ottawa Senators beat the league powerhouse Toronto Jr. Aeros to win its first league championship.

In the 2019–20 season, the playoffs were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. [3] The following season was not played due to coronavirus-related restrictions. [4]

At some point following the pandemic, the league was renamed to the Ontario Women's Hockey League (OWHL). [5]

Teams

Southwest Jr. Wildcats player during 2014-15 season. Wildcats player 2013.JPG
Southwest Jr. Wildcats player during 2014–15 season.
Cambridge Rivulettes goalie during 2013-14 season. Cambridge Rivulettes goalie 2013.jpg
Cambridge Rivulettes goalie during 2013–14 season.

[6]

TeamCentreJoined
Aurora Jr. Panthers Aurora, Ontario 2004
Barrie Jr. Sharks Barrie, Ontario 2011
Bluewater Jr. Hawks Strathroy, Ontario 2004
Brampton Jr. Canadettes Brampton, Ontario 2004
Burlington Jr. Barracudas Burlington, Ontario 2004
Cambridge Rivulettes Cambridge, Ontario 2004
Durham West Jr. Lightning Ajax, Ontario 2004
Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins Etobicoke, Toronto 2004
Kingston Ice Wolves Kingston, Ontario 2012
London Jr. Devilettes London, Ontario 2004
Mississauga Jr. Hurricanes Mississauga, Ontario 2004
Nepean Jr. Wildcats Nepean, Ontario 2010
Oakville Jr. Hornets Oakville, Ontario 2004
Ottawa Lady Senators Ottawa, Ontario 2006
Southwest Wildcats Windsor, Ontario 2004
Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres Stoney Creek, Ontario 2004
Toronto Jr. Aeros North York, Toronto 2004
Toronto Leaside Jr. Wildcats Leaside, Toronto 2012
Waterloo Ravens Waterloo, Ontario 2008
Whitby Jr. Wolves Whitby, Ontario 2005

Defunct franchises

Champions

Championships by year

YearRegular SeasonLeague ChampionshipProvincial Championship
Provincial Women's Hockey League
2005Toronto Jr. AerosToronto Jr. AerosToronto Jr. Aeros
2006Toronto Jr. AerosToronto Jr. AerosToronto Jr. Aeros
2007Toronto Jr. AerosToronto Jr. AerosStoney Creek Jr. Sabres
2008Stoney Creek Jr. SabresStoney Creek Jr. SabresOttawa NCCP Jr. Capitals
2009Toronto Jr. AerosOttawa Lady SenatorsMississauga Jr. Chiefs
2010Mississauga Jr. ChiefsToronto Jr. AerosToronto Jr. Aeros
2011Mississauga Jr. ChiefsToronto Jr. AerosMississauga Jr. Chiefs
2012Toronto Jr. AerosBluewater Jr. HawksBluewater Jr. Hawks
2013Whitby Jr. WolvesWhitby Jr. WolvesDurham West Jr. Lightning
2014Nepean Jr. WildcatsWhitby Jr. WolvesMississauga Jr. Chiefs
2015Oakville Jr. HornetsStoney Creek Jr. SabresOakville Jr. Hornets
2016Durham West Jr. LightningToronto Jr. AerosToronto Jr. Aeros
2017Oakville Jr. HornetsOakville Jr. HornetsOakville Jr. Hornets
2018Toronto Jr. AerosToronto Jr. AerosToronto Jr. Aeros
2019Kingston Ice WolvesLondon Jr. DevilettesLondon Jr. Devilettes
2020Etobicoke Jr. DolphinsNo tournament held
2021Season not played [4]
Ontario Women's Hockey League U22 Elite
2022Durham West Jr. LightningDurham West Jr. LightningEtobicoke Jr. Dolphins
2023Durham West Jr. LightningLondon Jr. DevilettesDurham West Jr. Lightning
2024Etobicoke Jr. DolphinsDurham West Jr. LightningBurlington Barracudas

Championships by team

TeamRegular SeasonLeague ChampionshipProvincial Championship
Bluewater Jr. Hawks1: 20121: 2012
Burlington Barracudas1: 2024
Durham West Jr. Lightning3: 2016, 2022, 20232: 2022, 20242: 2013, 2023
Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins2: 2020, 20241: 2022
Kingston Jr. Ice Wolves1: 2019
London Jr. Devilettes2: 2019, 20231: 2019
Mississauga Jr. Chiefs/Hurricanes2: 2010, 20113: 2009, 2011, 2014
Nepean Jr. Wildcats1: 2014
Oakville Jr. Hornets2: 2015, 20171: 20172: 2015, 2017
Ottawa Lady Senators1: 20091: 2008
Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres1: 20082: 2008, 20151: 2007
Toronto Jr. Aeros6: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 20187: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2016, 20185: 2005, 2006, 2010, 2016, 2018
Whitby Jr. Wolves1: 20132: 2013, 2014

"Triple Crown" winners

Two teams have won the regular season, league championship, and provincial championship in the same season. The first to do it was the Toronto Jr. Aeros, accomplishing the feat back-to-back in the league's first two seasons.

Awards

Barrie Jr. Sharks goalie 2013-14 season. Sharks goalie 2013.JPG
Barrie Jr. Sharks goalie 2013–14 season.

Regular Season champions

SeasonTeamRecordPoints
2004–05Toronto Jr. Aeros23–5–248
2005–06Toronto Jr. Aeros [7] 27–0–357
2006–07Toronto Jr. Aeros [8] 22–6–448
2007–08Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres [8] 27–2–357
2008–09Toronto Jr. Aeros [8] 27–5–256
2009–10Mississauga Chiefs [9] 29–2–3–061
2010–11Mississauga Chiefs [10] 33–3–0–066
2011–12Toronto Jr. Aeros [8] 31–1–1–164
2012–13Whitby Jr. Wolves29–6–2–161
2013–14Nepean Jr. Wildcats [11] 32–3–2–167
2014–15Oakville Jr. Hornets31–3–4–066
2015–16Durham West Jr. Lightning27–2–5–463
2016–17Oakville Jr. Hornets31–3–4–066
2017–18Toronto Jr. Aeros31–3–4–066
2018–19Kingston Ice Wolves28–2–7–164
2019–20Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins27–4–661
2020–21
2021–22Durham West Jr. Lightning28–0–1–158
2022–23Durham West Jr. Lightning
2023–24Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins

Scoring champion

SeasonPlayerTeamG-A-P
2004–05
2005–06Mallory DeluceBluewater Jr. Hawks18-45–63
2006–07Laura McIntoshMississauga Jr. Chiefs21-33–54
2007–08Kelly SabatineStoney Creek Jr. Sabres28-32–60
2008–09Kelly SabatineStoney Creek Jr. Sabres33-35–68
2009–10Theadora Imbrogno [12] Mississauga Jr. Chiefs28-34–62
2010–11Jenna DingeldeinMississauga Jr. Chiefs21-40–61
2011–12Emily JanigaBurlington Jr. Barracudas27-21–48
2012–13Krista Yip-ChuckWhitby Jr. Wolves29-36–65
2013–14Victoria Bach [13] Mississauga Jr. Chiefs36-32–68
2014–15Jessie EldridgeToronto Jr. Aeros29-35–64
2015–16Daryl WattsMississauga Jr. Chiefs30-35–65
2016–17Emma MaltaisOakville Hornets22-34–56
2017–18Maggie McKeeLondon Devilettes14-32–46
2018–19Maggie McKeeLondon Devilettes15-41–56
2019–20Kiara ZanonKingston Ice Wolves33-31–64

Goaltending Award

Kingston goalie during 2013-14 season. Kingston Ice Wolves goalie 2013.jpg
Kingston goalie during 2013–14 season.
SeasonPlayerTeamGAA
2004–05Melissa John/
Jamie Miller
Toronto Jr. Aeros1.50
2005–06Christina Kessler/
Jamie Miller
Toronto Jr. Aeros0.93
2006–07Jamie MillerToronto Jr. Aeros1.28
2007–08Cassandra McNicholMississauga Jr. Chiefs1.13
2008–09Cassie SeguinOttawa Senators1.34
2009–10Olivia RossMississauga Jr. Chiefs0.98
2010–11Ali Binnington/
Bridget Smith
Mississauga Jr. Chiefs1.00
2011–12Taylor HoughToronto Jr. Aeros0.71
2012–13Jackie RochefortDurham West Jr. Lightning0.94
2013–14Kira Bombay [14] Nepean Jr. Wildcats0.82
2014–15Sarah McDonnellStoney Creek Jr. Sabres1.03
2015–16Danika RangerDurham West Jr. Lightning0.83
2016–17Makenzy ArsenaultWhitby Wolves.84
2017–18Natalie ThompsonToronto Aeros.71
2018–19Andrea FaustoStoney Creek Sabres1.04
2019–20Michelle PasiechnykNepean Wildcats1.33

Coach of the Year

SeasonCoachTeam
2004–05Paul RockettBrampton Jr. Canadettes
2005–06
2006–07
2007–08
2008–09
2009–10Dave GwynEtobicoke Jr. Dolphins
2010–11Rick SullivanBluewater Jr. Hawks
2011–12Christina JolliffeLondon Jr. Devilettes
2012–13Wayne McDonaldDurham West Jr. Lightning
2013–14Bruce MacDonaldNepean Jr. Wildcats
2014–15Jessica TurriEtobicoke Jr. Dolphins
2015–16Kim McCulloughLeaside Wildcats
2016–17Troy SweetKingston Jr Ice Wolves
2017–18Geoff HaddawayCambridge Rivulettes
2018–19Chad CampbellWaterloo K-W Rangers
2019–20Stacey MarnochStoney Creek Sabres

Christie Rose Scholarship

Barrie Jr. Sharks players line up for a draw during 2013-14 season. Sharks players 2013.JPG
Barrie Jr. Sharks players line up for a draw during 2013–14 season.

For ten years, the PWHL awarded a scholarship in memory of former PWHL player Christie Rose. She was an 18-year-old young woman who died on June 24, 2008, as a result of her injuries suffered in a car accident. [8] The scholarship is awarded on an annual basis to recognize a young woman who shares the same qualities and characteristics as Christie. The scholarship program was ended after it awarded its tenth recipient.

Recipients

YearPlayerTeam
2009Kaitlyn Bannon [15] London Jr. Devilettes
2010Blair ConnellyBluewater Jr. Hawks [8]
2011Stacey ScottLondon Jr. Devilettes
2012Michelle TanelDurham West Jr. Lightning
2013Clare McKellar [16] London Jr. Devilettes
2014Caitlin Lee/
Erran Lee [17]
Kingston Ice Wolves
2015Davis Smith [18] Bluewater Jr. Hawks
2016Emma Forcey [19] Bluewater Jr. Hawks
2017Tayler MurphyMississauga Chiefs
2018Maggie McKeeLondon Devilettes

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