Western Ontario Junior C Hockey League

Western Ontario Junior "C" Hockey League Head Office Cambridge, Ontario Official Website WJCHL Convenor Bill Fisher Chairman John Kastner Operated 1966–2016 Provincial Titles 7

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.

Western Junior "C" Hockey League 1966–1970

Central Junior "C" Hockey League 1970–1980

Grey-Bruce Junior "C" Hockey League 1980–1988

Western Ontario Junior "C" Hockey League 1988–2016

History

Wingham Ironmen goalie during 2014 Clarence Schmalz Cup playoffs.

The Western Junior C Hockey League was founded in 1966 when the original OHA Central Junior C Hockey League, a large league, was divided up. In 1970, the Western league changed its name to the Central league. A couple years later, another league from the old Central league, the Intercounty Jr. C league merged with the new Central league. Brought into the fold was the Caledonia Corvairs who won the league and the Clarence Schmalz Cup in 1973, then jumped to the Junior B level.

Locations of teams in the Western League.

In 1969, the Hanover Hurricanes made the jump from the Western Junior D Hockey League to the Central Junior "C". Early powerhouses in the league were the Listowel Cyclones, Kincardine Kinucks, and New Hamburg Hahns. The Hanover Barons are the only remaining team that is still a member from the founding of the league in 1966. They won two Clarence Schmalz Cups while playing in the league and dominated in the 1960s. They were promoted to Junior "B" in 1977. The league became one of at least four different leagues in the OHA to be known as the Central Jr. C league since 1960. The league may have changed its name in 1970 to the Grey-Bruce Junior C Hockey League. This lasted until 1988, as the league granted expansion to 2 teams that were not in Grey or Bruce County—in 1987, the Mount Forest Patriots and in 1989, the Brussels Bulls. In 1988, the league donned its present name, the Western Junior "C" Hockey League.

From 1972 until 1976, the Central league (now the Western league) featured a variety of teams from the Niagara region of Ontario. In 1974, the majority of these teams broke away to form the Niagara & District Junior C Hockey League. In 1976, the remainder of these teams walked away to form the Southwestern Junior B Hockey League, which folded in 1978 and the remaining teams went mostly to the Niagara District league to help form a Western division.

In 1987, the Port Elgin Bears withdrew from a playoffs series due to perceived on-ice violence by the Hanover Barons. The OHA investigated the incident, which received national publicity when Port Elgin's coach was supported by Otto Jelinek, the Canadian Minister of State for Fitness and Amateur Sport. ^[1] Port Elgin team officials were given one-year suspensions when the OHA found no evidence to justify abandoning the series. ^[2]

Wingham Ironmen player during 2014 Clarence Schmalz Cup playoffs.

During the 2004-05 season, the WJCHL played an interlocking schedule with the Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League. The WJCHL lost the series with 44 losses, 32 victories, and 6 ties.

On May 29, 2008, the Western league and the Ontario Hockey Association allowed for the Mitchell Hawks to move from the more southerly Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League and into the Western league for the 2008-09 season. This marks the second time the Hawks have been in the loop, the first being the mid-1960s. Also, they share the same name as the Walkerton Hawks, although Walkerton's name is from the raptor (since 1999), while Mitchell's is from the Native Chief.

In 2012, the OHA entered into talks with the Western League and the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League. If successful, the northern half of the SOJHL would become the "Southern Division" of the WOJCHL, while the original teams would form a "Northern Division". In the Summer of 2013, the OHA opted to realign the SOJHL with the Niagara & District Junior C Hockey League instead. The northern half of the SOJHL remained the SOJHL, while the southern half merged with the NDJCHL. Weeks later the OHA announced that the Eastern Division of the NDJCHL would remain as the Niagara League, while the West would break off and form a new Midwestern Junior C Hockey League.

The teams

Team Founded Centre Arena Goderich Flyers 2003 Goderich Goderich & District Community Centre Hanover Barons 1964 Hanover P&H Centre Kincardine Bulldogs 1994 Kincardine Davidson Centre Arena Mitchell Hawks 1966 Mitchell Mitchell & District Arena Mount Forest Patriots 1987 Mount Forest Mount Forest & District Community Centre Walkerton Hawks 1976 Walkerton Walkerton Community Centre Wingham Ironmen 1975 Wingham North Huron Wescast Community Complex

2015–16 League Playoffs

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

	Quarter-finals					Semi-finals					Finals
						1	Walkerton	4
						4	Mitchell	0
	4	Mitchell	4
	5	Wingham	2
											1	Walkerton	3
											2	Kincardine	4
	2	Kincardine	4
	7	Goderich	0
						2	Kincardine	4
						3	Mount Forest	3
	3	Mount Forest	4
	6	Hanover	3

Western Junior "C" Champions

Year Champion Finalist Result in Provincials Western League 1967 New Hamburg Hahns Elmira Lumber Kings Won OHA Jr. C vs. Aurora (Sub) 1968 New Hamburg Hahns Lost Final to Georgetown (Sub) 1969 New Hamburg Hahns Exeter Hawks Lost SF to Woodstock (IC) 1970 Hespeler Shamrocks Lost Final to Newmarket (Sub) Central Group 2/3 1971 Hanover Hurricanes Lost SF to Dresden (GL) 1972 New Hamburg Hahns Lost QF to Leamington (GL) 1973 Caledonia Corvairs New Hamburg Hahns Won OHA Jr. C vs. Lindsay (CL) -- Rep. for Super C Playdowns: Woodstock Navy-Vets Won Super Jr. C vs. Kitchener (WJBHL) 1974 Woodstock Navy-Vets Simcoe Jets Won Super Jr. C vs. Owen Sound (NJDHL) -- Rep. for Jr. C Playdowns: Simcoe Jets Lost Final to Cobourg (CL) 1975 New Hamburg Hahns Lost SF to Essex (GL) -- Rep. for Super C Playdowns: Woodstock Navy-Vets Won Super Jr. C vs. Owen Sound 1976 Clinton Mustangs Woodstock Navy-Vets Lost SF to Essex (GL) -- Rep. for Super C Playdowns: Woodstock Navy-Vets Won Super Jr. C vs. Brantford 1977 Listowel Cyclones Lost SF to Essex (GL) 1978 Listowel Cyclones Lost QF to Essex (GL) 1979 Kincardine Kinucks Lost Final to Bowmanville (CL) 1980 Port Elgin Bears Lost QF to Leamington (GL) Grey-Bruce League 1981 Wingham Ironmen Lost QF to Essex (GL) 1982 Walkerton Blackhawks Lost QF to Leamington (GL) 1983 Kincardine Kinucks Lost QF to Leamington (GL) 1984 Wingham Ironmen Port Elgin Bears Lost QF to Dresden (GL) 1985 Hanover Barons Port Elgin Bears Lost QF to Essex (GL) 1986 Hanover Barons Port Elgin Bears Lost QF to Essex (GL) 1987 Hanover Barons Port Elgin Bears Lost SF to Norwich (ND) 1988 Hanover Barons Lost SF to Port Perry (C) Western League 1989 Hanover Barons Wingham Ironmen Lost Final to Bradford (MO) 1990 Hanover Barons Brussels Bulls Lost QF to Parry Sound (GB) 1991 Hanover Barons Brussels Bulls Won OHA Jr. C vs. Orangeville (MO) 1992 Hanover Barons Brussels Bulls Lost QF to Belle River (GL) 1993 Hanover Barons Brussels Bulls Lost Final to Napanee (EB) 1994 Mount Forest Patriots Hanover Barons Lost SF to Belle River (GL) 1995 Mount Forest Patriots Brussels Bulls Lost SF to Bowmanville (C) 1996 Mount Forest Patriots Lost SF to Napanee (EB) 1997 Kincardine Bulldogs Lost SF to Belle River (GL) 1998 Kincardine Bulldogs Hanover Barons Lost Final to Glanbrook (ND) 1999 Kincardine Bulldogs Wingham Ironmen Lost SF to Wallaceburg (GL) 2000 Kincardine Bulldogs Wingham Ironmen Lost SF to Belle River (GL) 2001 Hanover Barons Kincardine Bulldogs Lost SF to Belle River (GL) 2002 Kincardine Bulldogs Hanover Barons Lost SF to Uxbridge (CO) 2003 Hanover Barons Kincardine Bulldogs Lost SF to Georgina (CO) 2004 Wingham Ironmen Kincardine Bulldogs Lost Final to Grimsby (ND) 2005 Wingham Ironmen Kincardine Bulldogs Lost SF to Essex (GL) 2006 Kincardine Bulldogs Wingham Ironmen Lost QF to Penetang (GMO) 2007 Kincardine Bulldogs Walkerton Hawks Lost QF to Penetang (GMO) 2008 Walkerton Hawks Kincardine Bulldogs Lost QF to Alliston (GMO) 2009 Walkerton Hawks Hanover Barons Lost QF to Alliston (GMO) 2010 Walkerton Hawks Hanover Barons Lost QF to Alliston (GMO) 2011 Walkerton Hawks Mitchell Hawks Lost QF to Alliston (GMO) 2012 Walkerton Hawks Mitchell Hawks Lost QF to Alliston (GMO) 2013 Walkerton Hawks Kincardine Bulldogs Lost QF to Alliston (GMO) 2014 Wingham Ironmen Walkerton Hawks Lost SF to Essex (GL) 2015 Walkerton Hawks Wingham Ironmen Lost QF to Alliston (GMO) 2016 Kincardine Bulldogs Walkerton Hawks Lost QF to Alliston (GMO)

• A Red Row indicates a team representing the league in the Super Jr. C Playdowns without being the known league champion.
• A Blue Row indicates a team representing the league in the OHA Jr. C Playdowns without being the known league champion.

Regular Season Champions

Season Champion Record Points Western League 1966–67 New Hamburg Hahns 15-6-3-0 33 1967–68     1968–69 New Hamburg Hahns 23-3-4-0 50 1969–70 Hespeler Shamrocks 20-4-1-0 41 Central Group 2/3 1970–71 New Hamburg Hahns 27-3-2-0 56 1971–72 1972–73 Caledonia Corvairs 24-5-3-0 51 1973–74 Woodstock Navy-Vets 26-3-2-0 54 1974–75 Woodstock Navy-Vets 32-2-2-0 66 1975–76 New Hamburg Hahns 26-8-1-0 53 1976–77 Listowel Cyclones 28-7-1-0 57 1977–78 Listowel Cyclones 25-8-2-0 52 1978–79 Kincardine Kinucks 21-5-4-0 46 1979–80 Port Elgin Bears 19-5-6-0 44 Grey-Bruce League 1980–81 Walkerton Blackhawks 18-7-5-0 41 1981–82 Kincardine Kinucks 23-6-1-0 47 1982–83 Kincardine Kinucks 25-3-1-0 51 1983–84 Wingham Ironmen 19-8-3-0 41 1984–85 Hanover Barons 28-0-2-0 58 1985–86 Hanover Barons 24-2-4-0 52 1986–87 Hanover Barons 23-2-0-0 46 1987–88 Hanover Barons 25-2-3-0 53 Western League 1988–89 Hanover Barons 21-6-3-0 45 1989–90 Hanover Barons 22-6-2-0 46 1990–91 Hanover Barons 24-4-2-0 50 1991–92 Hanover Barons 25-2-3-0 53 1992–93 Hanover Barons 26-1-2-0 54 1993–94 Mount Forest Patriots 22-6-4-0 48 1994–95 Mount Forest Patriots 21-3-5-0 47 1995–96 Hanover Barons 22-5-3-0 47 1996–97 Kincardine Bulldogs 21-3-4-0 46 1997–98 Kincardine Bulldogs 28-5-2-0 58 1998–99 Kincardine Bulldogs 30-3-3-0 63 1999-00 Kincardine Bulldogs 30-1-3-0 63 2000-01 Hanover Barons 34-3-2-0 70 2001-02 Kincardine Bulldogs 27-7-1-0 55 2002-03 Kincardine Bulldogs 24-8-0-3 51 2003-04 Wingham Ironmen 25-5-4-0 54 2004-05 Wingham Ironmen 30-4-4-2 66 2005-06 Wingham Ironmen 32-5-2-1 67 2006-07 Kincardine Bulldogs 32-5-0-2 66 2007-08 Kincardine Bulldogs 36-3-0-1 73 2008-09 Walkerton Hawks 32-3-0-1 65 2009-10 Walkerton Hawks 31-2-0-3 65 2010-11 Walkerton Hawks 31-3-0-1 63 2011-12 Walkerton Hawks 28-6-0-2 58 2012–13 Walkerton Hawks 28-5-0-3 59 2013–14 Wingham Ironmen 26-6-0-3 55 2014–15 Wingham Ironmen 29-7-0-0 58 2015–16 Walkerton Hawks 27-8-1-0 55

Former Member Teams

Arthur Eagles (1978–1980)

Brantford Penguins (1974–1976)

Brussels Bulls (1989–1999)

Caledonia Corvairs (1972–1973)

Clinton Mustangs (1974–1985)

Elmira Sugar Kings (1966–1970)

Exeter Hawks (1968–1969)

Fergus Green Machine (1980–1982)

Grand Valley Harvesters (1989–1993)

Hespeler Shamrocks (1966–1970)

Ingersoll Marlands (1973–1976)

New Hamburg Hahns (1966–1977)

Kitchener Flying Dutchmen (19xx-1973)

Listowel Cyclones (1972–1979)

London Optimists (19xx-1976)

Owen Sound Salvagemen (1974–1975)

Paris-Burford Flyers (1972–1974)

Port Elgin Bears (1976–1989)

Preston Raiders (1966–1969)

St. Thomas Colonels (1972–1973)

Simcoe Jets (1972–1974)

Tillsonburg Titans (1974–1976)

Wiarton Wolves (1994–2003)

Woodstock Navy-Vets (1972–1976)

Professional alumni

National Hockey League

• Kevin Czuczman (Walkerton 2008-09)
• Louie DeBrusk (Port Elgin 1986–87)
• Aaron Downey (Grand Valley 1990–91)
• Paul MacDermid (Port Elgin 1979–80)
• Jeff MacMillan (Hanover 1995–96)
• Jim Nahrgang (New Hamburg 1966–67)
• Nathan Perrott (Walkerton 1992–93)
• Kevin Pollock (Hanover)
• Curtis Sanford (Wiarton 1994–95)
• Darryl Sittler (Elmira 1966–67)
• Jordan Willis (Hanover 1991–92)

See also

• Provincial Junior Hockey League for PJHL Pollock Division

References

1. "Jelinek supports stand by coach". The Brandon Sun . Brandon, Manitoba. The Canadian Press. April 11, 1987. p. 10.
2. "Tribunal upholds suspensions". The Brandon Sun . Brandon, Manitoba. The Canadian Press. November 5, 1987. p. 8.

External links

• Western Jr. "C" Website
• OHA Website