Noralta Junior Hockey League

The Noralta Junior Hockey League is a Junior "C" ice hockey league in Alberta, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada, under Hockey Alberta. It currently has 13 teams throughout the greater Edmonton area.

Noralta Junior Hockey League
PresidentChris Hurley
Former name(s)North Central Junior Hockey League (1992–2003)
Founded1992
No. of teams12
Recent ChampionsSouth West Zone Oilkings (2019)
Most successful clubEdmonton Avalanche (5)
WebsiteNJHL.ca

History

The league was founded in 1992 as a non-contact juvenile league known as the North Central Junior Hockey League. The original two teams were located in St. Albert and Sherwood Park. The league added a team in Edmonton in 1993 on condition it would be a non-contact league. The league was back down to two teams in 1994.

Body contact and strict fighting rules were adopted for the 1995–96 season which attracted teams back. Teams from Drayton Valley, Edmonton Braves, St Albert Shooters and Thorhild competed in the circuits first full season. Provincial play was contested for the first time in 1996 with St Albert hosting a four-team provincial. Sexsmith Vipers were the first Hockey Alberta Junior C Provincial winner defeating Grande Prairie Wheelers in the final.

The circuit was reorganized for the 1996–97 season expanding to eight teams (Beaumont Braves, Calahoo, Fort Saskatchewan, Legal, Morinville Super C's, Paul Band, St. Albert Shooters and Thorhild),

St. Albert rebranded as the Mustangs for the 1997–98 while Fort Saskatchewan, Legal and Thorhild folded. Calahoo and Paul Band would fold after the 1998–99 season.

On January 18, 2001 the league held its first annual All-Star Game in memory of longtime local volunteer John Anderson.

The league was incorporated as the Noralta Junior Hockey League on December 22, 2003 as league membership grew to 13 teams.

In 2015 Noralta Junior Hockey League partnered with Friends of Alberta Junior Hockey Society to provide hockey players with scholarships to continue on to higher education after high school while staying in competitive ice hockey. Since its inception the scholarships have been given out on a yearly basis to many recipients.

The league added the New Sarepta Falcons to the league for the 2017–18 season. Fort Saskatchewan Jr. C Traders withdrew before that same season over speculation of the city getting a new Alberta Junior Hockey League team.

The Edmonton-based Junior Braves were added to the league for the 2018–19 season.

Teams
TeamCentre 1st Season
Edmonton MavericksEdmonton 2014–15
Gibbons BroncosGibbons 2006–07
Junior BravesEdmonton 2018–19
Morinville Super C'sMorinville 1996–97
New Sarepta BladesNew Sarepta 2017–18
NorthEast Zone NorthstarsEdmonton 2006–07
RCAC RivermenEdmonton 2001–02
Seera IcemenEdmonton 2006–07
Sherwood Park RenegadesSherwood Park 2006–07
St. Albert CometsSt. Albert 1992–93
SouthWest Zone Ice KingsEdmonton 2014–15
SouthWest Zone Oil KingsEdmonton 1999–00

Former teams
  • Calahoo (1996–99)
  • Drayton Valley (1996–97)
  • Edmonton Avalanche (2009–2019)
  • Edmonton Braves (1995–96) - relocated to Beaumont
    • Beaumont Braves (1996–2007; 2009–13)
  • Edmonton Capitals (1997–??)
  • Edmonton Ice (2006–13)
  • Edmonton Firebirds (????–10)
  • Edmonton Rivermen (2001–03) - renamed RCAC Rivermen
  • Fort Saskatchewan (1996–97)
  • Fort Saskatchewan Mustangs (1999–2007)
  • Fort Saskatchewan Rangers (2013–2014) - renamed Jr. C Traders
    • Fort Saskatchewan Jr. C Traders (2014–17)
  • Legal (1996–97)
  • Millet Lightning (2006–14)
  • Morinville Titans (2009–2019) - assumed original name Morinville Super C's
  • New Sarepta Falcons (2017–19) - renamed New Sarepta Blades
  • Oil Capital Blades (2000–01) - renamed Edmonton Blades
    • Edmonton Blades (2001–??)
  • Oil Capital Wildcats (1999–2001) - renamed Edmonton Wildcats
    • Edmonton Wildcats (2001–??)
  • Paul Band (1996–99)
  • RBQ Desperados (??–2007)
  • St. Albert Shooters (1992–97) - renamed St. Albert Mustangs
    • St. Albert Mustangs (1997–02) - renamed St. Albert Blues
    • St. Albert Blues (2002–12) - renamed St. Albert Comets
  • Seera Stealth (2009–16)
  • Sherwood Park (1992–97)
  • SouthWest Zone Sentinels (2007–11)
  • Strathcona Sabres (~2002–08)
  • Thorhild (1995–97)
  • Wabamun Wings (2006–12)

Champions

Typically the champion and two runners-up compete against the top three teams of the Calgary Junior C Hockey League for the Hockey Alberta Provincial Junior "C" title.

Year League playoff champion Provincial champion
1996 St. Albert Shooters Sexsmith Vipers
1997 St. Albert Shooters Calgary Southland (CJCHL)
1998 St. Albert Mustangs ---
1999 Beaumont Braves ---
2000 Morinville Super C's Oyen Bees (CJCHL)
2001 Morinville Super C's ---
2002 Beaumont Braves ---
2003 St. Albert Blues Springbank Rockies (CJCHL)
2004 RCAC Rivermen Springbank Rockies (CJCHL)
2005 SWZ Oil Kings SWZ Oil Kings
2006 SWZ Oil Kings SWZ Oil Kings
2007 Millet Lightning Springbank Rockies (CJCHL)
2008 Edmonton Ice Sherwood Park Renegades
2009 SWZ Sentinels Edmonton Ice
2010 Beaumont Braves Seera Icemen
2011 Beaumont Braves Beaumont Braves
2012 Edmonton Avalanche Edmonton Avalanche
2013 Gibbons Broncos Edmonton Avalanche
2014 Gibbons Broncos Edmonton Avalanche
2015 Edmonton Avalanche Edmonton Avalanche
2016 Edmonton Avalanche Edmonton Avalanche [1]
2017 SWZ Oil Kings NEZ North Stars
2018 Edmonton Avalanche Sherwood Park Renegades [2][3]
2019 Edmonton Avalanche Edmonton Avalanche [4]
2020 play suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic ---

References
  1. "2016 Provincial Champions". Hockey Alberta.
  2. "Renegades roll to Junior C provincial title". Sherwood Park News. April 5, 2018.
  3. "Provincial champion Renegades look for repeat run". Sherwood Park News. April 19, 2019.
  4. "2019 Provincial Champions" (PDF). Hockey Alberta.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.