Prairie Junior Hockey League
The Prairie Junior Hockey League is a Junior "B" ice hockey league in Saskatchewan, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada.
 | |
| Formerly | South Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League |
|---|---|
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Founded | 1992 as SSJHL |
| Inaugural season | 1992–93 |
| Commissioner | Mike Zambon |
| No. of teams | 12 |
| Country | Canada |
| Most recent champion(s) | Regina Capitals (2019) |
| Most titles | Assiniboia Southern Rebels (7) |
| Official website | www |
History
Originally known as the South Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (1992–2006) the Prairie Junior Hockey League was founded in 2007–2008 with the merger of the SSJHL and the North Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (NSJHL).
Previously the playoff winners played-off against the champion of the NSJHL in the Provincial championships (Athol Murray Trophy). Since the amalgamation of the two leagues in 2007, the PJHL has been the only Junior 'B' league in the province; thus its champion has been awarded the provincial title. The provincial champion moves on to compete for the Keystone Cup Western Canadian Junior 'B' championship.
The league draws many players from Saskatchewan. Most teams draft players from nearby towns and cities, though it is not mandatory. Some teams outweigh other teams in the PJHL. For example, the Pilot Butte Storm advanced to the finals eleven years (2005–15) in a row, while the Ochapawace Thunder (0-40-0-0) didn't win a game in the 2015–16 PJHL season.
Teams
| Bob Dybvig (North Division) | |||
| Team | City | Arena | Joined PJHL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrot River Thunder | Carrot River | Carrot River Arena | 2005 |
| Delisle Chiefs | Delisle | Delisle Arena | 2008 |
| Prince Albert Titans | Prince Albert | Kinsmen Arena | 2008 |
| Saskatoon Quakers | Saskatoon | Harold Latrace/Rod Hamm Arena | 2007 |
| Saskatoon Royals | Saskatoon | Harold Latrace/Rod Hamm Arena | 2007 |
| Saskatoon Westleys | Saskatoon | Harold Latrace/Rod Hamm Arena | 2007 |
| West Central Rage | Kerrobert | Kerrobert Arena | 2009 |
| Bill Johnston (South Division) | |||
| Team | City | Arena | Joined PJHL/SSJHL |
| Assiniboia Southern Rebels | Assiniboia | Assiniboia Civic Centre | 1992 |
| Fort Knox | Fort Qu'Appelle | Fort Qu’Appelle Rexentre | 1996 |
| Pilot Butte Storm | Pilot Butte | Pilot Butte Recreation Centre | 1993 |
| Regina Capitals | Regina | Al Ritchie Arena | 1992 |
| Regina Silver Foxes | Regina | Doug Wickenheiser Arena | 2013 |
Former teams
- Briercrest College Clippers (1992–1996) - joined the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
- Canora Cobras (1995–2001)
- Cypress Cyclones (2005–2014) - withdrew from league after 11 games of the season
- Grenfell Spitfires (1994–1996) - rebranded as Grenfell Storm
- Grenfell Storm (1996–2000)
- Moose Jaw Canucks (1992–1994)
- Notre Dame Hounds (1992–1994; 2003–2005)
- Ochapowace Thunder (2008–2016)
- Prince Albert Ice Hawks (2008–2016) - rebranded as Titans
- Regina Express (1993–2001) - relocated to Pilot Butte as Pilot Butte Storm
- Saskatoon Chiefs (1990–2008) - relocated to Delisle
- St. Phillips Rangers (1996–2003) - relocated to Carlysle; renamed Moose Mountain Rangers
- Moose Mountain Rangers (2003–2007)
- Tri-Town Thunder (2001–2016) - rebranded as Carrot River Thunder
Champions
| Team | Titles |
|---|---|
| Assiniboia Southern Rebels | 7 |
| Pilot Butte Storm | 5 |
| Regina Capitals | 3 |
| Saskatoon Quakers | 3 |
| Saskatoon Royals | 2 |
| Tri-Town Thunder | 1 |
To see the champions for the North Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League before 2007, see North Saskatchewan Junior B Hockey League
To see the full list of champions of the Athol Murray Trophy, see Athol Murray Trophy
Season SSJHL Playoff champion Runner-up Result Keystone Cup finish 1992-93 Assiniboia Southern Rebels Regina Capitals 1993-94 Notre Dame Hounds Moose Jaw Canucks 1994-95 Regina Capitals Grenfell Spitfires 1995-96 Assiniboia Southern Rebels Regina Capitals Gold medalist 1996-97 Grenfell Storm Briercrest Clippers Gold medalist 1997-98 St. Phillips Rangers Regina Capitals 1998-99 Assiniboia Southern Rebels Regina Capitals 1999-00 Assiniboia Southern Rebels Fort Knox 2000-01 Assiniboia Southern Rebels St. Phillips Rangers Gold medalist 2001-02 Assiniboia Southern Rebels St. Phillips Rangers 4-0 (best-of 7) 2002-03 Assiniboia Southern Rebels Regina Capitals 4-1 (best-of 7) Gold medalist 2003-04 Regina Capitals Gold medalist 2004-05 Pilot Butte Storm Fort Knox 4-3 (best-of 7) DNQ 2005-06 Regina Capitals Pilot Butte Storm 4-1 (best-of 7) DNQ 2006-07 Pilot Butte Storm Fort Knox 4-1 (best-of 7) Fort Knox (host) - Silver medalist 2007-08 Pilot Butte Storm Saskatoon Royals 4-2 (best-of 7) 5th 2008-09 Saskatoon Royals Pilot Butte Storm 4-1 (best-of 7) 4th 2009-10 Tri-Town Thunder Pilot Butte Storm 4-3 (best-of 7) Silver medalist 2010-11 Pilot Butte Storm Saskatoon Royals 4-3 (best-of 7) Bronze medalist 2011-12 Pilot Butte Storm Delisle Chiefs 4-1 (best-of 7) Pilot Butte Storm - 6th Saskatoon Royals (host) - 4th
2012-13 Saskatoon Royals Pilot Butte Storm 4-1 (best-of 7) Silver medalist 2013-14 Saskatoon Quakers Pilot Butte Storm 4-3 (best-of 7) 5th 2014-15 Saskatoon Quakers Pilot Butte Storm 4-0 (best-of 7) Bronze medalist[1] 2015-16 Saskatoon Quakers Regina Capitals 4-0 (best-of 7)[2] Saskatoon Quakers - Silver medalist
Regina Capitals (host) - 4th2016-17 Regina Capitals Saskatoon Quakers 4-2 (best-of 7)[3] Bronze medalist 2017-18 Regina Capitals Delisle Chiefs 4-1 (best-of 7) Sask did not send rep 2018-19 Regina Capitals Saskatoon Quakers 4-0 (best-of 7)[4] Sask did not send rep 2019-20 none (COVID-19 pandemic) --- --- ---
References
- "Campbell River storm past North Edmonton Red Wings to capture Keystone Cup gold". Bonnyville Nouvelle. 21 April 2015. Archived from the original on 18 November 2015.
- "Saskatoon AGI Insurance Quakers win third straight PJHL championship". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. March 31, 2016.
- "Extreme Hockey Regina Capitals capture Prairie Junior Hockey League title". Regina Leader-Post. April 3, 2017.
- "Extreme Hockey Regina Capitals celebrate three-peat". Regina Leader-Post. April 7, 2019.