Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League
OPJHL
Membership Ontario Hockey Association
Head Office Cambridge, Ontario
Founded 1974
Ceased 2007
First Champion Hamilton Red Wings (1975)
Final Champion St. Catharines Falcons (2007)
OHA Junior "B"
WJBHL (1950-1968)
EJBHL (1950-1972)
MetJHL (1950-1989)
NDJBHL (1954-1979)
CJBHL (1954-1993)
BCJHL (1958-1964)
MOJBHL (1970-1978)
SWJBHL (1976-1978)
WOHL (1969-2007)
MWJHL (1973-2007)
GHL (1974-2007)
GOJHL (2007–Present)
Ontario Hockey Association
Sutherland Cup

The Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League (GHL) was a junior ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association from 1974 until 2007. In 2007, the league became a division of the newly formed Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League along with the Mid-Western Junior Hockey League and Western Ontario Hockey League.

History

The year 1974 saw the founding of the Golden Horseshoe Junior B Hockey League. The league consisted mostly of "inner ring" teams from the Niagara District Junior B Hockey League. The "outer ring" teams maintained with the Niagara league. In 1978, the Golden Horseshoe league jumped from six to nine teams by swallowing the majority of the short-lived Southwestern Junior B Hockey League. A season later, the Niagara District league folded and their final champion, the Fort Erie Meteors, came aboard as the GHL's tenth team.

In 1995-96 and 1996–97, the GHL played an interlocking schedule with USA Hockey's North Eastern Junior Hockey League. In 1997-98, the league even allowed the expansion of one of the NEJHL's teams, the Rochester Jr. Americans for a single season.

In 2005-06, the GHL allowed another former NEJHL team, the Wheatfield Jr. Blades, to participate in the league.

In 2007, the league merged with the Western Ontario Hockey League and the Mid-Western Junior Hockey League to form the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.

2007-08 season

For information on the 2007-08 season, please see: Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.

Final teams

These are the teams that were in the league during its final independent season (2006-07).

Other former members

Former interleague opponents

Playoff Champions

Year Champion Finalist Result in Provincials
1975 Hamilton Red Wings Lost SF vs. Oakville (C)
1976 St. Catharines Falcons Lost QF vs. St. Marys (WO)
1977 St. Catharines Falcons Lost SF vs. Streetsville (C)
1978 St. Catharines Falcons Lost QF vs. Windsor (WO)
1979 St. Catharines Falcons Lost Final vs. Streetsville (C)
1980 Welland Cougars Lost SF vs. Windsor (WO)
1981 St. Catharines Falcons Lost SF vs. Stratford (MW)
1982 St. Catharines Falcons Lost QF vs. Sarnia (WO)
1983 Welland Cougars
1984 Brantford Alexander B's
1985 St. Catharines Falcons
1986 St. Catharines Falcons
1987 Niagara Falls Canucks Lost Final vs. St. Thomas (WO)
1988 Niagara Falls Canucks Lost SF vs. Bramalea (Met)
1989 Niagara Falls Canucks Lost Final vs. St. Michael's (Met)
1990 St. Catharines Falcons Lost Final vs. Stratford (MW)
1991 Welland Aerostars Lost SF vs. Oakville (C)
1992 St. Catharines Falcons Lost SF vs. Milton (C)
1993 Hamilton Kilty B's Lost SF vs. Barrie (C)
1994 St. Catharines Falcons Lost Final vs. Waterloo (MW)
1995 Niagara Falls Canucks Lost in Round Robin
1996 Niagara Falls Canucks Won SC vs. St. Thomas (WO)
1997 St. Catharines Falcons Lost Final vs. Elmira (MW)
1998 Niagara Falls Canucks Won SC vs. Elmira (MW)
1999 St. Catharines Falcons Niagara Falls Canucks Lost in Round Robin
2000 St. Catharines Falcons Thorold Blackhawks Lost Final vs. Cambridge (MW)
2001 Thorold Blackhawks Port Colborne Sailors Lost Final vs. Elmira (MW)
2002 Niagara Falls Canucks Thorold Blackhawks Lost in Round Robin
2003 Thorold Blackhawks Niagara Falls Canucks Lost Final vs. Stratford (MW)
2004 Thorold Blackhawks Niagara Falls Canucks Lost Final vs. Stratford (MW)
2005 Thorold Blackhawks Niagara Falls Canucks Won SC vs. Chatham (WO)
2006 Niagara Falls Canucks Thorold Blackhawks Lost Final vs. Cambridge (MW)
2007 St. Catharines Falcons Niagara Falls Canucks Lost in Round Robin

Records

Records taken from Official Website.

External links

Category