Western Ontario Junior C Hockey League

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
Western Ontario Junior "C" Hockey League
Head OfficeCambridge, Ontario
Official WebsiteWJCHL
ConvenorBill Fisher
ChairmanJohn Kastner
Operated1966–2016
Provincial Titles7

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

TeamFoundedCentreArena
Goderich Flyers2003GoderichGoderich & District Community Centre
Hanover Barons1964HanoverP&H Centre
Kincardine Bulldogs1994KincardineDavidson Centre Arena
Mitchell Hawks1966MitchellMitchell & District Arena
Mount Forest Patriots1987Mount ForestMount Forest & District Community Centre
Walkerton Hawks1976WalkertonWalkerton Community Centre
Wingham Ironmen1975WinghamNorth Huron Wescast Community Complex

2015–16 League Playoffs

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

YearChampionFinalistResult in Provincials
Western League
1967New Hamburg HahnsElmira Lumber KingsWon OHA Jr. C vs. Aurora (Sub)
1968New Hamburg HahnsLost Final to Georgetown (Sub)
1969New Hamburg HahnsExeter HawksLost SF to Woodstock (IC)
1970Hespeler ShamrocksLost Final to Newmarket (Sub)
Central Group 2/3
1971Hanover HurricanesLost SF to Dresden (GL)
1972New Hamburg HahnsLost QF to Leamington (GL)
1973Caledonia CorvairsNew Hamburg HahnsWon OHA Jr. C vs. Lindsay (CL)
--Rep. for Super C Playdowns: Woodstock Navy-VetsWon Super Jr. C vs. Kitchener (WJBHL)
1974Woodstock Navy-VetsSimcoe JetsWon Super Jr. C vs. Owen Sound (NJDHL)
--Rep. for Jr. C Playdowns: Simcoe JetsLost Final to Cobourg (CL)
1975New Hamburg HahnsLost SF to Essex (GL)
--Rep. for Super C Playdowns: Woodstock Navy-VetsWon Super Jr. C vs. Owen Sound
1976Clinton MustangsWoodstock Navy-VetsLost SF to Essex (GL)
--Rep. for Super C Playdowns: Woodstock Navy-VetsWon Super Jr. C vs. Brantford
1977Listowel CyclonesLost SF to Essex (GL)
1978Listowel CyclonesLost QF to Essex (GL)
1979Kincardine KinucksLost Final to Bowmanville (CL)
1980Port Elgin BearsLost QF to Leamington (GL)
Grey-Bruce League
1981Wingham IronmenLost QF to Essex (GL)
1982Walkerton BlackhawksLost QF to Leamington (GL)
1983Kincardine KinucksLost QF to Leamington (GL)
1984Wingham IronmenPort Elgin BearsLost QF to Dresden (GL)
1985Hanover BaronsPort Elgin BearsLost QF to Essex (GL)
1986Hanover BaronsPort Elgin BearsLost QF to Essex (GL)
1987Hanover BaronsPort Elgin BearsLost SF to Norwich (ND)
1988Hanover BaronsLost SF to Port Perry (C)
Western League
1989Hanover BaronsWingham IronmenLost Final to Bradford (MO)
1990Hanover BaronsBrussels BullsLost QF to Parry Sound (GB)
1991Hanover BaronsBrussels BullsWon OHA Jr. C vs. Orangeville (MO)
1992Hanover BaronsBrussels BullsLost QF to Belle River (GL)
1993Hanover BaronsBrussels BullsLost Final to Napanee (EB)
1994Mount Forest PatriotsHanover BaronsLost SF to Belle River (GL)
1995Mount Forest PatriotsBrussels BullsLost SF to Bowmanville (C)
1996Mount Forest PatriotsLost SF to Napanee (EB)
1997Kincardine BulldogsLost SF to Belle River (GL)
1998Kincardine BulldogsHanover BaronsLost Final to Glanbrook (ND)
1999Kincardine BulldogsWingham IronmenLost SF to Wallaceburg (GL)
2000Kincardine BulldogsWingham IronmenLost SF to Belle River (GL)
2001Hanover BaronsKincardine BulldogsLost SF to Belle River (GL)
2002Kincardine BulldogsHanover BaronsLost SF to Uxbridge (CO)
2003Hanover BaronsKincardine BulldogsLost SF to Georgina (CO)
2004Wingham IronmenKincardine BulldogsLost Final to Grimsby (ND)
2005Wingham IronmenKincardine BulldogsLost SF to Essex (GL)
2006Kincardine BulldogsWingham IronmenLost QF to Penetang (GMO)
2007Kincardine BulldogsWalkerton HawksLost QF to Penetang (GMO)
2008Walkerton HawksKincardine BulldogsLost QF to Alliston (GMO)
2009Walkerton HawksHanover BaronsLost QF to Alliston (GMO)
2010Walkerton HawksHanover BaronsLost QF to Alliston (GMO)
2011Walkerton HawksMitchell HawksLost QF to Alliston (GMO)
2012Walkerton HawksMitchell HawksLost QF to Alliston (GMO)
2013Walkerton HawksKincardine BulldogsLost QF to Alliston (GMO)
2014Wingham IronmenWalkerton HawksLost SF to Essex (GL)
2015Walkerton HawksWingham IronmenLost QF to Alliston (GMO)
2016Kincardine BulldogsWalkerton HawksLost 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

SeasonChampionRecordPoints
Western League
1966–67New Hamburg Hahns15-6-3-033
1967–68  
1968–69New Hamburg Hahns23-3-4-050
1969–70Hespeler Shamrocks20-4-1-041
Central Group 2/3
1970–71New Hamburg Hahns27-3-2-056
1971–72
1972–73Caledonia Corvairs24-5-3-051
1973–74Woodstock Navy-Vets26-3-2-054
1974–75Woodstock Navy-Vets32-2-2-066
1975–76New Hamburg Hahns26-8-1-053
1976–77Listowel Cyclones28-7-1-057
1977–78Listowel Cyclones25-8-2-052
1978–79Kincardine Kinucks21-5-4-046
1979–80Port Elgin Bears19-5-6-044
Grey-Bruce League
1980–81Walkerton Blackhawks18-7-5-041
1981–82Kincardine Kinucks23-6-1-047
1982–83Kincardine Kinucks25-3-1-051
1983–84Wingham Ironmen19-8-3-041
1984–85Hanover Barons28-0-2-058
1985–86Hanover Barons24-2-4-052
1986–87Hanover Barons23-2-0-046
1987–88Hanover Barons25-2-3-053
Western League
1988–89Hanover Barons21-6-3-045
1989–90Hanover Barons22-6-2-046
1990–91Hanover Barons24-4-2-050
1991–92Hanover Barons25-2-3-053
1992–93Hanover Barons26-1-2-054
1993–94Mount Forest Patriots22-6-4-048
1994–95Mount Forest Patriots21-3-5-047
1995–96Hanover Barons22-5-3-047
1996–97Kincardine Bulldogs21-3-4-046
1997–98Kincardine Bulldogs28-5-2-058
1998–99Kincardine Bulldogs30-3-3-063
1999-00Kincardine Bulldogs30-1-3-063
2000-01Hanover Barons34-3-2-070
2001-02Kincardine Bulldogs27-7-1-055
2002-03Kincardine Bulldogs24-8-0-351
2003-04Wingham Ironmen25-5-4-054
2004-05Wingham Ironmen30-4-4-266
2005-06Wingham Ironmen32-5-2-167
2006-07Kincardine Bulldogs32-5-0-266
2007-08Kincardine Bulldogs36-3-0-173
2008-09Walkerton Hawks32-3-0-165
2009-10Walkerton Hawks31-2-0-365
2010-11Walkerton Hawks31-3-0-163
2011-12Walkerton Hawks28-6-0-258
2012–13Walkerton Hawks28-5-0-359
2013–14Wingham Ironmen26-6-0-355
2014–15Wingham Ironmen29-7-0-058
2015–16Walkerton Hawks27-8-1-055

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

See also

References

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