Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League

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Greater Metro Junior "A" Hockey League
GMHL
Head Office Cookstown, Ontario
Official Website GMHL
President Bob Russell
Commissioner Ken Girard
Founded 2006
2006-07 Champion Bradford Rattlers

The Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League (GMHL) or (GMJHL) is a Canadian Developmental Junior "A" ice hockey league. The GMHL is not affiliated with the Canadian Junior A Hockey League or a member by Hockey Canada. The league has teams in the Greater Toronto Area, Central Ontario, and Northeastern Ontario.

Contents

[edit] History

The league, founded by Bob Russell and Hockeyworks International Ltd., opened its doors in early 2006, with a unique concept and approach to improving the standard of developing young hockey players within a Junior 'A' league format setting.

A Draft Showcase took place from May 5 until May 7, 2006 with players from Canada, United States, and Europe taking up residence at the Hockeyworks' World Hockey Centre near Shelburne, Ontario to take part in the league's first tryout camp.

Deseronto Thunder versus King Wild (circa 2006)
Deseronto Thunder versus King Wild (circa 2006)

As of the September 2006, it became clear that the league would operate its first season with seven teams. The original seven were the Bradford Rattlers, Deseronto Thunder, King Wild, Nipissing Alouettes, Richmond Hill Rams, South Muskoka Shield, and Toronto Canada Moose.

The league's first ever game took place on September 8, 2006 between the King Wild and the Richmond Hill Rams at 7:30 PM EST. The final result was a 6-0 victory for the Rams, despite being badly outshot by the Wild. The first goal in the league's history was scored by the Rams' Darren Archebald on the powerplay during the first period. Rams' goaltender Daniel Jones picked up the historical first victory, as well as the league's first shutout in history.

On November 15, 2006, the GMJHL announced its affiliation with the World Hockey Association [1] and creation of the National Junior Hockey Alliance. The affiliation resulted in a national championship between the GMJHL playoff champion and the winner of the WHA Junior West Hockey League after the 2006-07 season.[2] This agreement seems to have only managed to last one season, as the WHAJHL became apparently more erratic.

The first ever regular season of the GMJHL concluded on February 25, 2007 with the Bradford Rattlers leading the way as regular season champs with a record of 37 wins, 1 regulation loss, and 4 overtime losses. In the playoffs, the Rattlers beat the Deseronto Thunder in 6 games, and then the King Wild in 5 games to win the first ever Russell Cup as playoff champions.

In September 2007, the GMJHL started its second season with six new teams, the Douro Dukes, Elliot Lake Bobcats, Espanola Kings, Innisfil Lakers, Tamworth Cyclones, and Temiscaming Royals. The Deseronto Thunder ran into financial trouble after their first season and ownership of the team was transferred to the town. The team is now known as the Deseronto Storm. One new team has already been announced for 2008-09, awarded to the CYO organization of Whitby, Ontario [3]. With this agreement, the Canadian Hockey Parents Association, who sanctions CYO, has agreed to openly allow their players to tryout in the GMJHL [4].

On December 11, 2007, the GMJHL announced a seven game challenge series versus a Russian team known as the Moscow Selects. In late December and early January, the top seven teams of the GMJHL will compete against the Moscow Selects -- a mixture of top Top Junior talent from the City of Moscow. The Selects played seven games, against Bradford, Innisfil, Temiscaming, Elliot Lake, Richmond Hill, Deseronto, and South Muskoka, winning each game. In March of 2008, the King Wild and Richmond Hill Rams played two games each against the Mexico national ice hockey team. The Wild won both their games, while the Rams lost both of theirs.

For the 2008-09 season, the GMJHL will adopt much of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's ice hockey rulebook. The GMJHL added the Minden Riverkings and the Oro-Medonte 77's to the mix, and the Dukes relocated to become the Brock Bucks. At the same time, the Quebec-based Temiscaming Royals walked away from the league.

[edit] Teams

2007-08 GMHL Team Locations
2007-08 GMHL Team Locations

Please note: GF is Goals For, GA is Goals Against.

Northern Division
Team Centre 2008-09 Record GF GA Points
Brock Bucks Beaverton 0-0-0-0 0 0 0
Elliot Lake Bobcats Elliot Lake 0-0-0-0 0 0 0
Espanola Kings Espanola 0-0-0-0 0 0 0
Minden Riverkings Minden 0-0-0-0 0 0 0
Nipissing Alouettes Sturgeon Falls 0-0-0-0 0 0 0
Oro-Medonte 77's Oro 0-0-0-0 0 0 0
South Muskoka Shield Gravenhurst 0-0-0-0 0 0 0
Southern Division
Team Centre 2008-09 Record GF GA Points
Bradford Rattlers Bradford 0-0-0-0 0 0 0
Deseronto Storm Deseronto 0-0-0-0 0 0 0
Innisfil Lakers Innisfil 0-0-0-0 0 0 0
King Wild King City 0-0-0-0 0 0 0
Ontario Lightning Rams Richmond Hill 0-0-0-0 0 0 0
Tamworth Cyclones Tamworth 0-0-0-0 0 0 0
Toronto Canada Moose Thornhill 0-0-0-0 0 0 0

The league's standings can be found on their official website [5].

[edit] Confirmed 2009-10 Franchises

  • Powassan Blazers [6]

[edit] Potential Expansion Franchises

[edit] 2008 Playoffs

In the first round, the top ranked teams will be offered the choice between a quarter-final match up of their choice or a bye round to the quarter-final. There will be five series and three bye teams in the first round. In the quarter-finals, the top four remaining teams get to choose from the bottom four remaining teams. In the semi-finals, the top seed hand picks their opponent and the second highest seed gets who is left. The final will be ran as usual.


  Bye round Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
                                     
1  Bradford 4  
11  Toronto 0  
  1  Bradford 4  
    7  South Muskoka 1  
 
   
  1  Bradford 4  
  5  Elliot Lake 0  
4  Deseronto 4  
10  Tamworth 0  
  4  Deseronto 2
    5  Elliot Lake 4  
5  Elliot Lake 4
12  Nipissing 1  
  1  Bradford 4
  3  Innisfil 0
2  Temiscaming 4  
9  Espanola 0  
  2  Temiscaming 4
    8  King 2  
8  King 4
13  Douro 0  
  2  Temiscaming 2
  3  Innisfil 4  
   
   
  3  Innisfil 4
    6  Richmond Hill 3  
 

Please note: Due to the playoff draft Innisfil, Richmond Hill, and South Muskoka have elected to take first round byes.

[edit] Russell Cup Playoff Champions

2008 Bradford Rattlers
2007 Bradford Rattlers

[edit] League records

  • Best record: 2006-07 Bradford Rattlers (37-1-0-4)
  • Worst record: 2007-08 Douro Dukes (2-40-0-0)
  • Best start to season: 2006-07 Bradford Rattlers (10-0-0-0)
  • Longest winning streak: 2007-08 Bradford Rattlers (27)
  • Most regular season games without a loss (one season): Bradford Rattlers (31) 2006-07
  • Most regular season games without a loss (multiple seasons): Bradford Rattlers (38) Jan 1, 07-Jan 6, 08
  • Largest margin of victory: Tamworth Cyclones 22 - Douro Dukes 2 on December 28, 2007
  • Most goals, one season: Soichiro Omi (49) -- 2007-08 Bradford Rattlers
  • Most assists, one season: Adam Palm (68) -- 2007-08 Bradford Rattlers
  • Most points, one season: Adam Palm (102) -- 2007-08 Bradford Rattlers
  • Lowest goals against average, one season: Andreas Goetz (2.05) -- 2006-07 Bradford Rattlers
  • Most minutes in net, one season: Guillaume Piche (1881) -- 2007-08 Temiscaming Royals

[edit] Former teams

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League
Former teams: Temiscaming Royals
WHA Junior Hockey League  · National Junior Hockey Alliance