Heritage Junior B Hockey League
The Heritage Junior B Hockey League (HJHL) is a Junior B ice hockey league in Alberta, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The HJHL was founded in 1987 and is made up of teams from southern and central Alberta. The HJHL is the largest Junior B league in the province, with 15 teams. The top two teams qualify for the Alberta Provincial Junior B Hockey Championship, whose winner had an option to compete in the Keystone Cup.
History
HJHL teams have won the gold medal at the Keystone Cup twice. Red Deer Vipers were the first in 2006 defeating Campbell River Storm in the final. Blackfalds Wranglers won the gold medal in 2011.
The Lacombe Wranglers won the 2007 league championship over the Airdrie Thunder and Okotoks Bisons in a three team, round robin final. The Wranglers also captured the Alberta provincial title. The Wranglers chose not to participate in the Keystone Cup tournament due to scheduling conflicts.
During the 2011 HJHL finals Okotoks Bisons won the best-of-three series versus Blackfalds Wrangers 2–1, their eighth league title. Both teams advanced to the Junior B Provincials in Leduc. Blackfalds won the final 2–1 over the Beaumont Chiefs (CapJHL) to advance to the 2011 Keystone Cup in Sherwood Park. With a 4–1 record going into the final, Blackfalds defeated the host Sherwood Park Knights (CapJHL) 2–1 to win the Western Canadian crown.
Teams
| Team | Centre |
|---|---|
| North Division | |
| Airdrie Thunder | Airdrie |
| Mountainview Colts | Didsbury |
| Ponoka Stampeders | Ponoka |
| Red Deer Vipers | Red Deer |
| Rocky Rams | Rocky Mountain House |
| Stettler Lightning | Stettler |
| Sylvan Lake Thrashers | Sylvan Lake |
| Three Hills Thrashers | Three Hills |
| South Division | |
| Coaldale Copperheads | Coaldale |
| Cochrane Generals | Cochrane |
| High River Flyers | High River |
| Lomond Lakers | Lomond |
| Medicine Hat Cubs | Medicine Hat |
| Okotoks Bisons | Okotoks |
| Strathmore Wheatland Kings | Strathmore |
Former teams
- Banff Academy Bears (2005–2017)
- Barrhead Jr. Elks
- Claresholm Storm
- Drayton Valley Devils
- Hobbema Knight Hawks
- Innisfail Blades
- Lacombe Wranglers (became the Blackfalds Wranglers)
- Livingstone Rockmen
- Maskwacis Attack
- Rimbey Rock
- Rimbey West Stars
- Siksika Ice
- Southern Express
Champions
| Season | Winner | Runner-up | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Drayton Valley Devils | ||
| 1988 | Barrhead Jr. Elks | ||
| 1989 | Red Deer Cowboys | ||
| 1990 | Terraco Knights | ||
| 1991 | Hobberma Knight Hawks | ||
| 1992 | Ponoka Knight Hawks | ||
| 1993 | Lacombe Wranglers | ||
| 1994 | Lacombe Wranglers | ||
| 1995 | Lacombe Wranglers | ||
| 1996 | Foothills Bisons | ||
| 1997 | Foothills Bisons | ||
| 1998 | Airdrie Thunder | ||
| 1999 | Red Deer Vipers | ||
| 2000 | Airdrie Thunder | ||
| 2001 | Foothills Bisons | ||
| 2002 | Foothills Bisons | ||
| 2003 | Foothills Bisons | ||
| 2004 | Red Deer Vipers | ||
| 2005 | Okotoks Bisons | ||
| 2006 | Okotoks Bisons | Red Deer Vipers | |
| 2007 | Lacombe Wranglers | ||
| 2008 | Cochrane Generals | ||
| 2009 | Cochrane Generals | ||
| 2010 | Blackfalds Wranglers | ||
| 2011 | Okotoks Bisons | Blackfalds Wranglers | |
| 2012 | Okotoks Bisons | ||
| 2013 | Okotoks Bisons | Red Deer Vipers | 3-0[1] |
| 2014 | Okotoks Bisons | ||
| 2015 | Coaldale Copperheads | ||
| 2016 | Mountainview Colts | ||
| 2017 | Red Deer Vipers | Cochrane Generals | 4-0[2] |
| 2018 | Red Deer Vipers | Coaldale Copperheads | 2-1 |
| 2019 | Airdrie Thunder[3] | Coaldale Copperheads | 3-0 |
| 2020 | none | --- | --- |
- Bold text denote teams that won the Alberta provincial title.
See also
References
- "Vipers part of stacked provincial pool". Okotoks Today. April 13, 2013.
- "The Vipers clinch Junior B Hockey League championship". Red Deer Express. March 24, 2017.
- "Thunder Wrap Up Remarkable Season With Team Awards". Discover Airdrie. June 20, 2019.