Keystone Junior Hockey League Explained

The Keystone Junior Hockey League (KJHL) is a Junior 'B' ice hockey league in the province of Manitoba, Canada. The league, sanctioned by Hockey Manitoba, was formerly known as the Manitoba Junior 'B' Hockey League.

History

The KJHL champion used to play the champion of the Northwest Junior Hockey League (NJHL) for the Baldy Northcott Trophy. Since the demise of the NJHL in 2004, the KJHL 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 Western Canadian Junior 'B' championship, the Keystone Cup.^[1]

In 2018, five southern teams of the KJHL announced they were leaving and forming their own league, the Capital Region Junior Hockey League (CRJHL). The five departing clubs Arborg Ice Dawgs, Lundar Falcons, North Winnipeg Satelites, Selkirk Fishermen and St. Malo Warriors cited travel costs as well as parents expressing concerns for bus travel in light of the 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus tragedy.^{[2] [3]} The Fisher River Hawks also announced they would be taking a one-year leave of absence from the league.^[4]

The league added another team after their 2019 AGM with the NCN Flames joining for the 2019–20 season.^[5] NCN Flames last competed in the Northwest Junior Hockey League in 2004 winning two league championships and one Baldy Northcott Trophy (2002).

The Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation PBCN Selects joined as an expansion franchise in 2022, and the Waywayseecappo Wild joined as an expansion franchise in 2023. The league announced at the beginning of the 2024–25 season that both teams were taking a one-year leave of absence due to "unfortunate and unforeseen circumstances", but that both teams would return in the 2025–26 season.^[6]

Teams

Team	City/Area	Arena	Founded	Head Coach
Cross Lake Islanders	Cross Lake	Cross Lake Sports Complex	2006	Jeff Monias
NCN Flames	Nelson House	Gilbert McDonald Arena	2019	Brian Patterson
Norway House North Stars	Norway House	Kinosao Sipi Multiplex	2004	Skyler Tait-Reaume
OCN Storm	Opaskwayak Cree Nation	Gordon Lathlin Memorial Centre	2012	Marcel Fontaine
Peguis Juniors	Peguis	Peguis Multiplex	1994	Marty Favel

Defunct teams

• Arborg Ice Dawgs (2006–2018) - charter member of the CRJHL
• Brandon Stingers (1991–1999)
• Carberry Plainsmen (1989–1992)
• Central Plains Feathermen (1994–1995)
• Ebb & Flow Flyers (1998–2000; 2002–2003)
• Fisher River Hawks (2014–2018)
• Gimli Vikings (1978–1998)
• Kewatin Canucks (1982–1984)
• Lorette Roadrunners (1986–1987)
• Lundar Falcons (2010–2018) - charter member of the CRJHL
• North East Comets (1980–1983)
• Beausejour Comets (1984–1996)
• North Lake United (1986–1994)
• North Winnipeg Satelites (1980–2018) - charter member of the CRJHL
• Oak Bluff Raiders (1986–1990)
• Pine Creek Warriors (1999–2000)
• Pineview Saints (1981–1982; 1983–1985)
• Portage Terriers (1981–1987)
• Red River Rockets (1989–1994)
• Sagkeeng Braves (1994–1997)
• Sagkeeng Hawks (2001–2008; 2010–2011)
• Sanford Titans (2008–2010)
• Selkirk Fishermen (1977–2018) - charter member of the CRJHL
• Souris Elks (1993–1996)
• St. Boniface Seals (1998–2005)
• Winnipeg Saints (2005–2008)
• St. Claude Knights (1981–1984; 1986–1992; 1996–1997; 2000–2003)
• St. Malo Warriors (1994–2018) - charter member of the CRJHL
• Ste. Anne Aces (1991–1993)
• Ste. Rose Royals (1992–1994)
• Steinbach Millers (1974–1979; 1981–1983)
• Stonewall Jets (1997–2001) - joined MMJHL in 2001
• Transcona Railers (1977–1982) - joined MMJHL in 1983
• Two Nation River Hawks (2006–2009) - Peguis Juniors and Fisher River Hawks merge
• PBCN Selects (2022–2024)
• Waywayseecappo Wild (2023–2024)

Champions

Year	Playoff winner	Keystone Cup result		Year	Playoff winner	Keystone Cup result
1978	Transcona Railers			2001	St. Malo Warriors
1979	Transcona Railers			2004	Selkirk Fishermen
1980	Transcona Railers	Railers - Gold Fishermen - Silver		2005	Selkirk Fishermen
1981	Transcona Railers	Railers - Gold		2006	North Winnipeg Satelites
1982	Transcona Railers			2007	Winnipeg Saints	Saints - Bronze
1983	North Winnipeg Satelites	Fishermen - Gold		2008	Norway House North Stars	North Stars - Silver
1984	Selkirk Fishermen	Fishermen - Silver		2009	St. Malo Warriors
1985	North Winnipeg Satelites			2010	Selkirk Fishermen
1986	North Winnipeg Satelites			2011	Arborg Ice Dawgs
1987	Oak Bluff Raiders			2012	Arborg Ice Dawgs
1988	North Winnipeg Satelites			2013	Peguis Juniors
1989	North Winnipeg Satelites			2014	Selkirk Fishermen
1990	Beausejour Comets			2015	Selkirk Fishermen
1991	Selkirk Fishermen			2016	Peguis Juniors	Juniors - 5th of 6
1992	Selkirk Fishermen	Fishermen - Bronze		2017	Peguis Juniors	Ice Dawgs - 4th of 6 Juniors - 5th of 6
1993	Selkirk Fishermen			2018	Peguis Juniors	Juniors - Silver Warriors - 4th of 4
1994	Selkirk Fishermen	Fishermen - Silver		2019	Peguis Juniors	Islanders - Bronze
1995	St. Malo Warriors			2020	none	No Keystone Cup
1996	Peguis Juniors			2021	none	No Keystone Cup Juniors - 4th of 4
1997	St. Malo Warriors	Warriors - Silver		2022	none	No Keystone Cup
1998	Peguis Juniors			2023	Peguis Juniors	4th of 4
1999				2024		4th of 5 5th of 5
2000
2001
2002
2003

Notable alumni

• Darren Helm (2003–04) – Selkirk Fishermen
• Brady Keeper (2012–13) – Norway House North Stars^[7]
• Thomas Stuart-Dant (2010–13) – Selkirk Fishermen
• Neil Wilkinson (1984–85) – Selkirk Fishermen
• Bryce Young (2017–18) – OCN Storm^[8]

See also

• List of ice hockey teams in Manitoba

Further reading

• News: Billeck . Scott . Northern KJHL teams file suit against southern teams that left the league . 5 August 2024 . Winnipeg Sun . Postmedia . 9 November 2018.
• News: Grabish . Austin . First Nations allege junior hockey league poached their players, leaving their teams in jeopardy . 5 August 2024 . CBC News . CBC/Radio-Canada . 9 November 2018.
• News: Hendricks . Jon . Hockey fight over new league heading to court . 5 August 2024 . CTV News Winnipeg . Bell Media . 9 November 2018 . en.
• News: 'Lines were crossed': First Nations say new junior hockey league divides Indigenous, non-Indigenous players . 5 August 2024 . CBC News . CBC/Radio-Canada . 9 November 2018.
• News: Petz . Sarah . First Nations argue new hockey league is 'blatant racism,' segregates Indigenous, non-Indigenous teams . 5 August 2024 . CBC News . CBC/Radio-Canada . 19 December 2018.
• News: Geraldine Malone . Kelly . First Nations denied injunction in Keystone Junior Hockey League split . 5 August 2024 . CBC News . CBC/Radio-Canada . 21 December 2018.

External links

• Keystone Junior Hockey League
• @KJHLca Twitter
  • Cross Lake Islanders
  • Norway House North Stars
  • OCN Storm
  • Peguis Juniors

Notes and References

1. News: Peguis Juniors off to St. Malo for Keystone Cup. April 17, 2013. Interlake Spectator.
2. Web site: Report: KJHL Looking For New Teams. August 18, 2018. ThompsonOnline.
3. Web site: Warriors join new CRJHL. October 12, 2018. The Carillon.
4. Web site: Notice regarding the Fisher River Hawks Jr. B. October 11, 2018. Fisher River Cree Nation.
5. Web site: NCN Flames to join KJHL for 2019-20. May 11, 2019. GameOn Magazine.
6. News: Westhaver . Eric . PBCN Selects will not play this season: league . 24 September 2024 . Flin Flon Reminder . Glacier Media Group . 20 September 2024 . en.
7. Web site: Brady Keeper, first Pimicikamak Cree Nation member to play in the NHL, makes a visit home. April 17, 2019. Thompson Citizen.
8. Web site: CJHL announces Top Rookie Award finalists for 2018-19. May 2, 2019. Canadian Junior Hockey League.