Manitoba Female Hockey League Explained

Manitoba Female Hockey League
H Pixels:200
Sport:Ice hockey
Founded:2008
Inaugural:2008-09
Teams:9
Champion:Winnipeg Ice
Champ Season:2023-24
Most Successful Club:Pembina Valley Hawks (7)
Related Comps:Esso Cup

The Manitoba Female Hockey League (MFHL) is an under-18 ice hockey league in the province of Manitoba, Canada. It is designated as an 'AAA' league  - the highest level of minor hockey in Canada  - and operates under the supervision of Hockey Manitoba.

History

The league was founded in 2008 to provide elite female hockey players in Manitoba with the opportunity to play at a more competitive level. A number of players who have played in the league have joined NCAA or CIS hockey programs. The league was built using the same model used by Hockey Manitoba for the Manitoba Midget 'AAA' Hockey League, which has been operating quite successfully since the 1980s. Manitoba was the last western province to have a female under-18 'AAA' league.[1]

Teams

The league began its inaugural season with five teams, and now has nine. All teams are regionally based and are operated by Hockey Manitoba's regional minor hockey associations. Each team is composed of players from local minor hockey associations within its region.

Team Region League Titles National Titles
Brandon Wheat Kings Brandon 0 0
Central Plains Capitals Central Plains 1 0
Eastman Selects Eastman 1 0
Interlake Lightning Interlake 0 0
Pembina Valley Hawks Pembina Valley7 1
Westman Wildcats Westman South 2 1
Winnipeg Avros Winnipeg 0 0
Winnipeg Ice Winnipeg 2 0
Yellowhead Chiefs Yellowhead 1 0

Former Teams

Home Arenas

!Team !Arena !City/Town
Brandon Wheat Kings J&G Homes Arena Brandon
Central Plains Capitals BDO Centre for the Community Portage la Prairie
Eastman Selects Niverville Community Resource and Recreation Centre Niverville
Interlake Lightning Veterans Memorial Complex Stonewall
Pembina Valley Hawks Access Event Centre Morden
Westman Wildcats Hartney Community Rink Hartney
Winnipeg Avros Seven Oaks Arena Winnipeg
Winnipeg Ice Hockey For All Centre Winnipeg
Yellowhead Chiefs Shoal Lake CommuniplexShoal Lake

Championship

Since the 2011–12 season, the league championship has doubled as the provincial female under-18 AAA championship. Each year, the Manitoba champion competes in an inter-provincial playoff series against the champion from Saskatchewan. The winner of that series earns a berth in the Esso Cup, the national female under-18 championship.

The Pembina Valley Hawks were national champions in 2012, while the Westman Wildcats won the inaugural Esso Cup in 2009, prior to joining the league. Pembina Valley hosted the 2017 Esso Cup in Morden.

League Champions

League Awards

Most Valuable Player

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Prest . Ashley . AAA female hockey debuts in Manitoba. Winnipeg Free Press. 2011-10-06 . 2012-01-11.