Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League
OPJHL
MembershipOntario Hockey Association
Head OfficeCambridge, Ontario
Founded1974
Ceased2007
First ChampionHamilton Red Wings (1975)
Final ChampionSt. Catharines Falcons (2007)
OHA Junior "B"
WJBHL (1950-1968)
EJBHL (1950-1972)
MetJHL (1950-1989)
NDJBHL (1954-1979)
CJBHL (1954-1993)
BCJHL (1958-1964)
MOJBHL (1970-1978)
SWJBHL (1976-1978)
WOHL (1969-2007)
MWJHL (1973-2007)
GHL (1974-2007)
GOJHL (2007–Present)
Ontario Hockey Association
Sutherland Cup

The Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League (GHL) was a junior ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association from 1974 until 2007. In 2007, the league became a division of the newly formed Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League along with the Mid-Western Junior Hockey League and Western Ontario Hockey League.

History

The year 1974 saw the founding of the Golden Horseshoe Junior B Hockey League. The league consisted mostly of "inner ring" teams from the Niagara District Junior B Hockey League. The "outer ring" teams maintained with the Niagara league. In 1978, the Golden Horseshoe league jumped from six to nine teams by swallowing the majority of the short-lived Southwestern Junior B Hockey League. A season later, the Niagara District league folded and their final champion, the Fort Erie Meteors, came aboard as the GHL's tenth team.

In 1995-96 and 1996–97, the GHL played an interlocking schedule with USA Hockey's North Eastern Junior Hockey League. In 1997-98, the league even allowed the expansion of one of the NEJHL's teams, the Rochester Jr. Americans for a single season.

In 2005-06, the GHL allowed another former NEJHL team, the Wheatfield Jr. Blades, to participate in the league.

In 2007, the league merged with the Western Ontario Hockey League and the Mid-Western Junior Hockey League to form the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.

2007-08 season

For information on the 2007-08 season, please see: Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.

Final teams

These are the teams that were in the league during its final independent season (2006-07).

Other former members

Former interleague opponents

Playoff Champions

YearChampionFinalistResult in Provincials
1975Hamilton Red WingsLost SF vs. Oakville (C)
1976St. Catharines FalconsLost QF vs. St. Marys (WO)
1977St. Catharines FalconsLost SF vs. Streetsville (C)
1978St. Catharines FalconsLost QF vs. Windsor (WO)
1979St. Catharines FalconsLost Final vs. Streetsville (C)
1980Welland CougarsLost SF vs. Windsor (WO)
1981St. Catharines FalconsLost SF vs. Stratford (MW)
1982St. Catharines FalconsLost QF vs. Sarnia (WO)
1983Welland Cougars
1984Brantford Alexander B's
1985St. Catharines Falcons
1986St. Catharines Falcons
1987Niagara Falls CanucksLost Final vs. St. Thomas (WO)
1988Niagara Falls CanucksLost SF vs. Bramalea (Met)
1989Niagara Falls CanucksLost Final vs. St. Michael's (Met)
1990St. Catharines FalconsLost Final vs. Stratford (MW)
1991Welland AerostarsLost SF vs. Oakville (C)
1992St. Catharines FalconsLost SF vs. Milton (C)
1993Hamilton Kilty B'sLost SF vs. Barrie (C)
1994St. Catharines FalconsLost Final vs. Waterloo (MW)
1995Niagara Falls CanucksLost in Round Robin
1996Niagara Falls CanucksWon SC vs. St. Thomas (WO)
1997St. Catharines FalconsLost Final vs. Elmira (MW)
1998Niagara Falls CanucksWon SC vs. Elmira (MW)
1999St. Catharines FalconsNiagara Falls CanucksLost in Round Robin
2000St. Catharines FalconsThorold BlackhawksLost Final vs. Cambridge (MW)
2001Thorold BlackhawksPort Colborne SailorsLost Final vs. Elmira (MW)
2002Niagara Falls CanucksThorold BlackhawksLost in Round Robin
2003Thorold BlackhawksNiagara Falls CanucksLost Final vs. Stratford (MW)
2004Thorold BlackhawksNiagara Falls CanucksLost Final vs. Stratford (MW)
2005Thorold BlackhawksNiagara Falls CanucksWon SC vs. Chatham (WO)
2006Niagara Falls CanucksThorold BlackhawksLost Final vs. Cambridge (MW)
2007St. Catharines FalconsNiagara Falls CanucksLost in Round Robin

Records

Records taken from Official Website.

  • Best record: 1997-98 Niagara Falls Canucks (43-3-3)
  • Worst record: 1993-94 Fort Erie Meteors (1-38-1)
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