Niagara & District Junior "C" Hockey League
Head OfficeCambridge, Ontario
Official WebsiteNDJCHL
Operated1974-2016

The Niagara & District Junior C Hockey League is a former Junior "C" ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association. The Champion of the Niagara competed for the All-Ontario Championship and the Clarence Schmalz Cup.

In the summer of 2016, the NDJCHL merged into the Provincial Junior Hockey League.

History

Grimsby player warming up during 2012 Schmalz Cup in Essex, Ontario.

The Niagara & District Junior C Hockey League was formed in 1974. Although corresponding with the founding of the Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League, the Niagara District league was actually founded by removing the Niagara-area teams from the Central Junior C Hockey League and placing them in the new Niagara District league. The Central league is now known as the Western Ontario Junior C Hockey League.

In 1984, the entire Western Division of the league broke away and formed the Southwestern Junior C Hockey League. The league only lasted one year before it was reabsorbed by the Niagara & District League. The Southwestern league comprised teams from Norwich, Woodstock, Tillsonburg, Simcoe, and New Hamburg. Local publications, like the Simcoe Reformer, did not recognize the Southwestern League as anything but the Western Division of the Niagara District league.

In the Spring of 2013, Junior C hockey in Ontario had its first major realignment since the creation of the Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League in 1994. The 27 teams between the Niagara & District League and the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League were reshuffled. The Niagara & District League jumped from 12 to 18 teams, losing the Aylmer Spitfires, but gaining the Ayr Centennials, Burford Bulldogs, Delhi Travellers, Hagersville Hawks, Norfolk Rebels (Port Dover), Tavistock Braves, and Wellesley Applejacks.[1] Not long after, the OHA split off the Western Division of the Niagara League to form the new Midwestern Junior C Hockey League, taking long time Niagara League members the Woodstock Navy-Vets, New Hamburg Firebirds, Norwich Merchants, and Paris Mounties with them.

Teams

TeamCentreFounded
Dundas BluesDundas1963
Dunnville Jr. MudcatsDunnville1974
Glanbrook RangersGlanbrook1975
Grimsby Peach KingsGrimsby1922
Hagersville HawksHagersville1992
Niagara RiverhawksNiagara Falls1987
Port Dover SailorsPort Dover1988
Simcoe StormSimcoe1959

On hiatus:

2015-16 Playoffs

Winner moves on to the Clarence Schmalz Cup.

Quarter-final Semi-final Final
         
1 Glanbrook 4
8 Simcoe 0
1 Glanbrook 4
4 Hagersville 1
4 Hagersville 4
5 Niagara 1
1 Glanbrook 3
2 Grimsby 4
2 Grimsby 4
7 Port Dover 2
2 Grimsby 4
3 Dundas 3
6 Dunnville 0
3 Dundas 4

Niagara Junior "C" champions

Niagara District Junior C Champions are bolded. In a year that there is no bolded champion, there seems to have not been an overall Niagara District Champion and both division entered teams against different opponents at the provincial level. In 1985, the Western Division was known as the "Southwestern Junior C Hockey League".

Year Champions Finalists Result in Provincials
1975Dunnville TerriersLost semi-final vs. Lindsay (C)
1976Dunnville TerriersWon Championship vs. Essex (GL)
1977Stoney Creek Warriors
1978Flamborough SabresGlanbrook RangersLost semi-final vs. Essex (GL)
Year East Champion West Champion Result in Provincials
1979Stoney Creek Warriors
1980Flamborough ColtsLost semi-final vs. Leamington (GL)
1981Dunnville TerriersWoodstock Navy-VetsLost semi-final vs. Essex (GL)
Year Can-Am Champion Central Champion West Champion Result in Provincials
1982Team Port ColborneFlamborough ColtsNorwich MerchantsWon Championship vs. Bowmanville (C)
Year East Champion West Champion Result in Provincials
1983Dunnville TerriersWoodstock Navy-VetsWon Championship vs. Lindsay (C)
1984Stoney Creek WarriorsWoodstock Navy-VetsLost final vs. Penetang (GB)
1985Stoney Creek WarriorsWoodstock Navy-VetsLost semi-final vs. Belle River (GL)
1986Stoney Creek WarriorsNorwich MerchantsWon Championship vs. Bradford (MO)
Year East Champion Central Champion West Champion Result in Provincials
1987Dundas BluesNorwich MerchantsLost final vs. Lakefield (C)
Year East Champion West Champion Result in Provincials
1988Stoney Creek WarriorsWoodstock Navy-VetsLost semi-final vs. Mooretown (GL)
1989Caledonia CorvairsDundas BluesCaledonia Lost quarter-final vs. Bradford (MO)
Dundas Lost quarter-final vs. Belle River (GL)
1990Port Dover ClippersNew Hamburg Spirit 83'sPort Dover Lost quarter-final vs. Orangeville (MO)
New Hamburg Lost quarter-final vs. Belle River (GL)
1991Port Dover ClippersNew Hamburg Spirit 83'sPort Dover Lost quarter-final vs. Orangeville (MO)
New Hamburg Lost quarter-final vs. Belle River (GL)
1992Chippawa MerchantsDundas BluesLost semi-final vs. Belle River (GL)
1993Dundas BluesWoodstock Navy-VetsLost semi-final vs. Napanee Raiders (E)
1994Rockton Real McCoysWoodstock Navy-VetsRockton Lost final vs. Belle River (GL)
Woodstock Lost quarter-final vs. Belle River (GL)
1995Chippawa MerchantsWoodstock Navy-Vets Lost semi-final vs. Belle River (GL)
1996Glanbrook RangersParis MountiesWon Championship vs. Napanee (E)
1997Glanbrook RangersParis MountiesWon Championship vs. Belle River (GL)
1998Glanbrook RangersNorwich MerchantsWon Championship vs. Kincardine (W)
1999Glanbrook RangersWoodstock Navy-VetsWon Championship vs. Wallaceburg (GL)
2000Chippawa RiverhawksNorwich MerchantsLost semi-final vs. Lakefield (C)
2001Chippawa RiverhawksNorwich MerchantsWon Championship vs. Belle River (GL)
2002Chippawa RiverhawksWoodstock Navy-VetsLost semi-final vs. Essex (GL)
2003Grimsby Peach KingsNorwich MerchantsWon Championship vs. Georgina (C)
2004Grimsby Peach KingsSimcoe StormWon Championship vs. Wingham (W)
2005Grimsby Peach KingsSimcoe StormLost final vs. Essex (GL)
2006Grimsby Peach KingsSimcoe StormLost semi-final vs. Essex (GL)
2007Grimsby Peach KingsNorwich MerchantsLost semi-final vs. Essex (GL)
2008Grimsby Peach KingsNorwich MerchantsLost semi-final vs. Essex (GL)
2009Grimsby Peach KingsNorwich MerchantsLost semi-final vs. Essex (GL)
2010Grimsby Peach KingsNorwich MerchantsLost semi-final vs. Belle River (GL)
2011Grimsby Peach KingsNorwich MerchantsWon Championship vs. Alliston (GMO)
2012Grimsby Peach KingsNew Hamburg FirebirdsWon Championship vs. Alliston (GMO)
2013Grimsby Peach KingsNew Hamburg FirebirdsLost semi-final vs. Essex (GL)
Year Champion Finalist Result in Provincials
2014Grimsby Peach KingsDunnville Jr. MudcatsLost semi-final vs. Lakefield (C)
2015Grimsby Peach KingsDundas BluesLost quarter-final vs. Ayr (MW)
2016Grimsby Peach KingsGlanbrook RangersLost quarter-final vs. Ayr (MW)

Regular Season Champions

SeasonChampionRecordPoints
1974-75Dunnville Terriers24-3-3-051
1975-76Dunnville Terriers29-3-4-062
1976-77Hagersville Flyers21-4-5-047
1977-78Flamborough Sabres23-9-4-050
1978-79Hagersville Flyers26-11-3-055
1979-80Stoney Creek Warriors30-4-1-061
1980-81Stoney Creek Warriors30-7-3-063
1981-82Norwich Merchants26-5-1-053
1982-83Dunnville Terriers24-6-2-050
1983-84Port Colborne Sailors30-7-3-063
1984-85Stoney Creek Warriors26-7-1-053
1985-86Stoney Creek Warriors28-6-2-058
1986-87Dundas Blues25-6-3-053
1987-88Norwich Merchants27-5-4-058
1988-89Dundas Blues27-6-3-057
1989-90Norwich Merchants25-7-4-054
1990-91Dundas Blues26-5-3-055
1991-92Flamborough Gamblers27-5-1-055
1992-93Woodstock Navy-Vets29-2-5-063
1993-94Paris Mounties25-5-6-056
1994-95Chippawa Merchants31-2-2-064
1995-96Glanbrook Rangers32-3-1-065
1996-97Woodstock Navy-Vets32-4-3-168
1997-98Glanbrook Rangers37-1-4-078
1998-99Glanbrook Rangers33-2-1-067
1999-00Chippawa Riverhawks32-4-0-064
2000-01Chippawa Riverhawks31-0-4-167
2001-02Woodstock Navy-Vets &
Chippawa Riverhawks		25-9-1-152 (tie)
2002-03Grimsby Peach Kings30-2-3-164
2003-04Grimsby Peach Kings28-5-2-159
2004-05Grimsby Peach Kings28-5-3-059
2005-06Grimsby Peach Kings33-3-0-066
2006-07Grimsby Peach Kings28-7-0-157
2007-08Grimsby Peach Kings32-2-2-066
2008-09Grimsby Peach Kings26-8-0-254
2009-10Simcoe Storm29-5-0-260
2010-11Norwich Merchants32-2-0-266
2011-12Grimsby Peach Kings32-4-0-064
2012-13New Hamburg Firebirds32-4-0-266
2013-14Grimsby Peach Kings26-8-0-153
2014-15Grimsby Peach Kings31-7-0-466
2015-16Glanbrook Rangers31-10-0-163

Please note: Through much of the 1980s and 1990s, the divisions of the league were semi-autonomous and would often have different numbers of games in their schedules. The winners, in that case, are chosen by winning percentage. The 2001-02 ended up with the two division leaders with exact records, therefore a tie.

Former teams

References

  1. ↑ "ONTARIO HOCKEY ASSOCIATION APPROVES JUNIOR C REALIGNMENT FOR START OF 2013-14 SEASON | Ontario Hockey Association".
  2. ↑ http://www.brantnews.com/sports/st-george-dukes-suspend-hockey-operations/
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