2023–24 CCHL season
63rd season of the CCHL
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2023–24 CCHL season was the 63rd season of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL). The Navan Grads won the league championship Bogart Cup for the first time in the franchise's 28-year history and went on to compete at the 2024 Centennial Cup national championship tournament in Oakville, Ontario.
| 2023–24 CCHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | Central Canada Hockey League |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | Regular season September–April |
| Games | 55 |
| Teams | 12 |
| Total attendance | 78,810 |
| League championship | |
| Bogart Cup | Navan Grads |
| Runners-up | Smiths Falls Bears |
Season highlights
League commissioner Kevin Abrams resigned at the end of the 2022–23 CCHL season after serving for 17 years in the role.[1][2] Sean Marcellus, who was appointed as interim commissioner in June 2023, resigned in April 2024 and took up the position of director of hockey operations for the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League.[3][4]
The Navan Grads won the league championship Bogart Cup for the first time in the franchise's 28-year history.[5] The team's goaltender, Jaeden Nelson, received the league's top rookie, top prospect and top goaltender awards.[6] He went on to receive the top goaltender award at the 2024 Centennial Cup national championship tournament.[7]
Awards
- Most Valuable Player: Jace Letourneau (Renfrew Wolves)
- Top Rookie: Jaeden Nelson (Navan Grads)
- Outstanding Defenceman: Xavier Laurent (Rockland Nationals)
- Sportsmanship/ability award: Kyle Leonard (Rockland Nationals)
- Top Prospect: Jaeden Nelson (Navan Grads)
- Outstanding graduating player: Shamus Stevenson (Smiths Falls Bears)
- Arthur K. Nielsen scholarship award: Bill Gourgon (Carleton Place Canadians)
- Scoring champion: Jace Letourneau (Renfrew Wolves)
- Top Goaltender: Jaeden Nelson (Navan Grads)
- Top Coach: Marty Abrams (Navan Grads)
- Top General Manager: Pat Malloy (Smiths Falls Bears)
Source: "Season award archives". thecchl.ca. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
Regular season
The regular season opened on 14 September 2023 and ran until 17 March 2024. Each team played 55 games, playing against each opponent 5 times. While teams were nominally assigned to either the Robinson division or the Yzerman division, the top 8 teams overall advanced to the playoffs regardless of their division assignment.[8]
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Source: "2023–24 Central CCHL standings". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
Post-season
| Bogart Cup | |
|---|---|
| Tournament details | |
| Dates | 20 March – 1 May |
| Teams | 8 |
| Defending champions | Ottawa Jr. Senators |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Navan Grads |
| Runners-up | Smiths Falls Bears |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Games played | 38 |
| Goals scored | 223 (5.87 per game) |
| Attendance | 22,207 (584 per game) |
The Navan Grads defeated the Pembroke Lumber Kings, Rockland Nationals, and finally the Smiths Falls Bears to win the league championship Bogart Cup for the first time in the franchise's 28-year history.[9][10] The Grads went on to represent the league at the 2024 Centennial Cup national championship tournament in Oakville, Ontario.[11][12]
| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Bogart Cup Finals | |||||||||
| Navan | 4 | ||||||||||
| Pembroke | 2 | ||||||||||
| Navan | 4 | ||||||||||
| Rockland | 1 | ||||||||||
| Rockland | 4 | ||||||||||
| Renfrew | 2 | ||||||||||
| Navan | 4 | ||||||||||
| Smiths Falls | 2 | ||||||||||
| Smiths Falls | 4 | ||||||||||
| Carleton Place | 1 | ||||||||||
| Smiths Falls | 4 | ||||||||||
| Cornwall | 1 | ||||||||||
| Cornwall | 4 | ||||||||||
| Hawkesbury | 1 | ||||||||||
Source: "2023–24 CCHL playoff results". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
First round: Navan vs. Pembroke
Navan won the series, 4–2.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 20 | Pembroke 1, Navan 5 | Navan Memorial Centre | 2:10 | 243 |
| 2 | March 22 | Navan 2, Pembroke 1 (OT) | Pembroke Memorial Centre | 2:58 | 701 |
| 3 | March 24 | Pembroke 3, Navan 1 | Navan Memorial Centre | 2:00 | 447 |
| 4 | March 27 | Navan 1, Pembroke 5 | Pembroke Memorial Centre | 2:13 | 755 |
| 5 | March 29 | Pembroke 4, Navan 5 (2OT) | Navan Memorial Centre | 3:54 | 655 |
| 6 | March 31 | Navan 4, Pembroke 3 | Pembroke Memorial Centre | 2:20 | 1,288 |
Source: "2023–24 CCHL playoff results". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
First round: Rockland vs. Renfrew
Rockland won the series, 4–2.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 22 | Renfrew 2, Rockland 1 | Clarence-Rockland Arena | 2:07 | 623 |
| 2 | March 23 | Rockland 7, Renfrew 0 | MyFM Centre Recreation Complex | 2:05 | 517 |
| 3 | March 28 | Renfrew 3, Rockland 4 (OT) | Clarence-Rockland Arena | 2:18 | 855 |
| 4 | March 30 | Rockland 5, Renfrew 1 | MyFM Centre Recreation Complex | 2:09 | 583 |
| 5 | March 31 | Renfrew 1, Rockland 8 | Clarence-Rockland Arena | 1:53 | 657 |
| 6 | April 2 | Rockland 3, Renfrew 1 | MyFM Centre Recreation Complex | 2:08 | 509 |
Source: "2023–24 CCHL playoff results". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
First round: Smiths Falls vs. Carleton Place
Smiths Falls won the series, 4–1.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 22 | Carleton Place 2, Smiths Falls 7 | Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre | 2:28 | 480 |
| 2 | March 24 | Smiths Falls 4, Carleton Place 3 (OT) | Carleton Place Arena | 2:10 | 300 |
| 3 | March 26 | Carleton Place 4, Smiths Falls 1 | Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre | 2:14 | 358 |
| 4 | March 27 | Smiths Falls 5, Carleton Place 2 | Carleton Place Arena | 2:20 | 270 |
| 5 | March 29 | Carleton Place 2, Smiths Falls 6 | Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre | 2:10 | 814 |
Source: "2023–24 CCHL playoff results". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
First round: Cornwall vs. Hawkesbury
Cornwall won the series, 4–1.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 21 | Hawkesbury 2, Cornwall 3 (2OT) | Cornwall Civic Complex | 3:03 | 1,123 |
| 2 | March 22 | Cornwall 1, Hawkesbury 2 (3OT) | Robert Hartley Sports Complex | 4:09 | 979 |
| 3 | March 24 | Hawkesbury 1, Cornwall 6 | Cornwall Civic Complex | 1:43 | 1,017 |
| 4 | March 26 | Cornwall 3, Hawkesbury 2 | Robert Hartley Sports Complex | 2:03 | 877 |
| 5 | March 28 | Hawkesbury 2, Cornwall 6 | Cornwall Civic Complex | 2:01 | 1,089 |
Source: "2023–24 CCHL playoff results". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
Semifinal: Navan vs. Rockland
Navan won the series, 4–1.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 5 | Rockland 4, Navan 5 | Navan Memorial Centre | 2:01 | 605 |
| 2 | April 7 | Navan 1, Rockland 0 (OT) | Clarence-Rockland Arena | 2:43 | 645 |
| 3 | April 10 | Rockland 6, Navan 4 | Navan Memorial Centre | 2:14 | 625 |
| 4 | April 12 | Navan 5, Rockland 3 | Clarence-Rockland Arena | 2:04 | 1,025 |
| 5 | April 14 | Rockland 0, Navan 1 | Navan Memorial Centre | 2:05 | 672 |
Source: "2023–24 CCHL playoff results". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
Semifinal: Smiths Falls vs. Cornwall
Smiths Falls won the series, 4–1.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 5 | Cornwall 1, Smiths Falls 2 | Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre | 2:22 | 825 |
| 2 | April 7 | Smiths Falls 2, Cornwall 1 | Cornwall Civic Complex | 2:01 | 1,324 |
| 3 | April 9 | Cornwall 4, Smiths Falls 1 | Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre | 2:10 | 505 |
| 4 | April 11 | Smiths Falls 4, Cornwall 3 (OT) | Cornwall Civic Complex | 2:27 | 1,425 |
| 5 | April 14 | Cornwall 1, Smiths Falls 6 | Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre | 2:11 | 639 |
Source: "2023–24 CCHL playoff results". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
Final: Navan vs. Smiths Falls
Navan won the series, 4–2.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 19 | Smiths Falls 2, Navan 3 (OT) | Navan Memorial Centre | 3:06 | 824 |
| 2 | April 21 | Navan 3, Smiths Falls 4 (OT) | Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre | 2:33 | 1,003 |
| 3 | April 24 | Smiths Falls 1, Navan 4 | Navan Memorial Centre | 1:47 | 735 |
| 4 | April 26 | Navan 3, Smiths Falls 2 | Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre | 2:02 | 1,113 |
| 5 | April 28 | Smiths Falls 5, Navan 0 | Navan Memorial Centre | 2:22 | 1,111 |
| 6 | May 1 | Navan 5, Smiths Falls 2 | Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre | 2:03 | 1,185 |
Source: "2023–24 CCHL playoff results". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
National championship
| Centennial Cup | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Tournament details | |
| City | Oakville, Ontario |
| Venue | Sixteen Mile Sports Complex |
| Dates | 9–19 May 2024 |
| Teams | 10 |
| Host team | Oakville Blades |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Collingwood Blues |
| Runners-up | Melfort Mustangs |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Games played | 25 |
| Awards | |
| MVP | Julien Gervais |
| Official website | |
| Hockey Canada | |
The 2024 Centennial Cup national championship tournament took place at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville, Ontario from 9 – 19 May 2024. The competition included all nine CJHL champions; the Calgary Canucks of the AJHL; the Melfort Mustangs of the SJHL; the Winkler Flyers of the MJHL; the Sioux Lookout Bombers of the SIJHL; the Greater Sudbury Cubs of the NOJHL; the Collingwood Blues of the OJHL; the Navan Grads of the CCHL; the Collège Français de Longueuil of the QJHL; the Miramichi Timberwolves of the MHL; and hosts the Oakville Blades of the OJHL.[13]
The Navan Grads recorded two wins and two losses in the preliminary round. They then advanced to the quarterfinals where they lost to the Miramichi Timberwolves by a score of 8-4 and were eliminated from competition.[14]
Round Robin
The top 3 teams from each group advanced to the playoffs, and the 1st place teams in each group had a bye to the semifinals.
| Group A | CB | CC | NG | GSC | CFL | |
| 1 | Collingwood Blues | 5-4 | 3-2 | 10-2 | 8-0 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Calgary Canucks | 4-5 | 4-3 | 3-2 | 5-1 | |
| 3 | Navan Grads | 2-3 | 3-4 | 5-1 | 5-1 | |
| 4 | Greater Sudbury Cubs | 2-10 | 2-3 | 1-5 | 6-0 | |
| 5 | Collège Français de Longueuil | 0-8 | 1-5 | 1-5 | 0-6 |
| Group B | MM | MT | WF | OB | SLB | |
| 1 | Melfort Mustangs | 4-1 | 6-5 | 3-1 | 5-3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Miramichi Timberwolves | 1-4 | 3-2 | 7-4 | 5-3 | |
| 3 | Winkler Flyers | 5-6 | 2-3 | 4-0 | 4-2 | |
| 4 | Oakville Blades | 1-3 | 4-7 | 0-4 | 5-2 | |
| 5 | Sioux Lookout Bombers |
3-5 | 3-5 | 2-4 | 2-5 |
Playoffs
The Collingwood Blues won the tournament after defeating the Miramichi Timberwolves by a score of 5-2 in the semifinals, and the Melfort Mustangs by a score of 1-0 in the final.[15]
| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | |||||||||
| Miramichi Timberwolves | 8 | ||||||||||
| Navan Grads | 4 | ||||||||||
| Collingwood Blues | 5 | ||||||||||
| Miramichi Timberwolves | 2 | ||||||||||
| Collingwood Blues | 1 | ||||||||||
| Melfort Mustangs | 0 | ||||||||||
| Melfort Mustangs | 2 | ||||||||||
| Calgary Canucks | 1 | ||||||||||
| Calgary Canucks | 4 | ||||||||||
| Winkler Flyers | 2 | ||||||||||