Capital Region Junior Hockey League
Canadian junior ice hockey league
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Capital Region Junior Hockey League (CRJHL) is a junior B ice hockey league in the province of Manitoba, Canada. The league, sanctioned by Hockey Manitoba, began play for 2018–19 season.
Keystone Cup
| |
| Commissioner | Grant Heather |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2018 |
| No. of teams | 7 |
| Associated titles | Baldy Northcott Trophy Keystone Cup |
| Recent champions | St. Malo Warriors (2024–25) |
| Website | crjhl |
History
The CRJHL was formed in 2018 when five teams from the Keystone Junior Hockey League (KJHL) withdrew to form a new league.[1] These five clubs, all located within an hour-and-a-half drive of Winnipeg, cited the long travel distance to northern Manitoba, where the KJHL's other six teams are located, as the main reason for leaving to create the new league.[2][3] The split resulted in litigation, with the remaining KJHL teams alleging that the decision to form a new league was racially motivated.[4] The remaining KJHL teams filed a complaint with governing body, Hockey Manitoba, which ruled that the new league had breached the organization's constitution when it did not give proper notice to the KJHL.[5] Moreover, it ruled that former KJHL players would need a release to play in the new league and there would be a $500 fee.[5] The KJHL applied to the Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba for an injunction halting the CRJHL's inaugural season, and seeking damages for alleged breaches of contracts with players.[6] The court denied the request for injunction, finding that the KJHL teams had not exhausted their appeals through Hockey Manitoba and couldn't prove the split would cause irreparable harm to the league.[7]
The Selkirk Fishermen defeated the North Winnipeg Satelites in six games to capture the first-ever CRJHL championship in 2019. The Fishermen, who defeated the Arborg Ice Dawgs in five games, were set to defend that title in 2020 against the St. Malo Warriors, but the finals were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2020–21 CRJHL season began in October 2020 with games played with spectator limits before provincial-wide restrictions forced the cancellation of the remainder of the season.[8][9]
In 2024, the St. Malo Warriors became the second club to win the league championship.[10]
Teams
The league has expanded trice since it began with 5 teams in 2018. The Beausejour Comets joined in the 2022–23 CRJHL season, and the La Broquerie Habs debuted in the 2024–25 CRJHL season.[11] and will debut the Altona Maroons for the 2026-27 season [12]
| Team | City/Area | Arena | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altona Maroons | Altona | Millennium Exhibition Centre | 2026 |
| Arborg Ice Dawgs | Arborg | Arborg & District Arena | 2006 |
| Beausejour Comets | Beausejour | Beausejour Sportsplex | 2022 |
| La Broquerie Habs | La Broquerie | HyLife Centre | 2024 |
| Lundar Falcons | Lundar | Lundar Arena | 2010 |
| North Winnipeg Satelites | Inkster East Neighbourhood | Billy Mosienko Arena | 1980 |
| Selkirk Fishermen | Selkirk | Selkirk Recreation Complex | 1917 |
| St. Malo Warriors | St. Malo | St. Malo Arena | 1993 |
Champions
| Year | Playoff winner | Runner-up | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Selkirk Fishermen | North Winnipeg Satelites | 4-2 |
| 2020 | playoff finals cancelled due to COVID-19 outbreak | ||
| 2021 | season cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions | ||
| 2022 | Selkirk Fishermen | Arborg Ice Dogs | 4-0 |
| 2023 | Selkirk Fishermen | St. Malo Warriors | 4-1 |
| 2024 | St. Malo Warriors | Beausejour Comets | 4-2 |
| 2025 | St. Malo Warriors | Beausejour Comets | 4-3 |
| 2026 | La Broquerie Habs | Selkirk Fishermen | 4-1 |