Island Junior Hockey League (1973–1991)

This article is about the original Island Junior Hockey League that folded in 1991. For the current IJHL, see Island Junior Hockey League.

The Island Junior Hockey League (IJHL), also sometimes called the PEI Junior A Hockey League, was a Junior ice hockey league in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Originally Junior B, the league was promoted to Junior A in 1973 after the folding of the Charlottetown Islanders in 1972.

Island Junior Hockey League Membership Hockey PEI Founded 1973 (Promoted) Ceased 1991 Regional Champions 6 National Champions 0 First Champion Charlottetown Colonels (1974) Last Champion Charlottetown Abbies (1991)

History

The league was promoted to Junior A in 1973. Most of the teams originated from the Island Junior B Hockey League, except for the Charlottetown Abbies who played the previous season in the Central New Brunswick Junior B Hockey League. In its early years, their champions would play the winners of the New Brunswick Junior Hockey League, Eastern Junior A Hockey League, and Newfoundland Junior A Hockey League for advancement in the Centennial Cup playdowns.

In 1989, the Summerside Western Capitals hosted the Canadian Junior A Championship, then known as the Manitoba Centennial Cup, and represented the IJHL at the tourney. The Western Capitals came in second place, losing to the Thunder Bay Flyers of the United States Hockey League 4–1 in the final after beating the Moncton Hawks 3–2 in a triple-overtime thriller in the semi-final.

In 1991, the IJHL folded when two teams, Charlottetown Abbies and Summerside Western Capitals, jumped to the Metro Valley Junior Hockey League (MVJHL). The MVJHL immediately changed its name to the Maritime Junior A Hockey League (MJAHL) – a tribute to the short-lived Maritime Junior A Hockey League (1968–1971).

In 1996, a new Island Junior Hockey League was founded at the Junior B level.

Teams

• Charlottetown Abbies
• Charlottetown Colonels
• Eastern Huskies
• Monague Kings
• North River North Stars
• O'Leary Maroons
• Riverview Buccaneers
• Saint John Schooners
• Sherwood-Parkdale Metros
• Summerside Western Capitals
• West Prince Bluefins

Champions

Jr. B

1972 Summerside Crystals

1973

Jr. A

1974 Charlottetown Colonels

1975 Charlottetown Colonels

1976 Charlottetown Colonels

1977 Charlottetown Generals

1978 Charlottetown Eagles

1979 Sherwood-Parkdale Metros

1980 Sherwood-Parkdale Metros

1981 Sherwood-Parkdale Metros

1982 North River North Stars

1983 Sherwood-Parkdale Metros

1984 Summerside Western Capitals

1985 Charlottetown Eagles

1986 Summerside Western Capitals

1987 Charlottetown Abbies

1988 Summerside Western Capitals

1989 Summerside Western Capitals

1990 Charlottetown Abbies

1991 Charlottetown Abbies

See also

• List of ice hockey teams in Prince Edward Island

External links

• Canadian Junior A Website
• Current IJHL Website