Junior ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada
The Ontario Women's Hockey League U22 Elite (OWHL ), formerly the Provincial Women's Hockey League , is a women's junior ice hockey league in Ontario , Canada. Founded in 2004, it is considered to be the highest level of amateur women's ice hockey in Ontario, and is sanctioned by Hockey Canada and the Ontario Women's Hockey Association .
OWHL alumni have gone on to play in the Professional Women's Hockey League , National Collegiate Athletic Association , U Sports , and the Canada women's national ice hockey team .
History [ edit ] Southwest and Barrie battle during 2013–14 season. Kingston skater during 2013–14 season. The league was founded in 2004 as the Provincial Women's Hockey League by the Ontario Women's Hockey Association (OWHA). It is the women's equivalent to men's junior hockey , but is officially classified by the OWHA as "Intermediate AA," as the OWHA does not have an official "junior" classification system. Despite this, its teams market themselves as women's junior hockey.[1] [2]
In the early years of the league, when PWHL teams had to compete for OWHA provincials they would do so with representatives of the Ottawa District .[citation needed ] The PWHL franchises proved much more competitive than their Ottawa counterparts and after two seasons Ottawa applied to and joined the PWHL. By the 2009 league playoffs, the Ottawa Senators beat the league powerhouse Toronto Jr. Aeros to win its first league championship.
In the 2019–20 season, the playoffs were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic .[3] The following season was not played due to coronavirus-related restrictions.[4]
At some point following the pandemic, the league was renamed to the Ontario Women's Hockey League (OWHL).[5]
This section needs to be updated . Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (April 2024 )
Southwest Jr. Wildcats player during 2014–15 season. Cambridge Rivulettes goalie during 2013–14 season. [6]
Team Centre Joined Aurora Jr. Panthers Aurora, Ontario 2004 Barrie Jr. Sharks Barrie, Ontario 2011 Bluewater Jr. Hawks Strathroy, Ontario 2004 Brampton Jr. Canadettes Brampton, Ontario 2004 Burlington Jr. Barracudas Burlington, Ontario 2004 Cambridge Rivulettes Cambridge, Ontario 2004 Durham West Jr. Lightning Ajax, Ontario 2004 Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins Etobicoke, Toronto 2004 Kingston Ice Wolves Kingston, Ontario 2012 London Jr. Devilettes London, Ontario 2004 Mississauga Jr. Hurricanes Mississauga, Ontario 2004 Nepean Jr. Wildcats Nepean, Ontario 2010 Oakville Jr. Hornets Oakville, Ontario 2004 Ottawa Lady Senators Ottawa, Ontario 2006 Southwest Wildcats Windsor, Ontario 2004 Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres Stoney Creek, Ontario 2004 Toronto Jr. Aeros North York, Toronto 2004 Toronto Leaside Jr. Wildcats Leaside, Toronto 2012 Waterloo Ravens Waterloo, Ontario 2008 Whitby Jr. Wolves Whitby, Ontario 2005
Defunct franchises [ edit ] Champions [ edit ] Championships by year [ edit ] Year Regular Season League Championship Provincial Championship Provincial Women's Hockey League 2005 Toronto Jr. Aeros Toronto Jr. Aeros Toronto Jr. Aeros 2006 Toronto Jr. Aeros Toronto Jr. Aeros Toronto Jr. Aeros 2007 Toronto Jr. Aeros Toronto Jr. Aeros Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres 2008 Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres Ottawa NCCP Jr. Capitals 2009 Toronto Jr. Aeros Ottawa Lady Senators Mississauga Jr. Chiefs 2010 Mississauga Jr. Chiefs Toronto Jr. Aeros Toronto Jr. Aeros 2011 Mississauga Jr. Chiefs Toronto Jr. Aeros Mississauga Jr. Chiefs 2012 Toronto Jr. Aeros Bluewater Jr. Hawks Bluewater Jr. Hawks 2013 Whitby Jr. Wolves Whitby Jr. Wolves Durham West Jr. Lightning 2014 Nepean Jr. Wildcats Whitby Jr. Wolves Mississauga Jr. Chiefs 2015 Oakville Jr. Hornets Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres Oakville Jr. Hornets 2016 Durham West Jr. Lightning Toronto Jr. Aeros Toronto Jr. Aeros 2017 Oakville Jr. Hornets Oakville Jr. Hornets Oakville Jr. Hornets 2018 Toronto Jr. Aeros Toronto Jr. Aeros Toronto Jr. Aeros 2019 Kingston Ice Wolves London Jr. Devilettes London Jr. Devilettes 2020 Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins No tournament held 2021 Season not played[4] Ontario Women's Hockey League U22 Elite 2022 Durham West Jr. Lightning Durham West Jr. Lightning Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins 2023 Durham West Jr. Lightning London Jr. Devilettes Durham West Jr. Lightning 2024 Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins Durham West Jr. Lightning Burlington Barracudas
Championships by team [ edit ] Team Regular Season League Championship Provincial Championship Bluewater Jr. Hawks 1: 2012 1: 2012 Burlington Barracudas 1: 2024 Durham West Jr. Lightning 3: 2016, 2022, 2023 2: 2022, 2024 2: 2013, 2023 Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins 2: 2020, 2024 1: 2022 Kingston Jr. Ice Wolves 1: 2019 London Jr. Devilettes 2: 2019, 2023 1: 2019 Mississauga Jr. Chiefs/Hurricanes 2: 2010, 2011 3: 2009, 2011, 2014 Nepean Jr. Wildcats 1: 2014 Oakville Jr. Hornets 2: 2015, 2017 1: 2017 2: 2015, 2017 Ottawa Lady Senators 1: 2009 Ottawa NCCP Jr. Capitals 1: 2008 Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres 1: 2008 2: 2008, 2015 1: 2007 Toronto Jr. Aeros 6: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2018 7: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2018 5: 2005, 2006, 2010, 2016, 2018 Whitby Jr. Wolves 1: 2013 2: 2013, 2014
"Triple Crown" winners [ edit ] Two teams have won the regular season, league championship, and provincial championship in the same season. The first to do it was the Toronto Jr. Aeros, accomplishing the feat back-to-back in the league's first two seasons.
2005 Toronto Jr. Aeros 2006 Toronto Jr. Aeros 2017 Oakville Jr. Hornets 2018 Toronto Jr. Aeros Barrie Jr. Sharks goalie 2013–14 season. Regular Season champions [ edit ] Season Team Record Points 2004–05 Toronto Jr. Aeros 23–5–2 48 2005–06 Toronto Jr. Aeros[7] 27–0–3 57 2006–07 Toronto Jr. Aeros[8] 22–6–4 48 2007–08 Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres[8] 27–2–3 57 2008–09 Toronto Jr. Aeros[8] 27–5–2 56 2009–10 Mississauga Chiefs[9] 29–2–3–0 61 2010–11 Mississauga Chiefs[10] 33–3–0–0 66 2011–12 Toronto Jr. Aeros[8] 31–1–1–1 64 2012–13 Whitby Jr. Wolves 29–6–2–1 61 2013–14 Nepean Jr. Wildcats[11] 32–3–2–1 67 2014–15 Oakville Jr. Hornets 31–3–4–0 66 2015–16 Durham West Jr. Lightning 27–2–5–4 63 2016–17 Oakville Jr. Hornets 31–3–4–0 66 2017–18 Toronto Jr. Aeros 31–3–4–0 66 2018–19 Kingston Ice Wolves 28–2–7–1 64 2019–20 Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins 27–4–6 61 2020–21 2021–22 Durham West Jr. Lightning 28–0–1–1 58 2022–23 Durham West Jr. Lightning 2023–24 Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins
Scoring champion [ edit ] Season Player Team G-A-P 2004–05 2005–06 Mallory Deluce Bluewater Jr. Hawks 18-45–63 2006–07 Laura McIntosh Mississauga Jr. Chiefs 21-33–54 2007–08 Kelly Sabatine Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres 28-32–60 2008–09 Kelly Sabatine Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres 33-35–68 2009–10 Theadora Imbrogno[12] Mississauga Jr. Chiefs 28-34–62 2010–11 Jenna Dingeldein Mississauga Jr. Chiefs 21-40–61 2011–12 Emily Janiga Burlington Jr. Barracudas 27-21–48 2012–13 Krista Yip-Chuck Whitby Jr. Wolves 29-36–65 2013–14 Victoria Bach[13] Mississauga Jr. Chiefs 36-32–68 2014–15 Jessie Eldridge Toronto Jr. Aeros 29-35–64 2015–16 Daryl Watts Mississauga Jr. Chiefs 30-35–65 2016–17 Emma Maltais Oakville Hornets 22-34–56 2017–18 Maggie McKee London Devilettes 14-32–46 2018–19 Maggie McKee London Devilettes 15-41–56 2019–20 Kiara Zanon Kingston Ice Wolves 33-31–64
Goaltending Award [ edit ] Kingston goalie during 2013–14 season. Season Player Team GAA 2004–05 Melissa John/ Jamie Miller Toronto Jr. Aeros 1.50 2005–06 Christina Kessler/ Jamie Miller Toronto Jr. Aeros 0.93 2006–07 Jamie Miller Toronto Jr. Aeros 1.28 2007–08 Cassandra McNichol Mississauga Jr. Chiefs 1.13 2008–09 Cassie Seguin Ottawa Senators 1.34 2009–10 Olivia Ross Mississauga Jr. Chiefs 0.98 2010–11 Ali Binnington/ Bridget Smith Mississauga Jr. Chiefs 1.00 2011–12 Taylor Hough Toronto Jr. Aeros 0.71 2012–13 Jackie Rochefort Durham West Jr. Lightning 0.94 2013–14 Kira Bombay[14] Nepean Jr. Wildcats 0.82 2014–15 Sarah McDonnell Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres 1.03 2015–16 Danika Ranger Durham West Jr. Lightning 0.83 2016–17 Makenzy Arsenault Whitby Wolves .84 2017–18 Natalie Thompson Toronto Aeros .71 2018–19 Andrea Fausto Stoney Creek Sabres 1.04 2019–20 Michelle Pasiechnyk Nepean Wildcats 1.33
Coach of the Year [ edit ] Season Coach Team 2004–05 Paul Rockett Brampton Jr. Canadettes 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 Dave Gwyn Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins 2010–11 Rick Sullivan Bluewater Jr. Hawks 2011–12 Christina Jolliffe London Jr. Devilettes 2012–13 Wayne McDonald Durham West Jr. Lightning 2013–14 Bruce MacDonald Nepean Jr. Wildcats 2014–15 Jessica Turri Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins 2015–16 Kim McCullough Leaside Wildcats 2016–17 Troy Sweet Kingston Jr Ice Wolves 2017–18 Geoff Haddaway Cambridge Rivulettes 2018–19 Chad Campbell Waterloo K-W Rangers 2019–20 Stacey Marnoch Stoney Creek Sabres
Christie Rose Scholarship [ edit ] Barrie Jr. Sharks players line up for a draw during 2013–14 season. For ten years, the PWHL awarded a scholarship in memory of former PWHL player Christie Rose. She was an 18-year-old young woman who died on June 24, 2008, as a result of her injuries suffered in a car accident.[8] The scholarship is awarded on an annual basis to recognize a young woman who shares the same qualities and characteristics as Christie. The scholarship program was ended after it awarded its tenth recipient.
Recipients [ edit ] Year Player Team 2009 Kaitlyn Bannon[15] London Jr. Devilettes 2010 Blair Connelly Bluewater Jr. Hawks[8] 2011 Stacey Scott London Jr. Devilettes 2012 Michelle Tanel Durham West Jr. Lightning 2013 Clare McKellar[16] London Jr. Devilettes 2014 Caitlin Lee/ Erran Lee[17] Kingston Ice Wolves 2015 Davis Smith[18] Bluewater Jr. Hawks 2016 Emma Forcey[19] Bluewater Jr. Hawks 2017 Tayler Murphy Mississauga Chiefs 2018 Maggie McKee London Devilettes
References [ edit ] ^ "PWHL Constitution" (PDF) . Provincial Women's Hockey League. Retrieved August 9, 2010 . ^ Ellis, Steven (March 8, 2021). "Feeder League to the Future: PWHL a Stepping Stone for Next Generation" . thehockeynews.com . The Hockey News. Retrieved January 7, 2024 . ^ "PWHL.ca – Provincial Women's Hockey League | Provincial Women's Hockey League" . pwhl.pointstreaksites.com . Retrieved October 26, 2020 . ^ a b Guignard, Jonathan (September 20, 2021). "Barrie Jr. Sharks eager to begin 2021-22 PWHL season" . BVM Sports . Retrieved May 26, 2024 . ^ Kennedy, Ian (August 7, 2023). "Dominance of OWHL Evident In Hockey Canada's U-18 Roster" . thehockeynews.com . The Hockey News. Retrieved January 6, 2024 . ^ "Welcome to the Provincial Women's Hockey League" . Retrieved August 9, 2010 . ^ "Provincial Womens Hockey League" . Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved February 7, 2011 . ^ a b c d e f "PWHL.ca – Provincial Women's Hockey League | Provincial Women's Hockey League" . pwhl.pointstreaksites.com . ^ "Provincial Women's Hockey League | Pointstreak Stats" . pwhl3.stats.pointstreak.com . ^ "Provincial Women's Hockey League | Pointstreak Stats" . pwhl3.stats.pointstreak.com . ^ "Provincial Women's Hockey League | Pointstreak Stats" . pwhl3.stats.pointstreak.com . ^ http://pwhl.pointstreaksites.com/view/pwhl/news-%7C- 174/news_12277 ^ "Provincial Women's Hockey League | Pointstreak Stats" . pwhl3.stats.pointstreak.com . ^ "Provincial Women's Hockey League | Pointstreak Stats" . pwhl3.stats.pointstreak.com . ^ "Hockey scholarship remembers Christie – St. Thomas Times-Journal – Ontario, CA" . Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. ^ "Clare McKellar wins Christie Rose Scholarship | Provincial Women's Hockey League" . pwhl.pointstreaksites.com . Retrieved October 26, 2020 . ^ Forrest, Ben (September 5, 2014). "Hockey-playing twins win Christie Rose Scholarship" . St Thomas Times Journal . Retrieved October 26, 2020 . ^ McCallum, Ian (September 22, 2015). "Davis Smith is this year's Christie Rose Scholarship recipient" . St Thomas Times Journal . Retrieved October 26, 2020 . ^ McCallum, Ian (September 10, 2016). "Eighteen-year-old Emma Forcey this year's recipient of Christie Rose PWHL scholarship" . St Thomas Times Journal . Retrieved October 26, 2020 . External links [ edit ]
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Former teams
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