Qu'Appelle Valley Hockey League
 | |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1960 |
| CEO | Chris Pollock |
| No. of teams | 5 Senior / 7 Junior |
| Country |  Canada |
| Most recent champion(s) | Milestone Flyers (Sr) Yellow Grass Wheat Kings (Jr) (2019) |
| Official website | QVHL.ca |
The Qu’Appelle Valley Hockey League is a C-level senior ice hockey and junior ice hockey league in the greater Regina area of Saskatchewan, Canada. It is sanctioned by Hockey Saskatchewan and Hockey Canada.
Senior history
[edit]Formed in 1960, QVHL Senior teams have won Saskatchewan Provincial titles on several occasions. Among them:
- The Balcarres Broncs were the first to bring home a title as Provincial 'C' champions in 1974.
- The Grenfell Spitfires were Provincial 'B' champions in 1982.
- The Milestone Flyers were 'C' winners in 1985 and 2003. The Flyers also captured the 'D' title in 1998.
- The Standing Buffalo Bulls were 'A' winners in 2000.
- The Balgonie Bisons won the Provincial 'A' championship in 2011 and repeated the feat in 2018.
Junior history
[edit]Formed in 2015 after the folding of the Regina Junior C Hockey League (1996–2015) three former member teams (Balcarres Broncos, Lumsden Jaxx, Regina River Rats) joined the QVHL along with the White Butte Eagles. RJCHL hosted the annual Brewers Cup, the Junior C championship of Western Canada, from 1992–2014.
In March 2017 Bredenbury Tundra joined QVJHL for the 2017-18 season.[1] The Tundra were confirmed as new expansion teams in April along with the Cupar Canucks, Wolseley Mustangs and Yellow Grass Wheat Kings.[2]
The QVJHL announced two expansion teams (Emerald Park Wizards and Southerly Marlins) for the 2018–19 season.[3] Cupar Canucks folded after one season, winning just three games. Bredenbury Tundra relocated to Esterhazy, but ceased operations on December 16 after nine games.
Two new teams joined the circuit for 2020–2021 with the addition of Ochapowace Thunder and Regina Shamrocks.
The Strasbourg Maroons and Caronport scheduled to join the league for the 2024-25 season.
Teams
[edit]| Senior Teams | Formed |
|---|---|
| Balcarres Broncs | 1960 |
| Balgonie Bisons | 1968 |
| Bethune Bulldogs | |
| Grenfell Spitfires | |
| Lumsden Monarchs | |
| Milestone Flyers | |
| Odessa/Vibank Bruins | 2010 |
| Raymore Rockets | |
| Southey Marlins | |
| Junior C Teams | Formed |
| Caronport Aviators | 2024 |
| Emerald Park Wizards | 2018 |
| Kelliher Komets | 2023 |
| Lumsden Lumberjaxx | 2007 |
| Regina River Rats | 2014 |
| Strasbourg Maroons | 2024 |
| Wolseley Mustangs | 2017 |
| Yellow Grass Wheat Kings | 2017 |
Former/inactive Sr. teams
[edit]- Gordon’s Golden Hawks (2004–2012)
- Indian Head Chiefs (2000–2019)
- Kelliher Komets (2008–2010)
- Monmartre-Glenavon Rivals (2004–2009)
- Ogema Colts (2008–2011)
- Pilot Butte Broncos (2004–2005)
- Radville Nationals (2012–2017)
- Rouleau Ramblers (2000–2010)
- Standing Buffalo Bulls (2000–2001)
- Whitewood Orioles (2006–2018)
- Windthorst Pirates (2000–2001)
- Wolseley Winterhawks (2000–2005)
Former/inactive Jr. teams
[edit]- Balcarres Broncs (????–2017)
- Bredenbury Tundra (2017–2018)
- Cupar Canucks (2017–2018)
- Indian Head Chiefs (2006–12; 2016–2018)
- Moose Jaw Regina Shamrocks Canucks (2006–2015)
- Ochapowace Thunder (2020-2022)
- Pilot Butte Storm (????–2006) - joined Prairie Junior Hockey League
- Regina Brewers (1997–2015)
- Regina Bulldogs
- Regina Hurricanes
- Regina Mustangs
- Regina Shamrocks (2020-2022)
- Southey Marlins (1997–2015)
- White Butte Eagles (2015–2018)
List of champions
[edit]Senior champions
[edit]| Season | Champion | Runner up | Result | Provincial winners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Monmartre-Glenavon Rivals | |||
| 1998 | Balcarres Broncs | Milestone Flyers 'D' | ||
| 1999 | Standing Buffalo Bulls | |||
| 2000 | Standing Buffalo Bulls | Standing Buffalo Bulls 'A' | ||
| 2001 | Standing Buffalo Bulls | |||
| 2002 | Balgonie Bisons | |||
| 2003 | Indian Head Chiefs | Milestone Flyers 'C' | ||
| 2004 | Milestone Flyers | |||
| 2005 | Milestone Flyers | |||
| 2006 | Milestone Flyers | |||
| 2007 | Monmartre-Glenavon Rivals | |||
| 2008 | Balgonie Bisons | |||
| 2009 | Balgonie Bisons | |||
| 2010 | Balgonie Bisons | |||
| 2011 | Balgonie Bisons | Milestone Flyers | 3–0 | Balgonie Bisons 'A'[4] |
| 2012 | Balgonie Bisons | Milestone Flyers | 2–0 | |
| 2013 | Balcarres Broncs | Balgonie Bisons | 3–2 | |
| 2014 | Radville Nationals | Balcarres Broncs | 3–1 | |
| 2015 | Radville Nationals | Grenfell Spitfires | 3–2 | |
| 2016 | Balgonie Bisons | Grenfell Spitfires | 3–1 | |
| 2017 | Grenfell Spitfires[5] | Milestone Flyers | 3–0 | |
| 2018 | Grenfell Spitfires | Balgonie Bisons | 3–2 | Balgonie Bisons 'A' |
| 2019 | Milestone Flyers | Balgonie Bisons | 3–0 | |
| 2020 | none (playoffs suspended) |
Junior C champions
[edit]| Season | RJCHL Champions | Runner-up | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Regina Brewers | ||
| 1998 | Regina Brewers | ||
| 1999 | Regina Bulldogs | ||
| 2000 | Regina Brewers | ||
| 2001 | Regina Brewers | ||
| 2002 | Southey Marlins | ||
| 2003 | Odessa Eagles | ||
| 2003 | Regina Brewers | ||
| 2005 | Regina Brewers | ||
| 2006 | Regina Hurricanes | ||
| 2007 | Southey Marlins | ||
| 2008 | Regina Mustangs | Regina Hurricanes | 2–1 |
| 2009 | Odessa Eagles | ||
| 2010 | Lumsden/Bethune Lumberjax | ||
| 2011 | Southey Marlins | ||
| 2012 | Southey Marlins | ||
| 2013 | Odessa Eagles | ||
| 2014 | Moose Jaw Canucks | Regina Brewers | 3–2 |
| 2015 | Regina River Rats | Moose Jaw Canucks | 3–1 |
| Season | QVJHL Champions | Runner-up | Result |
| 2016 | Regina River Rats | White Butte Eagles | 3–0 |
| 2017 | Regina River Rats | Lumsden Jaxx | 3–2 |
| 2018 | Wolseley Mustangs[6][7] | Regina River Rats | 3–2 |
| 2019 | Wolseley Mustangs[8] | Yellow Grass Wheat Kings | 3–0 |
| 2020 | None (playoffs suspended) | —
|
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| 2021 | None (season suspended – COVID-19) | —
|
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| 2022 | Yellow Grass Wheat Kings | Wolseley Mustangs | 3–1 |
| 2023 | Yellow Grass Wheat Kings | Wolseley Mustangs | 3–1 |
| 2024 | Yellow Grass Wheat Kings | Emerald Park Wizards | 3–0 |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "New junior hockey club in Bredenbury". Yorkton This Week. March 23, 2017.
- ^ "QVJHL expands to 8 teams". Pearl Creek Media. April 2, 2017.
- ^ "2 Teams to join QVJHL in 2018". Pearl Creek Media. September 4, 2018.
- ^ "The puck stops here". Battlefords News-Optimist. March 31, 2011.
- ^ "Spitfires finally crowned QVHL champs". Grasslands News. April 3, 2017.
- ^ "Mustangs are provincial junior league champions". Grasslands News. April 5, 2018.
- ^ "Wolseley Mustangs gearing up for QVJHL title defence". Grasslands News. October 11, 2018.
- ^ "Mustangs win league championship for second straight year". Grasslands News. March 28, 2019.