Sport | Ice hockey |
---|---|
Founded | 2004 |
CEO | Fran Rider, OWHA |
No. of teams | 20 |
Country | Canada |
Most recent champion(s) | London Jr. Devilettes (2) |
Most titles | Toronto Jr. Aeros (7) |
Official website | OWHL official site |
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
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. 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]
At some point following the pandemic, the league was renamed to the Ontario Women's Hockey League (OWHL).[4]
Teams
|
Defunct franchises
- Chatham Outlaws (2004-2006)
- Hamilton Hawks (2004-2011)
- Markham-Stouffville Stars (2004-2009)
Champions
Championships by year
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 | |||
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 |
Championships by team
Team | Regular Season | League Championship | Provincial Championship |
---|---|---|---|
Bluewater Jr. Hawks | 1: 2012 | 1: 2012 | |
Durham West Jr. Lightning | 3: 2016, 2022, 2023 | 1: 2022 | 2: 2013, 2023 |
Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins | 1: 2020 | 1: 2022 | |
Kingston Jr. Ice Wolves | 1: 2019 | ||
London Jr. Devilettes | 2: 2019, 2023 | 1: 2019 | |
Mississauga Jr. Cheifs/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
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
National team and professional alumni
The following PWHL alumni have represented Canada in international tournaments and in Professional leagues.
- Meghan Agosta (Windsor Wildcats), 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 Winter Games
- Courtney Birchard (Toronto Jr. Aeros)
- Mellissa Channell (Burlington Jr. Barracudas), PWHL Minnesota
- Mallory Deluce (Bluewater Jr. Hawks)
- Laura Fortino (Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres) 2014, 2018 Winter Games
- Brittany Haverstock (Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres)
- Haley Irwin (Toronto Jr. Aeros) 2010, 2014, 2018 Winter Games
- Laura McIntosh (Mississauga Jr. Chiefs) Canada Under-22/Development Team
- Stefanie McKeough (Ottawa Senators)
- Isabel Menard (Ottawa Senators)
- Jamie Miller (Toronto Jr. Aeros)
- Carolyne Prevost (London Jr. Devilettes), Canada women's national under-18 ice hockey team
- Ashley Riggs (Durham West Jr. Lightning)
- Jillian Saulnier (Toronto Jr. Aeros) 2018 Winter Games, PWHL New York
- Britni Smith (Markham-Stouffville Stars)
- Natalie Spooner (Durham West Jr. Lightning) 2014, 2018 Winter Games, PWHL Toronto
- Jennifer Wakefield (Durham West Jr. Lightning) 2010, 2014 Winter Games
- Tara Watchorn (Durham West Jr. Lightning) 2014 Winter Games
- Catherine White (Mississauga Jr. Chiefs)
- Jessica Wong (Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres)
- Celine Frappier (Southwest Wildcats/Toronto Jr. Aeros)
Awards
Regular Season champions
Season | Team | Record | Points |
2004-05 | Toronto Jr. Aeros | 23-5-2 | 48 |
2005-06 | Toronto Jr. Aeros[6] | 27-0-3 | 57 |
2006-07 | Toronto Jr. Aeros[7] | 22-6-4 | 48 |
2007-08 | Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres[7] | 27-2-3 | 57 |
2008-09 | Toronto Jr. Aeros[7] | 27-5-2 | 56 |
2009-10 | Mississauga Chiefs[8] | 29-2-3-0 | 61 |
2010-11 | Mississauga Chiefs[9] | 33-3-0-0 | 66 |
2011-12 | Toronto Jr. Aeros[7] | 31-1-1-1 | 64 |
2012-13 | Whitby Jr. Wolves | 29-6-2-1 | 61 |
2013-14 | Nepean Jr. Wildcats[10] | 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 Hornets | 31-3-4-0 | 66 |
2017-18 | Toronto Aeros | 31-3-4-0 | 66 |
2018-19 | Kingston Ice Wolves | 28-2-7-1 | 64 |
2019-20 | Etobicoke Dolphins | 27-4-6 | 61 |
2020-21 | |||
2021-22 | Durham West Jr. Lightning | 28-0-1-1 | 58 |
2022-23 | Durham West Jr. Lightning |
Scoring champion
|
Goaltending Award
|
Coach of the Year
|
Christie Rose Scholarship
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.[7] 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
|
References
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ 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.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "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.