Manitoba U-18 'AAA' Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Founded1985
Inaugural season1985-86
No. of teams12
Most recent
champion(s)		Winnipeg Wild
Most titlesWinnipeg Wild (13)
Related
competitions		Telus Cup
Official websitembaaamidget.ca

The Manitoba U-18 'AAA' Hockey League (MU18HL), formerly the Manitoba Midget 'AAA' Hockey League, is an ice hockey league in the province of Manitoba, Canada. It is the highest level of minor hockey in the province. The league operates under the supervision of Hockey Manitoba.

History

The league was founded in 1985 and provides elite hockey players in Manitoba the opportunity to play at a high level of competition. The league is heavily scouted by the Western Hockey League, Junior 'A' teams, and NCAA programs. A number of players have gone to play in these leagues and the majority of Manitobans playing professional hockey have played in the 'AAA' league.

Teams

All teams are regionally based and are operated by Hockey Manitoba's regional minor hockey associations, with the exception of the Kenora Thistles, who are affiliated with Hockey Northwestern Ontario. The Winnipeg region has the option to field multiple teams. Players for each of the teams are selected from the local minor hockey associations within their respective regions.

TeamCentreLeague TitlesNational Titles First SeasonPrevious Team Name
Brandon Midget Wheat KingsBrandon41 1985-86
Central Plains CapitalsPortage la Prairie00 1989-90
Eastman SelectsBeausejour30 1986-87
Interlake LightningTeulon00 1985-86Interlake Raiders (1985–88)
Kenora ThistlesKenora, ON10 1986-87Kenora Boise (1986–95), Kenora Stars (1995-04)
Norman NorthstarsThompson10 1986-87
Parkland RangersDauphin00 1990-91
Pembina Valley HawksMorden30 1985-86
Southwest CougarsSouris20 1985-86
Winnipeg BruinsWinnipeg00 2017-18
Winnipeg ThrashersWinnipeg31 1993-94Winnipeg Sharks (1993-04)
Winnipeg WildWinnipeg130 1985-86Winnipeg Saints (1985-89), Winnipeg Warriors (1989-03)
Yellowhead ChiefsShoal Lake10 1987-88

Former Teams

  • Parkland Stars (1985–87)
  • River East Royals (1985–87)
  • St. James Canadians (1985–87)
  • Winnipeg Stars (1986–87), Winnipeg Hawks (1987-03)
  • Winnipeg Monarchs (1985–89; 1992–94), Winnipeg Mavericks (1989–92)

League Champions

The league champion is awarded the Jack Forsyth Trophy, which is named after a former league commissioner. The MU18HL playoffs are also to determine the provincial championship for Manitoba (teams based outside of Manitoba are not eligible for the Manitoba championship).

Year Jack Forsyth Trophy winner Runner-up Telus Cup West Regional
1986 Winnipeg Saints Pembina Valley Hawks
1987 Winnipeg Saints Southwest Cougars
1988 Winnipeg Saints Southwest Cougars
1989 Eastman Selects Yellowhead Chiefs
1990 Winnipeg Mavericks Brandon Wheat Kings
1991 Winnipeg Hawks Norman Northstars Winner
1992 Winnipeg Hawks Brandon Wheat Kings
1993 Kenora Boise[lower-alpha 1] Winnipeg Hawks
1994 Yellowhead Chiefs Winnipeg Hawks
1995 Brandon Wheat Kings Parkland Rangers
1996 Norman Northstars Yellowhead Chiefs
1997 Pembina Valley Hawks Eastman Selects
1998 Southwest Cougars Pembina Valley Hawks
1999 Southwest Cougars Pembina Valley Hawks
2000 Eastman Selects Winnipeg Warriors
2001 Winnipeg Warriors Pembina Valley Hawks
2002 Eastman Selects Winnipeg Sharks
2003 Brandon Wheat Kings Winnipeg Sharks
2004 Brandon Wheat Kings Winnipeg Thrashers Winner
2005 Winnipeg Wild Pembina Valley Hawks
2006 Winnipeg Thrashers Pembina Valley Hawks
2007 Brandon Wheat Kings Winnipeg Thrashers
2008 Winnipeg Thrashers Pembina Valley Hawks Winner
2009 Winnipeg Wild Winnipeg Thrashers
2010 Pembina Valley Hawks Eastman Selects
2011 Winnipeg Thrashers Southwest Cougars Winner
2012 Winnipeg Wild Southwest Cougars
2013 Winnipeg Wild Winnipeg Thrashers
2014 Winnipeg Wild Eastman Selects
2015 Pembina Valley Hawks Brandon Wheat Kings
2016 Winnipeg Wild Eastman Selects
2017 Winnipeg Wild Yellowhead Chiefs
2018 Winnipeg Wild Brandon Wheat Kings
2019 Brandon Wheat Kings Winnipeg Wild
2020 no champion[lower-alpha 2]
2021 no champion
2022 Winnipeg Wild Brandon Wheat Kings
2023


Notes
  1. ↑ The 1993 league champion (Kenora) was a team based outside of Manitoba; the Manitoba championship was awarded to the runners-up (Winnipeg Hawks).
  2. ↑ Playoffs cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic

Telus Cup Playoffs

The Manitoba champion earns a berth to the West Regional Championship and competes against the champions from Saskatchewan and Northwestern Ontario. The winner advances to the national Telus Cup, known as the Air Canada Cup until 2003 .

MU18HL teams have hosted the national championships three times: the Brandon Wheat Kings in 1994, the Winnipeg Thrashers in 2009 (in Selkirk), and the Kenora Stars in 2004. Winnipeg hosted the inaugural national championship in 1979, before the MU18HL was formed.

National Championship Appearances

  • 1991 - Winnipeg Hawks representing West Region
  • 1994 - Brandon Wheat Kings as host team
  • 2004 - Kenora Stars as host team; Brandon Wheat Kings representing West Region Gold Medalist
  • 2008 - Winnipeg Thrashers representing West Region Silver Medalist
  • 2009 - Winnipeg Thrashers as host team
  • 2011 - Winnipeg Thrashers representing West Region Gold Medalist

Alumni

National Hockey League Players

Other

References

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