Qu'Appelle Valley Hockey League

Qu’Appelle Valley Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Founded1960
CEOChris Pollock
No. of teams5 Senior / 7 Junior
Country Canada
Most recent
champion(s)		Milestone Flyers (Sr)
Yellow Grass Wheat Kings (Jr)
(2019)
Official websiteQVHL.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

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

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

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

  • 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

  • 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

Senior champions

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

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)
—
—
2021 None (season suspended – COVID-19)
—
—
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

References

  1. ^ "New junior hockey club in Bredenbury". Yorkton This Week. March 23, 2017.
  2. ^ "QVJHL expands to 8 teams". Pearl Creek Media. April 2, 2017.
  3. ^ "2 Teams to join QVJHL in 2018". Pearl Creek Media. September 4, 2018.
  4. ^ "The puck stops here". Battlefords News-Optimist. March 31, 2011.
  5. ^ "Spitfires finally crowned QVHL champs". Grasslands News. April 3, 2017.
  6. ^ "Mustangs are provincial junior league champions". Grasslands News. April 5, 2018.
  7. ^ "Wolseley Mustangs gearing up for QVJHL title defence". Grasslands News. October 11, 2018.
  8. ^ "Mustangs win league championship for second straight year". Grasslands News. March 28, 2019.