Western Ontario Hockey League
MembershipOntario Hockey Association
Head OfficeCambridge, Ontario
Founded1969
Ceased2007
First ChampionStratford Warriors (1970)
Final ChampionStrathroy Rockets (2007)
OHA Junior "B"
WJBHL (1950-1968)
EJBHL (1950-1972)
MetJHL (1950-1989)
NDJBHL (1954-1979)
CJBHL (1954-1993)
BCJHL (1958-1964)
MOJBHL (1970-1978)
SWJBHL (1976-1978)
WOHL (1969-2007)
MWJHL (1973-2007)
GHL (1974-2007)
GOJHL (2007–Present)
Ontario Hockey Association
Sutherland Cup

The Western Ontario Hockey League (WOHL) was a junior ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association from 1969 until 2007. In 2007, the league became a division of the newly formed Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League along with the Mid-Western Junior Hockey League and Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League.

History

The Western had been a part of the Big '10' until 1956, when the Eastern and Western conference were split into separate leagues—the Eastern becoming the Central, the Western becoming the Western League.

In 1968, the St. Thomas Barons, Sarnia Legionnaires, Guelph Imperials, Chatham Maroons and Brantford Foresters broke away from the Ontario Hockey Association to form a Junior "A" League known as the Western Ontario Junior A Hockey League. A year later, the OHA pulled together a bunch of local teams (the Waterloo Siskins, Stratford Warriors, Sarnia Bees, St.Marys Lincolns and the London Squires) as well as the return of the Strathroy Rockets (who had joined the Central Junior B league for a season) and formed a new Western Ontario Junior "B" Hockey League.

According to the WOJHL history, a re-organization of Ontario's Jr. B hockey teams occurred prior to the 1978/79 with the folding of the short lived Southwestern Junior B Hockey League and the Mid-Ontario Junior B Hockey League. The realignment meant that the OHA had consolidated the Southern Ontario region from 7 to 5 Junior "B" leagues. Although this marks the birth of the modern Western Ontario Jr. B league, the teams in the league did not change. In 1989, the Metro league went renegade and eventually became a Tier II Junior "A" league. In 1993, the Central league was promoted to Tier II Junior "A" as well. Since then, the OHA has operated with 3 Junior "B" leagues, but due to the talent level of these 3 league there has been a recent push to bring all three leagues to the Tier II Junior "A" level and allow for a new realignment.

From 1999 until 2001, the league changed its name to the Greater Ontario Hockey League in an attempt to drop the "Junior B" designation . The league has since referred to itself as the Western Ontario Hockey League.

In 2007, the WOHL merged with the Mid-Western Junior Hockey League and the Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League to become the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.

Final teams

These are the teams that were in the league during its final independent season (2006-07).

Other former members

Playoff Champions

YearChampionFinalistResult in Provincials
1970Stratford WarriorsSarnia BeesLost SF vs. Dixie (Met)
1971Stratford WarriorsSt. Marys LincolnsLost QF vs. Petrolia (GL)
1972St. Marys LincolnsLost Final vs. Markham (Met)
1973Sarnia BeesStratford WarriorsWon SC vs. Toronto (Met)
1974Sarnia BeesSt. Marys LincolnsLost SF vs. Hamilton (ND)
1975London-Glencoe SquiresSt. Marys Lincolns
1976St. Marys LincolnsPetrolia JetsWon SC vs. Collingwood (MO)
1977Sarnia BeesSt. Marys LincolnsLost QF vs. St. Catharines (GH)
1978Windsor RoyalsPetrolia JetsLost SF vs. Streetsville (C)
1979Windsor RoyalsStarthroy BladesLost SF vs. St. Catharines (GH)
1980Windsor RoyalsLondon DiamondsLost Final vs. Belleville (Met)
1981London DiamondsChatham Maroons
1982Sarnia BeesLondon DiamondsLost Final vs. St. Michael's (Met)
1983London DiamondsSarnia BeesLost SF vs. Stratford (MW)
1984London DiamondsSarnia Bees
1985St. Marys LincolnsLondon DiamondsLost QF vs. St. Catharines (GH)
1986St. Thomas StarsChatham MaroonsLost SF vs. Stratford (MW)
1987St. Thomas StarsLondon DiamondsWon SC vs. Niagara Falls (GH)
1988St. Thomas StarsChatham Maroons
1989Sarnia BeesChatham Mic MacsLost SF vs. St. Michael's (Met)
1990Chatham Mic MacsSarnia BeesLost SF vs. Stratford (MW)
1991Chatham Mic MacsSarnia BeesLost SF vs. Waterloo (MW)
1992London DiamondsWindsor BulldogsLost SF vs. Kitchener (MW)
1993Sarnia BeesSt. Marys LincolnsLost SF vs. Kitchener (MW)
1994St. Marys LincolnsPetrolia JetsLost in Round Robin
1995St. Thomas StarsPetrolia JetsLost Final vs. Stratford (MW)
1996St. Thomas StarsLeamington FlyersLost Final vs. Niagara Falls (GH)
1997Strathroy RocketsLeamington FlyersLost in Round Robin
1998Chatham MaroonsSt. Thomas StarsLost in Round Robin
1999Chatham MaroonsSt. Thomas StarsWon SC vs. Stratford (MW)
2000Chatham MaroonsStrathroy RockeysLost in Round Robin
2001Chatham MaroonsLondon NationalsLost in Round Robin
2002Sarnia BlastChatham MaroonsWon SC vs. Elmira (MW)
2003Petrolia JetsSarnia BlastLost in Round Robin
2004Chatham MaroonsLondon NationalsLost in Round Robin
2005Chatham MaroonsSt. Thomas StarsLost Final vs. Thorold (GH)
2006Chatham MaroonsSt. Marys LincolnsLost in Round Robin
2007Strathroy RocketsSarnia BlastLost Final vs. Cambridge (MW)

Records

Records taken from Official Website.

  • Best record: 1981-82 Sarnia Bees (36-4-2)
  • Worst record: 1988-89 Tillsonburg Titans (1-39-2)
  • Largest margin of victory: Leamington Flyers 30 - Windsor Bulldogs 3 on January 20, 1995
  • Most goals, one season: Bill Lochead (73) -- 1970-71 Sarnia Bees
  • Most assists, one season: Brian Wiseman (77) -- 1989-90 Chatham Maroons / Greg Day (77) -- 1996-97 Tecumseh Chiefs
  • Most points, one season: Brian Wiseman (147) -- 1989-90 Chatham Maroons
  • Most goals, career: Brent Rumble (137) -- 1995-99 Chatham Maroons
  • Most assists, career: Brian Wiseman (179) -- 1987-90 Chatham Maroons
  • Most points, career: Jason Baclig (324) -- 1998-2003 Leamington Flyers
  • Most penalty minutes, season: Shawn Harris (408) -- 1994-95 Sarnia Bees
  • Most penalty minutes, career: Tim Lantz (859) -- 1997-2000 Leamington Flyers
  • Most wins by goalie, season: Scott Talbot (29) -- 2002-03 Sarnia Blast
  • Most shutouts, season: Kyle Funkenhauser (8) -- 2005-06 Chatham Maroons
  • Most games played by goalie, career: Paul Gibson (132) -- 2000-07 St. Thomas Stars
  • Most wins by goalie, career: Paul Gibson (66) -- 2000-07 St. Thomas Stars
  • Most shutouts, career: Kyle Funkenhauser (12) -- 2004-06 Chatham Maroons
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