​By: Chris McLachlin, OHA Media
Photo: Amy Deroche Sports Photography

The 2018-19 Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) Regular Season officially gets underway on Tuesday, September 11th when the Essex 73’s host the Amherstburg Admirals in Stobbs Division action.

Click here for the full 2018-19 PJHL Regular Season schedule

The PJHL is entering its third season after the Ontario Hockey Association’s (OHA) 8 Junior C Hockey Leagues merged under one banner in 2016. The Lakefield Chiefs enter the season as the defending PJHL and OHA Schmalz Cup Champions after beating the Glanbrook Rangers in five games to win the 2018 Championship. 

The Lakefield Chiefs will begin their title defense on Friday, September 14th when they travel to Uxbridge to face the Bruins. The Chiefs are defending Orr Division, East Conference and OHA Schmalz Cup Champions. The Chiefs’ first game on home ice is set for Saturday, September 22nd when they host the Amherstview Jets from the Tod Division. This will mark the first year of cross-over games between the Orr and Tod Divisions, which should be an exciting addition to the schedule.

The defending Tod Division Champions are the Port Hope Panthers and they get their season started on the road on Thursday, September 13th against the Clarington Eagles from the Orr Division. 

In the North Conference, the Stayner Siskins are the defending Carruthers Division and North Conference Champions, and the Mount Forest Patriots are the defending Pollock Division Champions. The Siskins play their first game of the new season in Midland against the Flyers on Friday, September 14th; while the Patriots will travel to Walkerton the same night to face the Hawks.

In the South Conference, the Glanbrook Rangers are the defending Bloomfield Champions (and OHA Schmalz Cup Finalists) and the Tavistock Braves are defending champions in the Doherty Division. The Rangers open their season on home ice against their arch rivals the Grimsby Peach Kings on Wednesday, September 12th; while the Braves begin their title defense at home against the Ayr Centennials on Friday, September 14th.

In the West Conference, the Lambeth Lancers are the defending Yeck Division and West Conference Champions, and the Lakeshore Canadiens are the defending Stobbs Division Champions. The Lancers start their season on the road in Exeter against the Hawks on Friday, September 14th, and the Canadiens will play host to the Wheatley Sharks on the same night.

Last year’s PJHL Prospects Day in New Hamburg was a rousing success and the event is back in New Hamburg again this year on Saturday, October 20th as the top 16 and 17 year old players from all 8 divisions will gather for 4 exciting games. More details on the PJHL Prospects Day will come in September and October.

In other PJHL news, the Simcoe Shamrocks have moved to Hespeler and will play out of the Hespeler Arena and the Dundas Blues have been renamed the Hamilton Huskies Jr. Blues and will return to the J.L. Grightmire Market Street Arena in Dundas after a year or renovations.

The 2018-19 PJHL Regular Season schedule features 1314 games across 4 Conferences (East, North, South, West) and 8 Divisions (Orr, Tod, Carruthers, Pollock, Bloomfield, Doherty, Stobbs, Yeck) with 63 teams chasing the same dream, to hoist the 2019 OHA Schmalz Cup in May. Game on!

LINKS:
PJHL Regular Season Schedule: 2018-19

PJHL Scoreboard

PJHL Website: www.pjhlontario.ca

PJHL Twitter: www.twitter.com/pjhlontario

PJHL Facebook: www.facebook.com/pjhlontario