St. John's Hockey Pride

Saint John, New Brunswick, has had several hockey teams over the years, including the Saint John Blackhawks, Saint John Schooners, and Saint John Stingers. The city also had a team called the Saint John IceCaps, who played in the American Hockey League and were affiliated with the Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens at different times. The Moncton Hawks were also based in New Brunswick and played in the Metro Valley Junior Hockey League. The province has a rich history of ice hockey with many teams competing in various leagues and championships over the years, including the Callaghan Cup and Centennial Cup.

Saint John Blackhawks

Saint John, New Brunswick, is home to the Saint John Blackhawks, a hockey team that plays in the SNB Southern Hockey League. The Blackhawks played their inaugural game during the 2005/2006 season of the SNB Southern Hockey League.

The Blackhawks have played against several teams, including the Fredericton Hilltop Bud Lights, the St. Stephen Seahawks, the Grand Lake Predators, and the Blacks Harbour Silverkings.

The Blackhawks have had their fair share of wins and losses over the years. In their game against the Fredericton Hilltop Bud Lights in 2008, the Blackhawks lost with a score of 5-16. However, in the same year, the Blackhawks secured a victory against the Hilltop Bud Lights, with a final score of 45-58 in their favour.

The Blackhawks have a dedicated fan base, and their games are often exciting and competitive, as evidenced by their close scores against various opponents throughout their history.

St. John's IceCaps

The St. John's IceCaps were a professional ice hockey team based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. They were members of the North Division of the Eastern Conference of the American Hockey League (AHL).

The team was originally affiliated with the second incarnation of the Winnipeg Jets from 2011 to 2015. The IceCaps were the second AHL team to be located in St. John's, following the Toronto Maple Leafs' affiliate, the St. John's Maple Leafs, who played from 1991 to 2005. The franchise was founded in 1994 as the Minnesota Moose and played in the International Hockey League. They relocated to Winnipeg in 1996 and became the Manitoba Moose, playing in the IHL until 2001 when they joined the AHL.

In 2011, the owners of the Moose franchise purchased the Atlanta Thrashers' NHL franchise and moved the team to Winnipeg. As a result, a deal was reached to relocate the AHL team to St. John's, and they became known as the St. John's IceCaps. The IceCaps played their inaugural game on October 7, 2011, in Providence, Rhode Island, against the Providence Bruins. In their first season, they finished first in the Atlantic division and reached the Eastern Conference Championship series.

Beginning with the 2015-16 AHL season, the IceCaps became the top affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL) after the Jets relocated their franchise back to Manitoba. The Canadiens moved their AHL team, the Hamilton Bulldogs, to St. John's, where they assumed the "IceCaps" name. This deal was expected to be temporary, and the Canadiens relocated their AHL team to Laval, Quebec, for the 2017-18 season. The St. John's IceCaps played their final game in 2017, marking the end of the AHL's presence in the city.

New Brunswick hockey teams

New Brunswick, Canada, has a rich history of hockey teams, with several leagues and teams active across the province. The original New Brunswick Junior Hockey League (NBJHL) was a Canadian Junior ice hockey league that was founded in 1967 as a Jr. B league and became the premier Jr. A league of the province in 1969. The NBJHL was in competition for the Callaghan Cup and Centennial Cup. The core teams of this league were the Moncton Beavers, Sussex Royals, and teams from Fredericton, like the Fredericton Chevies and Fredericton Red Wings. The NBJHL folded in 1983 due to competition from the American Hockey League moving into its markets.

The New Brunswick Junior B Hockey League (NBJBHL) was founded in 2009 as a member of Hockey New Brunswick and competed for the Don Johnson Cup. This league was a reincarnation of the original NBJHL that operated from 1983 to 2003. The NBJBHL was renamed the New Brunswick Junior Hockey League in 2012 when it became a mixed Junior B and Junior C level league.

There is also a current New Brunswick Junior Hockey League, which has teams such as the Peninsule Acadienne Poseidon, Sunny Corner Thunder, Tri-County River Cats, and Western Valley Panthers.

Some of the notable hockey teams in New Brunswick include:

• Acadie-Bathurst Titan: Founded in 1972 as the Rosemont National, they were known as the Moncton Alpines in their first year.
• Campbellton Tigers: A team in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League that later changed their name to the Restigouche River Rats before reverting to their original name.
• Fredericton Red Wings: Formerly known as the St. Stephen Aces, they moved to Fredericton in 2019.
• Miramichi Timberwolves: A team in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League.
• Moncton Alpines: A team name used by both the Acadie-Bathurst Titan and the New Brunswick Hawks in the American Hockey League.
• Moncton Golden Flames: Another name used by the New Brunswick Hawks in the American Hockey League.
• Saint John Blackhawks: A team in the New Brunswick Junior B Hockey League.
• St. John's IceCaps: A professional ice hockey team based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. They were affiliated with the Winnipeg Jets and later the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League.

The list of teams in New Brunswick is extensive, and the province has a vibrant hockey culture with a mix of historical and current teams across various leagues and levels, showcasing the popularity and importance of the sport in the region.

Hockey leagues in New Brunswick

Saint John, New Brunswick, is home to the Saint John Blackhawks, a hockey team that competes in the Maritime-Hockey North Junior C Championships.

New Brunswick has a rich history of hockey leagues, with several teams competing across various divisions and levels. Here is an overview of some notable hockey leagues in the province:

New Brunswick Junior Hockey League (NBJHL)

The NBJHL was a Canadian Junior ice hockey league that operated from 1967 to 1983. It was the premier Junior A league in New Brunswick, competing for the Callaghan Cup and Centennial Cup. The league included teams such as the Moncton Beavers, Sussex Royals, and Fredericton Red Wings. In its final season, the NBJHL faced competition from the American Hockey League, which put semi-professional teams in the same markets. With the folding of the Fredericton Red Wings, the Moncton Hawks were the last remaining strong team and opted to move to a different league, leading to the NBJHL's disbandment.

New Brunswick Junior B Hockey League (NBJBHL)

The NBJBHL was a Canadian Junior ice hockey league founded in 2009 to fill the void left by the previous NBJHL. It was a member of Hockey New Brunswick and competed for the Don Johnson Cup at the interprovincial level. The league featured teams like the Moncton Vito's, Grand Lake Moose Wild, and Port City Ice Dawgs. In 2012, the NBJBHL was renamed the New Brunswick Junior Hockey League as it transitioned into a mixed Junior B and Junior C level league.

Maritime Junior A Hockey League

This league includes teams such as the Campbellton Tigers (formerly known as the Restigouche River Rats), Dieppe Commandos (formerly known as the Moncton Beavers), and Fredericton Red Wings. The teams in this league compete for the Maritime Junior A Hockey League Championship, previously known as the Kent Cup.

Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League

This league includes teams like the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, founded in 1972 as the Rosemont National and initially known as the Moncton Alpines.

Hockey New Brunswick

Hockey New Brunswick is the governing body for amateur hockey in the province. They oversee various divisions and levels of play, including the U14, U15, U16, and U18 categories for both male and female players. Hockey New Brunswick also hosts development camps and tournaments, such as the HNB Cup and the Maritime Junior C Hockey Championship.

Southeastern New Brunswick Recreational Hockey League

This league includes teams like the U11 Moncton Hawks, U13 Moncton Hawks, and U15 Riverview Blues. They have a structured format for their seasons and hold annual general meetings for league organisation.

Southern New Brunswick Minor Hockey League

This league caters to various age groups, including U9, U11, U13, U15, and U18 divisions. It includes teams such as the Lancaster Thunder, Charlotte County, Sussex Rangers, and Oromocto Eagles.

Hockey New Brunswick

The province has a rich history of ice hockey, with several teams competing in different leagues over the years. One notable league was the New Brunswick Junior Hockey League (NBJHL), which was a Canadian Junior ice hockey league in New Brunswick. The NBJHL competed for prestigious titles such as the Callaghan Cup and the Centennial Cup as a Junior A league. Founded in 1967 as a Jr. B league, it became the premier Jr. A league in New Brunswick in 1969-70. However, in 1970, it was relegated to Tier II Junior A status.

In the early 1980s, the NBJHL faced direct competition for fans from the American Hockey League, which placed semi-professional teams in the NBJHL's markets. This challenge led to the folding of the Fredericton Red Wings in 1983, leaving the Moncton Hawks as the strongest remaining team in the league. Rather than staying in the depleted NBJHL, the Moncton Hawks chose to move to the Metro Valley Junior Hockey League in Nova Scotia, ultimately leading to the NBJHL's disbandment.

Despite the changes and evolution of leagues, Hockey New Brunswick continues to foster the sport's growth and development, organising tournaments, championships, and camps for players of all ages and skill levels. The organisation also recognises the achievements of its teams and players, celebrating their successes in provincial and regional competitions. Hockey New Brunswick remains an integral part of the province's sporting landscape, nurturing the passion for hockey among its residents.

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