Midget: A Tiny New Brunswick Community

Midget, New Brunswick, is a place in Canada with a rich history of ice hockey. The New Brunswick-Prince Edward Island Major Midget Hockey League, a Canadian midget 'AAA' ice hockey league, has been operating in the region since 2002. The league was formed by Hockey New Brunswick and Hockey PEI to provide a more competitive development platform for players in both provinces. Ice hockey is a popular sport in the area, with various leagues and teams competing at different levels, including the New Brunswick Midget AAA Hockey League, which existed from 1971 until its merger with the PEI Midget AAA Hockey League in 2002.

New Brunswick Central Midget Hockey League

The New Brunswick Central Midget Hockey League (NBCMHL) is a competitive hockey league for midget-level players in New Brunswick, Canada. The league is designed for players aged under 18 (U18) and features teams from across the province.

The NBCMHL is a well-organised competition, with a structured schedule and strict procedures for game rescheduling. The 2023-2024 season, for example, included teams such as the Moncton Hawks, Petitcodiac/Salisbury Flyers, Kent Centre Bears, Dieppe/Memramcook Aigles, Fredericton UCT Blues, Bathurst Flames, Hampton Bulldogs, KV Hawks, and York North Coyotes. The league also holds an All-Star Game and a Provincial Championship, with the 2024 Provincial Championship taking place on April 7th.

In addition to the NBCMHL, New Brunswick is also home to several other hockey leagues catering to different age groups and levels of play. These include the Southern New Brunswick Minor Hockey League (SNBMHL), which has teams for players from under 9 (U9) to U18, and the New Brunswick Junior Hockey League (NBJHL), which includes Jr B and Junior C divisions. Hockey New Brunswick also organises development camps, tournaments, and championships for various age groups, such as the U13 Female Atlantic Championship and the Maritime Junior C Hockey Championship.

The province's hockey community is governed by Hockey New Brunswick, which oversees leagues, franchises, and player development. Hockey New Brunswick also ensures risk and safety management, providing insurance for players and adhering to guidelines such as those for goal celebrations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

New Brunswick Midget AAA Hockey League

The New Brunswick Midget AAA Hockey League was a men's hockey league that existed from the 1971-72 season until 2002. In 2002, the league merged with the PEI Midget AAA Hockey League to form the New Brunswick-PEI Major Midget Hockey League. This new league was formed to elevate the level of play for select players in each province. Each province would retain a Minor Midget league of its own.

The New Brunswick-PEI Major Midget Hockey League is a Canadian midget 'AAA' ice hockey league operating in the provinces of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. The inter-branch league operates under the supervision of Hockey New Brunswick and Hockey PEI. The league was created by Hockey New Brunswick and Hockey PEI in 2002 to provide a more competitive development league for both provinces. The new league replaced the existing major midget leagues in both provinces.

Upon its formation, it was decided that the league would have six teams – four from New Brunswick and two from PEI. The five of the six original teams are still in the league today while the Kensington Wild joined in the 2013–2014 season. The Kensington Wild, for example, represented the Atlantic Region at the Telus Cup in 2023-2024.

Some of the teams in the New Brunswick Midget AAA Hockey League included the Fredericton Red Wings AAA, the Dalhousie Legionnaires, the Moncton Flyers AAA, the Saint John Pepsis, and the Fredericton Canadiens AAA.

New Brunswick-PEI Major Midget Hockey League

The New Brunswick-Prince Edward Island Major Midget Hockey League is a Canadian midget 'AAA' ice hockey league operating in the provinces of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. The league was created in 2002 by Hockey New Brunswick and Hockey PEI to provide a more competitive development league for both provinces. It replaced the existing major midget leagues in both provinces, with the New Brunswick Midget AAA Hockey League and the PEI Midget AAA Hockey League merging to form the new league.

The New Brunswick-PEI Major Midget Hockey League operates as an inter-branch league under the supervision of Hockey New Brunswick and Hockey PEI. It was decided that the league would consist of six teams, with four teams from New Brunswick and two from PEI. The league has seen some franchise changes over the years, with the Kensington Wild joining in the 2013-2014 season. The Cornwall Thunder also relocated to Kensington for that same season.

The regular season league champion is the team that finishes with the best record. Following the regular season, separate playoffs are held for the New Brunswick and PEI teams. The New Brunswick teams compete in a two-round playoff for their provincial championship, while the two PEI teams face each other in a playoff series for their championship. The respective provincial champions then advance to the Telus Cup Atlantic Regional Championship, where they compete for a place in the national championship.

Some of the teams that have competed in the New Brunswick-PEI Major Midget Hockey League include the Charlottetown Knights, Cornwall Superior Thunder (formerly known as Cornwall Thunder), Fredericton Caps AAA, Moncton Flyers AAA, Saint John Vito's AAA, and Kensington Wild.

Midget 'AAA' ice hockey

Midget AAA ice hockey, now referred to as U18AAA, is a competitive level of minor hockey for male players aged 16 to 17. In Canada, the sport is governed by Hockey Canada, which sets out guidelines for the various age categories. Each province may have multiple tiers based on skill level.

The New Brunswick Midget AAA Hockey League was a men's hockey league that existed from the 1971-72 season until 2002. During this time, the league featured teams such as the Moncton Flyers AAA, the Fredericton Red Wings AAA, and the Saint John Pepsis. In 2002, the New Brunswick Midget AAA Hockey League merged with the PEI Midget AAA Hockey League to form the New Brunswick-PEI Major Midget Hockey League. This merger aimed to elevate the level of play for select players in each province while allowing each province to retain its Minor Midget league.

In recent years, Midget AAA hockey in New Brunswick has continued to evolve. For example, in 2017, Hockey New Brunswick moved a Midget franchise from Miramichi to Bathurst, resulting in the disbandment of the Miramichi Rivermen team. This decision was based on a perceived decline in the number of players opting to play in Miramichi and the desire to centralise the team within its zone in the north of the province.

The Central Midget Hockey League in New Brunswick remains active, with teams such as the Moncton Hawks, Kent Centre Bears, and Fredericton UCT Blues competing in the 2024 season.

Midget AAA men's hockey

The New Brunswick Midget AAA Hockey League had a rich history, with teams like the Moncton Flyers AAA, Fredericton Red Wings AAA, and the Saint John Pepsis competing for the Telus Cup. The Moncton Flyers AAA were the last team to join the New Brunswick-PEI Major Midget Hockey League before the merger. The Kensington Wild were the 2024 Atlantic Champs, showcasing the continued passion for Midget AAA men's hockey in the region.

The PEI Midget AAA Hockey League, which merged with the New Brunswick league, was established in 1993 and featured teams such as the Charlottetown Abbies AAA and the Summerside Capitals AAA. This league also continued as a minor midget league after the merger, ensuring that the Midget AAA hockey tradition carried on.

Today, Midget AAA men's hockey in New Brunswick continues to thrive under the new U18AAA classification. The NBCMHL (New Brunswick Central Midget Hockey League) is one such example, with teams like the Shediac/Cap-Pelé Prédateurs, Edmundston Blizzard Junior, and Moncton Hawks competing in recent seasons. The NBCMHL operates with a Provincial Championship and an All-Star Game, adding excitement and prestige to the league.

The legacy of Midget AAA men's hockey in New Brunswick is evident, with numerous teams and players leaving their mark on the sport. The evolution of the league structure ensures that the game remains competitive and accessible to young athletes in the region.

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