2023-24 NatJHL season

This is the 2023-24 National Junior Hockey League (Canada) season. This is the league's first season.
==Background to New League==
The National Junior Hockey League is an independent self professed Junior A hockey level league based in the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. The league was formally announced on May 29 2023.https://www.njhlhockey.com/news/a-message-from-the-njhlhttps://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-njhl-is-latest-hockey-genius-derek-prue-scheme/ The league was started due to the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League announcing on May 28 that it was ceasing the operations of all of the league's West Division teams.https://gmhl.net/news/presidents-message/57954https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-gmhl-west-is-killed-off/ However, the first mention of the league name was on May 26th. https://www.njhlhockey.com/news/a-message-from-the-njhl All eight of the founding members of the league are former members of the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League's West Division from the 2022-23 season.
==Membership Changes Prior to the season==
*In mid-June, 2023 the Mackenzie Mountaineers had their lease terminated by the Mackenzie Community Council.https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-mackenzie-mountaineers-are-dead-in-off-season-mercy-killing/
*On July 16, 2023 the Kitimat Saax announced that they were deferring operations for the 2023-24 season. The announcement also indicated that the other British Columbia based teams were also not playing for the 2023-24, indicating that the Burns Lake Timbermen would also be sitting out the season.https://www.facebook.com/gmhlkitimat/posts/pfbid02zmmiFVZRq2En8ACJeoZBGS3dD8nPwEJhPn6WZzfyGZsnC43NENdea8Z7rsHdfjaJl Another source indicated that the teams may have not been able to secure a lease with there community arena.https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-battle-of-the-bastards-cajhl-vs-njhl-update/
*On August 22, 2023 the Northern Alberta Tomahawks announced that they would be announced as being rebranded as the Northern Alberta Crush for the 2023-24 season and that the team would be based in the Edmonton area after having played at the Enoch Recreation Centre in Enoch, Alberta which is in the western Edmonton suburbs for the 2022-23 season.https://northernalberta.hockeyshift.com/news/introducing-the-northern-alberta-crush When the hiring of a new head coach/general manager was announced on August 25th the team stated that details on the team's new home venue would be coming soon.https://northernalberta.hockeyshift.com/news/crush-hire-tyr-thompson-as-first-ever-general-mana The team was apparently either evicted from or could not get a new lease at their previous arena.https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-njhl-on-life-support/ The team was also apparently planning on playing in Onoway for 2023-24, but that apparently fell through.https://www.facebook.com/EnochTomahawks/posts/pfbid0P2e8rb5kaJdmdGAVksQDwkyptDbsrjjuSJvgPUVsJwnGMmas8fiuavwB2eiuZBUYl On September 6, 2023 the team announced that they had relocated to the Arctic Spas Recreation Complex in Thorsby, Alberta and would be renamed the Thorsby Crush.http://www.northernalberta.hockeyshift.com/news/the-crush-announce-main-camp-at-new-home-venue-in- The team would no longer be listed on the league website by the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/weekly-sports-league-and-franchise-report/n-6021357
*On September 11, 2023 the Can-Am Junior Hockey League announced it was disassociating itself with the Northern Alberta Lightning due to the team’s failure to meet their financial commitments and adherence to league governance.https://www.cajhl.com/news/canadian-american-junior-hockey-league-announces-d On the same day the team was announced as having been involved in a pre-season showcase game at their own arena with a team made up from players on the National Junior Hockey League's teams the previous weekend.https://www.njhlhockey.com/news/northern-alberta-lightning On September 12, 2023 the town of Viking, Alberta announced it had cancelled the user agreement with the team for use of the arena.https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-njhls-northern-alberta-lightning-are-dead-on-the-scene/ On September 28th the league would announce that the team would be joining the league, with the team according to the schedule posted on the league website, being based out of the Arctic Spas Recreation Complex in Thorsby, Alberta which is the home rink of another team in the league.https://www.njhlhockey.com/news/welcome-northern-alberta-lightning A posting on the "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report" on the Our Sports Central website on October 2nd indicated the team had relocated to Mayerthorpe, Alberta.https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/weekly-sports-league-and-franchise-report/n-6019283 This would mean the team is now based out of the Mayerthorpe Exhibition Centre.
*On September 30, 2023 the Can-Am Junior Hockey League announced that the Vulcan Rampage had been "poached" by the National Junior Hockey League (Canada).https://www.cajhl.com/news/cajhl-addresses-poaching-of-teams
*On October 20, 2023 the league announced the addition of a team to be based out of the Crowsnest Pass Sports Complex in Crowsnest Pass, Alberta for the 2024-25 season.https://www.njhlhockey.com/news/njhl-adds-crowsnest-pass The team would be named the Crowsnest Crush.
*On January 25, 2024 the league announced the additon of a team to be based out of the Bold Center Multiplex in Lac La Biche, Alberta for the 2024-25 season.https://www.njhlhockey.com/news/for-immediate-release The team would be named the Lac La Biche Lakers.
*On May 8, 2024 the league announced the addition of a new franchise to be based out of the Claresholm Arena in Claresholm, Alberta.https://www.njhlhockey.com/news/for-immediate-release1
==Teams==
Team 	Established	Centre 	Arena
Edson Eagles 	2021 	Edson, Alberta 	Repsol Place
Fox Creek Ice Kings 	2020 	Fox Creek, Alberta 	Fox Creek Greenview Multiplex
Gibbons Pioneers 	2021 	Gibbons, Alberta 	Gibbons Arena
High Prairie Red Wings 	2019 	High Prairie, Alberta	High Prairie Sports Palace
Northern Alberta Lightning	2023 	Thorsby, Alberta 	Arctic Spas Recreation Complex
Vulcan Rampage 	2023 	Vulcan, Alberta 	Vulcan Arena
===Inactive/Former Teams===
Team 	Established	Centre 	Arena
Burns Lake Timbermen 	2022 	Burns Lake, British Columbia	Tom Forsyth Memorial Arena
Kitimat Saax 	2022 	Kitimat, British Columbia 	Tamitik Arena
Mackenzie Mountaineers 	2021 	Mackenzie, British Columbia 	Mackenzie Recreation Centre
Northern Alberta Lightning	2023 	Viking, Alberta 	Viking Carena Complex
==Standings==
Team 	GP	W 	L 	T	OL	GF 	GA 	Pts	%
Edson Eagles 	41	37	4 	0	0 	395	136	74 	.902
High Prairie Red Wings 	41	28	11	1	1 	309	171	58 	.707
Gibbons Pioneers 	41	16	22	1	2 	166	227	35 	.427
Fox Creek Ice Kings 	42	17	24	0	1 	180	311	35 	.417
Northern Alberta Lightning	42	12	29	0	1 	172	284	25 	.298
Vulcan Rampage 	35	10	25	0	0 	125	218	20 	.286
==Playoffs==
The top five teams qualify for the playoffs. The quarterfinal and semifinal rounds are best-of-five, the final is best-of-seven.
===Quarterfinal===
*Fox Creek Ice Kings defeated Northern Alberta Lightning 3 games to none (7-5, 10-8, 7-4)
===Semifinals===
*Edson Eagles defeated Fox Creek Ice Kings 3 games to none (15-4, 8-1, 1-0 (forfeit))
*High Prairie Red Wings defeated Gibbons Pioneers 3 games to none (12-2, 6-2, 8-3)
===Final===
*High Prairie Red Wings defeated Edson Eagles 4 games to 2 (5-10, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-6, 4-3 (2ot)
==Links==
League website
==References==
Category:2023-24 in ice hockey
Category:National Junior Hockey League (Canada) seasons