National Junior Hockey League (Canada)

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 2023-24 season==
*In mid-June 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/
==2024-25 Season changes==
*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 The team would end up being named the Claresholm Thunder.
*On September 6, 2024 reports indicated that the Gibbons Pioneers had been removed from the Gibbons Arena.https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-njhl-gibbons-pioneers-vanish-in-middle-of-the-night/ The team would end up playing out of the Pembina Place in Redwater, Alberta and be renamed the Redwater Pioneers.
*On September 18, 2024 it was indicated that the Fox Creek Ice Kings had folded.https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-fox-creek-ice-kings-first-to-fold-this-week/
==Teams 2024-25==
Team 	Established	Centre 	Arena
Claresholm Thunder 	2024 	Claresholm, Alberta 	Claresholm Arena
Crowsnest Crush 	2024 	Crowsnest Pass, Alberta	Crowsnest Pass Sports Complex
Edson Eagles 	2021 	Edson, Alberta 	Repsol Place
Redwater Pioneers 	2021 	Redwater, Alberta 	Pembina Place
High Prairie Red Wings 	2019 	High Prairie, Alberta 	High Prairie Sports Palace
Lac La Biche Lakers 	2024 	Lac La Biche, Alberta 	Bold Center Multiplex
Northern Alberta Lightning	2023 	Thorsby, Alberta 	Arctic Spas Recreation Complex
Vulcan Rampage 	2023 	Vulcan, Alberta 	Vulcan Arena
==Links==
League website
==References==
Category:Established in 2023
Category:Ice hockey leagues in Canada