Allan Cup Hockey

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Allan Cup Hockey	Allan Cup Hockey
 	
Membership 	Ontario Hockey Association
Founded 	1990
Allan Cups 	3
2024 Champion 	Stoney Creek Tigers
Allan Cup Hockey (ACH) is the top tier Canadian Senior ice hockey league in the province of Ontario. As a member of the Ontario Hockey Association and Hockey Canada, the league contends for the famed Allan Cup. The league came to its latest incarnation when it lost several teams leaving it with two and as a result it merged with the Eastern Ontario Senior Hockey League in 2008.
==History==
Major League Hockey gained its name in 2004. Since 1990, Major League Hockey was known as the Southwestern Senior "A" Hockey League. This league was created through a merger between the Central Senior "B" Hockey League, the Seaway-Cyclone Senior "B" Hockey League, and the Southern Ontario Senior "A" Hockey League. The formation of the Major League Hockey marked the first time since 1987 and the folding of the OHA Senior A Hockey League that the Ontario Hockey Association has crowned a top level senior league. In 2005, the OHA also granted the Eastern Ontario Senior Hockey League the same status. Major League Hockey, despite its fruitation in 1990, has its roots scattered across a variety of leagues dating back as far as 1959.
The first season of Ontario Hockey Association senior hockey was the 1890-91 season, for the Cosby Cup. Ottawa won the first ever Senior title defeating Toronto St. Georges 5–0. The first "Major" league came in 1929, known as the OHA Senior A Hockey League. The league lasted for fifty season, its teams winning 16 Allan Cups. The league was replaced by the Continental Senior A Hockey League in 1979. The Continental league was renamed the OHA Senior A Hockey League in 1980 and lasted until 1987. Teams of the Continental league won 4 Allan Cups.
In 2008, the Brantford Blast became the first OHA team since the Brantford Motts Clamatos in 1987 to win the Allan Cup. As hosts of the 2008 Allan Cup, the Blast failed to win their league and were allowed to bypass the OHA Final against the Whitby Dunlops and the Renwick Cup against the Thunder Bay Hawks. After almost a months rest, the Blast competed at home for the Allan Cup and won the entire thing. After suffering their only loss of the tournament to the Shawinigan Xtreme in the first game, the Blast defeated the Bentley Generals to clinch second in their division. They defeated the Robertson Cup and EOSHL champion Whitby Dunlops in the quarter-final. They then knocked off the Major League Hockey and Renwick Cup champion Dundas Real McCoys in the semi-final. They met Bentley again in the final, and defeated them 3-1 to win the Canadian National Senior "AAA" crown.
In the 2008 off-season, Major League Hockey ran into some issues. The Windsor St. Clair Saints, the league's only college team, walked away from the league. The Tillsonburg Vipers have officially left the league, as they have applied for expansion into the independent Western Ontario Athletic Association Senior Hockey League.Tillsonburg News, Tillsonburg, ON The Petrolia Squires are stranded far away from Brantford and Dundas and have also been accepted into the Western Ontario Athletic Association Senior Hockey League. In the EOSHL, the Frankford Huskies and Marmora Lakers have walked away as well.
In May 2008, it was announced that Major League Hockey was going to merge with the Eastern Ontario Senior Hockey League. Major Hockey League was down to two teams and the Eastern League down to three at the time, but this brings the MLH up to five again. In June, 2008 after some reorganization, the Frankford Huskies were revived with a new owner but same management in the town of Baltimore which is just north of Cobourg. The team will be known as the Baltimore Clippers. Thus the new MLH will play its first season with six teams.
In the Summer of 2009, the Brantford Blast took a leave of absence from the MLH.  The Baltimore Clippers left the league during the 2009 off seasonhttp://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/CanadaWorld/2009/08/11/10420791-sun.html
For the 2010-11 season, the Brantford Blast returned to the league; the Orillia/Coldwater Tundras abandoned Coldwater with the opening of the new Rotary Place Rink, which is part of the West Orillia Sports Complex.
The league was renamed Allan Cup Hockey for the 2011-12 season.
The league added the Welland Whalers and had the Norwood Vipers sit out the 2012-13 season.
The 2013-14 season had the addition of the Stoney Creek Generals, the return of the Norwood Vipers and the departure of the Orillia Tundras.
The Welland Whalers withdrew on October 20, 2014 citing a lack of players stating that they had tried to invite as many players as they could to training camp but to no avail.
On May 15,2015 the league announced the addition of a team to be based in Hamilton to play out of the Dave Andreychuk Mountain Arena and a team to be based out of Thorold, Ontario to play out of the Thorold Community Arena. On June 3rd the Hamilton team announced they would be called the Steelhawks.  The Steelhawks name was previously used by the city's OHL franchise from 1984 to 1988.  The Thorold team has yet to release their nickname (as of July 20th).
As of the 2015 Allan Cup, the only Major League Hockey/Allan Cup Hockey teams to win the Allan Cup have been the Brantford Blast, who won it as the host team in 2008 and the Dundas Real McCoys, who won it as the host team in 2014.
On October 16, 2015 the Norwood Vipers announced they were suspending operations and not continuing in the league.  In the league's press release on the Norwood team's announcement the league stated they were working to bring another team to the geographic area for the 2016-17 season.
The Dundas Real McCoys are returning to the Harry Howell Arena in Flamborough for the 2017-18 season as their normal home the J. L. Grightmire Arena is undergoing renovations.
The Thorold Athletics were not on the league schedule for the 2017-18 season when it was released on September 1, 2017.
During the summer of 2018 the owner of the Brantford Blast had announced he was putting the team up for sale and would not be running the team going forward. No one purchased the team by early September and the team announced it would suspend operations for the 2018-19 season with the hope of returning under new ownership in 2019-20.  The team was sold to the owner of the Stoney Creek Generals who originally planned on operating two teams but decided to relocate the Generals to Brantford assuming the Blast name and history.
On August 9, 2020, Ian Young, the owner of the Whitby Dunlops announced they would be taking the 2020-21 season off to attempt to regroup and bring the franchise back for 2021-22.https://allancup.proboards.com/thread/1499/dunlops-year-leave-absence
On August 27, 2020, the league announced the addition of the Caledon Crusaders who will be based out of the Mayfield Recreation Complex in the Regional Municipality of Peel.
The league would decide to cancel the 2020-21 season on December 23rd, 2020 http://allancup.pointstreaksites.com/view/allancup/allan-cup-hockey-news/news_533474
On August 9, 2020, Ian Young, the owner of the Whitby Dunlops announced they would be taking the 2020-21 season off to attempt to regroup and bring the franchise back for 2021-22.https://allancup.proboards.com/thread/1499/dunlops-year-leave-absence They are apparently not returning for the 2021-22 season. The team website remains active but no mention of the 2021-22 season has been made.
On August 27, 2020, the league announced the addition of the Caledon Crusaders who will be based out of the Mayfield Recreation Complex in the Regional Municipality of Peel.
On January 4, 2021 the Hamilton Steelhawks announced they would not be participating in the 2021-22 season.https://twitter.com/Ham_Steelhawks/status/1478381698194755593
On October 4, 2022 the league announced the Flamborough Ducks renamed and would be called the Wentworth Gryphins. In the same announcement the league annouced the addition of the Brampton Buccaneers.http://allancup.pointstreaksites.com/view/allancup/allan-cup-hockey-news/news_542012
==Formation of Senior AA League==
On June 14, 2021 the league issued a release stating that it was starting a Senior AA league (tentatively called the Senior AA G-League, after the National Basketball Association's developmental G League) for players aged 21 to 28. The new league had already been approved by the Ontario Hockey Association and the Ontario Hockey Federation. The league grew out of the lost 2020-21 playing season as many 20 year olds lost their final year of junior hockey and were left with few options for competitive hockey outside of Canadian university of American collegiate leagues. The major eligibility difference with ACH will be that the new league will not permit ex-pro players. The primary focus for the league will be players from the Ontario Junior Hockey League, Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Provincial Junior Hockey League (OHA).https://twitter.com/GraduateLeague/status/1405290503805882372/photo/1 
The league will also fill a void for lower level senior hockey in the Golden Horseshoe region as there is no other Senior AA level league covering the area. There are three other senior leagues in the province for 2021-22 as the Western Ontario Super Hockey League begins play being based out of southwestern Ontario, the Eastern Ontario Super Hockey League fills most of the area covered by Hockey Eastern Ontario and the area east of Greater Toronto Area, and the WOAA Senior AA Hockey League plays in the area east of Lake Huron and southwestern Ontario west of the Golden Horseshoe region.
==Teams==
Team 	Centre 	Founded	Arena
Brampton Buccaneers	Brampton 	2022 	CAA Centre
Dundas Real McCoys 	Dundas 	2000 	J. L. Grightmire Arena
Wentworth Gryphins 	Flamborough	2022 	Harry Howell Arena
Hamilton Steelhawks	Hamilton 	2015 	Dave Andreychuk Mountain Arena
===Team Timeline===
===Southwestern Senior A Hockey League===
Team 	Centre 	Arena 	Tenure 	Notes
Aylmer Pests 	Aylmer, Ontario 	 	1990-1992	either renamed or folded and replaced by  Aylmer Hornets
Chatham Pontiacs 	Chatham, Ontario 	Chatham Memorial Arena 	1990-1992	fold when community gets Colonial Hockey League team (Chatham Wheels)
Dorchester Dolphins 	Dorchester, Ontario 	 	1990-1996	folded
Dresden Lumber Kings 	Dresden, Ontario 	 	1990-1991	folded
Dunnville Mudcats 	Dunnville, Ontario 	 	1990-1995	folded
Exeter Mohawks 	Exeter, Ontario 	 	1990-1994	folded
Ingersoll B's 	Ingersoll, Ontario 	 	1990-1993	folded
Petrolia Squires 	Petrolia, Ontario 	 	1990-2004	join Major League Hockey
Point Edward Comets 	Point Edward, Ontario 	Point Edward Arena 	1990-1992	folded
Strathroy Jets 	Strathroy, Ontario 	West Middlesex Memorial Arena 	1990-1993	folded
Walpole Island Hawks 	Walpole Island, Ontario	Walpole Island Sports Complex 	1990-1992	folded
Aylmer Hornets 	Aylmer, Ontario 	 	1992-2001	folded
Bothwell Bullets 	Bothwell, Ontario 	 	1993-2001	folded
Ohsweken Riverhawks 	Ohsweken, Ontario 	 	1993-2002	folded
Simcoe Gunners 	Simcoe, Ontario 	Talbot Gardens 	1996-2002	folded
Detroit 	 	 	1997-1998	played partial schedule
London Admirals 	London, Ontario 	London Ice House 	1997-1999	folded
Woodstock Blues 	Woodstock, Ontario 	 	1997-1998	relocated to Oxford, Ontario; become Oxford Blues
Oxford Blues (Ontario)	Oxford, Ontario 	 	1998-2001	folded
Cambridge Hornets 	Cambridge, Ontario 	Galt Arena Gardens 	1999-2004	join Major League Hockey
Brantford Prowl 	Brantford, Ontario 	Brantford Civic Centre 	2000-2001	took one year leave of absence; return as Brantford Blast
Dundas Real McCoys 	Dundas, Ontario 	J. L. Grightmire Arena 	2000-2004	join Major League Hockey
Tillsonburg Vipers 	Tillsonburg, Ontario 	Tillsonburg Community Centre Arena	2001-2004	join Major League Hockey
Brantford Blast 	Brantford, Ontario 	Brantford Civic Centre 	2002-2004	join Major League Hockey
Aylmer Blues 	Aylmer, Ontario 	 	2003-2004	join Major League Hockey
===Major League Hockey/Allan Cup Hockey===
Team 	Centre 	Arena 	Tenure 	Notes
Aylmer Blues 	Aylmer, Ontario 	East Elgin Community Complex 	2004-2005 	folded
Brantford Blast 	Brantford, Ontario 	Brantford Civic Centre 	2004-2009 	withdrew for 2009-10 season; return for 2010-11 season
Cambridge Hornets 	Cambridge, Ontario 	Galt Arena Gardens 	2004-2006 	withdrew over a player eligibility dispute
Dundas Real McCoys 	Dundas, Ontario(2003-2017, 2018-present)Flamborough(2017-18)	J. L. Grightmire Arena(2004-2017, 2018-present)Harry Howell Arena(2017-18) 	2004-present	played in Flamborough due to arena renovations
Petrolia Squires 	Petrolia, Ontario 	Greenwood Recreation Centre 	2004-2008 	join WOAA Senior AA Hockey League
Tillsonburg Vipers 	Tillsonburg, Ontario 	Colin Campbell Community Arena (known as Tillsonburg Community Centre Arena 2003-04)	2004-2008 	join WOAA Senior AA Hockey League
Windsor St. Clair Saints 	Windsor, Ontario 	South Windsor Arena 	2006-2008 	withdrew and fold due to league not fitting their needs
Frankford Huskies 	Frankford, Ontario 	McMullen Recreation Centre 	2008-2008 	joined from Eastern Ontario Senior Hockey League; relocate to Baltimore, Ontario and are renamed Baltimore Clippers Sr. A before play
Norwood Vipers 	Norwood, Ontario 	Asphodel-Norwood Community Centre 	2008-2012 	sit out 2012-13 season; return for 2013-14 season
Whitby Dunlops 	Whitby, Ontario 	Iroquois Park Sports Centre 	2008-2020 	withdrew prior to aborted 2020-21 season
Baltimore Clippers Sr. A 	Baltimore, Ontario 	Baltimore Recreation Centre 	2008-2009 	withdrew
Orillia/Coldwater Tundras 	Orillia, Ontario 	West Orillia Sports Complex 	2008-2010 	renamed Orillia Tundras
Brantford Blast 	Brantford, Ontario 	Brantford Civic Centre 	2010-2018 	went on leave of absence with intent to sell team
Orillia Tundras 	Orillia, Ontario 	West Orillia Sports Complex 	2010-2013 	withdrew
Welland Whalers 	Welland, Ontario 	Welland Youth & Main Arena 	2012-2014 	withdrew just prior to start of season due to lack of players
Norwood Vipers 	Norwood, Ontario 	Asphodel-Norwood Community Centre 	2013-2015 	ceased operations October 16, 2015
Stoney Creek Generals 	Stoney Creek, Ontario 	Gateway Ice Centre 	2013-2019 	franchise transferred to Brantford; assume Brantford Blast identity
Hamilton Steelhawks (Senior)	Hamilton, Ontario 	Dave Andreychuk Mountain Arena 	2015-present	sat out 2021-22 season
Thorold Athletics (ACH) 	Thorold, Ontario 	Thorold Community Arena 	2015-2017 	withdrew for 2017-18 season citing player challenges; do not return
Brantford Blast 	Brantford, Ontario 	Brantford Civic Centre 	2019-2020 	withdrew
Caledon Crusaders 	Regional Municipality of Peel 	Mayfield Recreation Complex 	2020-2021 	withdrew without playing
Flamborough Ducks 	Flamborough (Hamilton) 	Harry Howell Arena 	2021-2022 	become Wentworth Gryphins
Brampton Buccaneers 	Brampton 	CAA Centre 	2022-present	
Wentworth Gryphins 	Flamborough (Hamilton) 	Harry Howell Arena 	2022-present	
==League Seasons==
*2003-04 OHA Sr. AAA Hockey League Season
*2004-05 MLH Season
*2005-06 MLH Season
*2006-07 MLH Season
*2007-08 MLH Season
*2008-09 MLH Season
*2009-10 MLH Season
*2010-11 MLH Season
*2011-12 ACH Season
*2012-13 ACH Season
*2013-14 ACH Season
*2014-15 ACH Season
*2015-16 ACH Season
*2016-17 ACH Season
*2017-18 ACH Season
*2018-19 ACH Season
*2019-20 ACH Season
*
*2021-22 ACH season
*2022-23 ACH season
*2023-24 ACH season
==League Champions==
===Allan Cup Hockey===
: 2024 Stoney Creek Tigers
: 2023 Hamilton Steelers
: 2022 Dundas Real McCoys
: 2021 Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
: 2020 No Decision
: 2019 Stoney Creek Generals
: 2018 Stoney Creek Generals (Won Allan Cup)
: 2017 Stoney Creek Generals
: 2016 Stoney Creek Generals
: 2015 Dundas Real McCoys
: 2014 Brantford Blast (Dundas won Allan Cup)
: 2013 Brantford Blast
: 2012 Dundas Real McCoys
===Major League Hockey===
:2011 Dundas Real McCoys
:2010 Dundas Real McCoys
:2009 Dundas Real McCoys
:2008 Dundas Real McCoys (Won Allan Cup)
:2007 Brantford Blast
:2006 Dundas Real McCoys
:2005 Aylmer Blues
:2004 Aylmer Blues
===EOSHL===
:2008 Whitby Dunlops
:2007 Whitby Dunlops
:2006 Whitby Dunlops
:2005 Norwood Vipers
:2004 Belleville Macs
===Southwestern Senior "A"===
:2003 Dundas Real McCoys
:2002 Dundas Real McCoys
:2001 Simcoe Gunners
:2000 Cambridge Hornets
:1999 London MacMaster Chevys
:1998 Aylmer Blues
:1997 Bothwell Bullets
:1996 Bothwell Bullets
:1995 Ohsweken Riverhawks
:1994 Dorchester Dolphins
:1993 Dunnville Mudcats
:1992 Exeter Mohawks
:1991 Exeter Mohawks
Bolded teams won the Robertson Cup as Ontario Hockey Association champions.
==Former Member Teams==
Please note: All teams in this list are listed ONLY with the last league they were involved with.
===Major League/Southwestern Sr. A===
*Aylmer Blues
*Baltimore Clippers
*Bothwell Bullets
*Cambridge Hornets
*Creemore Chiefs
*Dorchester Dolphins
*Dunnville Mudcats
*Exeter Mohawks
*Ingersoll B's
*London Admirals
*Ohsweken Riverhawks
*Orillia Tundras
*Oxford Blues
*Petrolia Squires
*Point Edward Comets
*Simcoe Gunners
*Strathroy Jets
*Tillsonburg Vipers
*Windsor St. Clair Saints
===Eastern Sr. A===
*Cobourg Lynx
*Deseronto Bulldogs
*Kingston Aces
*Marmora Lakers
*St. Lawrence Falcons
*Tamworth Braves
===Southern Ontario Sr. A===
*Smithville Real McCoys
*Tillsonburg Maroons
*Woodstock Gems
====Southern Int. B====
*Ayr Rockets
*Milton Aeros
*Norwich Imperials
*Paris 29ers
*Plattsville Combines
*Port Dover Lakers
*Rockton Real McCoys
*Six Nations Redmen
*St. Marys Stone Town Flyers
====Southern Counties Int. B====
*Team Caledonia
*Cheltenham Harvesters
*Delhi Leafs
*Elmira Polar Kings
*Fergus Flyers
*Lucan-Ilderton Jets
*New Hamburg Screaming Eagles
*Preston Jesters
*Simcoe County Kings
====Central Int. C====
*Arthur Tigers
*Goderich Sailors
*New Hamburg Panthers
*Port Elgin Sunocos
===Central Sr. B===
*Durham Huskies
*Elora Rocks
*Harriston Blues
*Hillsburgh Seniors
*Palmerston 81's
*Tavistock Royals
===Northern Sr. B===
*Creemore Chiefs
*Grand Valley Harvesters
*Honeywood Cougars
*Owen Sound Canadians
*Shelburne Muskies
====OHA Int. C====
*Clinton Colts
*Kincardine Texacos
*Lucknow Lancers
*Milverton Four Wheel Drives
*Mitchell Red Devils
*Seaforth Seniors
*Southampton Seniors
*Wiarton Redmen
===Seaway-Cyclone Sr. B===
*Alvinston 77's
*Dresden Lumber Kings
*Lambeth Seniors
*Wallaceburg Whalers
*Walpole Island Hawks
*Watford Generals
====Seaway-Cyclone Int. B====
*Glencoe Centennials
====Seaway Int. C====
*Blenheim Seniors
*Leamington Lakers
*Tilbury Selects
*Wheatley Omsteads
====Seaway-Western Int. C====
*Chatham Royals
*Forest Boyds
*Sandwich West Seniors
====Western/Tri-County Int. C====
*Belmont Blazers
*Point Edward Easy Movers
====Cyclone Int. D====
*West Lorne Blues
== References ==
==External links==
*Official Website
*OHA Website
Category:Ice hockey leagues
Category:Ontario Hockey Association Senior
Category:Established in 1990