CJHL ‘Teams to Watch’ – Fuelled by Gatorade
TORONTO – With each of the nine leagues that comprise the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) having all begun their respective 2026-27 seasons, the 116 overall member teams having officially launched their runs to earn a berth at the 2027 Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, next May in Fort McMurray, Alta.
Here’s a look at just some of the ‘Teams to Watch’ from across the CJHL, heading into the upcoming initial CJHL Top 20 Rankings – Fuelled by Gatorade:
CJHL TEAMS TO WATCH – FUELLED BY GATORADE
AJHL
Fort McMurray Oil Barons
Head Coach: Tom Keca
As the host club for the 2027 Centennial Cup, Fort McMurray goes into the season knowing they will be one of the competing clubs at the 10-team event but will look to earn their way in through the front door when competition begins at Centrefire Place on May 6.
Canmore Eagles
Head Coach: Andrew Milne
The Eagles are the defending AJHL champions and will be looking for a second straight trip to the National Jr. A event. Canmore hoisted their league-winning banner with a season-opening triumph last week via a 4-3 victory over division-foe Canmore.
Grande Prairie Storm
Head Coach: Chris Schmidt
Making early inroads, Grande Prairie have started off 2-0 and have notched an AJHL-best 11 goals through week one of league play. They’ve also only given up three tallies against to boast the best goal differential in the AJHL at plus-8.
SJHL
Flin Flon Bombers
Head Coach: Cole McCaig
Gearing up to celebrate their 100th anniversary season of junior hockey in Flin Flon this weekend, the Bombers are the reigning SJHL title holders. They also have a new bench boss at the helm, with Cole McCaig taking over for long-time skipper Mike Reagan, who has moved on to a coaching job in the Western Hockey League.
Melfort Mustangs
Head Coach: Trevor Blevins
A perennial power in Saskatchewan, Blevins’ Mustangs have won a combined 179 contests over the past five seasons. Under his guidance, Melfort won back-to-back SJHL championships in 2024 and 2025, which earned them a pair of Centennial Cup appearances.
Battlefords North Stars
Head Coach: Connor Logan
Logan is back for a second year behind the Battlefords’ bench after guiding his team to a 35-15-4-2 mark in 2025-26, with their .679 winning percentage tying for second-best in the SJHL.
MJHL
Niverville Nighthawks
Head Coach: Dwight Hirst
The defending MJHL and Centennial Cup champion Nighthawks raised their title-winning banners to the rafters of Niverville CRRC in a season-opening victory last week as they go in search of a pair of repeats on the ice.
Steinbach Pistons
Head Coach: Paul Dyck
A solid squad in Manitoba on a yearly basis, Steinbach has started their season with a 2-0 record under Paul Dyck’s guidance behind the bench. They were second overall in the standings in 2025-26 at 47-9-2-0.
Selkirk Steelers
Head Coach: Hudson Frieson
Selkirk is another unbeaten MJHL side at 2-0 and share the league-lead in goals to date with nine to their credit. The Steelers will look to build on their good start as they go in quest of their first MJHL title in two decades after winning nine in a 30-year period from 1974 to 2004.
SIJHL
Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Head Coach: Delroy Montaque
Montaque has begun his initial season as head coach of the GM Ice Dogs with two triumphs in as many games for a Dryden organization that is an original member franchise of the SIJHL.
Thunder Bay North Stars
Head Coach: Matt Valley
Valley guided the North Stars to their seventh Bill Salonen Cup crown in franchise history last season and have started 2-0 to commence their 25th year in the league.
NOJHL
Soo Thunderbirds
Head Coach: Cole Jarrett
A solid team in their overall time in the NOJHL, the Thunderbirds have been sharp to begin play in 2026-27, sporting a 4-0 record, averaging just over five goals a game, while only allowing 1.5 tallies against to date per contest.
Timmins Rock
Head Coach: Sheldon Reasbeck
First-year head coach Sheldon Reasbeck is 2-0 since taking over for the Rock, replacing former bench boss Brandon Perry, who is now guiding the Queen’s University Golden Gaels (UPORTS) men’s hockey program.
Elliot Lake Vikings
Head Coach: Taurean White
Having not played a NOJHL home game in Elliot Lake since a venue closure forced them out back in September of 2023, the Vikings are gearing up for their long-awaited return to a refurbished Rogers Arena on Friday, Sept. 25.
OJHL
Markham Royals
Head Coach: Steve McSwain
Boasting a CJHL-best 7-0-0-0 mark to begin play in the OJHL, the Royals are rolling early in the 24-team loop and boast two of the top point-getters in the league to date while yet having tasted defeat.
Collingwood Blues
Head Coach: Andrew Campoli
The 2024 Centennial Cup winners have started off nicely in their quest to get to Fort McMurray for the 2027 event, sporting a 6-0-0 mark so far, while notching a league-best 42 goals and having only given up six against.
Wellington Dukes
Head Coach: Jacob Panetta
A perennial power in the OJHL, the Dukes are back to their usual prowess on the ice, recording a 5-0-1-0 record through their first seven outings. They have qualified for the league playoffs every year since their debut back in 1989.
Leamington Flyers
Head Coach: Dale Mitchell
Mitchell’s Flyers have yet to suffer a defeat so far in 2026-27 with an unblemished mark of 5-0-0-0. Solid play on the ice sees them averaging five goals-per-game while only allowing under two-against in each contest.
CCHL
Brockville Braves
Head Coach: Andy Bryan
Brockville has bagged a pair of triumphs to start their season off nicely as Bryan begins his tenure behind the club’s bench. The club is aiming to improve on a seventh place finish a year ago where they went 22-24-2-7.
Navan Grads
Head Coach: Sean Blunden
Backed by the top two leading scorers in the CCHL, Blunden’s Navan side are 2-0 early on and boast a plus-five goal differential to begin competition in 2026-27. He too is in his first year as head coach of the Jr. A squad.
Kemptville 73’s
Head Coach: Shawn Fensel
Sporting a league-best goal-per-game average of 6.5 and sharing top spot in fewest tallies given up at four, Fensel’s 73’s leading point-getters are tied for third in CCHL offensive production.
LHJAAAQ
Collège Français de Longueuil
Head Coach: Jonathan Castonguay
Continually a LHJAAAQ powerhouse, Collège Français are the league’s defending NAPA Cup champions and are aiming for back-to-back appearances at the Centennial Cup. They’ve begun their season at 4-0-0-0 having banged in 25 goals and allowing only three to get into their net.
Les Prédateurs de Joliette
Head Coach: André Lachance
A solid start to Joliette’s campaign sees them unbeaten to commence LHJAAAQ competition at 4-0-0-0 and are on the right track to surpass their fifth place finish a season ago. They boast two of the league’s leading scorers and each of their goaltenders have come away victorious in each of their two starts in net.
L’indigo de Granby
Head Coach: David L. Ouellette
Granby have yet to lose in regulation time so far in December at 2-0-2-0. Ouellette’s L’indigo also sit tied for the third-highest winning percentage in league play to date at .750. This bodes well to improve on ending up seventh in the overall league standings last season at 23-19-3-3.
MHL
Truro Bearcats
Head Coach: Ryan Falkenham
Taking the reigns in Truro, Falkenham steps in for former skipper Jon Greenwood who departed the Bearcats to become head coach of Dalhousie University (USPORTS) where he’ll be guiding the Tigers men’s hockey program. Early in his watch, Falkenham’s charges are 4-0-0-0 to sit as the lone unbeaten MHL side in regulation time.
Valley Wildcats
Head Coach: Jesse McLean
Sitting second in the overall MHL table, McLean’s Wildcats have started their year with seven of a possible eight points and a record of 3-0-0-1. Each of their three victories have come in regulation while having the third-leading scorer in the league entering game action this week.
Chaleur Lightning
Head Coach: Francis Rochon
The Lightning are back for their second season in the MHL after finishing eighth overall in 2025-26 at 31-18-2-1 and earning the eighth and final playoff spot. The Bathhurst, N.B.-based Chaleur sit with a mark of 2-1-0-0 to date and have allowed the third-fewest goals-against in the opening days of the season with nine.
The initial CJHL Top 20 Rankings, Fuelled by Gatorade, for the 2026-27 season will be announced on Monday, Sept. 28.
ABOUT THE CJHL: The Canadian Junior Hockey League is a national organization comprised of nine Junior A leagues from Alberta to the Maritimes. … The CJHL currently represents 116 teams and well over 2,500 players. … There were also 2,500-plus CJHL alumni who furthered their hockey careers by either playing, or serving as a head coach at the NHL, AHL, ECHL, SPHL, NCAA, USPORTS and CHL levels across North America as well as in leagues across Europe during the 2025-26 campaign. … For the latest CJHL news and features, visit cjhlhockey.com and follow-on social media at @cjhlhockey via X & Instagram.
