North Central Hockey League (Alberta)

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The North Central Hockey League was established in 1994 in the province of Alberta. The league is registered at the Senior AA level with Hockey Canada and Hockey Alberta.

According to the league's website; the league was established in the spring of 1994 out of a few exhibition games and two 8-hour meetings.

The founders of the league were George Vanberg (President then and is stil president as of 2014), Noel Perrin (Edson Ice), Kirk Holtet (Fox Creek Bandits), Grant Drewniak (Slave Lake Winterhawks), Diane Dickson (Whitecourt Cats), and Darren Myshak (Swan Hills Knights). The league kicked off it's 1995-1996 inaugural season with the above noted teams as well as the Athabasca Aces, Hinton Heat and Mayerthorpe Hitmen, playing a 26 game season. The league was classified as Senior "A" until 2009, when it was changed to Senior "AA".

During the 2013-14 season President Vanberg and Vice-President Jerry Muise also started to manage the Senior AAA level Chinook Hockey League as well. Also following the season the Morinville Kings hosted the Senior AA/A Men's Provincial Championships at the Ray MacDonald Sports Centre.

The league began the 2014-15 season with seven teams (Devon Barons, Edson Ice, Morniville Kings, Rocky Rams, Slave Lake Winterhawks, Westlock Warriors and Whitecourt Wild). The league has the Athbasca Aces and the Drayton Valley Wildcats taking a leave from league for the season. The league had planned on adding a new team from St. Albert, Alberta. However the team had to delay starting in the league due to being unable to secure ice in time to commit for the 2014-15 season. The league website stated that the team has been able to secure ice and will commence play in the 2015-16 season. the league will play a 63 game slate (18 games per team) that will run from mid-October to mid-January followed by playoffs and the playoffs.

The league expanded to 12 teams for the 2015-16 season as the league absorbed many of the members of the Battle River Senior Hockey League (Big Valley, Bonnyville, Daysland, and Tofield) The Drayton Valley Wildcats returned from a one year hiatus and the seven existing members all returned from 2014-15. The previously delayed St. Albert team appears to have folded. The league will have two six team divisions for the 2015-16 season.

For 2016-17 the Big Valley Oil Kings relocated to Eckville, Alberta and were renamed the Eckville Eagles. The Drayton Valley Wildcats did not return after folding late during the 2015-16 season. The Tofield Satellites also do not return.

To begin the 2017-2018 season, three teams have decided to take a one year leave of absence. League charter teams, Edson Ice and Slave Lake Winterhewks, as well as the Rocky Rams will not ice teams this season, leaving the league with seven teams to compete. It is of note that both Edson and Slave Lake have competed in the NCHL for 21 seasons prior to this season, the longest tenure of any teams. It is also of note, that 4 of the original teams have played in the league for the longest periods of time - Edson and Slave Lake 21 years, Hinton 17, Fox Creek 14. The seven teams currently in the league have an average of 3 years.

Current Teams 2017-2018

Team	Centre	Arena
Bonnyville Pontiacs	Bonnyville	R. J. Lalonde Arena
Daysland Northstars	Daysland	Daysland & District Arena
Devon Barons	Devon	Dale Fisher Arena
Eckville Eagles	Eckville	Eckville Arena
Morinville Kings	Morinville	Morinville Arena
Westlock Warriors	Westlock	Rotary Sprint Centre
Whitecourt Wild	Whitecourt	Scott Safety Centre & Mayerthorpe Exhibition Centre

Teams on Hiatus

Team	Centre	Arena
Edson Ice	Edson	Edson Leisure Centre
Rocky Rams	Rocky Mountain House	Rocky Arena Complex
Slave Lake Winterhawks	Slave Lake	Arctic Centre

League Seasons

Time line of teams

Charter Teams

Athabasca Aces (1995-1998) (2008-2014) took LAO, folded (9 years)
Swan HIlls Knights (1995-1998) folded (3years)
Mayerthorpe Hitmen (1995-1997) folded (2 years)
Hinton Heat (1995-2013) folded (17 years) 2X NCHL champs
Slave Lake Winter Hawks (1995-2012) (2013-2017), LOA in 2017-2018. (21 years) 6X NCHL champs, including 5 in a row. Alberta Senior A champs 2005, Alberta Senior B Champs 1998, 2000, 2001. 2004.
Whitecourt Cats (1995-2002) folded (8 years)
Fox Creek Bandits (1995-1999) one year LOA (2000-2009) folded (14 years)
Edson Ice (1995-2004), one year LOA (2005-2017) LOA 2017-2018. (21 year

Sequential addition of teams

Grande Cache Rockies (1997-2000) folded (3 years) 1X NCHL champs
Drayton Valley Wildcats (1997-1999) (2004-2014) one year LOA (2015-2016) folded (14 years) 4X NCHL champs, Alberta Senior B Champs (while part of the NCHL) 1999, 2003.
Westlock Wolfpack (1998-2000) (2005-2006) folded (4 years) Alberta Senior A champs 2000
Jasper Wolves (2003-2010) folded (8 years)
Onoway Ice Dogs (2005-2011) folded (6 years) 2X NCHL champs
Lamont Bruins (2005-2009) folded (4 years) 2X NCHL champs
Legal Vipers (2006-2012) folded (6 years)
Rocky Mountain House Rams (2010-2017) LOA 2017-2018. (7 years)
Devon Barons (2012-present) (5 years) 2X NCHL champs
Whitecourt Wild (2013 - present) (4 years)
Westlock Warriors (2013 - present) (4 years) 1X NCHL champs
Morinville Kings (2013-Present) (4 years), Alberta Senior A champs 2014.
Big Valley Oil Kings (2015-2016) relocate to Eckville (1 year)
Daysland Northstars (2015-Present) (2 years) 2X NCHL champs, Alberta Senior AA champs 2016
Tofield Satellites (2015-2016) folded (1 year)
Bonnyville Pontiacs (2015 - present) (2 years)
Eckville Eagles (2016-present) (1 year)

NCHL Champions

1995-96 - Hinton Heat defeated Slave Lake WInterhawks

1996-97 - Slave Lake Winterhawks defeated Edson Ice

1997-98 - Drayton Valley Wildcats defeated Slave Lake WInterhawks

1998-99 - Drayton Valley Wildcats defeated Slave Lake Winterhawks

1999-2000 - Grande Cache Rockies defeated Slave Lake Winterhawks

2000-01 -Hinton Heat defeated Slave Lake Winterhawks

2001-02 -Slave Lake Winterhawks defeated Hinton Heat

2002-03 - Slave Lake Winterhawks defeated Hinton Heat

2003-04 - Slave Lake Winter Hawks defeated Jasper Wolves

2004-05- Slave Lake Winter Hawks defeated Drayton Valley Wildcats

2005-06 - Slave Lake Winter Hawks defeated Drayton Valley Wildcats

2006-07 - Lamont Bruins defeated Onoway Ice Dogs

2007-08- Lamont Bruins defeated Onoway Ice Dogs

2008-09- Onoway Ice Dogs defeated Legal Vipers

2009-10- Onoway Ice Dogs defeated Drayton Valley Wildcats

2010-11 - Drayton Valley Wildcats defeated

2011-12 - Drayton Valley Wildcats defeated Slave Lake Winterhawks

2012-13 - Devon Barons defeated Edson Ice

2013-14 - Devon Barons defeated Slave Lake Winterhawks

2014-15 - Westlock Warriors defeated Devon Barons

2015-16 - Daysland Northstars defeated Bonnyville Pontiacs

2016-17 - Daysland Northstars defeated Bonnyville Pontiacs

Standings

1994-95

Athabasca Aces, Mayerthorpe Hitmen, and Swan Hills Knights

1995-96

Athabasca Aces, Mayerthorpe Hitmen, and Swan Hills Knights

1996-97

Athabasca Aces, Mayerthorpe Hitmen, and Swan Hills Knights

1997-98

Athabasca Aces, Drayton Valley Wildcats, Grande Cache Rockies, and Swan Hills Knights

1998-99

Drayton Valley Wildcats, Grande Cache Rockies, Swan Hills Knights, and Westlock Wolfpack

1999-00

Grande Cache Rockies and Westlock Wolfpack

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

Team                   GP  W  L T  GF  GA  P
Slave Lake Winterhawks 16 15  1 0 109  38 30
Hinton Heat            16  9  7 0  95  61 18
Edson Ice              16  8  7 1  69  59 17
Whitecourt Cats        15  6  9 0  65  78 12
Fox Creek Bandits      15  0 14 1  35 137  1

2003 Playoffs

Semifinals

Hinton defeated Edson 3 games to none (4-2, 7-4, 5-4)
Slave Lake defeated Whitecourt 2 games to none (12-2, 8-4, series conceded)

Final

Slave Lake defeated Hinton 4 games to none (2-1, 3-1, 8-4, 8-4)

2003-04

Slave Lake and Jasper finshed 1-2

2004 Playoffs

Final

Slave Lake defeated Jasper 4 games to 3 (9-3, 5-1, 7-8, 3-12, 8-3, 6-3, 7-5)

scores from archived post on league webite these scores would make series 5-2

2004-05

Teams: Drayton Valley Wildcats, Fox Creek Bandits, Hinton Heat, Jasper Wolves, Slave Lake Winter Hawks,

Edson Ice and Whitecourt Cats take a leave of absence

Standings

1. Slave Lake 2. Drayton Valley 3 Hinton 4 Jasper 5 Fox Creek

2005 Playoffs

Semifinals

Slave Lake defated Jasper 3 games to none (10-5, 5-0,6-5 (ot))
Drayton Valley defeated Hinton 3 games to 1 (1-4, 5-0, 3-2, 3-2)

Final

Slave Lake defeated Drayton Valley 3 games to 2 (5-2, 5-6 (ot), 7-3, 3-7, 6-4)

2005-06

Lamont Bruins Onoway Ice Dogs, Westlock Wolf Pack added
Whitecourt withdrew

North Division
Team                   GP  W  L OTL  GF  GA  P
Slave Lake Winterhawks 20 19  1  0  198  65 38
Lamont Bruins          20 15  5  0  148  91 30
Westlock Wolfpack      20  9 10  1   94 139 19
Fox Creek Bandits      20  4 15  1   80 149  9
Onway Ice Dogs         20  1 17  2   68 176  6

South Division
Team                    GP  W  L OTL  GF  GA  P
Jasper Wolves           20 13  7  0  106  85 26
Drayton Valley Wildcats 20 13  7  0  140  74 26
Hinton Heat             20 12  8  0  122 109 24
Edson Ice               20  4 16  0   72 140  8

2006 Playoffs

First Round

Slave Lake defeated Fox Creek 2 games to none (6-2, 5-4 (ot)
Lamont defeated Westlock 2 games to none (4-3, 7-4)
Jasper defeated Edson 2 games to 1 (6-5, 5-6, 5-2)
Drayton Valley defeated Hinton 2 games to 1 (5-3, 4-6, 4-3)

Second Round

Slave Lake defeated Lamont 3 games to none (6-3, 11-4, 5-4)
Drayton Valley defeated Jasper 3 games to none (8-0, 6-5 (ot), 8-1)

Final

Slave Lake defeated Drayton Valley 3 games to none (7-1, 8-5, 5-4)

2006-07

Westlock leave league, Legal added to league

North Division
Team                   GP  W  L OTL SOL  GF  GA  P
Lamont Bruins          20 14  6  0   2  153 102 30
Slave Lake Winterhawks 20 12  8  1   0  126  98 25
Legal Vipers           20  8 12  0   1   93 108 17
Fox Creek Bandits      20  2 18  1   0   64 186  5

South Division
Team                    GP  W  L OTL SOL GF  GA  P
Onoway Ice Dogs         20 17  3  0   1 136  66 35
Drayton Valley Wildcats 20 13  7  0   0 131 131 26
Edson Ice               20 11  8  1   0  97  93 24
Hinton Heat             20  9 10  0   0  91 105 19
Jasper Wolves           20  3 17  2   1  83 143  9

2007 Playoffs

First Round

Lamont defeated Jasper 2 games to none (5-2, 9-3)
Slave Lake defeated Legal 2 games to none (8-2, 6-3)
Onoway defeated Hinton 2 games to none (6-1, 4-0)
Drayton Valley defeated Edson 2 games to 1 (10-4, 1-2, 3-2)

Semifinals

Lamont defeated Slave Lake 3 games to 2 (7-6, 5-4, 10-7, 6-8, 10-3)
Onoway defeated Drayton Valley 3 games to 2 (5-6, 5-4, 3-0, 2-3, 6-4)

Final

Lamont defeated Onoway 3 games to none (6-1, 9-5, 4-1)

2007-08

Athabasca was added to the league. Lamont Bruins folded in January

2008-09

2009 Playoffs

First Round

Onoway defeated Hinton 2 games to none
Legal defeated Drayton Valley 2 games to none
Slave Lake defeated Athabasca 2 gamess to 1
Edson defeated Jasper 2 games to ??

Semifinals

Onoway defeated Edson
Legal defeated Slave Lake

Final

Onoway defeated Legal

2009-10

Team                    GP  W  L OTL SOL  GF  GA  P
Onoway Ice Dogs         20 16  3  0   1  131  80 33
Drayton Valley Wildcats 20 13  7  0   0  109  64 26
Hinton Heat             20 12  8  0   0   98  71 24
Legal Vipers            20 11  9  0   0  106 101 22
Slave Lake Winterhawks  20 10  8  2   0  119  90 22 
Edson Ice               20  9  9  2   0   91 102 20
Athabasca Aces          20  8 10  0   2   85  96 18
Jasper Wolves           20  1 17  0   2   62 180  4

2010 Playoffs

First Round

Onoway defeated Athabasca 2 games to none (14-3, 7-2)
Legal defeated Slave Lake 2 games to none (6-3, 3-2)
Drayton Valley defeated Jasper 2 games to none (18-1, 8-3)
Edson defeated Hinton 2 games to 1 (4-3, 2-7, 5-2)

Semifinals

Onoway defeated Legal 3 games to none (8-6, 5-4, 7-4)
Drayton Valley defeated Edson 3 games to none (6-3, 8-4, 6-1)

Final

Onoway defeated Drayton Valley 3 games to 2 (5-7, 4-2, 5-4, 3-6, 3-2)

2010-11

Athabasca Aces, Devon Barons, Drayton Valley Wildcats, Edson Ice, Morinville Kings, Rocky Rams, Slave Lake Winterhawks, Westlock Warriors, and Whitecourt Wild

2011-12

Onoway Ice Dogs take a leave of absence
Athabasca, Devon, Drayton Valley, Edson, Hinton Hinton, Legal, Rocky, Slave Lake

Playoffs

First Round

Drayton Valley defeated Hinton

Semifinal

Drayton Valley defeated Edson

Final

Drayton Valley defeated Slave Lake

2012-13

Playoffs

First Round

Edson defeated Athabasca
Hinton vs Rocky

Second Round

Devon vs Hinton/Rocky winner
Edson defeated Drayton Valley

Final

Edson vs

2013-14

Hinton Heat take leave of absence
Playing members: Athabasca, Devon, Drayton Valley, Edson, Morinville, Rocky Slave Lake, Westlock, and Whitecourt

Playoffs First Round

Drayton Valley defeated Athabasca

Devon defeated Slave Lake

North Central Hockey League (Alberta)

Contents

Current Teams 2017-2018

Teams on Hiatus

League Seasons

Time line of teams

NCHL Champions

Standings

Fan Feed