The Athol Murray Trophy is a Canadian - ice hockey series to determine the Saskatchewan Junior B championship and seed of the Keystone Cup - the Western Canada Junior "B" Hockey Crown.
History[]
Since the 1960s the tournament has been an important determining factor in the crowning of the Western Canadian champion. Since the Keystone Cup's inception in 1983, Saskatchewan teams have been the champion a leading 9 times. In some ways, the winning of the Saskatchewan Provincials may directly or indirectly determine the outcome of the Keystone Cup.
The 1967 recipient were awarded the trophy as runner up in a provincial qualifier for the 1966-67 Western Canada Memorial Cup Playoffs as all of the former Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League teams had joined the newly formed Canadian Major Junior Hockey League and were declared ineligible to compete for the 1967 Memorial Cup. The winner of the provincial qualifier between the three remaining Junior B teams in the province, represented the province in the Western Canada playoffs The competition was not held from 1960-1961, and was awarded to the North Saskatchewan League winner in 1979, and from 1981-1987, due to a lack of challengers.
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the North Saskatchewan Junior B Hockey League and South Saskatchewan Junior B Hockey League played off for the Murray Trophy. The two leagues merge after the 2006-07 season to form the Prairie Junior Hockey League with the Athol Murray Trophy being awarded to the league playoff championship trophy as it became the only Junior B league in the province and the de facto provincial championship.
Champions[]
- 1950 - Regina Maroons
- 1951 - Saskatoon Westleys
- 1952 - Regina Maroons
- 1953 - Yorkton Terriers (Junior)
- 1954 - Yorkton Terriers (Junior)
- 1955 - Lebret Indians
- 1956 - Lebret Indians
- 1957 - Lebret Indians
- 1958 - Lebret Indians
- 1959 - Lebret Indians
- 1960 - No competition
- 1961 - No competition
- 1962 - Melville Millionaires
- 1963 - Weyburn Elks
- 1964 - Regina Pats
- 1965 - Saskatoon Blades
- 1966 - North Battleford Beaver-Bruins
- 1967 - Shellbrook Knights
- 1968 - Weyburn Red Wings
- 1969 - Moose Jaw Canuck Bees
- 1970 - St. Peters College Muenster (NSJHL)
- 1971 - Saskatoon Macs (NSJHL}
- 1972 - St. Thomas College Imperials (NSJHL)
- 1973 - St. Thomas College Imperials (NSJHL)
- 1974 - Saskatoon Quakers (NSJHL)
- 1975 - Saskatoon Quakers (NSJHL)
- 1976 - Melfort TMs (NSJHL)
- 1977 - Melfort TMs (NSJHL)
- 1978 - Saskatoon Quakers (NSJHL)
- 1979 - Melfort TMs (NSJHL)
- 1980 - Notre Dame Hounds
- 1981 - Hudson Bay Saints (NSJHL)
- 1982 - Saskatoon Quakers (NSJHL)
- 1983 - Saskatoon Westleys (NSJHL)
- 1984 - Saskatoon Westleys (NSJHL)
- 1985 - Prince Albert North Stars (NSJHL)
- 1986 - Prince Albert North Stars (NSJHL)
- 1987 - Hudson Bay Saints (NSJHL)
- 1988 - Warman Valley Crusaders (NSJHL)
- 1989 - Kinistino Tigers (NSJHL)
- 1990 - Kinistino Tigers (NSJHL)
- 1991 - Kinistino Tigers (NSJHL)
- 1992 - Kinistino Tigers (NSJHL)
- 1993 - Kinistino Tigers (NSJHL)
- 1994 - Kinistino Tigers (NSJHL)
- 1995 - Regina Capitals (SSJHL)
- 1996 - Assiniboia Southern Rebels (SSJHL)
- 1997 - Grenfell Storm (SSJHL)
- 1998 - Saskatoon Royals (NSJHL)
- 1999 - Assiniboia Southern Rebels (SSJHL)
- 2000 - Saskatoon Royals (SSJHL)
- 2001 - Assiniboia Southern Rebels (SSJHL)
- 2002 - Assiniboia Southern Rebels (SSJHL)
- 2003 - Assiniboia Southern Rebels (SSJHL)
- 2004 - Regina Capitals (SSJHL)
- 2005 - Saskatoon Royals (NSJHL)
- 2006 - Saskatoon Royals (NSJHL)
- 2007 - Saskatoon Royals (NSJHL)
- 2008 - Pilot Butte Storm (PJHL)
- 2009 - Saskatoon Royals (PJHL)
- 2010 - Tri-Town Thunder (PJHL)
- 2011 - Pilot Butte Storm (PJHL)
- 2012 - Pilot Butte Storm (PJHL)
- 2013 - Saskatoon Royals (PJHL)
- 2014 - Saskatoon Quakers (PJHL)
- 2015 - Saskatoon Quakers (PJHL)
- 2016 - Saskatoon Quakers (PJHL)
- 2017 - Regina Capitals (PJHL)
- 2018 - Regina Capitals (PJHL)
- 2019 - Regina Capitals (PJHL)
- 2020 - Playoffs cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
- 2021 - Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
- 2022 - Saskatoon Quakers (PJHL)
- 2023 - Pilot Butte Storm
- 2024 - Saskatoon Quakers (PJHL)
See also[]
- List of Saskatchewan Junior B Playoffs
- Keystone Cup
- Central Canada Cup
- List of Manitoba Junior B Playoffs
- Lakehead Junior Hockey League
| Leagues competing for the Keystone Cup | |
|---|---|
| British Columbia (former) | Kootenay International Junior Hockey League · Pacific International Junior Hockey League · Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League |
| Alberta (former) | Calgary Junior Hockey League · Capital Junior Hockey League · Heritage Junior B Hockey League · North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League · North West Junior Hockey League |
| Saskatchewan (former) | Prairie Junior Hockey League |
| Manitoba | Capital Region Junior Hockey League · Keystone Junior Hockey League |
| Ontario | Lakehead Junior Hockey League |
| Cyclone Taylor Cup · Russ Barnes Trophy · Athol Murray Trophy · Baldy Northcott Trophy · William Ryan Trophy · Hockey Canada | |