The Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League is changing its conference format.
Since 2007, the GOJHL has operated under a three conference system, with the Midwestern, Golden Horseshoe, and Western Conferences.
The league announced on June 25 that it will switch to a two conference setup, and as of right now, the conferences are simply listed as A and B. The defending Sutherland Cup and Cherrey Cup champion Listowel Cyclones will be in Conference A alongside the St. Marys Lincolns, the Elmira Sugar Kings, Stratford Warriors, KW Siskins, Chatham Maroons, Komoka Kings, Lasalle Vipers, London Nationals, Sarnia Legionaires, St. Thomas Stars, and Strathroy Rockets.
The Caledon Bombers, the newly minted Brantford Titans, the Ayr Centennials and the Cambridge Red Hawks will all play in the other conference.
The GOJHL will play a 50-game schedule, with the top eight teams in each conference earning a spot in the playoffs.
The names of the two Conferences and details on the schedule will be released in the coming weeks ahead. It is unclear what will become of the old conference championship trophies, such as the Cherrey Cup, for winning a divisional playoff championship.
“Realignment is something that the GOJHL has been looking at for the past few seasons, going to two conferences makes the regular season significantly more important and it also eliminates the three team Round Robin that was in place for the last three seasons,” said interim Commissioner Tim Simmons.