The Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) is making changes that local teams are happy about. The league will shift from three conferences to two for the 2024-25 season, creating new rivalries and bringing back old ones. Stratford, Listowel, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Elmira will move from the Midwestern Conference to the Western Conference. Meanwhile, Ayr, Cambridge, Brantford, and Caledon will join the Golden Horseshoe Conference. The new conference names are still to be decided.
The GOJHL has been considering realignment for a few seasons. Going to two conferences makes the regular season more important and removes the three-team Sutherland Cup round-robin. Teams will still play 50 games before the playoffs.
This realignment might increase attendance and help cover extra costs. Stratford spent about $50,000 on transportation and food for road trips in the 2023-24 season, and this could rise by one-third with more trips to places like LaSalle, Chatham, and Sarnia.
GOJHL conferences for 2024-25:
Conference A:
Chatham Maroons
Elmira Sugar Kings
Kitchener-Waterloo Siskins
Komoka Kings
LaSalle Vipers
Listowel Cyclones
London Nations
Sarnia Legionnaires
St. Marys Lincolns
St. Thomas Stars
Stratford Warriors
Strathroy Rcokets
Conference B:
Ayr Centennials
Brantford Titans
Caledon Bombers
Caledonia Corvairs
Cambridge Redhawks
Fort Erie Meteors
Hamilton Kilty B’s
Pelham Panthers
Port Colborne Sailors
St. Catharines Falcons
Welland Canadians
Written By: K. Milhomens