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'Greater Metro Junior "A" Hockey League'
GMHL
'Head Office'	Cookstown, Ontario
'Official Website'	GMHL
'President'	Bob Russell
'Commissioner'	Ken Girard
'Founded'	2006

The 'Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League' (GMHL) or (GMJHL) is a Canadian Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey league. The GMHL created an affliliation with the WHA and dubbed it the National Junior Hockey Alliance but is not affiliated with the Canadian Junior A Hockey League or sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The league has teams in the Greater Toronto Area, Central Ontario, and Northeastern Ontario.

Contents

History

Expansion

Teams

Russell Cup Playoff Champions

External links

History

The league, founded by Bob Russell and Hockeyworks International Ltd., opened its doors in early 2006, with a unique concept and approach to improving the standard of developing young hockey players within a Junior 'A' league format setting.
Specific rules were instituted from the outset to assure players and parents this league was going to fulfill its commitment to skill devlepment: Minimum four practices per week for each team, any player 15 or 16 years old must be dressed for every game (not sit in the stands to take stats), and once signed for the season, players could not be 'cut' from the team until the conclusion of that season. This allowed players to be sure, barring any circumstances regarding illegal acts or activities, they would have the security of a team to play with, and in a league that guaranteed lots of practice time and playing time.
A Draft Showcase took place from May 5 until May 7, 2006 with players from Canada, United States, and Europe taking up residence at the Hockeyworks' World Hockey Centre near Shelburne, Ontario to take part in the league's first tryout camp.
The weekend involved all players participating in a typical Rookie Camp, consisting of off-ice workouts, on-ice practices, and two exhibition games for each of four teams. General Managers, coaches, and owners from all league member teams had the opportunity to thoroughly evaluate talent throughout the weekend, which concluded with a league draft taking place on the last day.
The league's first ever game took place on September 8, 2006 between the King Wild and the Richmond Hill Rams at 7:30 PM EST. The final result was a 6-0 victory for the Rams, despite being badly outshot by the Wild. The first goal in the league's history was scored by the Rams' Darren Archebald on the powerplay during the first period. Rams' goaltender Daniel Jones picked up the historical first victory, as well as the league's first shutout in history.
On November 15, 2006, the GMHL announced its affiliation with the World Hockey Association [1] and creation of the National Junior Hockey Alliance. The affiliation will result in a national championship between the GMHL playoff champion and the winner of the WHA Junior West Hockey League [2].
The first ever regular season of the GMJHL concluded on February 25, 2007 with the Bradford Rattlers leading the way as regular season champs with a record of 37 wins, 1 regulation loss, and 4 overtime losses. In the playoffs, the Rattlers beat the Deseronto Thunder in 6 games, and then the King Wild in 5 games to win the first ever Russell Cup as playoff champions.
Despite the ongoing concern for the WHA and the circumstances regarding their shortening of their regular season schedule, the revamp of the playoff format, and rumours of money issues in several league centres, the GMHL fulfilled its commitment to host the WHA Champsion New Westminster Whalers and swept them 3-games-straight to win the first ever NJHA Alliance Cup. It was only thanks to the last-ditch efforts of Garry Unger and friends that the Whalers were able to gather up a team to represent the West in this Alliance showdown.

Expansion

The 2007-08 season will bring on at least 6 new teams, the Espanola Kings, Temiscaming Royals, Elliot Lake Bobcats, Douro Dukes, Tamworth Cyclones, and the Innisfil Lakers. One new team has already been announced for 2008-09, awarded to the CYO organization of Whitby, Ontario [3].
Several more parties have expressed interest the GMHL concept, and discussions have taken place with organizations within Ontario, and far beyond.

Teams

'Team'	'Centre'	'2007-08 Record'	'GF'	'GA'	'Points'
'Temiscaming Royals'	Témiscaming, PQ	2-0-0-0	11	6	'4'
'King Wild'	King City	2-0-0-0	16	5	'4'
'Deseronto Storm'	Deseronto	2-0-0-0	12	5	'4'
'Innisfil Lakers'	Innisfil	2-1-0-0	11	8	'4'
'Elliot Lake Bobcats'	Elliot Lake	1-0-0-0	3	2	'2'
'Douro Dukes'	Douro	1-1-0-0	4	5	'2'
'Bradford Rattlers'	Bradford	0-0-0-0	0	0	'0'
'Espanola Kings'	Espanola	0-1-0-0	2	3	'0'
'Nipissing Alouettes'	Sturgeon Falls	0-1-0-0	4	6	'0'
'South Muskoka Shield'	Gravenhurst	0-1-0-0	4	6	'0'
'Richmond Hill Rams'	Richmond Hill	0-1-0-0	2	5	'0'
'Tamworth Cyclones'	Tamworth	0-2-0-0	5	12	'0'
'Toronto Canada Moose'	Thornhill	0-2-0-0	5	16	'0'

''The league's standings can be found on their official website [4].''

Russell Cup Playoff Champions

:2007 Bradford Rattlers

External links

★ Greater Metro Jr. "A" Hockey League Official Website

★ GMHL Forum

★ OHF's GMHL Policy