Central Junior A Hockey League

Once again this season, the CJHL has had three players bound for US college selected directly by NHL teams in the annual entry draft.

Nepean's Jeremy Price was selected first, in the fourth round, by the Vancouver Canucks 113th overall.  Price represented the CJHL at the World Junior A Challenge, the CJHL Prospects Game and the Battle of Ontario.  A Toronto native, he has committed to attend Colgate University on a full hockey scholarship.

Cumberland's David Pacan was selected next, by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 6th round, 177th overall.  An Ottawa native, Pacan also represented the CJHL at the WJAC, Prospects and the Battle of Ontario and is committed to attend the University of Vermont on a full hockey scholarship.

Another Nepean Raider, Ben Sexton, was selected in the 7th round by the Boston Bruins and will be attending Clarkson University on a full hockey scholarship in the future.

Also of note was the selection of Scott Valentine and Corey Cowick from the Oshawa Generals and Ottawa 67's respectively, who both played in the CJHL prior to their OHL careers.

Calvin deHaan, who began his Junior career with the expansion Kemptville 73's as their first overall selection, was selected by the New York Islanders in the first round, 12th overall.  As a 16 year old rookie defenceman, he led the 73's in scoring.

deHaan received dozens of NCAA scholarship offers after being selected in the 3rd round by the Oshawa Generals and playing in the CJHL.  After signing a contract with the OHL, de Haan starred with the Generals allowing them to complete the John Tavares trade with the London Knights by including NHL first rounder Michael Del Zotto, who de Haan replaced as the number one defenceman in Oshawa at just 17 while collecting 63 points in his rookie campaign.

Congratulations to the de Haan family from the entire CJHL.

With the addition of the 12th and final team in the CJHL, the Board of Governors ratified a 62 game schedule which sees each team play their divisional rivals(North/South) six times, and their 2 non-divisional geographical rivals six times (East/West/Central)  with five games against the remaining 4 other teams.

The YZERMAN Division is now comprised of the teams along the Highway 417/Ottawa River (North) corridor.  From west to east that places Pembroke, Kanata, Nepean (alumni Steve YZERMAN), Ottawa, Gloucester and Cumberland in the Yzerman.  6 games against the other 5 teams.

The ROBINSON Division will be comprised of the teams in the Highway 401/Rideau-St. Lawrence (South) corridor.  From east to west that places Hawkesbury, Cornwall, Brockville (alumni Larry ROBINSON), Kemptville, Smiths Falls and the expansion Carleton Place team in the Robinson.  6 games against the other 5 teams

The Western Block is Pembroke, Kanata, Carleton Place and Smiths Falls...6 games against the other 2 teams

The Central Block is Nepean, Ottawa, Kemptville and Brockville...6 games against the other 2 teams

Eastern Block is Gloucester, Cumberland, Cornwall and Hawkesbury....6 games against the other 2 teams

That gives each team 42 games against divisional and geographical rivals. 

The remaining 20 are against the other 4 teams which include the showcase matchups.  That leaves 5 games per opponent-2 home, 2 away and 1 showcase.

With a nearly balanced schedule, the playoff format will remain the same, with the top 8 qualifying regardless of division. Only four games are shy of making it a fully balanced schedule.

The increase to 62 game will reduce travel based on the schedule imbalance and the designated showcase games.  Showcase opponents will always be four non-divisional, non-geographical teams.

Once again the CJHL has demonstrated it`s leadership in hosting a camp for the Team Canada East program.  In the previous two seasons, the CJHL was the first league to gather its prospects for the staff of TCE to evaluate.

This season, another new feature will see the CJHL compete against the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League and the Northern Ontario Junior A Hockey League in a one day extravaganza in Renfew, ON at the Ma-Te-Way Complex.

Three full games will be played on August 15th with each team meeting the other two leagues with games slotted for 1 pm, 4 pm and 7 pm.  Junior A enthusiasts can attend all day for a nominal admission of just $10!

Watch this site for the roster announcements coming in the next few weeks.

The 2009 World Junior A Challenge takes place in November in Summerside, PEI with Brockville Braves Head Coach and General Manager Todd Gill in the Head Coaching position.

The CJHL will release it's schedule and alignment for the 2009-10 season this week.

The season opening showcase is set for September 11-13 which will see all 12 teams play two regular season games.  Once again, NHL, NCAA and CHL personnel will flock to the Showcase to see who is who in the CJHL for the upcoming season.

The CJHL will see teams play a 62 game schedule, with the top 8 qualifying for post season action and the quest for the Bogart-Nielsen Cup.

Watch for the complete schedule here soon!

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