The Ontario Women's Hockey League U22 Elite (OWHL), formerly the Provincial Women's Hockey League, is a women's junior ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada. Founded in 2004, it is considered to be the highest level of amateur women's ice hockey in Ontario, and is sanctioned by Hockey Canada and the Ontario Women's Hockey Association.
OWHL alumni have gone on to play in the Professional Women's Hockey League, National Collegiate Athletic Association, and U Sports, and for the Canadian national team.
History
The league was founded in 2004 as the Provincial Women's Hockey League by the Ontario Women's Hockey Association (OWHA). It is the women's equivalent to men's junior hockey, but is officially classified by the OWHA as "Intermediate AA," as the OWHA does not have an official "junior" classification system. Despite this, its teams market themselves as women's junior hockey.
In the early years of the league, when PWHL teams had to compete for OWHA provincials they would do so with representatives of the Ottawa District. The PWHL franchises proved much more competitive than their Ottawa counterparts and after two seasons Ottawa applied to and joined the PWHL. By the 2009 league playoffs, the Ottawa Senators beat the league powerhouse Toronto Jr. Aeros to win its first league championship.
In the 2019–20 season, the playoffs were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The following season was not played due to coronavirus-related restrictions.
At some point following the pandemic, the league was renamed to the Ontario Women's Hockey League (OWHL).
Teams
Team Centre Joined Aurora Jr. Panthers Aurora, Ontario 2004 Barrie Jr. Sharks Barrie, Ontario 2011 Bluewater Jr. Hawks Strathroy, Ontario 2004 Brampton Jr. Canadettes Brampton, Ontario 2004 Burlington Jr. Barracudas Burlington, Ontario 2004 Cambridge Rivulettes Cambridge, Ontario 2004 Durham West Jr. Lightning Ajax, Ontario 2004 Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins Etobicoke, Toronto 2004 Kingston Ice Wolves Kingston, Ontario 2012 London Jr. Devilettes London, Ontario 2004 Mississauga Jr. Hurricanes Mississauga, Ontario 2004 Nepean Jr. Wildcats Nepean, Ontario 2010 Oakville Jr. Hornets Oakville, Ontario 2004 Ottawa Lady Senators Ottawa, Ontario 2006 Southwest Wildcats Windsor, Ontario 2004 Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres Stoney Creek, Ontario 2004 Toronto Jr. Aeros North York, Toronto 2004 Toronto Leaside Jr. Wildcats Leaside, Toronto 2012 Waterloo Ravens Waterloo, Ontario 2008 Whitby Jr. Wolves Whitby, Ontario 2005
Defunct franchises Chatham Outlaws (2004–2006) Hamilton Hawks (2004–2011) Markham-Stouffville Stars (2004–2009)
Champions Championships by year Year Regular season League Championship Provincial Championship Provincial Women's Hockey League 2005 Toronto Jr. Aeros Toronto Jr. Aeros Toronto Jr. Aeros 2006 Toronto Jr. Aeros Toronto Jr. Aeros Toronto Jr. Aeros 2007 Toronto Jr. Aeros Toronto Jr. Aeros Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres 2008 Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres Ottawa NCCP Jr. Capitals 2009 Toronto Jr. Aeros Ottawa Lady Senators Mississauga Jr. Chiefs 2010 Mississauga Jr. Chiefs Toronto Jr. Aeros Toronto Jr. Aeros 2011 Mississauga Jr. Chiefs Toronto Jr. Aeros Mississauga Jr. Chiefs 2012 Toronto Jr. Aeros Bluewater Jr. Hawks Bluewater Jr. Hawks 2013 Whitby Jr. Wolves Whitby Jr. Wolves Durham West Jr. Lightning 2014 Nepean Jr. Wildcats Whitby Jr. Wolves Mississauga Jr. Chiefs 2015 Oakville Jr. Hornets Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres Oakville Jr. Hornets 2016 Durham West Jr. Lightning Toronto Jr. Aeros Toronto Jr. Aeros 2017 Oakville Jr. Hornets Oakville Jr. Hornets Oakville Jr. Hornets 2018 Toronto Jr. Aeros Toronto Jr. Aeros Toronto Jr. Aeros 2019 Kingston Ice Wolves London Jr. Devilettes London Jr. Devilettes 2020 Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins No tournament held 2021 Season not played Ontario Women's Hockey League U22 Elite 2022 Durham West Jr. Lightning Durham West Jr. Lightning Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins 2023 Durham West Jr. Lightning London Jr. Devilettes Durham West Jr. Lightning 2024 Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins Durham West Jr. Lightning Burlington Barracudas2025Etobicoke Jr. DolphinsStoney Creek SabresEtobicoke Jr. Dolphins
Championships by team Team Regular season League Championship Provincial Championship Bluewater Jr. Hawks 1: 2012 1: 2012 Burlington Barracudas 1: 2024 Durham West Jr. Lightning 3: 2016, 2022, 2023 2: 2022, 2024 2: 2013, 2023 Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins 3: 2020, 2024, 2025 2: 2022, 2025 Kingston Jr. Ice Wolves 1: 2019 London Jr. Devilettes 2: 2019, 2023 1: 2019 Mississauga Jr. Chiefs/Hurricanes 2: 2010, 2011 3: 2009, 2011, 2014 Nepean Jr. Wildcats 1: 2014 Oakville Jr. Hornets 2: 2015, 2017 1: 2017 2: 2015, 2017 Ottawa Lady Senators 1: 2009 1: 2008 Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres 1: 2008 3: 2008, 2015, 2025 1: 2007 Toronto Jr. Aeros 6: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2018 7: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2018 5: 2005, 2006, 2010, 2016, 2018 Whitby Jr. Wolves 1: 2013 2: 2013, 2014
"Triple Crown" winners Two teams have won the regular season, league championship, and provincial championship in the same season. The first to do it was the Toronto Jr. Aeros, accomplishing the feat back-to-back in the league's first two seasons.
2005 Toronto Jr. Aeros 2006 Toronto Jr. Aeros 2017 Oakville Jr. Hornets 2018 Toronto Jr. Aeros
Awards
Regular season champions Season Team Record Points2004–05 Toronto Jr. Aeros 23–5–2 482005–06 Toronto Jr. Aeros 27–0–3 572006–07 Toronto Jr. Aeros 22–6–4 482007–08 Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres 27–2–3 572008–09 Toronto Jr. Aeros 27–5–2 562009–10 Mississauga Chiefs 29–2–3–0 612010–11 Mississauga Chiefs 33–3–0–0 662011–12 Toronto Jr. Aeros 31–1–1–1 642012–13 Whitby Jr. Wolves 29–6–2–1 612013–14 Nepean Jr. Wildcats 32–3–2–1 672014–15 Oakville Jr. Hornets 31–3–4–0 662015–16 Durham West Jr. Lightning 27–2–5–4 632016–17Oakville Jr. Hornets31–3–4–0662017–18Toronto Jr. Aeros31–3–4–0662018–19Kingston Ice Wolves28–2–7–1642019–20 Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins 27–4–6 612020–212021–22 Durham West Jr. Lightning 28–0–1–1 582022–23 Durham West Jr. Lightning36-4-31112023–24 Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins40-1-21222024-25Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins40-5-0122
Scoring champion Season Player TeamG-A-P2004–05 2005–06 Mallory Deluce Bluewater Jr. Hawks 18-45–632006–07 Laura McIntosh Mississauga Jr. Chiefs 21-33–542007–08 Kelly Sabatine Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres 28-32–602008–09 Kelly Sabatine Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres 33-35–682009–10 Theadora Imbrognohttp://pwhl.pointstreaksites.com/view/pwhl/news-|- 174/news_12277 Mississauga Jr. Chiefs 28-34–622010–11 Jenna Dingeldein Mississauga Jr. Chiefs 21-40–612011–12 Emily Janiga Burlington Jr. Barracudas 27-21–482012–13 Krista Yip-Chuck Whitby Jr. Wolves 29-36–652013–14 Victoria Bach Mississauga Jr. Chiefs 36-32–682014–15 Jessie Eldridge Toronto Jr. Aeros 29-35–642015–16 Daryl Watts Mississauga Jr. Chiefs 30-35–652016–17 Emma Maltais Oakville Hornets 22-34–562017–18 Maggie McKee London Devilettes 14-32–462018–19 Maggie McKee London Devilettes 15-41–562019–20 Kiara ZanonKingston Ice Wolves 33-31–642021-22Madison ChantlerLondon Devilettes19-19-382022-23Kahlen LamarcheMississauga Hurricanes46-36-822023-24Claire MurdochBurlington Barracudas51-73-1242024-25Maxine CimoroniMississauga Hurricanes41-45-86
Goaltending Award
Season Player TeamGAA2004–05 Melissa John/Jamie Miller Toronto Jr. Aeros 1.502005–06 Christina Kessler/Jamie Miller Toronto Jr. Aeros 0.932006–07 Jamie Miller Toronto Jr. Aeros 1.282007–08 Cassandra McNichol Mississauga Jr. Chiefs 1.132008–09 Cassie Seguin Ottawa Senators 1.342009–10 Olivia Ross Mississauga Jr. Chiefs 0.982010–11 Ali Binnington/Bridget Smith Mississauga Jr. Chiefs 1.002011–12 Taylor Hough Toronto Jr. Aeros 0.712012–13 Jackie Rochefort Durham West Jr. Lightning 0.942013–14 Kira Bombay Nepean Jr. Wildcats 0.822014–15 Sarah McDonnell Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres 1.032015–16 Danika Ranger Durham West Jr. Lightning 0.832016–17 Makenzy Arsenault Whitby Wolves .842017–18 Natalie Thompson Toronto Aeros .712018–19 Andrea Fausto Stoney Creek Sabres 1.042019–20 Michelle Pasiechnyk Nepean Wildcats 1.33
Coach of the Year
Season Coach Team2004–05 Paul Rockett Brampton Jr. Canadettes2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 Dave Gwyn Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins2010–11 Rick Sullivan Bluewater Jr. Hawks2011–12 Christina Jolliffe London Jr. Devilettes2012–13 Wayne McDonald Durham West Jr. Lightning2013–14 Bruce MacDonald Nepean Jr. Wildcats2014–15 Jessica Turri Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins2015–16 Kim McCulloughLeaside Wildcats2016–17 Troy Sweet Kingston Jr Ice Wolves2017–18 Geoff Haddaway Cambridge Rivulettes2018–19 Chad Campbell Waterloo K-W Rangers2019–20 Stacey Marnoch Stoney Creek Sabres
Christie Rose Scholarship
For ten years, the PWHL awarded a scholarship in memory of former PWHL player Christie Rose. She was an 18-year-old young woman who died on June 24, 2008, as a result of her injuries suffered in a car accident. The scholarship is awarded on an annual basis to recognize a young woman who shares the same qualities and characteristics as Christie. The scholarship program was ended after it awarded its tenth recipient.
Recipients Year Player Team2009 Kaitlyn Bannon London Jr. Devilettes2010 Blair Connelly Bluewater Jr. Hawks2011 Stacey Scott London Jr. Devilettes2012 Michelle Tanel Durham West Jr. Lightning2013 Clare McKellarLondon Jr. Devilettes2014 Caitlin Lee/Erran LeeKingston Ice Wolves2015 Davis SmithBluewater Jr. Hawks2016 Emma ForceyBluewater Jr. Hawks2017 Tayler Murphy Mississauga Chiefs2018 Maggie McKee London Devilettes
References
External links Provincial Women's Hockey League Website Ontario Womens Hockey Association Website