The Nova Scotia U18 Major Hockey League (NSU18MHL, formerly NSMMHL) is a Nova Scotian ice hockey league for Major AAA players under 18 years old. It is a part of and follows the regulations set by the Hockey Nova Scotia organisation. Successful players in this league often go on to play in the MHL and QMJHL.
History The league was founded and began playing in the 1978–79 season as the Maritime Midget Hockey League. During the first season there were seven teams in the league with four based in Nova Scotia and three based in New Brunswick. Since its founding the league has rebranded multiple times, first as the Nova Scotia AAA Midget Hockey League (NSAAAMHL) in 1983, then as the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League (NSMMHL) in 2002, and finally as the Nova Scotia U18 Major Hockey League in 2019. It was founded to offer an opportunity for under 18 players from the Maritimes to compete at the highest possible level for their age group, with many associations spinning off their AAA teams to play in the broader Nova Scotia league.
Teams 2025-26 Season Team Joined Centre Arena Cape Breton West Islanders - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia Al MacInnis Sports Centre Halifax Macs 1978 Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax Forum South Shore Mustangs 1985 Bridgewater, Nova Scotia Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre Sydney Rush - Sydney, Nova Scotia Membertou Dartmouth Steele Subarus 2011 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Dartmouth Sportsplex Weeks Major U18 Majors 1986 Pictou County, Nova Scotia Pictou County Wellness Centre Valley Wildcats (U18) - Berwick, Nova Scotia Kings Mutual Century Center March & Mill Co. Hunters Hockey - Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia Cole Harbour Place
League champions During the regular season the league tracks the teams with the most wins who then go on to compete in the league finals for the champion title.
For the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons no league champion was crowned due to the finals being cancelled by COVID-19 pandemic related lock-downs.
SeasonSeason Champions Provincial Champions 2024–25 Halifax Macs Halifax Macs 2023–24 Halifax Macs Halifax Macs 2022–23 Weeks U18 Majors Weeks U18 Majors 2021–22 Halifax Macs Halifax Macs 2020–21 Halifax Macs Playoffs Cancelled due to Covid-19 2019–20 South Shore Mustangs Playoffs Cancelled due to Covid-19 2018–19 Cole Harbour Halifax Macs 2017–18 Halifax Macs Steele Subaru 2016–17 Cape Breton West Islanders Cape Breton West Islanders 2015–16 Cole HarbourSteele Subaru 2014–15 Halifax MacsNewbridge Academy 2013–14 Halifax Macs Halifax Macs 2012–13 Valley Wildcats Valley Wildcats 2011-12 Halifax Titans Halifax Titans 2010-11 Dartmouth Ice Dawgs Halifax Titans 2009-10Halifax Titans Cole Harbour McCains 2008-09Cole Harbour McCains Cole Harbour McCains 2007-08 Dartmouth Subways Cole Harbour McCains 2006-07 Pictou County Weeks Dartmouth Subways
Notable players Morgan Barron Shane Bowers Sidney Crosby Ryan Graves Nathan MacKinnon Brad Marchand Glen Murray Logan Shaw James Sheppard
References
External links NSU18MHL Website