MENU
Erin Riley
“A” Preview

Atom
West: The Vaughan Rangers went undefeated during their inaugural GTHL season to take the Pro Hockey Life Cup by a mile. The playoffs were no different as the Rangers swept three out of four series’ to claim the Scotiabank GTHL Playoff title.

East: A tie-breaker between North Toronto and the North York Knights would determine the Pro Hockey Life Cup champions. A one-goal game crowned Knights as the regular season champs, but when it came to the playoffs, it would be the seventh-place Toronto Shamrocks who would surprise. The Shamrocks defeated the Knights in only four games in the East semi-final before falling to the Vaughan Rangers in the final.

Teams to Watch: North Toronto, North York Knights, Toronto Shamrocks, Vaughan Rangers

Minor Peewee
West: A tight regular-season race saw the West Mall Lightning take the Pro Hockey Life Cup by a single point. The Bolts were blindsided in the playoffs by the fourth-seeded Toronto Eagles, who would soar to the final, sweeping first-place North Toronto.

East: North Toronto’s 30-1-5 regular season record earned them their second straight Pro Hockey Life Cup. When it came to the post-season, North Toronto would make it look effortless until they reached the final where they were swept by an underdog from the West.

Teams to Watch: North Toronto, Toronto Eagles, West Mall Lightning, North York Knights

Peewee
West: The Pro Hockey Life Cup winning Avalanche went 3-0-0 against the fifth-seeded Vaughan Panthers during the regular season, but when it came to the post-season, the Panthers would eliminate the Pro Hockey Life Cup champs in the West semi-finals. The Panthers celebration was short-lived as the second place Vaughan Rangers came roaring in, sweeping the Panthers and moving on to defeat the East champions in a mere four games, taking the Scotiabank GTHL Playoff title.

East: The Forest Hill Force finished two points ahead of the Leaside Flames to take the Pro Hockey Life Cup. With the Flames eliminated in the East semi-finals, the Force would face and defeat the third-place East Enders Ticats to punch their ticket to the finals against the Rangers. With the Rangers on a roll, the Force would fall in four.

Teams to Watch: Avalanche, Vaughan Rangers, Forest Hill Force, Leaside Flames

Minor Bantam
West: With only one loss all season, the Vaughan Rangers earned themselves a repeat as Pro Hockey Life Cup champions. Sweeping their first two series’, the Rangers would once again face the Don Mill Mustangs in the final. Unlike their Minor Peewee season, the Rangers would defeat the Mustangs to become the new Scotiabank GTHL Playoff champions. Will we see a re-match in 2019-20?

East: The Don Mills Mustangs were able to clinch their second straight Pro Hockey Life Cup with a 28-4-4 record. The Mustangs would see a familiar foe in the playoff finals, but unlike the season previous, would not come out on the victorious end.

Teams to Watch: Don Mills Mustangs, Vaughan Rangers, Toronto Eagles, York Mills

Bantam
West: Starting the season on a five-game winning streak would be reflective of the season to come for the Vaughan Rangers. Clinching the Pro Hockey Life Cup would be just the beginning as the Rangers would go on to defeat the first-place Markham Islanders in the Scotiabank GTHL Playoffs. Can the Rangers repeat to punch their ticket to Provincials?

East: The reigning Pro Hockey Life Cup champion Leaside Flames settled for second place after the Markham Islanders shot to the top of the standings. The Islanders avoided a matchup with the Flames in the playoffs, but would ultimately fall to the Vaughan Rangers in a hard-fought six-game series.

Teams to Watch: Markham Islanders, Leaside Flames, Vaughan Rangers, Avalanche

Minor Midget
West: The Vaughan Rangers claimed the Pro Hockey Life Cup, but when it came to the post-season, the reigning regular-season champion Toronto Wolverines would ruin the Rangers party. Facing the Shamrocks in the final, the Wolverines would lose out on a Scotiabank GTHL Playoff title in four games.

East: After dominating the division last season, the Toronto Aeros had to work a little harder to earn their second consecutive Pro Hockey Life Cup. With identical regular-season records, the Aeros and Toronto Shamrocks competed in a tie-breaker, seeing the Aeros repeat as champions with a 3-2 victory. The two teams would meet again in the East final, this time with the Shamrocks coming out on the winning end. Expect the two teams to continue their dominance in the division.

Teams to Watch: Toronto Aeros, Toronto Shamrocks, Toronto Rangers, Toronto Wolverines

Midget Junior
West: Settling for second place in the regular season during their Bantam year, the Avalanche played their way to the top during the 2018-19 season, earning their keep as Pro Hockey Life Cup champions. The Avalanche would play their hearts out during the post-season, but it wouldn’t be enough to defeat the red hot Leaside Flames in the final.

East: Few teams were able to extinguish the Leaside Flames’ fire. The Flames posted a 34-1-1 regular season record and wouldn’t slow down in post-season action. The Flames were able to defeat the first-place Avalanche in four games, earning them the Scotiabank GTHL Playoff title.

Teams to Watch: Avalanche, Leaside Flames, Vaughan Rangers, Forest Hill Force

Midget
West: Finishing four points ahead of the Humberview Huskies, the Vaughan Rangers earned the title of Pro Hockey Life Cup champions for 2018-19. The second-seeded Humberview Huskies would eliminate the Rangers to earn a berth in the final. The Scotiabank GTHL Playoff Final saw a battle between two second-place teams, with the Huskies falling to the Forest Hill Force.

East: The Leaside Flames would repeat as Pro Hockey Life Cup champs, but when it came to the post-season, it was the second-seeded Forest Hill Force who would come in hot. The Force would sweep the Flames in the semi-final, working their way to a Scotiabank GTHL Playoff title in a six-game series against the Humberview Huskies.

Teams to Watch: Leaside Flames, Forest Hill Force, Humberview Huskies, Vaughan Rangers

More News
GTHL releases formats for 2025 Playoffs presented by GSW
3 days ago
Three GTHL alumni named to Canada's National Men's Team for 2024 Spengler Cup
6 days ago
U10 ‘A’ Applewood Coyotes give back to Mississauga Food Bank
6 days ago
Markham Islanders host second annual Sylvia Jacobs Memorial Winter Classic
1 week ago
King Clancy Cup returns for 2024-25 season
1 week ago
GTHL hosting free women and girls coaching clinics for fifth consecutive season
1 week ago