The Doyle Cup is an ice hockey trophy won through a best-of-7 series conducted annually by the Canadian Junior Hockey League to determine the Pacific region berth in the Centennial Cup, the national Junior A championship. From 1971 to 2021, the series was played between the Fred Page Cup champions of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) and the Enerflex Cup champions of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), except from 2013 to 2017 when it was replaced by the Western Canada Cup. Its future status is uncertain because of format changes to the national championship and the BCHL's withdrawal from the CJHL after the 2020–21 season. The current trophy was donated in 1984 by Pete Doyle, a Penticton, British Columbia businessman, replacing the Pacific Centennial Cup that two leagues competed for from 1971 to 1984.
 | |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| League | Canadian Junior Hockey League |
| Awarded for | Pacific region champion |
| Country | Canada |
| History | |
| First award | 1985 (Pacific Centennial Cup 1971–84) |
| Most wins | Vernon Vipers (8) |
| Most recent | Prince George Spruce Kings (2019) |
The Pacific region's Doyle Cup Champion traditionally played the Western region's ANAVET Cup champion for the Abbott Cup, the Western Canadian Championship. However, the Abbott Cup diminished in importance following the reorganization of the national championship in 1990. The Abbott Cup was then presented to the winner of the round-robin game, between the Pacific champion and Western champion, during the larger Royal Cup competition; this practice ended, and the Abbott Cup was retired, after the 1999 season.
Champions edit
- The BCHL was known as the BCJHL until 1990
- Also in 1976, 1977, and 1979 a PCJHL champion defeated the BCJHL champion at the Mowatt Cup to advance to this round.
- Bolded are the champions.
- Notes
- ^ Hockey Canada and the CJHL cancelled the 2020 and 2021 Doyle Cups in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The 2022 Doyle Cup was not played due to elimination of regional playoffs by Hockey Canada.[1][2][3]
Results by team edit
- results as of 2012 Doyle Cup
| Team | League | Champions | Runners-up | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vernon Essos/Lakers/Vipers | BCHL | 8 | 3 | 11 |
| Camrose Kodiaks | AJHL | 5 | 5 | |
| Penticton Broncos/Vees/Knights/Vees | BCHL | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| Spruce Grove Mets/St. Albert Saints/Spruce Grove Saints | AJHL | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| Calgary Canucks | AJHL | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| Red Deer Rustlers | AJHL | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| New Westminster Royals/South Surrey Eagles/Surrey Eagles | BCHL | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Fort McMurray Oil Barons | AJHL | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Olds Grizzlys | AJHL | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Chilliwack Chiefs | BCHL | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Richmond Sockeyes | BCHL/PJHL | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Fort Saskatchewan Traders | AJHL | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Kelowna Spartans | BCHL | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Nanaimo Clippers | BCHL | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Abbotsford Flyers | BCHL | 1 | 1 | |
| Burnaby Express | BCHL | 1 | 1 | |
| Kelowna Buckaroos | BCHL | 1 | 1 | |
| Langley Eagles | BCHL | 1 | 1 | |
| Merritt Centennials | BCHL | 1 | 1 | |
| Wenatchee Wild | BCHL | 1 | 1 | |
| Grande Prairie Storm | AJHL | 2 | 2 | |
| Brooks Bandits | AJHL | 1 | 1 | |
| Calgary Royals | AJHL | 1 | 1 | |
| Drayton Valley Thunder | AJHL | 1 | 1 | |
| Bellingham Blazers | BCHL | 1 | 1 | |
| Nor'Wes Caps | PJHL | 1 | 1 | |
| Victoria Salsa | BCHL | 1 | 1 |
Results by league edit
- results as of 2012 Doyle Cup
| League | Champions | Runners-up | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia Hockey League | 25 | 15 | 40 |
| Alberta Junior Hockey League | 18 | 25 | 43 |
| Pacific Junior A Hockey League | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Alberta/British Columbia Junior "A" Championship (1962–1970) edit
Prior to the 1970–71 season, the winner of this series was a part of the Memorial Cup playoffs.
- 1970 Not Contested*
- 1969 Lethbridge Sugar Kings (AJHL)
- 1968 Penticton Broncos (BCJHL)
- 1967 New Westminster Royals (PCJHL)
- 1966 Edmonton Oil Kings (AJHL)
- 1965 Edmonton Oil Kings (AJHL)
- 1964 Edmonton Oil Kings (AJHL)
- 1963 Edmonton Oil Kings (AJHL)
- 1962 Edmonton Oil Kings (AJHL)
(*) The AJHL Champion did not challenge the BCJHL Champion for the right to appear in the Abbott Cup.
References edit
- ^ "Hockey Canada statement in response to coronavirus (COVID-19)". Hockey Canada. 12 March 2020.
- ^ "Hockey Canada statement on spring 2021 national championships". Hockey Canada. 5 February 2021.
- ^ "Hockey Canada Announces Updates to Spring 2022 National Championships". SJHL. 22 March 2022.