Around the CHL ~ volume #1 preview edition #11

The Canadian Hockey League regular season begins in less than 3 weeks so to get you ready I thought I would recap how last season went. Check back all year long for more stories about the CHL and your Mooseheads. 

here are last year's leaders:
Division champions 2024-25
WHL - Everett Silvertips (U.S.) 68 games played, 48-12-4-4 record, 104 points, 277 goals for/178 goals against; Medicine Hat Tigers (Central) 68 games played, 47-17-3-1 record, 98 points, 300 goals for/193 goals against; Victoria Royals (B.C.) 68 games played, 40-17-4-7 record, 91 points, 272 goals for/218 goals against; Prince Albert Raiders (East) 68 games played, 39-23-5-1 record, 84 points, 253 goals for/228 goals against 

OHL - London Knights (Midwest) 68 games played, 55-11-2-0 record, 112 points, 325 goals for/180 goals against; Windsor Spitfires (West) 68 games played, 45-17-4-2 record, 96 points, 309 goals for/223 goals against; Brantford Bulldogs (East) 68 games played, 44-19-5-0 record, 93 points, 281 goals for/221 goals against; Barrie Colts (Central) 68 games played, 42-22-2-2 record, 88 points, 250 goals for/219 goals against
QMJHL - Moncton Wildcats (Maritimes) 64 games played, 53-9-2-0 record, 108 points, 294 goals for/144 goals against; Rimouski Oceanic (East) 64 games played, 46-14-2-2 record, 96 points, 249 goals for/178 goals against; Drummondville Voltiguers (Central) 64 games, 40-18-3-3 record, 86 points, 224 goals for/174 goals against; Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (West) 64 games played, 37-19-3-5 record, 82 points, 258 goals for/210 goals against

League championships 2025
President's Cup - Moncton Wildcats vs. Rimouski Oceanic (Wildcats won series 4 games to 2 games)
J. Ross Robertson Cup - London Knights vs. Oshawa Generals (Knights won series 4 games to 1 game)
Ed Chynoweth Cup - Medicine Hat Tigers vs. Spokane Chiefs (Tigers won series 4 games to 1 game)

Memorial Cup 2025
Teams - London (OHL champion), Medicine Hat (WHL champion), Moncton (QMJHL champion) and Rimouski (Hosts)

Final June 1, 2025 London vs. Medicine Hat 4-1

LONDON KNIGHTS WIN 2025 MEMORIAL CUP!!!


Team changes
The Penticton Vees joined the Western Hockey League as its 23rd team from the BCHL. The Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League were relocated to St. John's and named the Newfoundland Regiment. 

London will look to repeat as Memorial Cup champions. This year the Memorial Cup will be held in Kelowna, home of the Kelowna Rockets who will be in the tournament no matter what. The 2025 CHL USA Top Prospects two game series will be hosted by the Calgary Hitmen and the Lethbridge Hurricanes on November 25 and 26, respectively. 

Defenceman Schultz Named Captain

Photo - Herd Facebook

Our Halifax Mooseheads have named their leadership group for the 2024-25 QMJHL season and veteran defenceman Brady Schultz was given the C on Wednesday. 

The 20-year-old was originally a 14th round pick by the club in the 2020 Entry Draft and is entering his fourth season on the blueline. He is the 36th captain in team history and first American born player to earn the honour according to the press release. 

Schultz was presented a new jersey with the letter on it during a team meeting. Joining the Monroe, CT native as full-time alternates will be forward Braeden MacPhee (20) and defenceman Owen Phillips (18). While 19-year-old Jack Martin and 17-year-old Liam Kilfoil are going to split leadership duties at home and away games. 

Congratulations to all five players, especially Brady on being named Captain. 

Season Roster Announced

YOUR 2024-25 HALIFAX MOOSEHEADS

5  Brady Schultz  D  Monroe, CT, USA

7  Carlos Handel  D  Erlangen, Germany*
8  Jack Martin  D  Upper Coverdale, NB

9  Liam Kilfoil  C  Quispamsis, NB

14  Logan Crosby  RW  Salt Springs, NS
15  Dominic MacKenzie  D  Stellarton, NS

17  Patrick McNab  C  Beaconsfield, QC*
19  Caylen Blake  LW  Corner Brook, NL*

20  Daniel Walters  C  Halifax, NS*

21  Braeden MacPhee  RW  Moncton, NB
26  Owen Phillips  D  Hammonds Plains, NS

28  Jan Sprynar  RW  Zatec, Czechia

32  Alec Nasreddine  LW  Mountainside, NJ, USA

35  Jack Milner  G  Antigonish, NS

37  Amelio Santini  C  Cote-Saint-Luc, QC*

41  Justin Breton  C  Saint-Leon-de-Stanton, QC*

51  Eddy Doyle  D  Tignish, PE

55  Shawn Carrier  LW  Trois-Rivieres, QC

56  Lincoln Waugh  D  Summerside, PE

60  Mathis Rousseau  G  Boisbriand, QC
63  Jake Todd  C  Beaver Bank, NS
67  Lou Levesque  LW  Saint-Jerome, QC
89  Antoine Fontaine  C  Granby, QC
90  Cade Moser  RW  Linacy, NS

*indicates rookie

Events

The Halifax Mooseheads released their promotional schedule recently and it looks a bit different from years past, but below you will find the annual charity events that happen. It seems that once again the Hurley Cup will not be played but I hope that they change their minds because it is one of my favourite events. 

Annual events
HOME OPENER - October 4 vs. Quebec Remparts
DND Appreciation Night - November 9 vs. Baie-Comeau Drakkar     
Toque Toss - December 14 vs. Charlottetown Islanders     
Mooseheads Fight Cancer - February 8 vs. Acadie-Bathurst Titan  
Fan Appreciation Night - March 22 vs. Charlottetown Islanders

Minor hockey nights: Nov. 10, Dec. 6, Jan. 24, Feb. 22, Mar. 16
Student nights: Nov. 21 & Jan. 23 

See the full promotional schedule in the 'Schedule' tab. 

Mooseheads 2024-25 Schedule Announced

Photo - Herd website

The Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League announced the 2024-25 regular season schedule a few months ago, including all 64 Halifax Mooseheads games. 

Yes, I did say 64 games. The league made the decision in the spring to change the amount of matches in a season from 68 to sixty-four lessoning the strain on the players. Halifax will open up the season with a five-game road trip through the Maritimes starting in Charlottetown on September 20. Puck will drop at 7:00 p.m. at Eastlink Centre. 

Some highlights from the schedule:

• The Mooseheads hit the Scotiabank Centre ice for the first time in the new season on October 4 when they welcome the Quebec Remparts. Puck drops at 7:00 p.m. 
• Halifax will have their first Quebec road trip October 25-27 when they visit Shawinigan, Victoriaville and Sherbrooke. 
• A home-and-home series between the two Nova Scotian teams is back for this season with the clubs meeting on December 30 in Cape Breton before having a New Year's Eve afternoon game in Moose Country. It's yet to be seen if the Hurley Cup will make a return. 
• There will be a number of Sunday afternoon home games, a total of nine which is more than I have seen in a long time. 
• Halifax's final match of the season sees them host the Charlottetown Islanders in a Saturday matinee on March 22.