A new league has arrived in Manitoba and that is the Manitoba Women’s Junior Hockey League. The MWJHL was officially accepted into Hockey Manitoba on June 16 and the official league play will begin on Sunday, October 17th at the Winnipeg winter Club. (Winnipeg Free Press and Winnipeg Sun coverage june 29, 2004)

Originally targeting 4 teams it appears 5 teams will now be playing for the premiere season with rosters from 16 – 18 players. The MWJHL is an Under 22 Competitive Hockey League with players 18 – 20 years of age plus each team is allowed 4 players at the 21 age group. Affiliations are also to be developed with Winnipeg Minor and the Winnipeg Women’s Hockey League. A partnership with the University of Manitoba Women’s Bisons Hockey Team and Coach John Rempel has also been arranged.

There is a strong possibility of a travel team being developed out of the league with an interest in playing in sanctioned Tournaments. Also, tentative plans are in the works to host a Junior Women’s Tournament in late October or in November, 2005 in Winnipeg.

For more information please visit the MWJHL website at www.mwjhl.ca .