WOODSTOCK NAVY VETS HISTORY
The Woodstock Navy Vets were preceded by the Woodstock Warriors who were an OHA Junior B team in the Central and Western leagues from 1951–52 to 1961–62, winning the Sutherland Cup in the 1954–55 season with a team that included a 15-year old rookie and future NHL player and Hall of Famer Bobby Hull who led the team in scoring, as well as famed hockey father Walter Gretzky.
The Woodstock Navy Vets were founded in 1966 by Sam Keeping after a 4-year Woodstock junior hockey hiatus, and played their inaugural 1966-67 season in the Intercounty Junior C Hockey League (ICJCHL) along with the Ingersoll Marlands, Dundas Merchants, Paris Flyers, Brantford Chiefs, and Simcoe Blades. The Navy Vets won the ICJCHL title in that inaugural 1966-67 season and won their only OHA Junior C Schmalz Cup championship in the 1968–69 season, beating the Oakville Blades in seven games in the final.
In 1971–72 the Navy Vets joined the Western Junior B Hockey League when the ICJCHL disbanded joining Kitchener Ranger B’s, St.Marys Lincolns, Elmira Sugar Kings, Stratford Warriors, London Squires, and Waterloo Siskins.
In 1972-73 after just 1 season in the WJBHL they returned to the Central Junior C Hockey League joining the Caledonia Corvairs, New Hamburg Hahns, Listowel Cyclones, Simcoe Jets, Kitchener Flying Dutchmen, Hanover Barons, St.Thomas Colonels, and Paris-Burford Flyers. They won 4 consecutive OHA Super Junior C George S. Dudley Trophy titles from 1973 to 1976.
In 1976–77 the Navy Vets became a charter member of the new Southwestern Junior B Hockey League along with the St. Thomas Colonels, London Diamonds, Tillsonburg Mavericks, Simcoe Jets, and Brantford Penguins. Future NHL star Bernie Nicholls was top scorer of the 1977-78 team.
In 1978-79 the SWJBHL folded after two seasons and the Navy Vets joined the Niagara & District Junior C Hockey League where they played until 2012–13.
The team was known briefly as the Renegades for three seasons from 2007–08 to 2009–10, before returning to the Navy Vets brand for the 2010-11 season.
It was during this 35-year span that the Navy Vets enjoyed their greatest success – 8 Niagara West Division 1st place pennants, 10 Niagara West Division Championships, 4 Niagara District League Titles, 4 OHA SF appearances (last one in 2002), and 1 OHA Finals appearance (1984). Future NHLer Mike Craig played with the 1986-87 team. Former NHL veteran linesman and current GOHL Referee-in-Chief Brad Kovachik was the Navy Vets leading scorer and MVP in the 1989-90 season.
For the 2013-14 season OHA realigned the NDJCHL and SOJHL Junior C leagues and formed a new Midwestern Junior C Hockey League (MWJCHL) which included the Navy Vets, along with Norwich Merchants, New Hamburg Firebirds, and Paris Mounties from the NDJHL West and Ayr Centennials, Burford Bulldogs, Delhi Travellers, Tavistock Braves and Wellesley Applejacks from the SOJHL.
For the 2016-17 season the eight Ontario Junior C leagues joined together to become divisions in a newly created Provincial Junior Hockey League, with the MWJCHL (including the Navy Vets) becoming the Doherty Division and a member of the South Conference.
The Navy Vets had a resurgence the last 5 seasons – 4 seasons of 27+ wins, 2 1st place pennants, and 2 division finals appearances … along with multiple division awards winners including 2 scoring champions and 2 MVPs.
It was announced on March 4, 2026 that the Navy Vets will be joining the Greater Ontario Hockey League (GOHL) as an expansion team for the 2026-27 season … their 60th anniversary season !!
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1966-67 to 1970-71: Intercounty Junior C Hockey League (ICJCHL)
1971-72: Western Junior B Hockey League (WJBHL)
1972-73 to 1975-76: Central Junior C Hockey League (CJCHL)
1976-77 to 1977-78: Southwestern Junior B Hockey League (SWJBHL)
1978-79 to 2012-13: Niagara District Junior C Hockey League (NDJCHL West Division)
2013-14 to 2015-16: Midwestern Junior C Hockey League (MWJCHL)
2016-17 to 2025-26: Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL Doherty Division)
2026-27: Greater Ontario Hockey League (GOHL Western Conference)
