The Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League is growing for its 20th anniversary season, with the Orangeville Blitz and the Brighton Vikings officially joining the league for the 2026/27 season. The addition of these two franchises brings the league’s South Division to 10 teams, creating a more competitive environment for all member clubs following the recent 2026 championship victory by the Northumberland Stars.
The Orangeville Blitz organization says its program will focus on player development, featuring mentorship from former NHL and professional players. The team plans to provide athletes with multiple weekly practices, video sessions, and meal plans as part of a structure designed to help players move on to NCAA and professional hockey opportunities. According to the league, the GMHL has helped 1,259 players advance to higher levels of hockey as of the 2021 season.
The league, founded in 2006 by Bob Russell and Hockeyworks International Ltd., maintains an independent structure that allows 16-year-old players to develop at their own pace. The league also permits teams to carry up to fourteen players aged 20 or 21.
For those in the community familiar with the history of the league, this expansion follows a period of team turnover in recent years. This includes the Tillsonburg Hurricanes, who were part of the league from 2016 until the franchise ceased operations in 2019.
