{{Short description|Canadian major hockey league}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox sports league | title = Nova Scotia U18 Major Hockey League | current_season = 2022–23 MHL season | logo = NSU18MHL Logo.png | pixels = 175px | sport = Ice hockey | founded = 1978 | inaugural = | president = Paul Graham<ref name="NSU18MHL Exec">{{cite web |last1=Graham |first1=Nick |title=Executive |url=https://nsu18mhl.ca/executive.php |website=Nova Scotia U18 Hockey League |publisher=RYNA Consulting |access-date=16 December 2022 |language=en}}</ref> | headquarters = Halifax, Nova Scotia | teams = 8 | countries = Canada | continent = North America | TV = Eastlink TV | website = [https://nsu18mhl.ca// NSU18MHL Website] }}
The '''Nova Scotia U18 Major Hockey League''' ('''NSU18MHL''', formerly '''NSMMHL''') is a Nova Scotian ice hockey league for Major AAA players under 18 years old. It is a part of and follows the regulations set by the Hockey Nova Scotia organisation.<ref>{{cite web |title=NSU18MHL Info & Player Eligibility |url=https://nsu18mhl.ca/show_file.php?file_id=84 |website=Nova Scotia U18 Major Hockey League |publisher=RYNA Consulting |access-date=16 December 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Palov |first1=Willy |title=Nova Scotians fare well at QMJHL draft, Mooseheads add more talent {{!}} SaltWire |url=https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/sports/nova-scotians-fare-well-at-qmjhl-draft-mooseheads-add-more-talent-100750334/ |access-date=16 December 2022 |work=saltwire.com |publisher=Saltwire |date=5 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Successful players in this league often go on to play in the MHL and QMJHL.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Spurr |first1=Bill |title=A look at the top Nova Scotia prospects for this weekend's QMJHL draft {{!}} SaltWire |url=https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/sports/a-look-at-the-top-nova-scotia-prospects-for-this-weekends-qmjhl-draft-100603602/ |access-date=16 December 2022 |work=saltwire.com |publisher=Saltwire |date=23 June 2021 |ref=SaltwireProspects |language=en}}</ref>
== History == The league was founded and began playing in the 1978–79 season as the ''Maritime Midget Hockey League''. During the first season there were seven teams in the league with four based in Nova Scotia and three based in New Brunswick. Since its founding the league has rebranded multiple times, first as the ''Nova Scotia AAA Midget Hockey League'' (NSAAAMHL) in 1983, then as the ''Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League'' (NSMMHL) in 2002, and finally as the Nova Scotia U18 Major Hockey League in 2019.<ref name="NSU18MHL About">{{cite web |last1=Graham |first1=Nick |title=About Us |url=https://nsu18mhl.ca/league_info.php |website=Nova Scotia U18 Hockey League |publisher=RYNA Consulting |access-date=16 December 2022 |language=en}}</ref> It was founded to offer an opportunity for under 18 players from the Maritimes to compete at the highest possible level for their age group, with many associations spinning off their AAA teams to play in the broader Nova Scotia league.<ref>{{Cite web |title=South Shore Mustangs : Powered by GOALLINE |url=http://ssmustangs.ca/page.php?page_id=14814 |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=ssmustangs.ca}}</ref>
== Teams == {| cellpadding="0" |- align="left" style="vertical-align: top" | | {| cellpadding="1" width="700px" style="font-size: 90%; border: 1px solid gray;" |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeff" | colspan="4" | '''2025-26 Season''' |- align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd" | '''Team''' || '''Joined''' || '''Centre''' || '''Arena''' |- align= | '''Cape Breton West Islanders''' || - || Cape Breton, Nova Scotia || Al MacInnis Sports Centre |- align= | '''Halifax Macs''' || 1978 || Halifax, Nova Scotia || Halifax Forum |- align= | '''South Shore Mustangs''' || 1985<ref>{{Cite web |title=South Shore Mustangs : Powered by GOALLINE |url=http://ssmustangs.ca/page.php?page_id=14814 |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=ssmustangs.ca}}</ref> || Bridgewater, Nova Scotia || Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre |- align= | '''Sydney Rush''' || - || Sydney, Nova Scotia || Membertou |- align= | '''Dartmouth Steele Subarus''' || 2011<ref name="EPSteele">{{cite web |title=Steele Subaru U18 |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/11095/steele-subaru-u18 |website=Elite Prospects |access-date=16 December 2022 |language=en}}</ref> || Dartmouth, Nova Scotia || Dartmouth Sportsplex |- align= | '''Weeks Major U18 Majors''' || 1986<ref name="WeeksHistory">{{cite web |last1=Lynn |first1=John K. |title=Weeks Hockey Organization {{as written|Hist|roy [sic]}} |url=http://weeks.goalline.ca/page.php?page_id=17669 |website=Weeks Major Midget Hockey Club |access-date=16 December 2022}}</ref> || Pictou County, Nova Scotia || Pictou County Wellness Centre |- align= | '''Valley Wildcats (U18)''' || - || Berwick, Nova Scotia || Kings Mutual Century Center |- align= | '''March & Mill Co. Hunters Hockey''' || - || Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia || Cole Harbour Place |} |}
== League champions == During the regular season the league tracks the teams with the most wins who then go on to compete in the league finals for the champion title.
For the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons no league champion was crowned due to the finals being cancelled by COVID-19 pandemic related lock-downs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Halifax McDonald's Major Midget Hockey Club : Powered by GOALLINE |url=http://halifaxmajormidget.ca/page.php?page_id=124738 |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=halifaxmajormidget.ca}}</ref>
{| cellpadding="1" width="600px" style="font-size: 90%; border: 1px solid gray;" |- align="center" ! style="background: #ADD8E6;" |'''Season''' ! style="background: #ADD8E6;" |'''Season Champions''' ! style="background: #ADD8E6;" | '''Provincial Champions''' |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| '''2024–25''' | Halifax Macs | Halifax Macs |- | '''2023–24''' | Halifax Macs | Halifax Macs
| '''2022–23''' | Weeks U18 Majors | Weeks U18 Majors |- | '''2021–22''' ||Halifax Macs ||Halifax Macs |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | '''2020–21''' ||Halifax Macs ||Playoffs Cancelled due to Covid-19 |- | '''2019–20''' ||South Shore Mustangs ||Playoffs Cancelled due to Covid-19 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | '''2018–19''' ||Cole Harbour ||Halifax Macs |- | '''2017–18''' ||Halifax Macs ||Steele Subaru |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | '''2016–17''' ||Cape Breton West Islanders<ref>{{Cite web |last=Colello |first=Tj |title=West Islanders in first place in NSMMHL {{!}} SaltWire |url=https://www.saltwire.com/cape-breton/sports/west-islanders-in-first-place-in-nsmmhl-248381/ |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=www.saltwire.com |language=en}}</ref> ||Cape Breton West Islanders |- | '''2015–16''' || Cole Harbour||Steele Subaru |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | '''2014–15''' ||Halifax Macs||Newbridge Academy |- | '''2013–14''' ||Halifax Macs ||Halifax Macs |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | '''2012–13''' ||Valley Wildcats ||Valley Wildcats |- | '''2011-12''' ||Halifax Titans ||Halifax Titans |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | '''2010-11''' ||Dartmouth Ice Dawgs ||Halifax Titans |- | '''2009-10'''||Halifax Titans ||Cole Harbour McCains |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | '''2008-09'''||Cole Harbour McCains ||Cole Harbour McCains |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | '''2007-08'''|| Dartmouth Subways|| Cole Harbour McCains |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | '''2006-07'''|| Pictou County Weeks|| Dartmouth Subways |}
== Notable players == * Morgan Barron * Shane Bowers * Sidney Crosby * Ryan Graves * Nathan MacKinnon * Brad Marchand * Glen Murray * Logan Shaw * James Sheppard
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://nsu18mhl.ca// NSU18MHL Website]
Category:Ice hockey leagues in Nova Scotia Category:Ice hockey leagues in New Brunswick