The Greater Ontario Hockey League announced yesterday that they would be expanding with the addition of the Woodstock Navy Vets.
The Navy Vets, who last month claimed their second PJHL Doherty Division regular season title in the last five seasons, have advanced to the Doherty Division semi-finals of the 2026 PJHL Schmalz Cup playoffs.
GOHL Commissioner Craig Spada says “Woodstock is a hockey town with a proud history and a passionate fan base, and we are excited to see that tradition continue and grow within the GOHL. This franchise brings strength, stability, and enthusiasm—not only to the city of Woodstock, but to our entire league.”
The addition will result in two 12-team conferences. Woodstock will be added to the Western Conference, and an existing Western Conference team will being moved to the Eastern Conference. That move will be announced at a later date.
The Navy Vets will play their home games in the Reeves Community Complex – Southwood Arena, built in 1996 with a capacity of 2000.
Rumors out of Ontario are persistent that the Ontario Junior Hockey League will also expand next year. The City of Glencoe Ontario has been mentioned by multiple sources in Ontario.
The question being asked in hockey circles about any OJHL expansion is a simple one. “Does Ontario need another pay to play junior program?”
Declining numbers of NCAA Division One and Deivision Three commitment numbers across Canada and in particular in Ontario are making a lot of people question the why of any OJHL expansion. What purpose would it serve and does it actually benefit any players?
With the level of play in the OJHL on a steady decline since the implementation of the pay to play model, and prior contraction by the league in the name of “raising the level of play”, any expansion makes next to zero sense.
