About GTHL
Formed in 1911 by founder Frank D. Smith, The Toronto Hockey League (now the Greater Toronto Hockey League) was a dream turned reality for innumerable boys in the beginning of the Twentieth Century. Surrounded by other equally dedicated men who volunteered their time in servint to direct and guide the organization from its infancy, Mr. Smith, who led the League through its first 50 years as general Secretary Treasurer, saw the THL become the largest single minor amateur hockey league in the world.Even by the end of World War I, the THL continued to break all growth records. This was a surprise to everyone considering the great number of players who had gone overseas from Senior and Intermediate ranks. Increases in membership were however realized in Junior, Juvenile, and Midget divisions due to the fact that players in these series were too young for military purposes.
Worthy of mention is the fact that during the 1920's, the THL had between 8 and 12 ladies Senior and Intermediate teams in any given year.
During the crucial years of World War II, the League was an active participant in the Sports Service League for Canadian soldiers, sailors and airmen.
As the years of growth continued, the League produced many hockey illuminaries such as - Charlie and Lionel Conacher, Frank Selke Jr., Bill Durnan, Bill Quackenbush, Red Kelly, Sid Smith, Frank Mahovolich, Carl Brewer, Bob Pulford, Rick Middleton, Steve Shutt and Paul Coffey - just to mention a token few. More recent graduates include Sean Burke, Adam Graves, Brendan Shanahan, Kirk McLean and Eric Lindros, Kevin Weekes, Mike Peca, Anson Carter, Nick Boynton, Mike Cammalleri, Brad Boyes, Matt Stajan, Jason Spezza, Rick Nash, Brent Burns, Andrew Cogliano, Sam Gagner and many more. In fact, current records verify that over the past decade, that each year there have been at least 65 NHL players who were graduates of the GTHL system.
Back in the early 1960's, the membership of the League had grown to over 20,000 youth playing on direct Teams. Today, the GTHL, formerly the Metropolitan Toronto Hockey League (1972-1998), has in excess of 50,000 players including affliated teams in a new territory defined as the Lake Ontario Region which in addition to Toronto and Mississauga includes Oakville, Brampton, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham, and Ajax-Pickering. During its period of growth since 1960, the GTHL began to encounter another growth factor, commonly referred to as "rising costs".
While maintaining its stability, the GTHL overhead costs have risen substantially in the past 30 years to the point where operating costs for the 2006-2007 season exceeded $3,500,000. The League's very existence seems a small miracle in itself when one realizes that the GTHL has always remained self-sufficient without subsidization from any government body. A massive undertaking by any standards, the GTHL today estimates that with more sophisticated coaching, development programs, and larger club managements required to cope with all the operational necessities, there is at least one active volunteer for every three registered hockey players. Since 1911, over 600,000 volunteers have contributed to the development of minor hockey in the Toronto and Mississauga area.
- GTHL Communications
- Past Presidents of The THL / MTHL / GTHL
- Important Dates To Remember
- Effective Age Dates For 2010-11
GTHL Communications
As such, the GTHL while adopting a cautious policy geared so as not to over-commercialize the intent and purpose of amatuer hockey, welcomes reputable commercial sponsorship of certain approved concepts or programs which are deemed mutually beneficial to both amateur hockey support and the sponsor's image.
Past Presidents of The THL / MTHL / GTHL
| Past Presidents of The THL / MTHL / GTHL | |
| Year Served | Name |
| 1911-12 | H.C. Austen* |
| 1912-13 to 1921-22 | Fred C. Waghorne Sr.* |
| 1922-23 to 1925-26 | Frank A. McEwen, B.A.* |
| 1926-27 to 1927-29 | C. Higginbottom, F.C.I.S.* |
| 1928-29 to 1929-30 | T. Edward Clegg* |
| 1930-31 to 1931-32 | Fred G. Grant* |
| 1932-33 to 1933-34 | Frank H. Fletcher* |
| 1934-35 to 1935-36 | Fred A. Waghorme Jr.* |
| 1936-37 to 1937-38 | E. Ray Graham* |
| 1938-39 to 1939-40 | T.P. Topping* |
| 1940-41 to 1941-42 | Dr. L.W. Goldring* |
| 1942-43 to 1943-44 | A.D. Dault* |
| 1944-45 to 1945-46 | Samuel I. Wells* |
| 1946-47 to 1947-48 | John H. Nelson* |
| 1948-49 to 1949-50 | Jack B. Bromley* |
| 1950-51 to 1951-52 | Edward J. Morris* |
| 1952-53 to 1953-54 | Fred A.G. Heintzman* |
| 1954-55 to 1955-56 | J. Norman C. Sharp M.A.* |
| 1956-57 to 1957-58 | Ralph G. Barber* |
| 1958-59 to 1959-60 | Frank C. Moat* |
| 1960-61 to 1961-62 | W. Earl Graham* |
| 1962-63 to 1963-64 | Edward P. Hull* |
| 1964-65 to 1965-66 | Albert W. Roberts |
| 1966-67 to 1967-68 | James R. Young* |
| 1968-69 to 1969-70 | William T. Ruddock |
| 1970-71 to 1971-72 | Ernest Jones |
| 1972-73 | William Barnett* |
| 1973-74 | Cam MacLellan |
| 1974-75 to 1975-76 | Wallace C. Rockall* |
| 1976-77 to 1977-78 | Gerard Fullan |
| 1976-80 | Phil Vitale* |
| 1980 - Present | John Gardner |
* = Deceased
Important Dates To Remember
Sept.14 Major (AAA) Schedule Begins Sept.21 'AA' & 'A' Schedule Begins Nov. 15 Final Date A Club May Release A Player Dec. 1 Deadline for return of all GTHL Trophies Dec. 15 Final Date to Sign and Register An Import Player Dec. 24 to Jan. 1 GTHL Office Cloesed - No Games Scheduled Dec. 27 - 30 Bauer Challenge Cup (Peewee 'AAA' Tournament) Jan. 2 GTHL Game Schedule Resumes Jan. 10 Players may play with affiliated team only (5) five times in order to remain eligible for the lower category team Jan. 15 Final date to register a player with the GTHL office Jan. 23 GTHL Miget All-Star Festival Jan. 31 Final Date for submission of tournament hosting applications for tournaments being held pre-season until Dec. 31 of the following hockey season. Feb. 1 Final date of receipt of membership applications and team entry requests for direct entry clubs. Feb. 16 Pro Hockey Life King Clancy Tournament Begins Feb.18-20 Greater Toronto 'A' Playdowns Mar. 4-7 Ontario Winter Games (Peewee 'AAA') Mar. 17-21 OHL Cup (Minor Midget 'AAA') Mar.22-27 All Ontario Bantam 'AAA' Championship Mar.29 to Apr. 4 All Ontario Midget 'AAA' Championship Apr.5-10 All Ontario Peewee 'AAA' Championship Apr.9-11 OHF Championships Apr. 15 Recommendations to the Rules Committee for notices of motion, amendments to constitution and by-laws final league championships completed Apr. 12 Tryouts begin May 1 Nominations by eligible voters must be in the GTHL office no later than 5:00pm on May 1 prior to the Annual Meeting May 31 Last date for submission to tournament hosting applications for tournaments operating January 1 until April 15 of the following hockey season. June 30 2010-2011 Signing Officer Forms due
