On Sunday, October 30^th, 2022, it was announced that the Mark’s Mount Pearl Junior Blades and the City of Mount Pearl have been awarded the hosting rights of the 2024 Atlantic Junior Hockey Championships, better known as the Don Johnson Cup.

The event will run from April 23^rd - 28^th, 2024 at The Glacier. As the host association, the Mount Pearl Junior Blades have automatically received a berth to participate in the five-team tournament which includes the respective winners of the Island Junior Hockey League (PEI), Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League (NS), New Brunswick Junior Hockey League (NB), and the St. John’s Junior Hockey League (NL).

This is the first time since 2016 that Newfoundland and Labrador has hosted the event. A team from Newfoundland and Labrador has not won the Don Johnson Memorial Cup since 2009 when the St. John’s Junior Caps defeated the Sherwood Falcons in Bay Roberts, NL. The Mount Pearl Junior Blades have represented Newfoundland and Labrador at the tournament 2 of the past 3 times it has been held, most recently in 2022 in Cocagne, New Brunswick, losing in the semi-finals to the host team and eventual champions, Kent Koyotes.

The namesake of the tournament, Don Johnson, was a pioneer of hockey in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Atlantic Provinces, and across Canada. Johnson was elected as the President of the Newfoundland Amateur Hockey Association, the predecessor of Hockey NL, in 1966, and served as President of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association from 1975 to 1977. He was instrumental in the negotiations to end the hiatus of the Canadian Men’s National Ice Hockey Team from competition at the Ice Hockey World Championships and the Olympic Games.

Information will be available in the coming weeks regarding business and community partnerships for the event.  Be sure to follow the 2024 Don Johnson Cup social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) @2024DOJO. The website will be up and running at the conclusion of the 2023 tournament, being held in Liverpool, NS.

Quotes:

“Our city’s reputation in sports and recreation is first class, and we look forward to welcoming the respective junior championship teams from each of the Atlantic provinces to the City of Mount Pearl in April 2024 for a premiere five-day event.” – Mayor Dave Aker, Mayor of Mount Pearl

“Working together with the City of Mount Pearl, the corporate community and our great volunteers, the Mark’s Mount Pearl Junior Blades are looking forward to delivering a fantastic hockey experience for the players and fans in April 2024.” – Wally O’Neill, President, Mark’s Mount Pearl Junior Blades; Chair – 2024 Host Committee

“The St. John’s Junior Hockey League and Hockey NL are excited to be bringing the 2024 Atlantic Junior Hockey Championships back to NL for the first time in 8 years. We look forward to warmly welcoming the representatives from Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick for a great week of hockey.” – Steven Clarke, Vice Chair, Hockey NL’s Junior Council

“We send our biggest congratulations to the Mark’s Mount Pearl Junior Blades on being awarded the 2024 Don Johnson Cup. The St. John’s Junior Hockey League is excited to have 2 representatives in this great tournament for the first time in 8 years.” – Jim Hare, President, St. John’s Junior Hockey League

Media Enquiries:

Nicholas Hillier

Chair, Public Relations & Communications, 2024 Don Johnson Cup Host Committee

Director of Communications & Public Relations, St. John’s Junior Hockey League

709-691-5871

sjjhlpublicrelations@gmail.com