The Greater Ontario Hockey League (GOHL) announced Thursday that the Woodstock Navy Vets will join the league as its 24th franchise for the start of the 2026-27 season.
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.”
Spada commended the Navy Vets organization, saying “from the very beginning, their vision, professionalism, and commitment to community and player development stood out. [Navy Vets President] Devon Young represents exactly the kind of ownership and leadership we believe in and want in this league.”
According to Spada, “the excitement around this addition has been shared by all 23 of our existing member organizations. There is a genuine sense of momentum in the GOHL right now, and today’s announcement is another strong step forward as we continue to build something special together.”
Young views this move as another way to fulfill his objectives for the team. “We’ve always believed that we’re here in the pursuit of excellence. This is another step in that direction, a new chapter where we can try to do so at just another level.”
He is eager to acknowledge the contributions others have made to reach this point. “We’ve got nothing but support and great times from our community. The players, facility managers, city council, everyone we have to deal with on a day-to-day basis have been phenomenal. And to all of our volunteer staff, we wouldn’t be here without you.”
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.
This will not be the city of Woodstock’s first entry into junior hockey at the GOHL level. The Woodstock Warriors were charter members of the new Central Junior Hockey League in 1954-55 and went on to win the city’s only Sutherland Cup that season (left).
After a one-year hiatus in 1956-57, the Warriors moved to the Western Junior Hockey League where they competed through the end of the 1961-62 campaign.
The Woodstock Navy Vets came to be through the granting of a new Junior C franchise for the 1966-67 season. In 1969, they won the city’s only Junior C Schmalz cup championship (right)
In 1971, the Navy Vets made the jump from Junior C back to the Western Junior Hockey League for one season, returning to Junior C in 1972. After winning a league title and four straight “Super C” finals, they joined the Southwestern Junior Hockey League for the 1976-77 and 1977-78 seasons, then returned to Junior C where they have since won 12 division titles and 4 league titles.*
In total, Woodstock teams have participated in 9 seasons at the GOHL level since 1954.
*the club was known as the Woodstock Renegades from 2007-10
