History of the Organization

The Canadian Amateur Hockey Association was founded on December 4, 1914, when 21 delegates from across Canada met at the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa. The organization was made to oversee the amateur level of the sport at the national level.

The Allan Cup, originally donated in 1908 by Sir H. Montagu Allan, was selected as the championship of amateur hockey in Canada. William Northey, the trustee of the Allan Cup, was named the first ever chairman, while Dr. W. F. Taylor was named the inaugural president.

The Memorial Cup was the junior amateur championship of Canada. In 1920, after the Winnipeg Falcons won the Allan Cup over the University of Toronto, they represented Canada at the 1920 Summer Olympic Games. Canada would go 3-0-0 to win the sport's first ever Olympic gold medal

Exceptional Player Status

Hockey Canada determines if an underage player is eligible for "exceptional status". Exceptional player status allows skilled, underage hockey players to enter the major junior circuit early.

Since 2005, eight players have been granted exceptional status: John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad, Sean Day, Connor McDavid, Joseph Veleno, Shane Wright, Connor Bedard and Michael Misa.

Seven have gone number one in their respective major junior drafts while four players have been selected first overall in their respective NHL drafts.

Organization's Presidents

• 10. 1969–1971, Earl Dawson
• 9. 1971–1973, Joe Kryczka
• 8. 1973–1975, Jack Devine
• 7. 1975–1977, Don Johnson
• 6. 1977–1979, Gord Renwick

• 5. 1979–1998, Murray Costello
• 4. 1998–2014, Bob Nicholson
• 3. 2014–2016, Tom Renney
• 2. 2016–2022, Scott Smith


• 1. 2023–present, Katherine Henderson