Born from the ashes of the now defunct, yet legendary Canadian Basement Hockey League, the Stonehart Gardens Hockey Association is the purest form of hockey known to man.
HOW IT ALL CAME TO PASS: After the CBHL was unfairly shut down due to its destructive nature, the remaining players had no intentions of retiring. More than anything else, they needed a new league to play in. After some time off, the players formed the SGHA in May of the year 2000. It was named after our beloved Maple Leaf Gardens and our neighbourhood, Stonehart.
A new arena had been built by the town of Caledon placed on the scenic corner of Bruno Ridge Drive and Park Meadow Drive. Granted it was far from perfect, it would be home to the new league and countless memorable games.That spring, owners meetings and tryouts were held just outside the epicentre of all things hockey... Toronto, Ontario, Canada. At this time, nothing was writen in stone. After a time of uncertainty spanning several weeks, positions were appointed, rules were set and the new teams came to life. Many players who once thought they would be corner stones of this league for years to come, were horribly wrong and they were sent adrift altogether. Enter The CRAZY TRAIN vs. The GAMBLERS. Two teams hell bent on destroying each other. This league would be easily twice as entertaining as the Weaz's NHL.
New players and old legends followed the way of the SGHA. CBHL Fan-favorite Graham McIntosh was undecided whether he would return to the rink or not. Fan pressure urged him back into contention and he responded by giving the fans what they want; the SGHA's most exciting player. CBHL legend Garrick McIntosh is helping to push the league and hockey play to new heights as we speak. Ontario newcomer Andrew Smythe has put Stonehart on the map for hometown hockey heroes. Ottawa's own Jared McCormick is slowly becoming one of the top 2 way players in the game today. While "Young" Nick Defrancesco helps ensure that SGHA will live on in further years.
The league brass, headed by commissioner 'Shifty' Garrick McIntosh, decided that the SGHA needed quality goalies. Mr. McIntosh took it upon himself to build these goalies. Using mostly wood, paint and nails, he almost single-handedly built both goalies and painted them. Upon seeing the goalies for the first time, players doubted their affectiveness. It was thought that they would be much to easy to score on. They would be wrong. For almost every game ever played involves great save after great save, ensuring full entertainment value, much unlike the Weaz's NHL.
Four seasonal championships are to be held yearly. The Solar Roller Cup (summer), The Flight of Fall (fall), The Arctic Frozen Tundra Bowl (winter) and the Toronto Maple Leafs Playoff Support Championship (Spring). Each Mega-event grants a jewel. A team must win all four events and get all four jewels to become SGHA UNIVERSAL MEGA CHAMPIONS OF ETERNITY (AKA: The Quadruple Qrown). Sub-events, i.e. Midnight Madness (controvertial and unofficial), The Stonehart International Grand Prix, Super Sunday Series and CBHL Hall of Fame games are held through out the year to keep fan interest high at all times.
Today, whatever day this may be, the players have a full venue to themselves. They do not have to share with any basketball team. Weekends are no longer spoken of as Saturday and/or Sunday, but rather SGHA time. The players play for the love of the game, not money. Regardless of temperature, amount of homework due the next week or level of fatigue, the SGHA pushes on, week after week. This is hockey in it's purest form. SGHA...Where The Elite Meet.