Greater Toronto Hockey League

The Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL), formerly known as the "Metro Toronto Hockey League", is a minor level ice hockey organization based out of the Toronto region of Ontario. The league was founded in 1911 as the Beaches Hockey League by Fred C. Waghorne, Sr., and it is the largest minor hockey organization in the world.[2] The league is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation and Hockey Canada.

The Greater Toronto Hockey League was founded in 1911 by Frank D. Smith. Smith was 17 years old when he founded the organization, and would continue to oversee the operation for 50 years. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962 in part for his contributions to minor hockey in Toronto. Then called the Beaches League, its first season consisted of 5 teams and 99 players

The League's name underwent several changes over its history. Originally called the Beaches League, it was renamed to the Toronto Hockey League shortly after its inception. It was renamed again in 1972 to the Metropolitan Toronto Hockey League before settling on the current Greater Toronto Hockey League moniker in 1998. The League saw increases in membership during its first few years. During World War I, the then THL maintained its numbers due to having younger age divisions, such as pewee and bantam, where the players were too young to participate in the war. By the 1960s, The THL had over 20,000 members on teams across Toronto.

In 2011, the Greater Toronto Hockey League consisted of 2,800 teams and around 40,000 players. It is currently the largest youth ice hockey organization in the world in terms of members. The league has expanded its area of operation over the years from primarily the city of Toronto to many of its surrounding municipalities. Currently, there are 51 separate associations that operate under the GTHL. These associations provide teams for the various age groups and divisions that make up the league. Around 275 GTHL alumni have gone on to play in North American professional ice hockey leagues, such as the National Hockey League and the defunct World Hockey Association.

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