Canadian Junior Hockey League names Ladds as their new President

(CJHL Press Release) 

CALGARY, Alberta (September 27, 2016) – The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) announced Tuesday that Brent Ladds has been named the organization’s new president effective immediately.  As CJHL president, Ladds will lead all operations of the organization, including strategic planning, events, corporate partnerships and league administration.    

"Brent brings a vast amount of passion, experience and understanding of Junior A hockey and he is extremely well-respected and trusted across the country at all levels of hockey," said CJHL Chairman of the Board Kirk Lamb.  "Brent's abilities and personal values are a tremendous addition to our organization and we are all looking forward to his leadership and to working closely with him to grow and strengthen the CJHL."

Ladds comes to the CJHL with a wealth of hockey experience and has been a fixture on the junior hockey landscape for many years.   He served as president of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) for 35 years, from 1977 to 2012, and has a deep understanding of hockey at the Junior A level and its events.   He served as Director of Operations for teams in the Canada Games, winning gold and silver in successive events, and was Director of Operations for Team Canada East in the first three World Junior A Challenges, where the teams he led captured two silvers and a bronze medal.   The native of Noranda, Quebec, who now resides in Calgary, Alberta, has also acted as Chair of Hockey Canada Junior Council for the past two years and chair of the RBC Cup in Lloydminster this past spring.   Along with many other recognitions, Ladds was awarded the Gold Stick for outstanding service to the OHA in 1992, the Hockey Canada Order of Merit in 1997 for contributions to the game nationally, and the Ontario Hockey Federation's President's Award in 2012 for outstanding contribution to hockey in Ontario.  

"The CJHL has made such tremendous strides in recent years elevating their program both domestically and internationally, to the benefit of their players and fans," said Ladds.  "I am extremely optimistic about what lies ahead working with our partners, on the corporate side and through Hockey Canada with our national and international partners. I am very excited for the opportunity."

Rick Morocco, CJHL Executive Director since 2014, has departed the organization to pursue another opportunity.  "We wish Rick and his family all the best in his future endeavours and thank him for his two-and-a-half years of service to the league," said Lamb.