The Woodstock Navy Vets are moving up to become an expansion club of the Greater Ontario Hockey League. They are the 24th franchise to join the GOHL. “There’s never a perfect time, but this feels like the right time to do it,” said Devon Young, president of the Woodstock Hockey League. The team currently plays in the Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) and, just last month, claimed their second division title in five seasons. They’re now headed to the semi-finals of the 2026 Schmalz Cup playoffs. The Navy Vets will then start the 2026-2027 season as a Junior B team. “Woodstock is a hockey town,” GOHL Commissioner Craig Spada said at Thursday’s announcement. “That came to light very clearly in our vote with our 23 existing members. It was a unanimous vote, and an exciting vote to have. Therefore, it’s a real momentum change for the GOHL.” The addition of the Navy Vets means there will now be two 12-team conferences. Woodstock will join the Western Conference, while another team will move to the Eastern Conference. The GOHL has not yet announced which franchise that will be. The Navy Vets will continue to play out of Southwood Arena.
