Sport & Community
Shelburne Muskies Senior Hockey
Senior AA hockey at the CDRC, and one of Dufferin's oldest sports organisations — founded around 1935. Back on the ice since 2025-26 after two seasons off.
Just show up
Centre Dufferin Recreation Complex, Shelburne·Regular season runs through winter · 10 home games·Admission at the door
Nearly ninety years of senior hockey in one small town, and for two seasons it looked like it might be over. The Muskies couldn’t ice enough players, so they sat out. Then in 2025-26 they came back — and the league, welcoming them in, called Shelburne one of Ontario’s established senior hockey organisations.
If you’ve never been to a senior game, it isn’t beer-league. Senior AA rosters carry former Junior A, Junior B and OHL players, and the hockey is fast, physical and free of the theatrics you get further up the ladder.
The basics
| Level | Senior AA |
| League | Ontario Elite Hockey League, North Conference |
| Home | Centre Dufferin Recreation Complex, Shelburne |
| Colours | Red, white and blue |
| Founded | Around 1935 |
| Season | 20 games, 10 of them at home |
Where the club has been
The Muskies spent decades in the Central Ontario Hockey League and later the WOAA Senior Hockey League. In 2023 most WOAA Senior AA clubs left to form the Ontario Elite Hockey League under the Ontario Hockey Association. Shelburne sat that transition out while rebuilding a roster, then rejoined as part of the OEHL’s expansion.
The 2025-26 return ended in the North semifinal against the Saugeen Shores Winterhawks, who swept the series 4–0 — 8–3, 8–3, 14–2, 7–4 — and went on to win the league championship. A hard draw for a club in its first season back.
The 1998 team
The one people still talk about. WOAA Senior “A” Champions, 1997-98.
They beat the Arthur Tigers in the first round, the Wiarton Redmen in the semifinal, then swept the Clinton Radars in the final — taking the deciding game 1–0 in double overtime, with goaltender Ron Webster turning in what’s still regarded as the finest performance in club history.
Before that, the Muskies collected eight Central Ontario Hockey League championships by 1982, including titles in 1972 and 1982.
Rivals
Saugeen Shores Winterhawks · Durham Thundercats · Minto 81’s · Lucknow Lancers · Elora Rocks. Historically also the Erin Outlaws, Arthur Tigers and Wiarton Redmen.
League alignments shift, but the same small-town names keep coming back around — and a rivalry night at the CDRC draws a crowd that a 20-game schedule really shouldn’t.
Why it matters here
The Muskies are one of the oldest organisations in Shelburne, and they pull support from Shelburne, Melancthon, Mulmur, Mono and across Dufferin County. For a lot of families it’s the highest level of hockey they’ll watch live all year, ten minutes from home, for the price of a door admission.
Nearly ninety years is a long time for a town of this size to keep a senior club on the ice. It’s worth going.
Also on
The club runs its annual golf tournament each autumn — the 2026 edition is Sunday 27 September at Shelburne Golf & Country Club, with all proceeds going to the season.
Schedule, tickets and sponsorship at shelburnemuskies.ca.
Shelburne Muskies Senior Hockey in pictures
Photos: Dufferin Local
Frequently asked questions
Where do the Shelburne Muskies play?
The Centre Dufferin Recreation Complex in Shelburne, the town's main ice facility. It also hosts minor hockey, figure skating, public skating and community events.
What league are the Shelburne Muskies in?
The Ontario Elite Hockey League, at Senior AA level, playing in the North Conference. The OEHL formed in 2023 under the Ontario Hockey Association when most WOAA Senior AA clubs left that league.
How old are the Shelburne Muskies?
The club dates to roughly 1935, which makes it one of Shelburne's oldest sports organisations — close to ninety years of senior hockey in the town.
Are the Muskies still playing?
Yes. They took two seasons off because of player shortages and returned for 2025-26, playing a 20-game regular season with 10 home games.
Details checked July 28, 2026. Fees, hours and closures change — phone ahead for anything that would ruin the trip if it were wrong.
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