PJHL Media
When a PJHL champion is crowned in late March, the team captain will hoist into the air a spectacular new trophy bearing the family name of one of the most instrumental builders the league has ever known.
The Stonehouse Cup is now the ultimate prize, named in honour of Ray Stonehouse, the former PJHL president and vice president who served the league as an advisor even after relinquishing his official titles.
Under Stonehouse’s command, the PJHL added franchises in White Rock and Chilliwack and developed a business model for all franchises that has stabilized the league and allowed teams to flourish in their respective communities.
Perhaps most importantly, Stonehouse stood for discipline from his teams and their players. The PJHL, with Stonehouse at the helm, evolved from a rough-and-tumble league to one offering a professional environment that put player development, on and off the ice, at the forefront.
Stonehouse, who passed away in July of 2021 at the age of 76, and his wife Sue will forever be known as champions of the PJHL.
“With all the years that Ray and Sue were instrumental in our league, it was only fitting to have a trophy in their name,” said Doug Paterson, president of the Richmond Sockeyes and chairman of the PJHL board of governors.
“I worked very closely with Ray as the chairman of the Steering Committee for the five years that he was our president. Ray has a place in everyone’s heart within the PJHL.”
Stonehouse dedicated his life to the sport and had success in boxing and stock car racing as a young man. He later became manager of the Junior B North Shore Winter Club Flames and stayed involved when the club moved to Ridge Meadows in 1994. He saw the team to a Keystone Cup victory in 1998.
In 2020, Stonehouse was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame.
With this new addition to the league trophy case, PJHL teams have a special reward at the conclusion of their playoff journey, one with a championship-calibre namesake.
