Windsor Ushers in a New Era: Maple Leafs Rebrand as the Windsor Oxen

WINDSOR, N.S. — A bold new chapter has begun for junior hockey in Windsor.

The Valley Maple Leafs are no more — welcome the Windsor Oxen, a rebranded Junior B franchise that pays tribute to the community’s values and agricultural heritage. The announcement was made official this week as the club unveiled its new name, logo, and identity ahead of the 2025–26 NSJHL season.

Team officials say the Oxen brand represents much more than just a name.
“This name wasn’t chosen lightly,” the team stated in its launch. “The Oxen represent everything we believe in: strength, hard work, resilience, and above all — team effort. These qualities are at the heart of our community, and now, they’re the spirit of our team.”

The rebranding effort was led by Ben Bennett and the creative team at The Northern Creative, whose new visual identity for the club has already drawn praise for its professional polish and local symbolism. The branding was accompanied by a cinematic launch video narrated by none other than John Paris Jr., a respected voice in the hockey world who lent his talents from Texas to help bring the team’s story to life.

The Oxen name connects deeply to Windsor’s rural roots and its reputation for grit and perseverance. It also marks a fresh start — a reinvigorated vision for the future of junior hockey in the region.

The change comes as part of a wider effort across the NSJHL to modernize and energize its presence in local communities, according to league officials.

“Windsor has always been a proud hockey town,” said NSJHL President Gerard MacDonald. “This rebrand taps into that pride in a meaningful way, while setting the tone for a strong and unified identity moving forward.”

As the Oxen prepare to charge into the new season under their new name, fans can expect the same hard-nosed, high-energy hockey they’ve always loved—now with a renewed spirit and a logo that means business.

Get ready, Windsor. A new era is here.