The Windsor Oxen are opening a brand new chapter in Junior Hockey in Windsor.

WINDSOR, N.S. — The Windsor Oxen are opening a brand new chapter in Junior Hockey in Windsor.

The Windsor Royals, under the guidance of the late Murray “Moe” Smith were the start of Junior B Hockey in Windsor and while Windsor has had a few name changes dating back to 1966-67 and along with the Port Hawkesbury Strait Pirates, the two areas are the oldest organizations in Junior Hockey in Nova Scotia.

The Royals continued from 1966-67 until 1979-80 when the Royals tried the Maritime Junior A Route for a short time before returning to Junior B.  A newcomer emerged under the late Lloyd Zwicker who operated the Valley Jets and they were a strong hold until the end of the 1987-88 season.

Windsor did not have a Junior B team for approximately three years until the Windsor Royals were re-formed in the early 1990’s and won three Atlantic Junior B Hockey Championships through 2007-2008.  The Royals continued until taking a leave of absence after the 2010-2011 season when the Valley Maple Leafs became the new Junior Team for Windsor under the guidance of Windsor Hockey Greats Josh Dill and his late father Bobby Dill winning another Don Johnson Atlantic Championship in 2015-2016.

A bold new chapter has now begun for junior hockey in Windsor.

The Windsor Oxen, that pays tribute to the community’s values and agricultural heritage will begin regular season play in the Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League for the 2025-2026 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.