About
The brotherhood on ice
Since 1974, the Southern Ontario Firefighters Hockey League has brought together fire service athletes for competition, camaraderie, and charity across the province.
History
How it all started
The Southern Ontario Firefighters Hockey League (SOFFHL) is a historic sports organization formed in 1974 by firefighters representing 12 different departments across Southern Ontario.
One hot summer night in July, 1974, a group of firefighters from 12 departments in Southern Ontario got together around a table at the Carling O'Keefe Breweries meeting room in Kitchener, Ontario. Their mission was simple: promote hockey skills, encourage high-level sportsmanship, and foster lifelong camaraderie among first responders.
Founding mission
The league was established to promote hockey skills, encourage high-level sportsmanship, and foster lifelong camaraderie among first responders.
Original 12 teams
The inaugural season featured departments from Toronto, Scarborough, York, North York, East York, Etobicoke, Hamilton, Dundas, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Brantford.
Affiliation
The SOFFHL operates as a proud, long-standing member of CARHA Hockey.
50 years strong
The tournament hit its historic 50th Annual milestone from February 24–26, 2026.
Our structure
One organization, two experiences
The League
A full season of scheduled games between fire department clubs, with official game sheets, automatic standings and tracked statistics for every skater and goaltender.
Enter leagueToronto Southern
The annual firefighter hockey tournament: three divisions, guaranteed games, official hotels, a full slate of off-ice events, and a championship weekend.
Enter tournamentTournament
The Annual Southern Ontario Firefighter Tournament
While the league historically organized local division play, it is widely recognized today for hosting the highly competitive Annual Southern Ontario Firefighter Tournament.
Scale
The tournament draws over 40 teams from across North America, featuring divisions ranging from A to F.
Notable competitors
Elite traveling emergency service teams, such as the FDNY Hockey Team and regional heavyweights like the Toronto Fire Hockey Club, regularly participate.
Charity impact
The event serves as a major fundraiser, historically raising vital proceeds for organizations like SickKids Hospital in Toronto.
Documents
Rules & policies
No documents published yet.
Contact
Get in touch
info@soffhl.ca
Phone
(416) 555-0142
Location
Toronto, Ontario