We’re getting closer and closer to hockey! Yesterday, the full Ontario Hockey League schedule for the 2024/25 season was announced by the league, including the four preseason and 56 regular-season games on tap for your Markham Royals. As we look to build on a season that culminated in our best record in five years, seven collegiate commitments, and a bevy of franchise records and league accolades, it’s important to be aware of the challenges ahead.
The Warmup: Before the season officially gets underway in September, the Royals will play four preseason games in August. Following our three-day Main Camp, we’ll immediately hit the ice against the Mississauga Chargers on Monday, August 19th. That will be followed up with a game at Herb Carnegie Arena against the North York Rangers on Thursday, and another at St. Michael’s Arena against the Buzzers on Friday. Lastly, we’ll be hosting the St. Michael’s and Mississauga for our end of the respective home-and-homes on the following Sunday and Friday, respectively.
Grand Opening: Markham begins its season on the road, facing the Cobourg Cougars on Monday, September 9th. The home opener will come later that week, as we host the North York Rangers on Friday, September 13th.
Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold: Last season came to an unfortunate end after a hard-fought series against the Buzzers, which included three overtime defeats. We can’t change the past, but we can change the future through a four-game season series. We’ll host St. Mike’s on November 1st and December 1st, while they’ll come to visit us on October 4th and January 10th.
Under the Showcase Lights: The OJHL’s annual Governor’s showcase event is back for another season, this time taking place at Gale Centre, home of the Niagara Falls Canucks. For those unfamiliar, every team in the league plays a pair of regular season games over the course of three days, allowing fans and scouts alike to get a taste of what everyone has to offer. For us, this trip will double as our scheduled visit against the Canucks, as we’ll face them on September 24th before “hosting” Oakville on the 25th.
To Be the Best, You Gotta Beat the Best: The OJHL featured last year’s CJHL national champions after the Collingwood Blues doubled up on their Buckland Cup with a fantastic Centennial Cup showing. Last year, the Royals hosted the out-of-conference Blues in January, falling in a close 4-3 battle. This year, we’ll travel to Eddie Bush Memorial Arena, taking on Collingwood on November 29th.
Weekday Warriors: As always, our schedule is tailored to the weekend, with 43 of 56 games being played on Fridays (21), Saturdays (6), or Sundays (16). The rest of the weekdays aren’t left empty-handed, however, with two Monday games, five on Tuesdays, and three apiece on Wednesdays and Thursdays. This includes three afternoon matinees – a 1:30 PM game in King against the newcomer Rebellion on November 5th, a 2:00 PM home game against the Dukes on January 21st, and a 4:30 PM matchup at Herb Carnegie Arena against North York on February 4th.
Home For The Holidays: The season will take a brief pause for the holidays following our game against Cobourg on December 22nd. We’ll return on January 3rd, when we host North York.
Defending Our House: Before that holiday break, we’ll start our longest home stretch of the season, playing nine of a dozen games at home between December 20th and January 31st, including a pair of four-game runs of home action.
Gentle Landing: The Royals will play twice in the final eight days of the regular season. They will travel to take on the Leamington Flyers on February 27th and then wrap up against Mississauga on March 2nd. Should we qualify, the playoffs will start on March 7th.
Full Markham Royals 2024/25 Schedule
Scroll down for our full schedule, or view it on our Markham Royals Schedule page!
Markham Royals 2024/25 Preseason Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time | Date | Opponent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 19 | @ Mississauga* | 1:30 PM | August 25 | vs. St. Michael’s | 3:30 PM |
| August 22 | @ North York | 1:30 PM | August 30 | vs. Mississauga | 8:00 PM |
| August 23 | @ St. Michael’s | 7:00 PM |
Markham Royals 2024/25 Regular Season Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time | Date | Opponent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 9 | @ Cobourg | 7:00 PM | December 1 | vs. St. Michael’s | 1:30 PM |
| September 13 | vs. North York | 7:30 PM | December 6 | vs. Stouffville | 7:30 PM |
| September 15 | @ Wellington | 2:30 PM | December 8 | @ Pickering | 7:30 PM |
| September 20 | vs. Pickering | 7:30 PM | December 13 | vs. Toronto JRC | 7:30 PM |
| September 24 | @ Niagara Falls* | 7:00 PM | December 14 | @ Aurora | 7:30 PM |
| September 25 | vs. Oakville* | 7:00 PM | December 16 | @ Cobourg | 7:00 PM |
| September 27 | vs. Lindsay | 7:30 PM | December 20 | vs. Haliburton | 7:30 PM |
| September 28 | @ Haliburton | 4:00 PM | December 22 | vs. Cobourg | 1:30 PM |
| October 4 | @ St. Michael’s | 7:00 PM | January 3 | vs. North York | 7:30 PM |
| October 6 | vs. Burlington | 1:30 PM | January 5 | vs. Aurora | 1:30 PM |
| October 9 | @ Georgetown | 7:30 PM | January 10 | @ St. Michael’s | 7:00 PM |
| October 11 | vs. Wellington | 7:30 PM | January 12 | vs. North York | 2:30 PM |
| October 12 | @ Aurora | 7:30 PM | January 17 | vs. Markham | 7:30 PM |
| October 17 | @ Stouffville | 7:30 PM | January 18 | @ Lindsay | 7:00 PM |
| October 18 | vs. Toronto JRC | 7:30 PM | January 21 | vs. Wellington | 2:00 PM |
| October 20 | @ Buffalo | 6:45 PM | January 24 | vs. Stouffville | 7:30 PM |
| October 27 | vs. Milton | 1:30 PM | January 26 | vs. Pickering | 1:30 PM |
| October 30 | @ Wellington | 7:00 PM | January 31 | vs. Caledon | 7:30 PM |
| November 1 | vs. St. Michael’s | 7:30 PM | February 2 | @ Toronto JRC | 7:15 PM |
| November 3 | vs. Haliburton | 1:30 PM | February 4 | @ North York | 4:00 PM |
| November 5 | @ King City | 1:30 PM | February 7 | @ Trenton | 7:30 PM |
| November 8 | @ Lindsay | 7:00 PM | February 9 | vs. Lindsay | 1:30 PM |
| November 10 | vs. Trenton | 1:30 PM | February 14 | vs. Toronto Patriots | 7:30 PM |
| November 15 | vs. Aurora | 7:30 PM | February 16 | vs. Cobourg | 1:30 PM |
| November 16 | @ Toronto JRC | 8:00 PM | February 20 | @ Stouffville | 7:30 PM |
| November 22 | @ Pickering | 7:30 PM | February 22 | @ Haliburton | 4:00 PM |
| November 26 | @ Trenton | 7:30 PM | February 27 | @ Leamington | 7:10 PM |
| November 29 | @ Collingwood | 7:00 PM | March 2 | vs. Mississauga | 1:30 PM |
