The Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League has struck out again but it intends to keep on swinging.

For the second year in succession the junior B league’s request to be reclassified as junior A has been turned down by the Ontario Hockey Association.

When the GOJHL was denied last year by the OHA, it did not appeal the decision. It will appeal this time to Hockey Canada and the Ontario Hockey Federation.

A press release by the GOJHL simply stated that “no reasons or rationale were provided” for having turned down the league’s application, but league commissioner Chuck Williams says he expects he’ll get the reasons in short order.

Williams believed this application was stronger than the one made last year.

It included a stronger league infrastructure, including a board of directors representing all teams, a constitution and the league having incorporated as a not-for-profit.

“I’m disappointed given the fact we gave such a thorough presentation outlining the rationale for granting junior A status to the GOJHL, Southwestern Ontario and the Golden Horseshoe given that there is no junior A level available within that footprint,” Williams said.

“I really had hoped (the OHA) would be able to take all the facts we presented to them and come down with the decision that they were going to grant junior A status.”

There are multiple reasons for the GOJHL to ask for the status upgrade.

Williams said he felt the league provided “compelling evidence” for it to be granted the status upgrade.

Even though junior B hockey played at the GOJHL level allows for players to be scouted for university and some for development to the Ontario Hockey League, getting an A status would be a further attraction for players to remain closer to home to play.

The calibre of junior B is as good or better than many of the junior A clubs but for some, that high level of the alphabet leaves them with the impression that the A-calibre hockey is better than B.

Williams wouldn’t say whether he was surprised at the decision.

“We certainly were under the impression this was a possibility and that we would have to go to the next level which is an appeal process,” he said.

“Right now we’re just looking at what that’s going to look like and what needs to be done to initiate that process.”

The GOJHL was established in 2008-09 season. It is the largest league governed by the OHA and is comprised of 27 teams, including the London Nationals.