The 2023 Valorian Hockey Season, stylized VHL 2023, was the forty-fifth complete running of the Valorian Hockey League and Coupe Balbuzard competitions, held from October 2022 to July 2023.
The most recent edition of both competitions, the Boston Spirits won a record-breaking 17th league title, a decade since their last. They defeated the Mainers in the finals series, in a rematch of the series the Spirits had lost the season prior.
The Newfoundland Sailors successfully defended their Coupe Balbuzard title, claiming their 9th cup by defeating the Acadia Rage at the Kaufman Arena.
2023 was the final season to feature only four teams qualifying, with 2024 instead promoting eight to the playoffs.
League
Bold, italics – championship winner
Rank
|
Team
|
Pts
|
1st
|
Boston Spirits
|
48
|
2nd
|
Mainers
|
43
|
3rd
|
Newfoundland Sailors
|
40
|
4th
|
Salem Loggers
|
40
|
5
|
EH Bas-Canada
|
39
|
6
|
Acadia Rage
|
35
|
7
|
Vermont
|
35
|
8
|
Concord Venom
|
33
|
9
|
Halifax Hockey Club
|
30
|
10
|
Providence Doves
|
28
|
11
|
Connecticut Bandits
|
25
|
12
|
Fredericton Stars
|
25
|
13
|
Plymouth Fishermen
|
17
|
14
|
Springfield Bullets
|
15
|
15
|
Charlottetown Hockey
|
14
|
16
|
Hartford Hockey
|
13
|
Playoffs
Semi-finals 1
Team
|
G1
|
G2
|
G3
|
G4
|
Boston Spirits
|
1
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
Salem Loggers
|
3
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
2023 Finals series
Team
|
G1
|
G2
|
G3
|
G4
|
G5
|
Boston Spirits
|
2
|
5
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
Mainers
|
3
|
4
|
2
|
3
|
0
|
Semi-finals 2
Team
|
G1
|
G2
|
G3
|
Mainers
|
4
|
5
|
4
|
Newfoundland Sailors
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
Coupe Balbuzard
Main article: 2023 Coupe Balbuzard
The Newfoundland Sailors entered the tournament as defending champions, and successfully defended their title by defeating Providence, Vermont, Boston, and Acadia, respectively. This was the sixth instance of a team successfully defending their Coupe Balbuzard championship, and the second time for the Sailors, after their victories in 1983 and 1984. The final game was held at Kaufman Arena.
Mainers
|
2
|
Boston Spirits
|
3
|
EH Bas-Canada
|
3
|
Boston Spirits
|
4
|
Acadia Rage
|
3
|
Salem Loggers
|
2
|
Newfoundland Sailors
|
4
|
Boston Spirits
|
1
|
Newfoundland Sailors
|
3
|
Providence Doves
|
2
|
Acadia Rage
|
3
|
Halifax Hockey Club
|
1
|
Charlottetown Hockey
|
6
|
Springfield Bullets
|
1
|
Newfoundland Sailors
|
4
|
Acadia Rage
|
3
|
Connecticut Bandits
|
1
|
Concord Venom
|
2
|
Newfoundland Sailors
|
5
|
Vermont
|
1
|
Halifax Hockey Club
|
4
|
Fredericton Stars
|
1
|
Charlottetown Hockey
|
3
|
Acadia Rage
|
4
|
Hartford Hockey
|
2
|
Vermont
|
4
|
Concord Venom
|
0
|
Charlottetown Hockey
|
2
|
EH Bas-Canada
|
5
|
Plymouth Fishermen
|
2
|
Awards