Western International Hockey League
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Classification | Senior |
---|---|
Sport | Ice hockey |
Founded | 1946 |
Ceased | 1988 |
Replaced by | West Kootenay League |
Region | Western United States Western Canada |
Most titles | Spokane Flyers (9) |
The Western International Hockey League (WIHL) was a
Overview
The league had teams in the British Columbian cities of
At various times in the 1950s and 1960s the league had an interlocking schedule with the
In an era when there were fewer NHL and minor professional teams and leagues in North America, winning the Allan Cup was a difficult challenge and the national championship trophy was a coveted prize. The WIHL, along with other highly competitive senior leagues across Canada (with member teams located in the US as well), was considered among the best amateur hockey in North America. Even until the 1980s, the caliber of play was excellent and many former top CHL, junior A, university and pro level players went on to compete for WIHL teams. The WIHL champions would be considered one of the top non-professional teams in North America each year.[citation needed]
The champions of the WIHL received the Shore-Montgomery Trophy, donated by movie stars Dinah Shore and George Montgomery in 1946.[1] It is now on display in the Trail Sports Hall of Memories.
WIHL teams that went on to win the Allan Cup include the Trail Smoke Eaters (1961-62), Spokane Jets (1969-70, 1971-72), Spokane Flyers (1975-76, 1979-80), Kimberley Dynamiters (1977-78), and Cranbrook Royals (1981-82).
Teams
- Calgary Stampeders(1978–79)
- Cranbrook Royals (1965–88)
- Elk Valley Blazers (1979–88)
- Kimberley Dynamiters (1946–81)
- Los Angeles Ramblers (1946–47)
- Nelson Maple Leafs (1946–62, 1963–87)
- Portland Buckaroos (1974–75)
- Rossland Warriors (1956–67)
- Spokane Spartans (1946–48)
- Spokane Flyers (1948–58,1974–78,1979–80)
- Spokane Jets (1963–74)
- Spokane Chiefs (1982–1985)
- Trail Smoke Eaters (1946–62, 1963–84, 1985–87)
Regular season champions
- 1946–47 Kimberley Dynamiters
- 1947–48 Trail Smoke Eaters
- 1948–49 Spokane Flyers (league title)
- 1949–50 Spokane Flyers (league title)
- 1950–51 Trail Smoke Eaters
- 1951–52 Trail Smoke Eaters
- 1952–53 Spokane Flyers
- 1953–54 Nelson Maple Leafs
- 1954–55 Kimberley Dynamiters
- 1955–56 Spokane Flyers
- 1956–57 Spokane Flyers
- 1957–58 Rossland Warriors
- 1958–59 Nelson Maple Leafs
- 1959–60 Trail Smoke Eaters
- 1960–61 Nelson Maple Leafs
- 1961–62 Trail Smoke Eaters (won 1962 Allan Cup)
- 1963–64 Kimberley Dynamiters
- 1964–65 Nelson Maple Leafs
- 1965–66 Kimberley Dynamiters
- 1966–67 Nelson Maple Leafs
- 1967–68 Spokane Jets
- 1968–69 Spokane Jets
- 1969–70 Spokane Jets (won 1970 Allan Cup)
- 1970–71 Nelson Maple Leafs
- 1971–72 Spokane Jets (won 1972 Allan Cup)
- 1972–73 Spokane Jets
- 1973–74 Cranbrook Royals
- 1974–75 Spokane Flyers
- 1975–76 Spokane Flyers (won 1976 Allan Cup)
- 1976–77 Spokane Flyers
- 1977–78 Kimberley Dynamiters (won 1978 Allan Cup)
- 1978–79 Trail Smoke Eaters
- 1979–80 Spokane Flyers (won 1980 Allan Cup)
- 1980–81 Kimberley Dynamiters
- 1981–82 Cranbrook Royals (won 1982 Allan Cup)
- 1982–83 Trail Smoke Eaters
- 1983–84 Spokane Chiefs
- 1984–85 Spokane Chiefs[2]
- 1985–86 Nelson Maple Leafs
- 1986–87 Nelson Maple Leafs
- 1987–88 Elk Valley Blazers
Note: In 1948–49 and 1949–50 the Trail Smoke Eaters advanced to the British Columbia playoffs because Spokane was not eligible for the Allan Cup.
See also
References
- ^ a b Spence, Ron (9 September 2008). "BEFORE THE ICE: A HISTORY OF HOCKEY IN THE KOOTENAYS". CrashingTheGoalie. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011.
- ^ "Chiefs pummel Nitros, await next foe". The Spokesman-Review. 13 March 1985. p. 10.