Western Hockey League (1952–1974)
SportIce hockey
Founded1952
FounderAl Leader
Ceased1974
Countries United States
 Canada
Last
champion(s)		Phoenix Roadrunners
Most titlesVancouver Canucks (4)

The Western Hockey League (WHL) was a minor professional ice hockey league based in Western Canada that operated from 1952 to 1974. The league was managed for most of its history by Al Leader, and had roots in the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Canada Senior Hockey League. The championship trophy of the WHL was the Lester Patrick Cup.

History

The league was founded in 1948 as the Pacific Coast Hockey League (PCHL). In 1951, it absorbed three teams from the Western Canada Senior Hockey League. In 1952, it adopted the WHL name.[1] In the late 1950s, Ron Butlin and Arthur Ryan Smith hosted a hot stove league on radio broadcasts of the league.[2]

The Western Hockey League was managed for most of its history by Al Leader.

During the 1960s, the WHL moved into a number of large west coast markets including Los Angeles and San Francisco. There was speculation that the WHL could grow into a major league capable of rivalling even the long-entrenched National Hockey League (NHL).[3]

In the 1965–66 and 1967–68 seasons, the WHL played an interlocking schedule with the American Hockey League. Fears that the WHL (or a WHL/AHL merger) could become a rival major league was among the factors that finally convinced the NHL to expand for the 1967–68 season.[4]

Several factors led to the WHL's decision to cease operations after the 1973–74 season. The Vancouver Canucks, who had earlier applied for the 1967 NHL expansion, were finally accepted into the league as an expansion team for the 1970–71 season. The NHL and World Hockey Association had moved into many of its traditional markets, and the talent pool had become strained by the fast growth in the number of professional teams. When the NHL announced in June 1974 that the owners of both the Denver Spurs and Seattle Totems had been granted "conditional" NHL franchises (neither of which came to fruition), the WHL announced the same day that it was folding. A few of its surviving teams were absorbed into the Central Hockey League (CHL). The Phoenix Roadrunners franchise jumped to the WHA for the 1974–75 season, while the Spurs jumped from the CHL to the WHA for the 1975–76 season (but folded mid-season).

The championship trophy of the WHL was the Lester Patrick Cup, which is currently on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Teams

Timeline

Salt Lake Golden EaglesDenver SpursSan Diego Gulls (1966-1974)San Francisco Seals (hockey)San Francisco Seals (hockey)Portland BuckaroosPhoenix Roadrunners (WHL)Victoria Maple LeafsDenver InvadersSpokane CometsSpokane SpokesSaskatoon QuakersBrandon RegalsWinnipeg Warriors (minor pro)Tacoma Rockets (PCHL and WHL)New Westminster RoyalsSaskatoon QuakersLos Angeles Blades (WHL)Victoria Cougars (1949–1961)Edmonton FlyersCalgary Stampeders (hockey)Vancouver Canucks (WHL)Seattle TotemsSeattle AmericansSeattle Bombers

List of champions

SeasonWinnerRunner-up
1952–53Edmonton FlyersSaskatoon Quakers
1953–54Calgary StampedersEdmonton Flyers
1954–55Edmonton FlyersCalgary Stampeders
1955–56Winnipeg WarriorsVancouver Canucks
1956–57Brandon RegalsNew Westminster Royals
1957–58Vancouver CanucksCalgary Stampeders
1958–59Seattle TotemsCalgary Stampeders
1959–60Vancouver CanucksVictoria Cougars
1960–61Portland BuckaroosSeattle Totems
1961–62Edmonton FlyersSpokane Comets
1962–63San Francisco SealsSeattle Totems
1963–64San Francisco SealsLos Angeles Blades
1964–65Portland BuckaroosVictoria Maple Leafs
1965–66Victoria Maple LeafsPortland Buckaroos
1966–67Seattle TotemsVancouver Canucks
1967–68Seattle TotemsPortland Buckaroos
1968–69Vancouver CanucksPortland Buckaroos
1969–70Vancouver CanucksPortland Buckaroos
1970–71Portland BuckaroosPhoenix Roadrunners
1971–72Denver SpursPortland Buckaroos
1972–73Phoenix RoadrunnersSalt Lake Golden Eagles
1973–74Phoenix RoadrunnersPortland Buckaroos

Championships by team

TeamChampionshipsRunner-up
Vancouver Canucks42
Seattle Totems32
Portland Buckaroos36
Edmonton Flyers31
Phoenix Roadrunners21
San Francisco Seals20
Brandon Regals10
Calgary Stampeders13
Denver Spurs10
Victoria Maple Leafs11
Winnipeg Warriors10
Saskatoon Quakers01
New Westminster Royals01
Victoria Cougars01
Spokane Comets01
Los Angeles Blades01
Salt Lake Golden Eagles01

References

  1. ↑ Stott, Jon C. (2008). Ice Warriors: The Pacific Coast/Western Hockey League 1948–1974. Surrey, British Columbia: Heritage House Publishing. p. 45. ISBN 978-1-894974-54-7.
  2. ↑ Slade, Daryl (2014-06-26). "Calgary sporting pioneer dies in B.C. at age 89". Calgary Herald. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  3. ↑ Los Angeles Times, 27 March 1959, p.C1: Official Says Hockey Would Go Big Here
  4. ↑ David Cruise; Alison Griffiths (1991). Net Worth: Exploding the Myths of Pro Hockey. Stoddart Publishing.
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