Eastern Professional Hockey League

The Eastern Professional Hockey League (EPHL) was a minor professional ice hockey league which operated primarily in Ontario and Quebec from 1959 to 1963.

It had its roots in the Quebec Hockey League which was down to three teams in 1959, The Quebec Aces transferred to the American Hockey League (AHL) but the AHL turned down the Montreal Royals because they did not want a team in a National Hockey League (NHL) city.

The Montreal Canadiens, the Royals' parent team, then starting putting together a new league. They had the Hull-Ottawa Canadiens from their junior team (Ottawa-Hull Canadiens). The other NHL teams (except for the Toronto Maple Leafs) were brought in to form the first minor pro league completely owned by the NHL. The NHL had established working relationships with teams in leagues such as the AHL and WHL, but these leagues were not fully under the control of the NHL.

The Toronto Maple Leafs were never fully involved because they felt that the league infringed on their territory.

The Boston Bruins brought in the Kingston Frontenacs. The New York Rangers agreed to sponsor the Trois Rivieres Lions, The Sault Ste. Marie Thunderbirds were owned by the Chicago Blackhawks. The Detroit Red Wings came in with the Sudbury Wolves.

Teams from Sudbury, Kingston, and Sault Ste. Marie had participated in the 1958-59 OHA Senior Season.

The league was a success on the ice but never did well financially. Most of the cities were too small to support professional hockey. The arenas were old, small, and sub-standard. Junior hockey and NHL hockey on television were strong competitors for the fans' dollars.

During its final season the league. down to four teams, played an interlocking schedule with the International Hockey League.

Following the demise of the EPHL, the NHL created the new Central Hockey League of minor-pro farm teams in larger, midwestern U.S. cities. The EPHL teams were basically transferred to this new league.

Regular Season Champions

 * 1959-60 Sudbury Wolves
 * 1960-61 Hull-Ottawa Canadiens
 * 1961-62 Hull-Ottawa Canadiens
 * 1962-63 Kingston Frontenacs

Playoff Champions

 * 1959-60 Montreal Royals
 * 1960-61 Hull-Ottawa Canadiens
 * 1961-62 Hull-Ottawa Canadiens
 * 1962-63 Kingston Frontenacs

List of Seasons

 * 1959-60 EPHL Season
 * 1960-61 EPHL Season
 * 1961-62 EPHL Season
 * 1962-63 EPHL Season

Award Winners

 * EPHL Gentlemanly Player
 * EPHL Leading Scorer
 * EPHL Most Valuable Player
 * EPHL Top Defenceman
 * EPHL Top Goaltender
 * EPHL Top Rookie
 * EPHL All-Star Teams