Western Hockey League (minor pro)

For other leagues with the same name, please see Western Hockey League.

The Western Hockey League is a now defunct minor professional league in North America that existed from 1952 to 1974. Created out of the merger of the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Canada Senior Hockey League, the WHL epanded much in the 1960s toward the southwestern coast; this expansion and the threat that it posed to the National Hockey League of becoming a rival major hockey league forced the latter league to announce its 1967 NHL Expansion plans.

The league finally had to cease its activities in 1974, after both the NHL and the World Hockey Association had moved into its traditional markets and the resulting diluted talent pool lowered the quality of play and the player availability.

Awards

 * Hal Laycoe Cup (leading defenceman)
 * Fred J. Hume Cup (most gentlemanly player)
 * George Leader Cup (most valuable player)
 * WHL Leading Goaltender
 * WHL Leading Scorer
 * WHL Leading Rookie
 * Lester Patrick Cup (league playoff title)