The Central Hockey League was an amateur hockey league located in the upper mid-western United States that played for the 1952-53 season. It was ancestor league of the United States Hockey League (1961-1979) which was a semi-pro/senior league in the mid-western United States and central Canada from 1961 to 1979. When the Midwest Junior Hockey League collapsed prior to the 1977-78 season three junior teams were absorbed into the league. The junior and professional teams were divided into their own divisions but played against each other in regular season games. Starting in 1979-80, the United States Hockey League has been strictly a junior league when the three remaining professional teams became junior teams.
History[]
The American Amateur Hockey League was established in 1947 as the Minnesota-based American Amateur Hockey League with teams in Minneapolis, Rochester and St. Paul. Since its debut, the league had progressed and changed its name several times: In 1952, it became the Central Hockey League (1952-1953); then the next season it became the Minnesota Hockey League (1953-1955) ; and in 1956 the name was changed again to the United States Central Hockey League. In 1961, it adopted the name United States Hockey League (USHL).
Teams[]
| Team name | City | Arena | Seasons | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eveleth-Virginia Rangers | Eveleth, Minnesota & Virginia, Minnesota | Eveleth Hippodrome | 1952-1953 | withdrew |
| Hibbing Flyers | Hibbing, Minnesota | Hibbing Memorial Building Arena | 1952-1953 | join MHL |
| Minneapolis Millers | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Minneapolis Arena | 1952-1953 | withdrew |
| Rochester Mustangs | Rochester, Minnesota | Mayo Civic Auditorium | 1952-1953 | join MHL |
| St. Paul Saints | St. Paul, Minnesota | St. Paul Auditorium | 1952-1953 | withdrew |