West Kootenay League

Map showing the location of the teams.

Ancestor League or First Season

What may have been either the first season or a predecessor to the league occurred in 1921-22 with the Nelson Cubs winning what was described as the Interior Championship and competing in the 1921-22 British Columbia Intermediate Playoffs playing in the final against the Vancouver Bluebirds of the Vancouver City Intermediate League losing 7-goals-to-6.

History

This was a senior league in southeastern British Columbia. This was an isolated, mountainous region that relied heavily on mining. The mining industry attracted a lot of hockey players who were able to get local jobs, a strong selling point during the Great Depression. The league ran from 1922-23 through 1940-41. In 1941-42 it merged with the Alberta Senior League. After that the league suspended operations for three seasons due to World War II. It was resurrected in 1945-46.

In 1946-47 the league expanded to Spokane and Los Angeles and became the Western International Hockey League. The WIHL would last until the 1987-88 season.

In its 20 years of operation, the West Kootenay League won every British Columbia Senior Championship (Savage Cup) after its first season except 1925-26, and won the Allan Cup twice (1936 and 1938). Both Allan Cup champions (see below) went to Europe and won the World Championship.

Teams

Team	Centre	Arena	Tenure	Notes
Nelson Cubs	Nelson	Hall Mines Arena	1922-1923	renamed Nelson Kokanees
Trail Tigers	Trail	Trail Fall Fair Skating Rink	1922-1923	renamed Trail Hockey Club
Nelson Kokanees	Nelson	Hall Mines Arena	1923-1931	renamed Nelson Maple Leafs
Rossland Miners	Rossland	Rossland Arena	1923-1930 1933-1938	withdrew withdrew
Trail Hockey Club	Trail	Trail Fall Fair Skating Rink	1923-1927	renamed Trail Smoke Eaters
Trail Smoke Eaters	Trail	Trail Fall Fair Skating Rink	1927-1938 1939-1941 1945-1946	Represented Canada at 1939 World Championship join Alberta-British Columbia Senior League for 1941-42 join Western International Hockey League for 1946-47
Kimberley Dynamiters	Kimberley	Kimberley Arena	1931-1936 1937-1941 1945-1946	Represented Canada at 1937 World Championship join Alberta-British Columbia Senior League for 1941-42 join Western International Hockey League for 1946-47
Nelson Maple Leafs	Nelson	Hall Mines Arena (to 1936) Nelson Civic Centre (1936 on)	1931-1932 1935-1941 1945-1946	withdrew prior to 1932-33 season Suspend operations due to World War II join Western International Hockey League for 1946-47
Nelson Red Wings	Nelson	Hall Mines Arena	1933-1935	Withdrew January 7, 1934>br>revert to Nelson Maple Leafs name for 1935-36 season
Trail Canucks	Trail	Trail Fall Fair Skating Rink	1936-1937	fill in team to replace Kimberley Dynamiters for 1936-37 season
Coleman Canadians	Coleman, Alberta	Coleman Skating Rink	1937-1938	join Alberta Senior Hockey League
Lethbridge Maple Leafs	Lethbridge, Alberta	Lethbridge Arena	1937-1938	join Alberta Senior Hockey League
Trail Blazers	Trail	Trail Fall Fair Skating Rink	1938-1939	Fill in team to replace Trail Smoke Eaters for 1938-39 season
Gonzaga University Bulldogs	Spokane, Washington	Elm Street Barn	1939-1940	Ice hockey program ended by university

Seasons/Playoff Champions/Provincials/Nationals

Season	Playoff Champions	Provincials	Western Canada Playoffs	Allan Cup
1921-22	Nelson Cubs	Lost Provincial Final	N/A	N/A
1922-23	Nelson Cubs	Lost Provincial Final	N/A	N/A
1923-24	Rossland Miners	Won Provincial Championship	Lost W. Canada Quarterfinals	N/A
1924-25	Rossland Miners	Won Provincial Championship	Lost W. Canada Semifinals	N/A
1925-26	Nelson Kokanees	Lost Provincial Semifinals	N/A	N/A
1926-27	Trail Hockey Club	Won Provincial Championship	Lost W. Canada Final	N/A
1927-28	Trail Hockey Club	Won Provincial Championship	Lost W. Canada Final	N/A
1928-29	Trail Smoke Eaters	Won Provincial Championship	Lost W. Canada Final	N/A
1929-30	Trail Smoke Eaters	Won Provincial Championship	Lost W. Canada Final	N/A
1930-31	Trail Smoke Eaters	Won Provincial Championship	Lost W. Canada Semifinals	N/A
1931-32	Trail Smoke Eaters	Won Provincial Championship	Lost W. Canada Quarterfinals	N/A
1932-33	Trail Smoke Eaters	Won Provincial Championship	Lost W. Canada Final	N/A
1933-34	Kimberley Dynamiters	Won Provincial Championship	Lost W. Canada Final	N/A
1934-35	Kimberley Dynamiters	Won Provincial Championship	Lost W. Canada Quarterfinals	N/A
1935-36	Kimberley Dynamiters	Won Provincial Championship	Won Western Canada Championship	Won Allan Cup
1936-37	Nelson Maple Leafs	Won Provincial Championship	Lost W. Canada Quarterfinals	N/A
1937-38	Trail Smoke Eaters	Won Provincial Championship	Won Western Canada Championship	Won Allan Cup
1938-39	Kimberley Dynamiters	Won Provincial Championship	Lost W. Canada Final	N/A
1939-40	Trail Smoke Eaters	Won Provincial Championship	Lost W. Canada semifinals	N/A
1940-41	Trail Smoke Eaters	Won Provincial Championship	Lost W. Canada Semifinals	N/A
League inactive 1941-42 to 1944-45 due to World War II
1945-46	Trail Smoke Eaters	Won Provincial Championship	Lost W. Canada Final	N/A

Note the WKHL was the only senior level league in the province for 1938-39, 1939-40, and 1940-41.

See also

For the 1941-42 season, please see 1941-42 Alberta Senior Playoffs.

For seasons after 1945-46, please see Western International Hockey League.

For a list of West Kootenay League seasons, please see List of WKHL Seasons.

This article is part of the Allan Cup and other senior amateur competitions portal