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''For other leagues with the same name, please see [[Western Hockey League]].''
  
''For other leagues with the same name, please see [[Western Hockey League]].''
   
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{| style="float:right"
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----
  
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|-
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| {{Infobox sports league
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| logo = Western Hockey League.png
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| pixels = 125px
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| caption =
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| sport = [[Ice hockey]]
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| founded = 1966
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| teams = 22
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| country = {{CAN}} (17 teams) <br /> {{USA}} (5 teams)
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| champion = [[Calgary Hitmen]]
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| most_champs = [[Kamloops Blazers]] (6)
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| website = [http://www.whl.ca http://www.whl.ca]
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| current_season = 2009–10 WHL season
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}}
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|}
   
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The '''Western Hockey League''' is the highest tier of Junior hockey in the Canadian West. This [[Major Junior "A"]] league is sanctioned by [[Hockey Canada]] and is a part of the [[Canadian Hockey League]].
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The '''Western Hockey League''' (WHL) is a [[junior ice hockey|major junior]] [[ice hockey]] league based in [[Western Canada]] and the [[Pacific Northwest]] of the [[United States]]. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the [[Canadian Hockey League]] (CHL) as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada. Teams play for the [[Ed Chynoweth Cup]], with the winner moving on to play for the [[Memorial Cup]], Canada's national junior championship.
   
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The WHL was founded in 1966 with seven teams in Saskatchewan and Alberta. It is the brainchild of [[Bill Hunter]], who intended to build a western league capable of competing with the top leagues in Ontario and Quebec. Originally considered an "outlaw league" by the [[Hockey Canada|Canadian Amateur Hockey Association]], the WHL was sanctioned as the top junior league in Western Canada when junior hockey was reorganized in 1970. WHL teams have won the Memorial Cup 18 times since the league became eligible to compete for the trophy.
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==Member Teams==
  
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===Eastern Conference===
  
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====East Division====
  
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:[[Brandon Wheat Kings]]
  
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:[[Moose Jaw Warriors]]
  
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:[[Prince Albert Raiders]]
  
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:[[Regina Pats]]
  
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:[[Saskatoon Blades]]
  
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:[[Swift Current Broncos]]
  
   
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Today, the WHL comprises 22 teams, divided into two conferences of two divisions. The Eastern Conference comprises 12 teams from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, while the Western Conference comprises ten teams from British Columbia, Washington State and Oregon. The [[Calgary Hitmen]] are the defending WHL champions.
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====Central Division====
  
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:[[Calgary Hitmen]]
  
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:[[Edmonton Oil Kings]]
  
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:[[Kootenay Ice]]
  
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:[[Lethbridge Hurricanes]]
  
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:[[Medicine Hat Tigers]]
  
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:[[Red Deer Rebels]]
  
   
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===Western Conference===
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== History ==
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:''See also: [[Timeline of WHL history]]''
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====B.C. Division====
  
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:[[Chilliwack Bruins]]
  
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:[[Kamloops Blazers]]
  
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:[[Kelowna Rockets]]
  
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:[[Prince George Cougars]]
  
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:[[Vancouver Giants]]
  
   
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Despite winning the 1966 [[Memorial Cup]], the [[Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)|Edmonton Oil Kings]]' owner, Bill Hunter, was growing concerned about the state of junior hockey in western Canada. Each of the West's four provinces had its own junior league, and Hunter felt that this put them at a disadvantage when competing nationally against the powerful leagues in Ontario and Quebec. Desiring stronger competition, Hunter's Oil Kings competed in the Alberta Senior Hockey League rather than the [[Alberta Junior Hockey League]].
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====U.S. Division====
  
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:[[Everett Silvertips]]
  
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:[[Portland Winter Hawks]]
  
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:[[Seattle Thunderbirds]]
  
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:[[Spokane Chiefs]]
  
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:[[Tri-City Americans]]
  
   
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The [[Hockey Canada|Canadian Amateur Hockey Association]] (CAHA) informed the Oil Kings that they were required to play in a junior hockey league for the 1966–67 season or would be held ineligible to compete for the Memorial Cup. This led Hunter to form a new league with five former members of the [[Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League]] (SJHL), the [[Estevan Bruins]], [[Regina Pats]], [[Saskatoon Blades]], [[Moose Jaw Canucks]], and [[Weyburn Red Wings]], to leave the SJHL and join the Oil Kings and the [[Calgary Buffaloes]] in a new league known as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League. Despite concerns that this new league would see the demise of the Alberta and Saskatchewan leagues, the governing bodies in both provinces sanctioned the new league. The CAHA did not, however, declaring the CMJHL to be an "outlaw league" and suspending all teams and players from participation in CAHA sanctioned events.<ref>{{cite news |title=Buffaloes continue program |work=Calgary Herald |date=1966-10-04 |page=14}}</ref> The new league accused the CAHA of overstepping its boundaries and with the support of the players and their families, chose to play the season regardless.<ref>{{cite news |title=CMJHL may play without official sanction of CAHA |work=Calgary Herald |date=1966-10-05 |page=55}}</ref>
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==Champions==
  
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''See [[List of WHL Ed Chynoweth Cup Champions]]''
  
   
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The CMJHL renamed itself the Western Canada Hockey League in 1967, adding four new teams to total 11 as the league stretched east into Manitoba. Concerns over the WCHL's relationship with the CAHA led the Pats, Canucks and Red Wings to withdraw before the [[1968–69 WCHL season|1968–69 season]], returning to the SJHL. When the CAHA reorganized junior hockey in 1971, it named the WCHL one of three Tier I Major-Junior leagues, along with the [[Ontario Hockey Association]]'s Tier I division (now the [[Ontario Hockey League]]) and the [[Quebec Major Junior Hockey League]].
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==Former Member Teams==
  
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To be added.
  
   
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=== Early years ===
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==External links==
  
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[[Image:Clarke bombers.jpg|thumb|150px|right|[[Bobby Clarke]]'s Bombers jersey on display at the [[2007 Memorial Cup]] in [[Vancouver]].]]
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To be added.
  
   
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The first decade of the WCHL saw constant expansion and franchise movement as the league spread throughout the West. The [[Flin Flon Bombers]] became the league's first powerhouse team, led by future [[National Hockey League|NHL]] stars [[Bobby Clarke]] and [[Reggie Leach]]. The [[Brandon Wheat Kings]] and [[Swift Current Broncos]] joined in 1967, the [[Medicine Hat Tigers]] in 1970. The WCHL truly became a western league in 1971 when Estevan moved to B.C. to become the [[New Westminster Bruins]], joined by expansion franchises the [[Victoria Cougars (WHL)|Victoria Cougars]] and [[Vancouver Nats]].
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In the mid 1970s, the New Westminster Bruins became the WCHL's first true dynasty, capturing four consecutive championships between 1975 and 1978. The Bruins also won back-to-back Memorial Cups in 1977 and 1978.
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In 1976, the Oil Kings succumbed to the competing [[Edmonton Oilers]] of the [[World Hockey Association]] and relocated to [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]] to become the [[Portland Winter Hawks|Winter Hawks]], the WCHL's first American franchise.<ref>{{cite news |last=Matheson |first=Jim |title=Oil Kings get CAHA nod for move to Portland |date=1976-05-26 |work=Edmonton Journal |page=67}}</ref> With the addition of American teams in [[Seattle, Washington|Seattle]] and [[Billings, Montana|Billings]] a year later, the WCHL shortened its name to the ''Western Hockey League''.
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=== Brawling '80s ===
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The 1980s were marked by several brawls that involved police intervention, one of the most bizarre trades in hockey history, and the tragic deaths of four players in a bus crash.
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Early in the [[1980–81 WHL season]], Medicine Hat Tigers GM/Coach [[Pat Ginnell]] traded blows with a linesman during a bench clearing brawl against the [[Lethbridge Broncos]]. Ginnell was found guilty of assault, fined $360, and suspended for 36 games by the WHL. In March 1982 a violent brawl between the [[Regina Pats]] and [[Calgary Wranglers]] saw the two teams collectively fined $2250 and players suspended for 73 games combined. Pats coach [[Bill LaForge]] would end up in a courtroom later that season when he got into an altercation with a fan. LaForge was acquitted when the judge noted that it was hard to convict a man for assault when faced with "an obnoxious person trying to get into the coach's area."[http://whl.ca/about/history.php?id=98&showToc=1]. LaForge resigned following the season after serving three separate suspensions.
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On January 19, 1983, the [[Seattle Breakers]] dealt the rights to [[Tom Martin (ice hockey)|Tom Martin]] to the [[Victoria Cougars (WHL)|Victoria Cougars]] in exchange for the Cougars' team bus. The deal made perfect sense: the Breakers were unable to sign Martin, who wanted to play in his home town of Victoria, and the Cougars were unable to use the bus (which they had purchased from the folded [[Spokane Flyers]]) because they were unwilling to pay the taxes and duties required to register the vehicle in Canada.
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On December 30, 1986, tragedy struck the Swift Current Broncos when their bus slid off an icy highway and rolled on the way to Regina for a game. Scott Kruger, Trent Kresse, Brent Ruff, and Chris Mantyka were killed.<ref>{{cite news |author=Naylor, David and Leriche, Timothy |title=Tragedy hits hockey club |work=Calgary Sun |date=1986-12-31 |page=5}}</ref> The Broncos retired their numbers, and {{As of|2009|lc=on}} still wear a commemorative patch in remembrance of the four players who died. The WHL later renamed its award for most valuable player as the [[Four Broncos Memorial Trophy]] in their honour.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whl.ca/whl-player-of-the-year---four-broncos-memorial-trophy-p121198 |title=Four Broncos Memorial Trophy |publisher=Western Hockey League |accessdate=2009-02-11}}</ref>
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=== Modern league ===
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[[Image:HitmenvsBlades.JPG|thumb|200px|right|[[Calgary Hitmen]] in action against the [[Saskatoon Blades]]]]
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The last 15 years in the WHL have been marked by another period of expansion and the return of the league to Western Canada's major cities. The [[Kamloops Blazers]] became the WHL's second dynasty in the early 1990s when they won both the WHL Championship and Memorial Cup three times in four years between 1992 and 1995. The [[Kelowna Rockets]] have become the third dynasty, winning three WHL titles in 2003, 2005, and 2009; and winning the Memorial Cup as host city in 2004. The Portland Winterhawks became the first American team to win the Memorial Cup, winning it in 1983 while hosting the tournament. The Hawks won the Memorial Cup again in 1998 in Spokane, Washington.
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In 1995, the [[Calgary Hitmen]] were born when a group of investors, including [[Bret Hart|Bret "the Hitman" Hart]], from whom the team got its name, were granted an expansion franchise. Despite early fears that the WHL could not succeed in an NHL city, the Hitmen have been a major success, averaging as many as 10,000 fans per game in [[2004–05 WHL season|2004–05]]. The Hitmen were followed one year later by the [[Edmonton Ice]], who failed after only two seasons because of conflicts with the [[Edmonton Oilers]]. The team would become the [[Kootenay Ice]], who have become a major success in [[Cranbrook, British Columbia]] despite being one of the smallest markets in the league. In the new millennium, the league has given birth to four new expansion teams—the [[Vancouver Giants]] in 2001, the [[Everett Silvertips]] in 2003, the [[Chilliwack Bruins]] in 2005, and the [[Edmonton Oil Kings]] in 2007, as the Oilers have taken an interest in cultivating a junior team in the Alberta capital.
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The WHL is stereotypically known for producing large, hard-hitting defencemen and gritty power forwards, although recently a high percentage of quality goaltenders have come out of the Dub as well, as evidenced by the fact that the five of the last six winners of the [[CHL Goaltender of the Year]] award have come from the WHL.
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Since 2006 [[Shaw TV]] has become the television partner with the league in Canada airing a game every Friday Night and other select games through out the season as well as one round of every playoff series. Starting in 2009 [[FSN Northwest]] agreed to air some games throughout the northwest [[United States Of America]].
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== Member teams ==
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[[Image:WHL Team Locations.png|right|thumb|220px|A map of the WHL teams' home cities.]]
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For the [[2008–09 WHL season|2008–09]] season, the WHL comprises 22 teams divided into two conferences, making it the largest league in the CHL; the [[Ontario Hockey League]] has 20 teams and the [[Quebec Major Junior Hockey League]] has 18. The WHL has member teams across four Canadian provinces, and two American states. The Eastern Conference comprises teams from [[Manitoba]], [[Saskatchewan]], [[Alberta]] and eastern [[British Columbia]]. The Western Conference is made up of teams based in British Columbia, [[Washington (U.S. state)|Washington]] and [[Oregon]].
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The top eight teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs, with the division winners declared the top two seeds in the first round of the post-season. The four remaining teams in each conference are reseeded by regular season points in the second round of the playoffs.
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{{-}}
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=== Eastern Conference ===
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{| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%"
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|-
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! width=10%|Division
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! width=30%|Team
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! width=30%|City
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! width=30%|Arena
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|-
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! rowspan="6" | East
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| '''[[Brandon Wheat Kings]]'''
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| [[Brandon, Manitoba|Brandon]], [[Manitoba]]
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| [[Westman Communications Group Place]]
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|-
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| '''[[Moose Jaw Warriors]]'''
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| [[Moose Jaw]], [[Saskatchewan]]
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| [[Moose Jaw Civic Centre]]
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|-
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| '''[[Prince Albert Raiders]]'''
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| [[Prince Albert, Saskatchewan|Prince Albert]], [[Saskatchewan]]
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| [[Art Hauser Centre]]
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|-
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| '''[[Regina Pats]]'''
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| [[Regina, Saskatchewan|Regina]], [[Saskatchewan]]
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| [[Brandt Centre]]
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|-
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| '''[[Saskatoon Blades]]'''
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| [[Saskatoon]], [[Saskatchewan]]
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| [[Credit Union Centre]]
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|-
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| '''[[Swift Current Broncos]]'''
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| [[Swift Current, Saskatchewan|Swift Current]], [[Saskatchewan]]
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| [[Credit Union iPlex]]
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|-
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! rowspan="6" | Central
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| '''[[Calgary Hitmen]]'''
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| [[Calgary]], [[Alberta]]
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| [[Pengrowth Saddledome]]
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|-
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| '''[[Edmonton Oil Kings]]'''
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| [[Edmonton]], [[Alberta]]
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| [[Rexall Place]]
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|-
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| '''[[Kootenay Ice]]'''
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| [[Cranbrook, British Columbia|Cranbrook]], [[British Columbia]]
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| [[Cranbrook Recreational Complex]]
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|-
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| '''[[Lethbridge Hurricanes]]'''
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| [[Lethbridge]], [[Alberta]]
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| [[ENMAX Centre]]
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|-
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| '''[[Medicine Hat Tigers]]'''
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| [[Medicine Hat]], [[Alberta]]
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| [[Medicine Hat Arena]]
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|-
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| '''[[Red Deer Rebels]]'''
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| [[Red Deer, Alberta|Red Deer]], [[Alberta]]
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| [[ENMAX Centrium]]
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|}
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=== Western Conference ===
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{| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%"
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|-
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! width=10%|Division
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! width=30%|Team
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! width=30%|City
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! width=30%|Arena
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|-
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! rowspan="5" | B.C.
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| '''[[Chilliwack Bruins]]'''
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| [[Chilliwack, British Columbia|Chilliwack]], [[British Columbia]]
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| [[Prospera Centre]]
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|-
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| '''[[Kamloops Blazers]]'''
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| [[Kamloops]], [[British Columbia]]
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| [[Interior Savings Centre]]
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|-
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| '''[[Kelowna Rockets]]'''
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| [[Kelowna]], [[British Columbia]]
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| [[Prospera Place]]
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|-
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| '''[[Prince George Cougars]]'''
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| [[Prince George, British Columbia|Prince George]], [[British Columbia]]
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| [[CN Centre]]
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|-
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| '''[[Vancouver Giants]]'''
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| [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]]
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| [[Pacific Coliseum]]
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|-
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! rowspan="5" | U.S.
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| '''[[Everett Silvertips]]'''
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| [[Everett, Washington|Everett]], Washington
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| [[Comcast Arena at Everett]]
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|-
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| '''[[Portland Winterhawks]]'''
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| [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], [[Oregon]]
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| [[Memorial Coliseum (Portland)|Memorial Coliseum]] & [[Rose Garden Arena|Rose Garden]]
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|-
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| '''[[Seattle Thunderbirds]]'''
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| [[Seattle]], [[Washington (U.S. state)|Washington]]
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| [[ShoWare Center]]
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|-
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| '''[[Spokane Chiefs]]'''
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| [[Spokane, Washington]]
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| [[Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena]]
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|-
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| '''[[Tri-City Americans]]'''
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| [[Kennewick, Washington]]
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| [[Toyota Center (Kennewick)|Toyota Center]]
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|}
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==Education==
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The WHL has taken a much greater role in its players educational needs in recent years. The league operates a scholarship program that offers one full year of tuition, textbooks and compulsory fees for each season they play in the WHL. Since the program was introduced in 1993, over 3,000 such scholarships have been handed out at a total value of [[Canadian Dollar|c$]]9-million.<ref name="ProspectsEducation">{{cite journal |last=Aykroyd |first=Lucas |year=2008 |month=12 |title=School's in Session |journal=Prospects Hockey |page=WHL9–WHL11}}</ref> Each team maintains an academic advisor, who monitors the academic progress of all players along with the league's Director of Education Services.<ref name="0809guide-education">{{cite book |title=2008–09 WHL Guide |publisher=Western Hockey League |editor=Flett, Corey and Watts, Jessie |year=2008 |page=191}}</ref>
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Canadian universities and colleges recruit extensively from the WHL, affording graduating players the opportunity to continue playing hockey as they attend post-secondary institutions. The [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA) considers graduates of the WHL to be ineligible to participate in university hockey programs in the United States.<ref name="WHLFAQ">{{cite web |url=http://www.whl.ca/FAQ-p121244 |title=WHL Frequently Asked Questions |publisher=Western Hockey League |accessdate=2009-02-11}}</ref> Players hoping to receive scholarships to, and play for, American universities play Junior A hockey in one of the [[Canadian Junior Hockey League]]'s member organizations so as to retain their NCAA eligibility.<ref>{{cite news |title=Guide for College Bound Hockey Players |publisher=Alberta Junior Hockey League |page=34 |year=2008 |last=Lamb |first=Kirk}}</ref>
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==Player eligibility==
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The [[WHL Bantam Draft]] is an annual event which teams select players from bantam hockey league age groups, 14 or 15 years old. The order of selection depends on the final standings of the teams, the last place team selects first the 2nd to last will choose 2nd and so on.
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Players aged 15–20 are eligible to play in the WHL, though 15-year olds are permitted to play only five games unless their midget team's season has ended. Also, each team is allowed to have only three 20-year olds on their rosters. Each team is permitted to carry only two non-North American players.<ref name="WHLFAQ" /> Each of the CHL's three member leagues are granted exclusive territorial rights to players from within North America. The WHL holds rights to players from the four western provinces, the western United States and the [[Yukon]] and [[Northwest Territories]].
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== Memorial Cup champions ==
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The [[Memorial Cup]] has been captured by a WHL team 18 times since the league's founding
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{| width="75%"
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|-----
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| valign="top" |
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* [[2008 Memorial Cup|2008]]: [[Spokane Chiefs]]
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* [[2007 Memorial Cup|2007]]: [[Vancouver Giants]]
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* [[2004 Memorial Cup|2004]]: [[Kelowna Rockets]]
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* [[2002 Memorial Cup|2002]]: [[Kootenay Ice]]
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* [[2001 Memorial Cup|2001]]: [[Red Deer Rebels]]
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* [[1998 Memorial Cup|1998]]: [[Portland Winter Hawks]]
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| valign="top" |
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* [[1995 Memorial Cup|1995]]: [[Kamloops Blazers]]
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* [[1994 Memorial Cup|1994]]: [[Kamloops Blazers]]
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* [[1992 Memorial Cup|1992]]: [[Kamloops Blazers]]
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* [[1991 Memorial Cup|1991]]: [[Spokane Chiefs]]
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* [[1989 Memorial Cup|1989]]: [[Swift Current Broncos]]
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* [[1988 Memorial Cup|1988]]: [[Medicine Hat Tigers]]
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| valign="top" |
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* [[1987 Memorial Cup|1987]]: [[Medicine Hat Tigers]]
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* [[1985 Memorial Cup|1985]]: [[Prince Albert Raiders]]
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* [[1983 Memorial Cup|1983]]: [[Portland Winter Hawks]]
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* [[1978 Memorial Cup|1978]]: [[New Westminster Bruins]]
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* [[1977 Memorial Cup|1977]]: [[New Westminster Bruins]]
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* [[1974 Memorial Cup|1974]]: [[Regina Pats]]
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|}
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== Records ==
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'''Individual'''
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* Most goals in a season: 108, [[Ray Ferraro]], 1983–84
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* Most assists in a season: 136, [[Rob Brown (ice hockey)|Rob Brown]], 1986–87
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* Most points in a season: 212, Rob Brown, 1986–87
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* Most penalty minutes in a season: 511, Brent Gogol, 1977–78
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* Most points in a season, rookie: 145, [[Petr Nedvěd|Petr Nedved]], 1989–90
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* Most points in a season, defenceman: 140, [[Cam Plante]], 1983–84
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* Most hat-tricks in a season: 15, Ray Ferraro, 1983–84
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'''Team'''
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* Most wins in a season: 60, [[Victoria Cougars (WHL)|Victoria Cougars]], 1980–81
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* Most wins in an inaugural season: 35, [[Everett Silvertips]], 2003–04
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* Most points in a season: 125, [[Brandon Wheat Kings]], 1978–79
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* Most goals in a season: 496, [[Kamloops Blazers]], 1986–87
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* Fewest goals against in a season: 125, [[Kelowna Rockets]], 2003–04
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== Trophies and awards ==
  +
{{main|Canadian Hockey League awards}}
  +
[[Image:Ed Chynoweth Cup.JPG|thumb|150px|right|The Ed Chynoweth Cup is awarded to the WHL's champion]]
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* [[Ed Chynoweth Cup]]—playoff champions
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* [[Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy]]—regular season champions
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* [[Four Broncos Memorial Trophy]]—player of the year
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* [[Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy]]—scholastic player of the year
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* [[Bob Clarke Trophy]]—top scorer
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* [[Brad Hornung Trophy]]—most sportsmanlike player
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* [[Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy]]—top defencemen
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* [[Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy]]—rookie of the year
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* [[Del Wilson Trophy]]—top goaltender
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* [[Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy]]—coach of the year
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* [[Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy]]—executive of the year
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* [[Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy]]—top official
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* [[St. Clair Group Trophy]]—marketing/public relations award
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* [[Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy]]—humanitarian of the year
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* [[WHL Plus-Minus Award]]
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* [[airBC Trophy]]—most valuable player in the playoffs
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  +
== Commissioners ==
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* [[Ed Chynoweth]] - 1972-95
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* [[Dev Dley]] - 1995-2000
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* [[Ron Robison]] - 2000-present
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== See also ==
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* [[List of CHL franchise post-season droughts]]
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* [[List of ice hockey leagues]]
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* [[Ontario Hockey League]]
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* [[Quebec Major Junior Hockey League]]
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* [[Sports league attendances]]
  +
  +
== References ==
  +
;General
  +
*{{cite book |title=2008–09 WHL Guide |publisher=Western Hockey League |editor=Flett, Corey and Watts, Jessie |year=2008}}
  +
*{{cite web |url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/257.html |title=Western Hockey League seasons |publisher=hockeydb.org |accessdate=2009-02-11}}
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*{{cite book |title=Local Heroes: A History of the Western Hockey League by Richard Lapp and Silas White |url=http://www.harbourpublishing.com/book.php?id=276}}
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;Specific
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{{Reflist|2}}
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== External links ==
  +
* [http://www.whl.ca/hm Official website of the Western Hockey League]
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* [http://www.chl.ca/ Official website of the Canadian Hockey League]
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* [http://www.arenatrack.com/whlteams.php Maps to WHL arenas]
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{{WHL}}
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{{Defunct WHL}}
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{{WHL Arenas}}
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{{Junior Hockey}}
 
[[Category:Ice hockey leagues]]
  
[[Category:Ice hockey leagues]]
 
[[Category:Canadian Hockey League]]
  
[[Category:Canadian Hockey League]]
 
[[Category:Western Hockey League (junior)]]
  
[[Category:Western Hockey League (junior)]]
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[[Category:Established in 1966]]

Revision as of 05:24, 23 May 2010

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

Western Hockey League (junior)
2009–10 WHL season
Western Hockey League
Sport Ice hockey
Founded 1966
No. of teams 22
Country(ies) Flag of Canada Canada (17 teams)
Flag of the United States United States (5 teams)
Most recent champion(s) Calgary Hitmen
Most championship(s) Kamloops Blazers (6)
Official website http://www.whl.ca

The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada. Teams play for the Ed Chynoweth Cup, with the winner moving on to play for the Memorial Cup, Canada's national junior championship.

The WHL was founded in 1966 with seven teams in Saskatchewan and Alberta. It is the brainchild of Bill Hunter, who intended to build a western league capable of competing with the top leagues in Ontario and Quebec. Originally considered an "outlaw league" by the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, the WHL was sanctioned as the top junior league in Western Canada when junior hockey was reorganized in 1970. WHL teams have won the Memorial Cup 18 times since the league became eligible to compete for the trophy.

Today, the WHL comprises 22 teams, divided into two conferences of two divisions. The Eastern Conference comprises 12 teams from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, while the Western Conference comprises ten teams from British Columbia, Washington State and Oregon. The Calgary Hitmen are the defending WHL champions.

History

See also: Timeline of WHL history

Despite winning the 1966 Memorial Cup, the Edmonton Oil Kings' owner, Bill Hunter, was growing concerned about the state of junior hockey in western Canada. Each of the West's four provinces had its own junior league, and Hunter felt that this put them at a disadvantage when competing nationally against the powerful leagues in Ontario and Quebec. Desiring stronger competition, Hunter's Oil Kings competed in the Alberta Senior Hockey League rather than the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

The Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) informed the Oil Kings that they were required to play in a junior hockey league for the 1966–67 season or would be held ineligible to compete for the Memorial Cup. This led Hunter to form a new league with five former members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), the Estevan Bruins, Regina Pats, Saskatoon Blades, Moose Jaw Canucks, and Weyburn Red Wings, to leave the SJHL and join the Oil Kings and the Calgary Buffaloes in a new league known as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League. Despite concerns that this new league would see the demise of the Alberta and Saskatchewan leagues, the governing bodies in both provinces sanctioned the new league. The CAHA did not, however, declaring the CMJHL to be an "outlaw league" and suspending all teams and players from participation in CAHA sanctioned events.[1] The new league accused the CAHA of overstepping its boundaries and with the support of the players and their families, chose to play the season regardless.[2]

The CMJHL renamed itself the Western Canada Hockey League in 1967, adding four new teams to total 11 as the league stretched east into Manitoba. Concerns over the WCHL's relationship with the CAHA led the Pats, Canucks and Red Wings to withdraw before the 1968–69 season, returning to the SJHL. When the CAHA reorganized junior hockey in 1971, it named the WCHL one of three Tier I Major-Junior leagues, along with the Ontario Hockey Association's Tier I division (now the Ontario Hockey League) and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Early years

Clarke bombers

Bobby Clarke's Bombers jersey on display at the 2007 Memorial Cup in Vancouver.

The first decade of the WCHL saw constant expansion and franchise movement as the league spread throughout the West. The Flin Flon Bombers became the league's first powerhouse team, led by future NHL stars Bobby Clarke and Reggie Leach. The Brandon Wheat Kings and Swift Current Broncos joined in 1967, the Medicine Hat Tigers in 1970. The WCHL truly became a western league in 1971 when Estevan moved to B.C. to become the New Westminster Bruins, joined by expansion franchises the Victoria Cougars and Vancouver Nats.

In the mid 1970s, the New Westminster Bruins became the WCHL's first true dynasty, capturing four consecutive championships between 1975 and 1978. The Bruins also won back-to-back Memorial Cups in 1977 and 1978.

In 1976, the Oil Kings succumbed to the competing Edmonton Oilers of the World Hockey Association and relocated to Portland to become the Winter Hawks, the WCHL's first American franchise.[3] With the addition of American teams in Seattle and Billings a year later, the WCHL shortened its name to the Western Hockey League.

Brawling '80s

The 1980s were marked by several brawls that involved police intervention, one of the most bizarre trades in hockey history, and the tragic deaths of four players in a bus crash.

Early in the 1980–81 WHL season, Medicine Hat Tigers GM/Coach Pat Ginnell traded blows with a linesman during a bench clearing brawl against the Lethbridge Broncos. Ginnell was found guilty of assault, fined $360, and suspended for 36 games by the WHL. In March 1982 a violent brawl between the Regina Pats and Calgary Wranglers saw the two teams collectively fined $2250 and players suspended for 73 games combined. Pats coach Bill LaForge would end up in a courtroom later that season when he got into an altercation with a fan. LaForge was acquitted when the judge noted that it was hard to convict a man for assault when faced with "an obnoxious person trying to get into the coach's area."[1]. LaForge resigned following the season after serving three separate suspensions.

On January 19, 1983, the Seattle Breakers dealt the rights to Tom Martin to the Victoria Cougars in exchange for the Cougars' team bus. The deal made perfect sense: the Breakers were unable to sign Martin, who wanted to play in his home town of Victoria, and the Cougars were unable to use the bus (which they had purchased from the folded Spokane Flyers) because they were unwilling to pay the taxes and duties required to register the vehicle in Canada.

On December 30, 1986, tragedy struck the Swift Current Broncos when their bus slid off an icy highway and rolled on the way to Regina for a game. Scott Kruger, Trent Kresse, Brent Ruff, and Chris Mantyka were killed.[4] The Broncos retired their numbers, and as of 2009 still wear a commemorative patch in remembrance of the four players who died. The WHL later renamed its award for most valuable player as the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy in their honour.[5]

Modern league

HitmenvsBlades

Calgary Hitmen in action against the Saskatoon Blades

The last 15 years in the WHL have been marked by another period of expansion and the return of the league to Western Canada's major cities. The Kamloops Blazers became the WHL's second dynasty in the early 1990s when they won both the WHL Championship and Memorial Cup three times in four years between 1992 and 1995. The Kelowna Rockets have become the third dynasty, winning three WHL titles in 2003, 2005, and 2009; and winning the Memorial Cup as host city in 2004. The Portland Winterhawks became the first American team to win the Memorial Cup, winning it in 1983 while hosting the tournament. The Hawks won the Memorial Cup again in 1998 in Spokane, Washington.

In 1995, the Calgary Hitmen were born when a group of investors, including Bret "the Hitman" Hart, from whom the team got its name, were granted an expansion franchise. Despite early fears that the WHL could not succeed in an NHL city, the Hitmen have been a major success, averaging as many as 10,000 fans per game in 2004–05. The Hitmen were followed one year later by the Edmonton Ice, who failed after only two seasons because of conflicts with the Edmonton Oilers. The team would become the Kootenay Ice, who have become a major success in Cranbrook, British Columbia despite being one of the smallest markets in the league. In the new millennium, the league has given birth to four new expansion teams—the Vancouver Giants in 2001, the Everett Silvertips in 2003, the Chilliwack Bruins in 2005, and the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2007, as the Oilers have taken an interest in cultivating a junior team in the Alberta capital.

The WHL is stereotypically known for producing large, hard-hitting defencemen and gritty power forwards, although recently a high percentage of quality goaltenders have come out of the Dub as well, as evidenced by the fact that the five of the last six winners of the CHL Goaltender of the Year award have come from the WHL.

Since 2006 Shaw TV has become the television partner with the league in Canada airing a game every Friday Night and other select games through out the season as well as one round of every playoff series. Starting in 2009 FSN Northwest agreed to air some games throughout the northwest United States Of America.

Member teams

File:WHL Team Locations.png

A map of the WHL teams' home cities.

For the 2008–09 season, the WHL comprises 22 teams divided into two conferences, making it the largest league in the CHL; the Ontario Hockey League has 20 teams and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has 18. The WHL has member teams across four Canadian provinces, and two American states. The Eastern Conference comprises teams from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and eastern British Columbia. The Western Conference is made up of teams based in British Columbia, Washington and Oregon.

The top eight teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs, with the division winners declared the top two seeds in the first round of the post-season. The four remaining teams in each conference are reseeded by regular season points in the second round of the playoffs.

Eastern Conference

Division Team City Arena
East Brandon Wheat Kings Brandon, Manitoba Westman Communications Group Place
Moose Jaw Warriors Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan Moose Jaw Civic Centre
Prince Albert Raiders Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Art Hauser Centre
Regina Pats Regina, Saskatchewan Brandt Centre
Saskatoon Blades Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Credit Union Centre
Swift Current Broncos Swift Current, Saskatchewan Credit Union iPlex
Central Calgary Hitmen Calgary, Alberta Pengrowth Saddledome
Edmonton Oil Kings Edmonton, Alberta Rexall Place
Kootenay Ice Cranbrook, British Columbia Cranbrook Recreational Complex
Lethbridge Hurricanes Lethbridge, Alberta ENMAX Centre
Medicine Hat Tigers Medicine Hat, Alberta Medicine Hat Arena
Red Deer Rebels Red Deer, Alberta ENMAX Centrium

Western Conference

Division Team City Arena
B.C. Chilliwack Bruins Chilliwack, British Columbia Prospera Centre
Kamloops Blazers Kamloops, British Columbia Interior Savings Centre
Kelowna Rockets Kelowna, British Columbia Prospera Place
Prince George Cougars Prince George, British Columbia CN Centre
Vancouver Giants Vancouver, British Columbia Pacific Coliseum
U.S. Everett Silvertips Everett, Washington Comcast Arena at Everett
Portland Winterhawks Portland, Oregon Memorial Coliseum & Rose Garden
Seattle Thunderbirds Seattle, Washington ShoWare Center
Spokane Chiefs Spokane, Washington Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
Tri-City Americans Kennewick, Washington Toyota Center

Education

The WHL has taken a much greater role in its players educational needs in recent years. The league operates a scholarship program that offers one full year of tuition, textbooks and compulsory fees for each season they play in the WHL. Since the program was introduced in 1993, over 3,000 such scholarships have been handed out at a total value of c$9-million.[6] Each team maintains an academic advisor, who monitors the academic progress of all players along with the league's Director of Education Services.[7]

Canadian universities and colleges recruit extensively from the WHL, affording graduating players the opportunity to continue playing hockey as they attend post-secondary institutions. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) considers graduates of the WHL to be ineligible to participate in university hockey programs in the United States.[8] Players hoping to receive scholarships to, and play for, American universities play Junior A hockey in one of the Canadian Junior Hockey League's member organizations so as to retain their NCAA eligibility.[9]

Player eligibility

The WHL Bantam Draft is an annual event which teams select players from bantam hockey league age groups, 14 or 15 years old. The order of selection depends on the final standings of the teams, the last place team selects first the 2nd to last will choose 2nd and so on.

Players aged 15–20 are eligible to play in the WHL, though 15-year olds are permitted to play only five games unless their midget team's season has ended. Also, each team is allowed to have only three 20-year olds on their rosters. Each team is permitted to carry only two non-North American players.[8] Each of the CHL's three member leagues are granted exclusive territorial rights to players from within North America. The WHL holds rights to players from the four western provinces, the western United States and the Yukon and Northwest Territories.

Memorial Cup champions

The Memorial Cup has been captured by a WHL team 18 times since the league's founding

Records

Individual

  • Most goals in a season: 108, Ray Ferraro, 1983–84
  • Most assists in a season: 136, Rob Brown, 1986–87
  • Most points in a season: 212, Rob Brown, 1986–87
  • Most penalty minutes in a season: 511, Brent Gogol, 1977–78
  • Most points in a season, rookie: 145, Petr Nedved, 1989–90
  • Most points in a season, defenceman: 140, Cam Plante, 1983–84
  • Most hat-tricks in a season: 15, Ray Ferraro, 1983–84

Team

Trophies and awards

Main article: Canadian Hockey League awards
Ed Chynoweth Cup

The Ed Chynoweth Cup is awarded to the WHL's champion

Commissioners

  • Ed Chynoweth - 1972-95
  • Dev Dley - 1995-2000
  • Ron Robison - 2000-present

See also

References

General
Specific
  1. ↑ "Buffaloes continue program", Calgary Herald, 1966-10-04, p. 14. 
  2. ↑ "CMJHL may play without official sanction of CAHA", Calgary Herald, 1966-10-05, p. 55. 
  3. ↑ Matheson, Jim. "Oil Kings get CAHA nod for move to Portland", Edmonton Journal, 1976-05-26, p. 67. 
  4. ↑ Naylor, David and Leriche, Timothy. "Tragedy hits hockey club", Calgary Sun, 1986-12-31, p. 5. 
  5. ↑ Four Broncos Memorial Trophy. Western Hockey League. Retrieved on 2009-02-11.
  6. ↑ Aykroyd, Lucas (12 2008). "School's in Session". Prospects Hockey. 
  7. ↑ (2008) in Flett, Corey and Watts, Jessie: 2008–09 WHL Guide. Western Hockey League, 191. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 WHL Frequently Asked Questions. Western Hockey League. Retrieved on 2009-02-11.
  9. ↑ Lamb, Kirk. "Guide for College Bound Hockey Players", Alberta Junior Hockey League, p. 34. 

External links

Western Hockey League
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Current arenas in the Western Hockey League
Eastern
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Western
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Independent
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National
Championships
Memorial Cup (Major Junior)  • Centennial Cup (Junior A)
Regional
Championships
Keystone Cup (Western Junior B)  • Don Johnson Memorial Cup (Atlantic Junior B)  • Maritime-Hockey North Junior C Championship (Atlantic/Nunavut Junior C)  • Central Canada Cup (Manitoba-Northwestern Ontario Junior B)
Provincial
Championships
(Multi-league)
Cyclone Taylor Cup (BC Junior B)  • Russ Barnes Trophy (AB Junior B)  • Baldy Northcott Trophy (MB Junior B)  • Coupe Chevrolet (PQ Junior B)  • Alberta Junior C Playoffs (AB Junior C)
Former
Championships
Abbott Cup (former Western Canada Junior)  • George Richardson Memorial Trophy (former Eastern Canada Junior)  • Doyle Cup (former Pacific Junior A)  • Anavet Cup (former Western Junior A)  • Dudley Hewitt Cup (former Central Junior A)  • Fred Page Cup (Former Eastern Junior A)  • Western Canada Cup (former Western Junior A)  • Keystone Cup (former Western Canada Junior B)
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Other Independent
Eastern Hockey League  • Eastern Hockey League Premier
Related articles: Hockey Canada  • USA Hockey  • Amateur Athletic Union  • World Junior Championship  • IIHF World U18 Championships  • World Junior A Challenge  • World U-17 Hockey Challenge
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