Western International Hockey League

History

The Western International Hockey League was a senior hockey league in southeastern British Columbia.

This was formerly the West Kootenay League. It changed its name when it expanded to Los Angeles and Spokane in 1946-47.

The Los Angeles team only lasted one season but the team in Spokane lasted through most of the league's history.

This was a senior league that won six Allan Cups.

Teams

Team	Centre	Arena	Tenure	Notes
Kimberley Dynamiters	Kimberley, British Columbia	Kimberley Arena	1946-1956	withdrew
Los Angeles Ramblers	Los Angeles, California	Pan Pacific Auditorium	1946-1947	fold
Nelson Maple Leafs	Nelson, British Columbia	Nelson Civic Centre	1946-1962	league suspends operations due to Trail Smoke Eaters representing Canada at 1963 World Championship
Spokane Spartans	Spokane, Washington	Spokane Arena (original)	1946-1948	renamed Spokane Flyers
Trail Smoke Eaters	Trail, British Columbia	Riverside Arena (Trail) (1946-1949) Cominco Arena (1949-1961)	1946-1961	withdrew in January 1961 to compete in 1961 World Championship
Spokane Flyers	Spokane, Washington	Spokane Arena (original) (1948-1954) Spokane Coliseum (1954-1958)	1948-1958	fold when city gets Western Hockey League (minor pro) team
Rossland Warriors	Rossland, British Columbia	Rossland Arena	1956-1957	renamed Rossland Miners
Rossland Miners	Rossland, British Columbia	Rossland Arena	1957-1960	renamed Rossland Warriors
East Kootenay Rams	Cranbrook, British Columbia	Cranbrook Memorial Centre	1961-1961	formed to replace Trail Smoke Eaters for balance of season
Rossland Warriors	Rossland, British Columbia	Rossland Arena	1960-1962	league suspends operations due to Trail Smoke Eaters representing Canada at 1963 World Championship
Trail Smoke Eaters	Trail, British Columbia	Cominco Arena	1961-1962	league suspends operations due to Trail Smoke Eaters representing Canada at 1963 World Championship
Kimberley Dynamiters	Kimberley, British Columbia	Kimberley Civic Centre	1961-1962	league suspends operations due to Trail Smoke Eaters representing Canada at 1963 World Championship
Spokane Jets	Spokane, Washington	Spokane Coliseum	1963-1974	renamed Spokane Flyers
Kimberley Dynamiters	Kimberley, British Columbia	Kimberley Civic Centre	1963-1988	folded
Nelson Maple Leafs	Nelson, British Columbia	Nelson Civic Centre	1963-1978	suspend operations December 21, 1978; return for 1979-80 season
Rossland Warriors	Rossland, British Columbia	Rossland Arena	1963-1967	fold
Trail Smoke Eaters	Trail, British Columbia	Cominco Arena	1963-1984	sat out 1984-85 season
Cranbrook Royals	Cranbrook, British Columbia	Cranbrook Memorial Centre	1965-1988	fold
Spokane Flyers	Spokane, Washington	Spokane Coliseum	1974-1978	join Pacific Hockey League
Portland Buckaroos	Portland, Oregon	Memorial Coliseum (Portland)	1974-1975	join Pacific Northwest Hockey League
Calgary Stampeders	Calgary, Alberta	Stampede Corral	1978-1979	folded January 7, 1979
Spokane Flyers	Spokane, Washington	Spokane Coliseum	1979-1980	fold when city gets Western Hockey League team
Elk Valley Blazers	Fernie, British Columbia	Fernie Memorial Arena	1979-1988	fold
Nelson Maple Leafs	Nelson, British Columbia	Nelson Civic Centre	1979-1987	foled
Spokane Chiefs	Spokane, Washington	Spokane Coliseum	1982-1985	fold when city gets Western Hockey League team
Trail Smoke Eaters	Trail, British Columbia	Cominco Arena	1985-1987	suspend operations January 29, 1987

List of Champions

• 1946-47 Kimberley Dynamiters
• 1947-48 Trail Smoke Eaters
• 1948-49 Spokane Flyers (league title)
• 1949-50 Spokane Flyers (league title)
• 1950-51 Trail Smoke Eaters
• 1951-52 Trail Smoke Eaters
• 1952-53 Spokane Flyers
• 1953-54 Nelson Maple Leafs
• 1954-55 Kimberley Dynamiters
• 1955-56 Spokane Flyers
• 1956-57 Spokane Flyers
• 1957-58 Rossland Warriors
• 1958-59 Nelson Maple Leafs
• 1959-60 Trail Smoke Eaters
• 1960-61 Nelson Maple Leafs
• 1961-62 Trail Smoke Eaters*
• 1962-63 No League play
• 1963-64 Kimberley Dynamiters
• 1964-65 Nelson Maple Leafs
• 1965-66 Kimberley Dynamiters
• 1966-67 Nelson Maple Leafs
• 1967-68 Spokane Jets
• 1968-69 Spokane Jets
• 1969-70 Spokane Jets*
• 1970-71 Nelson Maple Leafs
• 1971-72 Spokane Jets*
• 1972-73 Spokane Jets
• 1973-74 Cranbrook Royals
• 1974-75 Spokane Flyers*
• 1975-76 Spokane Flyers
• 1976-77 Spokane Flyers
• 1977-78 Kimberley Dynamiters*
• 1978-79 Trail Smoke Eaters
• 1979-80 Spokane Flyers*
• 1980-81 Kimberley Dynamiters
• 1981-82 Cranbrook Royals*
• 1982-83 Trail Smoke Eaters
• 1983-84 Spokane Chiefs
• 1984-85 Spokane Chiefs
• 1985-86 Nelson Maple Leafs
• 1986-87 Nelson Maple Leafs
• 1987-88 Elk Valley Blazers

-* Won Allan Cup

Note: In 1948-49 and 1949-50 the Trail Smoke Eaters advanced to the British Columbia playoffs because Spokane was not eligible for the Allan Cup.

See also

List of WIHL Seasons

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

Canadian Senior Hockey (post-1971)

National/Regional Championships

Allan Cup (National AAA) Patton Cup (Western Canada 71-91) - Bolton Cup (Eastern Canada 71-03) McKenzie Cup (BC-AB) - Rathgaber Cup (SK-MB) - Atlantic Cup (2003-) (NB-NL-NS-PEI)

Provincial/Local Championships

Alberta - British Columbia - Manitoba - Newfoundland and Labrador - Northern Ontario - Ontario Hockey Association - Ottawa - Quebec (Also Eastern Region Allan Cup Qualifier) - Saskatchewan - Thunder Bay/Gary Cook Cup

Current Leagues

Alberta: East Central Senior Hockey League (2012-) - North Central Hockey League (1995-) - North Peace Hockey League (also in BC, 1953-) - Ranchland Senior Hockey League (1974-) - Sask/Alta Senior Hockey League (also in SK, 1964-) British Columbia: Central Interior Senior Hockey League (1997-) - North Peace Hockey League (also in Alberta, 1953-) Manitoba: Carillon Senior Hockey League (2004-) - North Central Hockey League (1958-) - South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League (1952-) - Tiger Hills Hockey League (1983-) New Brunswick: Beausejour Senior Hockey League (2019-) - Circuit de Hockey Senior Roger-Lizotte (1991-) - Ligue de Hockey Senior Acadie-Chaleur (2016-) Newfoundland and Labrador: - Central Newfoundland Hockey League (Intermediate) (2009-) - Central/West Senior Hockey League (2014-) - East Coast Senior Hockey League (2017-) - Newfoundland West Coast Senior Hockey League (2001-11; 2016-) Ontario: Allan Cup Hockey (1991-) - ACH Senior AA G-League (2021-) - Eastern Ontario Super Hockey League (2019-) WOAA Senior AA Hockey League (1942-) - Western Ontario Super Hockey League (2021-) Quebec: Laval Senior A Hockey League (2013-) - Ligue de Hockey Cote-Sud (2012-) - Ligue Regionale de Hockey (2016-) - Ligue de Hockey Senior du Lac-au-Fleuve (2017-) - Ligue de Hockey Senior du Richelieu (2005-) - Ligue de Hockey Senior AAA du Quebec (2017-) - Outaouais Senior A Hockey League (2018-) Saskatchewan: Big Six Senior Hockey League (1959-) - Highway Hockey League (1965-) - Long Lake Senior Hockey League (1978-) - Notekeu Senior Hockey League (1958-) - Qu'Appelle Valley Hockey League (1960-) - Sask/Alta Senior Hockey League (also in Alberta, 1964-) - Saskatchewan Prairie Senior Hockey League (2010-) - Sask East Hockey League (2020-) - Sask West Senior Hockey League (2000-) - Sask Valley Hockey League (1965-) - Saskatchewan Treaty Hockey League (2021-) - Twin Rivers Senior Hockey League (2016-) - Wheatland Senior Hockey League (2004-) - White Mud Senior Hockey League (1995-) Nunavut: Iqaluit Senior Hockey League (2009-) - Rankin Inlet Senior Men's Hockey League (2008-)

Defunct Leagues

Alberta: Allan Cup Hockey West/Chinook Hockey League (1969-2020) -Battle River Hockey League (2002-2015) - Prairie Senior Hockey League (also in SK, 1971-1972) British Columbia: British Columbia Senior Hockey League (1979-1981) - Western International Hockey League (1946-1988) - West Coast Senior AA Hockey League (2016-2018) Manitoba: Canadian Central Hockey League (1972-1974) - Central Amateur Senior Hockey League (1975-1989) - Eastman Hockey League (1998-2000) - Hanover Tache Hockey League (1958-2005) - Manitoba Aboriginal Senior Hockey League - Manitoba Assiniboine Hockey League (1974-1983) - Manitoba Eastern Hockey League (1969-1977) - Manitoba Senior Hockey League (2008-2016) - North Interlake Hockey League (1987-1988) - Nor-West Hockey League (1996-1997) - North West Senior Hockey League (2017-) - South Interlake Hockey League (1987-2008) - SouthWest Hockey League (1956-2009) Maritimes: Maritime Senior Hockey League (1991-1992) - Northumberland Dairy Senior AAA Hockey League (1995-1998) New Brunswick: Miramichi Senior Hockey League (2000-2004) - Eastern Senior Hockey League (2001-2010) - New Brunswick Chaleur Hockey League (1991-1995) - New Brunswick Senior Hockey League (1968-1991) - North East Senior Hockey League (2011-2018) - North Shore Senior Hockey League (1939-1978) - North Shore Senior Hockey League (1996-2010) - Southern New Brunswick Senior Hockey League (1962-2010) Newfoundland and Labrador: Avalon East Senior Hockey League (1992-2017) Newfoundland Senior Hockey League (2011-2014) Nova Scotia: Nova Scotia Senior Hockey League (1982-1996) Ontario: Eastern Ontario Senior Hockey League (2003-2008) - HNO Senior League (2009-2012) - North Oxford Men's Hockey League (1959-2012) - OHA Senior A Hockey League (1972-1987) - Ottawa District Senior Hockey League (1968-1978) - Ontario Senior AA Hockey League (1983-1988) Quebec: Ligue Centrale de Hockey (LCH) (1978-2008) - Ligue de Hockey Beauce Bellechase Frontenac (1999-2017) - Ligue de Hockey Senior de la Mauricie (1992-1996) - Ligue de Hockey Senior Majeur du Quebec (1979-82; 1994-96) - Ligue de Hockey Senior de l'Est du Quebec (2005-2010) - Ligue de hockey Senior des Îles de la Madeleine (1991-2005) - Ligue de Hockey Senior A de la Mauricie (2001-2017) - Ligue de Hockey Senior A Inter-Rives (2006-2007) - Ligue de Hockey Senior AA de l'Estrie (2001-2004) - Ligue de Hockey Senior AA de la Cote-Nord (2007-2009) - Ligue de Hockey Senior AA du Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean (2002-2003) - Ligue de Hockey Senior Bas-Saint-Laurent (1994-2005) - Ligue de Hockey Senior des Cantons-de-L'Est (2011-2015) - Ligue de hockey les Cotiers de la Gaspesie (2002-2008) - Ligue de Hockey Senior des Deux Rives (2002-2003) - Ligue de Hockey Senior Provinciale AA (2004-2006) - Ligue de Hockey Senior AA L.D.B. du Quebec (1979-2000) - Ligue de hockey Budweiser de 'est du Quebec (2011-2013) - Outaouais Hockey League (1973-1975) - Promutuel Senior Hockey League (1999-2007) - Republican Hockey League (also in NB, 1976-1987) - Quebec Senior North-East Hockey League (2003-2007) Prince Edward Island: Island Community Senior Hockey League (2010-2013) - Prince Edward Island Senior Hockey League (1990-1991) - Prince Edward Island Senior Hockey League (2010-2011) Saskatchewan: Beaver Lakes Hockey League (2006-2018) - Fishing Lake Hockey League (1953-2015) - Fort Carlton Senior Hockey League (1971-2019) - North Saskatchewan River Hockey League (1995-2015) - Pasquia Hockey League (1993-2009) - Treaty Six Hockey League (2004-2007) - Triangle Hockey League (1965-2020) - Wild Goose Hockey League (1954-2008) - Yellowhead Hockey League (1980-2000)