WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE

1945 - 1974

The West Coast has a long and storied hockey history. Early professional leagues challenged the eastern leagues including the NHL for the Stanley Cup and they won their share of titles. This ended in 1926 and the Cup has been the domain of the NHL only ever since. Hockey was revived on the West Coast after WWII with the creation of the Pacific Coast Hockey League. The league struggled in the early years and eventually needed to merge with the Western Canada Senior Hockey League in 1951. Soon after, the league changed its name to the Western Hockey League since the league was no longer centered on the Coast. In fact, for the 1954-55 season, all six teams were based in Canada with three teams east of the Rockies. In the 1960's, the league had visions of regaining the glory of the 1920's and once again competing for the Stanley Cup. That dream ended when the NHL expanded in 1967, locating two teams in California displacing WHL teams. In 1970, the NHL invaded the Vancouver market further weakening the league. Two years later the WHA was formed further robbing the league of its talent. In 1974, the WHL ceased operations with two of its communities joining the WHA and three of its teams moving on to the CHL. The last remnants of the WHL were the Detroit Vipers of the now defunct IHL. They could trace their roots back to the Salt Lake City Golden Eagles who had joined the WHL in 1969.

© 2001 officialgamepuck.com