Timeline of WHL history

The Spokane Chiefs hosted the Kootenay Ice in the WHL's first outdoor game in January 2011.

This is a timeline of events throughout the history of the Western Hockey League (WHL), which dates back to its founding in 1966. The league was founded by a group of team owners and managers in Saskatchewan and Alberta, including Bill Hunter, Scotty Munro, Del Wilson, and Jim Piggott, who thought a larger western league would help western teams compete for the Memorial Cup against teams from Ontario and Quebec.^[1]

1960s[edit]

1966: League began play as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League (CMJHL) with seven teams in Alberta and Saskatchewan: the Calgary Buffaloes, Edmonton Oil Kings, Estevan Bruins, Moose Jaw Canucks, Regina Pats, Saskatoon Blades, and Weyburn Red Wings. League not sanctioned by the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) and thus barred from competing for the Memorial Cup.
1967: League expands into Manitoba and changes its name to the Western Canada Junior Hockey League (WCJHL). The Calgary Buffaloes renamed the Centennials. The Swift Current Broncos, Flin Flon Bombers, Winnipeg Jets, and Brandon Wheat Kings join the league. League reaches an understanding with CAHA, allowing the WCJHL champion Bruins to contest the Memorial Cup.
1968: League shortens its name to the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL). Dispute over age-limits leads to CAHA again revoking its sanction and the ability for WCHL teams to compete for the Memorial Cup. The Regina Pats, Weyburn Red Wings, and Moose Jaw Canucks leave the league to join the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, which was sanctioned to compete for the Memorial Cup. The remaining eight teams are broken into two divisions: East (Flin Flon, Estevan, Winnipeg, Brandon); and West (Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Swift Current).
Bobby Clarke's Flin Flon Bombers jersey, c. 1967, on display.
1969: Champion Flin Flon Bombers awarded the Canadian Hockey Association "National Championship" series—organized to rival the Memorial Cup—against the Western Ontario Junior A Hockey League Champion St. Thomas Barons. The series starred Bobby Clarke for Flin Flon and Ken Murray for St. Thomas. Game four was forfeited during the second period by St. Thomas in protest of violent play. Prior to Game 4, Flin Flon led the series 2-games-to-1, and the Bombers were awarded the title.^[2]

1970s[edit]

1970: The Regina Pats return, and play in the Eastern Division; the Medicine Hat Tigers are granted a franchise in the Western Division. The league reached a new agreement with CAHA and became fully recognized as a top-flight major junior league with the ability to compete for the Memorial Cup, beginning in 1971.
1971: League expands into British Columbia to become a fully Western Canadian organization. The Estevan Bruins move to New Westminster, while the Victoria Cougars and Vancouver Nats were both granted franchises. Swift Current and Saskatoon move to the Eastern Division to balance the league.
1972: Memorial Cup format changes to a tournament between the champions of Canada's three major junior leagues—the WCHL, the Ontario Hockey Association, and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
1973: Vancouver Nats move to Kamloops and become the Kamloops Chiefs; Winnipeg Jets renamed the Winnipeg Clubs due to confusion with the World Hockey Association (WHA) Winnipeg Jets.
1974: The Regina Pats win the first Memorial Cup title for a WCHL representative. Swift Current Broncos move to Lethbridge.
1976: League expands into Oregon as Edmonton Oil Kings—facing pressure from the WHA Edmonton Oilers—move to Portland and become the Portland Winter Hawks. Winnipeg Clubs renamed the Winnipeg Monarchs.
1976: League splits into three divisions: East (Brandon, Saskatoon, Flin Flon, Regina); Central (Medicine Hat, Winnipeg, Lethbridge, Calgary); and West (New Westminster, Kamloops, Portland, Victoria).
1977: The New Westminster Bruins win the first of two consecutive Memorial Cups. League expands into Montana and Washington. Calgary Centennials move to Billings and become the Billings Bighorns. Kamloops Chiefs relocate and become the Seattle Breakers. Winnipeg Monarchs move to Calgary and become the Calgary Wranglers.
1978: Following the addition of American teams, the WCHL becomes the Western Hockey League (WHL). The Flin Flon Bombers move to Edmonton to become a second incarnation of the Edmonton Oil Kings.
1979: After one season, the new Edmonton Oil Kings move to Great Falls to become the Great Falls Americans, before folding on December 16.
1979: The WHL shrinks back to two divisions: West (Portland, Victoria, Seattle, New Westminster) and East (Regina, Calgary, Medicine Hat, Billings, Brandon, Lethbridge, Saskatoon, Great Falls).

1980s[edit]

1980: Winnipeg Warriors granted a franchise in the East Division. Spokane Flyers granted a franchise in the West Division.
1981: New Westminster Bruins move to Kamloops and become the Kamloops Junior Oilers. Spokane Flyers fold on December 2.
1982: Billings Bighorns move to Nanaimo and become the Nanaimo Islanders. Prince Albert Raiders and Kelowna Wings are granted franchises.
1983: Memorial Cup format tweaked again to include a host participant, bringing the total number of teams to four. Portland serves as the first host with this format, and the Winter Hawks become the first American club to win the Memorial Cup, defeating the OHL-champion Oshawa Generals in the final. Nanaimo Islanders move to New Westminster and become the second incarnation of the New Westminster Bruins.
1984: Winnipeg Warriors move and become the Moose Jaw Warriors. Kamloops Junior Oilers renamed the Kamloops Blazers.
1985: Prince Albert Raiders become the fourth WHL team to win the Memorial Cup.^[3] Kelowna Wings move and become the Spokane Chiefs. Seattle Breakers renamed the Seattle Thunderbirds.^[4]
1986: Lethbridge Broncos return to Swift Current. The Broncos team bus crashes en route to a game in Regina, resulting in the deaths of four players—Trent Kresse, Scott Kruger, Chris Mantyka, and Brent Ruff.^[5] Portland again hosts the Memorial Cup.
1987: Medicine Hat Tigers win the first of two consecutive Memorial Cup titles. Calgary Wranglers move and become the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
1988: New Westminster Bruins move and become the Tri-City Americans.
1989: Saskatoon hosts the Memorial Cup, which features the first all-WHL—and all-Saskatchewan—final between the Blades and the WHL-champion Broncos, who prevail in overtime.^[6]

1990s[edit]

1991: WHL-champion Spokane Chiefs become the second American team to win the Memorial Cup.^[7] Tacoma Rockets granted a franchise in the Western Division.
1992: Seattle hosts the Memorial Cup tournament; the WHL-champion Kamloops Blazers win the title. Red Deer Rebels granted a franchise in the Eastern Division.
1994: Kamloops Blazers win their second Memorial Cup in three seasons. Victoria Cougars move and become the Prince George Cougars.
1995: Kamloops Blazers host the Memorial Cup and win an unprecedented third in a four-year span.^[8] Because the Blazers were also WHL champions, the Brandon Wheat Kings were invited as WHL finalists.
1995: Calgary Hitmen are granted a franchise. Tacoma Rockets move and become the Kelowna Rockets. WHL again divides into three divisions: West (Spokane, Tri-Cities, Kelowna, Seattle, Kamloops, Portland, Prince George), Central (Swift Current, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Calgary), and East (Brandon, Prince Albert, Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw).
1996: Edmonton Ice are granted a franchise in the central division. Swift Current moves to the east division.
1998: Portland wins its second Memorial Cup at the tournament hosted in Spokane. Edmonton Ice move to Cranbrook and become the Kootenay Ice.

2000s[edit]

2001: Regina hosts the Memorial Cup, which is won by WHL-champion Red Deer Rebels.^[9]
2001: Vancouver Giants granted a franchise. WHL divides into two conferences of two divisions each: Eastern Conference: East Division (Brandon, Regina, Moose Jaw, Saskatoon, Prince Albert); Central Division (Red Deer, Swift Current, Lethbridge, Calgary, Medicine Hat); Western Conference: British Columbia Division (Kamloops, Kootenay, Prince George, Kelowna, Vancouver); United States Division (Portland, Spokane, Tri-Cities, Seattle).
2002: Kootenay Ice win the Memorial Cup.^[10]
2003: Everett Silvertips are granted a franchise in the U.S. Division.
2004: Kelowna Rockets host and win the Memorial Cup tournament.^[11]
2005: Tri-City Americans' plan to move to Chilliwack is voted down by the league Board of Governors. League instead grants Chilliwack an expansion team named the Chilliwack Bruins, to being play in the 2006–07 WHL season. Tri-City Americans sold to new ownership led by former Tri-City and National Hockey League players Stu Barnes and Olaf Kolzig.^[12]
2005: Shaw TV Signs a contract to broadcast WHL games live.
2006: Edmonton Oil Kings granted a franchise owned by the Edmonton Investors Group, then the owner of the Edmonton Oilers.^[13]
2007: Vancouver Giants host and win the Memorial Cup tournament.^[14]

2010s[edit]

2010: Brandon hosts the Memorial Cup. The 2010–11 Season is the first to be featured in an EA Sports NHL video game, including all teams and rosters.^[15]
2011: The Spokane Chiefs host the Kootenay Ice in the WHL's first outdoor game on January 15 at Avista Stadium.^[16]
2011: The Calgary Hitmen host the Regina Pats for an outdoor game at McMahon Stadium in conjunction with the 2011 NHL Heritage Classic on February 21.^[17]
2011: The Chilliwack Bruins move and become the Victoria Royals.^[18]
2013: Saskatoon hosts the Memorial Cup tournament.
2014. Edmonton Oil Kings win the Memorial Cup.^[19]
2016: Red Deer hosts the Memorial Cup tournament. The Vancouver Giants move to Langley and begin playing out of the Langley Events Centre. In spite of the move, the team retains the Vancouver Giants name.
2018: Regina hosts the Memorial Cup; the Pats lose in the final.^[20]
2019: The Kootenay Ice move and become the Winnipeg Ice.^[21]

References[edit]

Inline[edit]

^ "WHL History". Western Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2023-07-31. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
^ Cuthbert, Chris; Russell, Scott (1997). "Whitney Forum / Flin Flon Manitoba (Scott Russell)". The Rink - Stories From Hockey's Home Towns. Viking Press. pp. 209–210. ISBN 9780670875504. OCLC 37489854. Retrieved 2022-11-10 – via Internet Archive text collection.
^ "1985 Memorial Cup winners celebrate 30th anniversary in Prince Albert". CBC News. 2015-03-13. Archived from the original on 2015-03-14.
^ Dreyfuss, Glenn (2023-12-15). "THN Archive: 1985 "Rejuvenation" Of Seattle Thunderbirds Franchise". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on 2024-05-15. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
^ "Memorial unveiled on 30th anniversary of crash that killed 4 Swift Current hockey players". CBC News. 2016-12-30. Archived from the original on 2016-12-31. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
^ Morrison, Scott (2019-02-06). "From Tragedy to Triumph: The story of the Swift Current Broncos". Sportsnet. Archived from the original on 2023-07-31. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
^ Thompson, Dan (2020-09-27). "Trip down Memorial Lane: Deadline deals provide boost Chiefs needed to get past Kamloops". The Spokesman-Review. Archived from the original on 2020-09-29. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
^ Kovac, Rob; Seitz, Earl (2020-02-22). "The Blazers 10 year dynasty". CFJC. Archived from the original on 2024-05-17. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
^ "Red Deer Rebels win Memorial Cup in OT". CBC Sports. 2001-05-27. Archived from the original on 2016-06-05. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
^ Coulter, Barry (2022-08-09). "20 years later: Kootenay Ice back in the news". Cranbrook Daily Townsman. Archived from the original on 2024-06-03. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
^ "Rockets remember 2004 Memorial Cup". Canadian Hockey League. 2020-02-28. Archived from the original on 2024-05-17. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
^ Stock, Curtis (2014-01-30). "Bob Tory works magic with Tri-City Americans". Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on 2024-05-16. Retrieved 2024-05-16 – via pressreader.com.
^ "Edmonton joins WHL as 22nd franchise". The Globe and Mail. The Canadian Press. 2006-03-17. Archived from the original on 2024-05-14. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
^ "Giants capture franchise's first Memorial Cup". CBC Sports. 2007-05-27. Archived from the original on 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
^ Moravan, Monika (2010-05-21). "Canadian League teams and players to be included in EA Sports' NHL 11". The Hockey News. Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 2022-08-19. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
^ Blanchette, John (2011-01-16). "Chiefs lit the fuse on perfect outdoor outcome". The Spokesman-Review. Archived from the original on 2011-01-19.
^ Odland, Kristen (2011-02-21). "Hitmen clipped by Pats before record crowd". Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on 2014-11-09. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
^ Olsen, Tyler (April 20, 2011). "WHL's Chilliwack Bruins are no more, moving to Victoria". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
^ "Edmonton Oil Kings beat Guelph Storm in Memorial Cup final". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. 2014-05-25. Archived from the original on 2014-05-26. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
^ "Pats reflect on Memorial Cup final loss and say goodbye to teammates". CBC News. 2018-05-29. Archived from the original on 2018-05-30. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
^ "WHL's Kootenay ICE to relocate to Winnipeg for 2019–20 season". The Province. The Canadian Press. 2019-01-29. Archived from the original on 2022-05-22.

General[edit]

Drinnan, Gregg (2002-08-09). "WHL History, Part I: In the beginning..." Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on 2005-05-07. Retrieved 2022-11-10 – via Western Hockey League.
History of the WHL, from the Western Hockey League
Lapp, Richard M. & Silas White (1993). Local Heroes: A History of the Western Hockey League. Vancouver: Harbour Publishing. ISBN 1-55017-080-5
Western Hockey League history and statistics at HockeyDB

External links[edit]

Official WHL website

[:1-1] "WHL History". Western Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2023-07-31. Retrieved 2023-07-31.

[2] Cuthbert, Chris; Russell, Scott (1997). "Whitney Forum / Flin Flon Manitoba (Scott Russell)". The Rink - Stories From Hockey's Home Towns. Viking Press. pp. 209–210. ISBN 9780670875504. OCLC 37489854. Retrieved 2022-11-10 – via Internet Archive text collection.

[3] "1985 Memorial Cup winners celebrate 30th anniversary in Prince Albert". CBC News. 2015-03-13. Archived from the original on 2015-03-14.

[:24-4] Dreyfuss, Glenn (2023-12-15). "THN Archive: 1985 "Rejuvenation" Of Seattle Thunderbirds Franchise". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on 2024-05-15. Retrieved 2024-05-15.

[:3-5] "Memorial unveiled on 30th anniversary of crash that killed 4 Swift Current hockey players". CBC News. 2016-12-30. Archived from the original on 2016-12-31. Retrieved 2024-05-12.

[:22-6] Morrison, Scott (2019-02-06). "From Tragedy to Triumph: The story of the Swift Current Broncos". Sportsnet. Archived from the original on 2023-07-31. Retrieved 2023-07-31.

[:23-7] Thompson, Dan (2020-09-27). "Trip down Memorial Lane: Deadline deals provide boost Chiefs needed to get past Kamloops". The Spokesman-Review. Archived from the original on 2020-09-29. Retrieved 2024-06-03.

[:03-8] Kovac, Rob; Seitz, Earl (2020-02-22). "The Blazers 10 year dynasty". CFJC. Archived from the original on 2024-05-17. Retrieved 2024-05-17.

[9] "Red Deer Rebels win Memorial Cup in OT". CBC Sports. 2001-05-27. Archived from the original on 2016-06-05. Retrieved 2024-05-13.

[:2-10] Coulter, Barry (2022-08-09). "20 years later: Kootenay Ice back in the news". Cranbrook Daily Townsman. Archived from the original on 2024-06-03. Retrieved 2024-06-03.

[11] "Rockets remember 2004 Memorial Cup". Canadian Hockey League. 2020-02-28. Archived from the original on 2024-05-17. Retrieved 2024-05-17.

[12] Stock, Curtis (2014-01-30). "Bob Tory works magic with Tri-City Americans". Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on 2024-05-16. Retrieved 2024-05-16 – via pressreader.com.

[13] "Edmonton joins WHL as 22nd franchise". The Globe and Mail. The Canadian Press. 2006-03-17. Archived from the original on 2024-05-14. Retrieved 2024-05-14.

[14] "Giants capture franchise's first Memorial Cup". CBC Sports. 2007-05-27. Archived from the original on 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2024-06-03.

[15] Moravan, Monika (2010-05-21). "Canadian League teams and players to be included in EA Sports' NHL 11". The Hockey News. Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 2022-08-19. Retrieved 2024-06-04.

[16] Blanchette, John (2011-01-16). "Chiefs lit the fuse on perfect outdoor outcome". The Spokesman-Review. Archived from the original on 2011-01-19.

[17] Odland, Kristen (2011-02-21). "Hitmen clipped by Pats before record crowd". Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on 2014-11-09. Retrieved 2011-02-21.

[18] Olsen, Tyler (April 20, 2011). "WHL's Chilliwack Bruins are no more, moving to Victoria". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2011.

[:02-19] "Edmonton Oil Kings beat Guelph Storm in Memorial Cup final". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. 2014-05-25. Archived from the original on 2014-05-26. Retrieved 2024-05-14.

[20] "Pats reflect on Memorial Cup final loss and say goodbye to teammates". CBC News. 2018-05-29. Archived from the original on 2018-05-30. Retrieved 2024-06-04.

[:0-21] "WHL's Kootenay ICE to relocate to Winnipeg for 2019–20 season". The Province. The Canadian Press. 2019-01-29. Archived from the original on 2022-05-22.

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