Western States Hockey League
 | |
| Sport | Hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1993 |
| Commissioner | Ron White |
| No. of teams | 30 |
| Country |
 United States |
| Most recent champion(s) | Idaho Jr. Steelheads (2015–16) |
| Most titles | Phoenix Polar Bears (7) |
| Official website | WSHL |
Established in 1993, the Western States Hockey League (WSHL) is an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU)-sanctioned, junior ice hockey league. The WSHL was previously sanctioned by USA Hockey from 1994–2011.
The 2016–17 regular season features 30 teams (up from 29 the previous season after adding the Bellingham Blazers) competing across four divisions, all playing a 52-game regular season schedule, which mimics what players would experience at the collegiate level. This is the second season operating as a UHU-sanctioned Tier II league.
History
Year one consisted of six teams, spanning Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah, with all member clubs playing a 30-game schedule operating as Tier III Junior B teams. The Anaheim Jr. Ducks won the first-ever Thorne Cup Championship that year and is the only franchise from the inaugural season still in existence, now operating as the Long Beach Bombers.
Current Commissioner Ron White took over operation of the WSHL in 1995 and continued to expand it over time eventually growing to the current 30 teams stretching across 14 states, making it the second largest junior hockey league in North America. In 2007 the WSHL upgraded their league status from the Tier III Junior B level to Junior A to attract higher quality prospects.
In 2011, the league would join the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and dropped its USA Hockey sanctioning[1] leading to the loss of its most successful franchise, the Phoenix Polar Bears, while adding many new teams. After the WSHL's success without USA Hockey, the United Hockey Union was formed under the AAU sanctioning along with the Northern States Hockey League (NSHL) and the Midwest Junior Hockey League (MWJHL). The UHU leagues continued to operate with Tier III Junior A player requirements.
In 2015, the WSHL Board of Governors announced the approval of the league to start competing as a Tier II-level player league for a higher caliber of play beginning in the 2015–16 season. Prior to the announcement the only Tier II-level league in the United States was the North American Hockey League. However, unlike the USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier II NAHL, the UHU-sanctioned WSHL will operate similar to the Canadian Junior Hockey League's Junior "A" status and continue to charge player tuition to help pay for team travel expenses.[2] As part of the approval to Tier II status, the Board of Governors also announced the formation of the Western Prospects League (WPL), a UHU approved Tier III development league for the WSHL.[3] In its first season (2015–16), the WPL played with four Tier III prospect teams under Tier II organizations with occasional games against non-WSHL affiliated teams.
The WSHL has had numerous teams attend and win the USA Hockey National Championship over the years and most recently, the El Paso Rhinos were crowned the United Hockey Union National Champions in 2014. The WSHL has had great success in moving players on to the college hockey ranks through the “Western States Shootout”, an annual all-league showcase held every December in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event averages in excess of 80 scouts in attendance, all of whom are looking to bolster their roster for the following season.
Teams
Midwest Division Mountain Division Western Division Northwest Division| Division | Team | City | Arena | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midwest | Dallas Snipers | Euless, Texas | Dr. Pepper StarCenter | 2011 |
| El Paso Rhinos* | El Paso, Texas | Sierra Providence Events Center | 2006 | |
| Oklahoma City Jr. Blazers | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Blazers Ice Centre | 2014 | |
| Springfield Express | Springfield, Missouri | Mediacom Ice Park | 2005 | |
| Tulsa Jr. Oilers | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Oilers Ice Center | 2012 | |
| Wichita Jr. Thunder | Wichita, Kansas | Wichita Ice Center | 2012 | |
| Mountain | Casper Coyotes* | Casper, Wyoming | Casper Ice Arena | 2014 |
| Cheyenne Stampede* | Cheyenne, Wyoming | Cheyenne Ice and Events Center | 2004 | |
| Colorado Evolution | Denver, Colorado | Big Bear Ice Arena | 2014 | |
| Colorado Jr. Eagles | Fort Collins, Colorado | NoCo Ice Center | 2013 | |
| Ogden Mustangs* | Ogden, Utah | The Ice Sheet | 2002 | |
| Salt Lake City Moose | Salt Lake City, Utah | Acord Ice Center | 2011 | |
| Superior RoughRiders | Superior, Colorado | The Ice Ranch at Boulder Valley | 2007 | |
| Western | Arizona Hawks | Peoria, Arizona | AZ Ice Peoria | 2009 |
| Fresno Monsters | Fresno, California | Gateway Ice Center | 2009 | |
| Las Vegas Storm | Las Vegas, Nevada | Las Vegas Ice Center | 2014 | |
| Long Beach Bombers | Lakewood, California | Glacial Garden Skating Arena | 1994 | |
| Ontario Avalanche | Ontario, California | The Center Ice Arena | 2012 | |
| Phoenix Knights | Gilbert, Arizona | AZ Ice Gilbert | 1999 | |
| San Diego Sabers | Escondido, California | Iceoplex Escondido | 2001 | |
| Valencia Flyers | Valencia, California | Ice Station Valencia | 2001 | |
| Northwest | Bellingham Blazers | Bellingham, Washington | Bellingham Sportsplex | 2016 |
| Butte Cobras | Butte, Montana | Butte Community Ice Center | 2014 | |
| Idaho Jr. Steelheads | McCall, Idaho | Manchester Ice & Event Centre | 2009 | |
| Missoula Maulers | Missoula, Montana | Glacier Ice Rink | 2013 | |
| Seattle Totems | Mountlake Terrace, Washington | Olympic View Arena | 2012 | |
| Southern Oregon Spartans | Medford, Oregon | The RRRink | 2012 | |
| Tahoe Icemen | South Lake Tahoe, California | South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena | 2012 | |
| Vancouver Rangers | Vancouver, Washington | Mountain View Ice Arena | 2015 | |
| Whitefish Wolverines | Whitefish, Montana | Stumptown Ice Den | 2014 |
* - Fields teams in both the Tier II and Tier III levels.
Champions
| Season | Thorne Cup champion | Runner-up | National Tournament result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994–95 | Anaheim Jr. Ducks | ||
| 1995–96 | Anaheim Jr. Ducks | ||
| 1996–97 | Flagstaff Mountaineers | ||
| 1997–98[4] | Flagstaff Mountaineers | ||
| 1998–99 | Ventura Mariners | ||
| 1999–00 | Ventura Mariners | Tier III Junior B National Champions | |
| 2000–01 | Ventura Mariners | ||
| 2001–02 | Phoenix Polar Bears | Tier III Junior B National runner-up | |
| 2002–03[5] | Phoenix Polar Bears | Tier III Junior B National Champion | |
| 2003–04[6] | Phoenix Polar Bears | ||
| 2004–05[7] | Phoenix Polar Bears | ||
| 2005–06[8] | Fort Worth Texans | Phoenix Polar Bears | |
| 2006–07[9] | Phoenix Polar Bears | El Paso Rhinos | |
| 2007–08[10] | El Paso Rhinos | Phoenix Polar Bears | |
| 2008–09[11] | Phoenix Polar Bears | El Paso Rhinos | |
| 2009–10[12] | Phoenix Polar Bears | Boulder Bison | |
| 2010–11[13] | Idaho Jr. Steelheads | El Paso Rhinos | Tier III Junior A National runner-up (Rhinos) |
| 2011–12[14] | Idaho Jr. Steelheads | Dallas Ice Jets[15] | |
| 2012–13[16] | Idaho Jr. Steelheads | Bay Area Seals[17] | UHU National Champion (Steelheads) |
| 2013–14[18] | El Paso Rhinos | Idaho Jr. Steelheads[19] | UHU National Champion (Rhinos)[20] |
| 2014–15[21] | Idaho Jr. Steelheads | El Paso Rhinos | No National Championship competed this year |
| 2015–16 | Idaho Jr. Steelheads | Colorado Jr. Eagles | No National Championship competed this year |
Western Prospects League
| Season | WPL Champion | Results |
|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | Casper Coyotes Tier III | 18-3-0-0 |
Team history
Full list of teams that have played in the WSHL.[22]
Bold = Current franchise
- Anaheim Junior Ducks – (Anaheim, California) 1994–96 → Southern California Jr. Bombers
- Arizona Bandits – (Phoenix, Arizona) 1994–95
- Las Vegas Junior Aces – (Las Vegas, Nevada) 1994–95 → Las Vegas Jr. Thunder
- San Jose Junior Sharks – (San Jose, California) 1994–96
- Utah Lightning – (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1994–96 → Utah Jr. Grizzlies
- Ventura Mariners – (Simi Valley, California) 1994–2001
- Las Vegas Junior Thunder – (Las Vegas, Nevada) 1995–96
- Alaska Arctic Ice – (Anchorage, Alaska) 1996–99
- Flagstaff Mountaineers – (Flagstaff, Arizona) 1996–99
- New Mexico Ice Breakers – (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1996–2001
- Southern California Junior Bombers – (Lakewood, California) 1996–2006 → Bay City Bombers
- Utah Junior Grizzlies – (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1996–2001 → Salt Lake Maple Leafs
- Colorado Cougars – (Denver, Colorado) 1997–99
- Fairbanks Ice Dogs – (Fairbanks, Alaska) 1997–99
- Las Vegas Bandits – (Las Vegas, Nevada) 1997–98
- Peninsula Hellfighters – (Kenai Peninsula, Alaska) 1997–99
- Sinbad Sailors – (Anchorage, Alaska) 1997–99
- Utah Valley Golden Eagles – (Provo, Utah) 1997–2002
- Las Vegas Blackjacks – (Las Vegas, Nevada) 1998–99
- Nevada Gamblers – (Las Vegas, Nevada) 1998–2000
- Yukon Claim Jumpers – (Whitehorse, Yukon) 1998–99
- Phoenix Polar Bears – (Phoenix, Arizona) 1999–2011 → Phoenix Knights
- Las Vegas Outlaws – (Las Vegas, Nevada) 2000–01
- Nevada Rattlers – (Las Vegas, Nevada) 2001–03
- Salt Lake Maple Leafs – (Salt Lake City, Utah) 2001–02 → Salt Lake Jr. Grizzlies
- San Diego Surf – (San Diego, California) 2001–08 → San Diego Gulls
- Valencia Flyers – (Valencia, California) 2001–03, 2009–present → Valencia Vipers (2003–09)
- Capital Thunder – (Roseville, California) 2002–04, 2005–09 → Bakersfield Jr. Condors
- Salt Lake Junior Grizzlies – (Salt Lake City, Utah) 2002–04
- Bazooka Blues – (Tulsa, Oklahoma) 2004–06 → Tulsa Rampage
- Dallas Titans – (Dallas, Texas) 2004–06
- Idaho Rattlers – (Boise, Idaho) 2004–06
- Valencia Vipers – (Valencia, California) 2004–09 → Valencia Flyers
- Cajun Catahoulas – (Lafayette, Louisiana) 2005–08 → Texas Renegades
- Fort Worth Texans – (Fort Worth, Texas) 2005–06
- Peoria Coyotes – (Peoria, Arizona) 2005–07
- San Antonio Diablos – (San Antonio, Texas) 2005–10
- Bay City Bombers – (Lakewood, California) 2006–10 → Long Beach Bombers
- Dallas Hawks – (Addison, Texas) 2006–09
- El Paso Rhinos – (El Paso, Texas) 2006–present
- Long Beach Bulldogs – (Lakewood, CA) 2006–07
- Tucson Tilt – (Tucson, Arizona) 2006–07
- Tulsa Rampage – (Tulsa, Oklahoma) 2006–11 → Cheyenne Stampede
- Colorado Outlaws – (Westminster, Colorado) 2007–09 → Boulder Jr. Bison
- San Diego Gulls – (Escondido, California) 2008–15 → San Diego Sabers
- Texas Renegades – (Dallas, Texas) 2008–09 → New Mexico Renegades
- Arizona RedHawks – (Peoria, Arizona) 2009–15 → Arizona Hawks
- Bakersfield Junior Condors – (Bakersfield, California) 2009–11 → Ogden Mustangs
- Boulder Junior Bison – (Superior, Colorado) 2009–14 → Colorado RoughRiders
- Fresno Monsters – (Fresno, California) 2009–present
- Idaho Junior Steelheads – (Boise, Idaho) 2009–present
- New Mexico Renegades – (Rio Rancho, New Mexico) 2009–14 → Springfield Express
- Long Beach Bombers – (Lakewood, California) 2010–present
- Texas Junior Brahmas – (North Richland Hills, Texas) 2010–14
- Cheyenne Stampede – (Cheyenne, Wyoming) 2011–present
- Dallas Ice Jets – (Grapevine, Texas) 2011–14
- Dallas Snipers – (Euless, Texas) 2011–present
- Park City Moose – (Park City, Utah) 2011–12 → Salt Lake City Moose
- Phoenix Knights – (Gilbert, Arizona) 2011–present
- Ogden Mustangs (Ogden, Utah) (2011–present)
- Bay Area Seals – (Daly City, California) 2012–13 → Lake Tahoe Blue
- Ontario Avalanche – (Ontario, California) 2012–present
- Salt Lake City Moose – (Salt Lake City, Utah) 2012–present
- Seattle Totems – (Mountlake Terrace, Washington) 2012–present
- Southern Oregon Spartans – (Medford, Oregon) 2012–present
- Tulsa Junior Oilers – (Tulsa, Oklahoma) 2012–present
- Wichita Junior Thunder – (Wichita, Kansas) 2012–present
- Colorado Junior Eagles – (Fort Collins, Colorado) 2013–present
- Lake Tahoe Blue – (South Lake Tahoe, California) 2013–15 → Tahoe Icemen
- Missoula Maulers – (Missoula, Montana) 2013–present
- Butte Cobras – (Butte, Montana) 2014–present
- Casper Coyotes – (Casper, Wyoming) 2014–present
- Colorado Evolution – (Denver, Colorado) 2014–present
- Colorado RoughRiders – (Superior, Colorado) 2014–15 → Superior RoughRiders
- Las Vegas Storm – (Las Vegas, Nevada) 2014–present
- Oklahoma City Blazers – (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) 2014–present
- Springfield Express – (Springfield, Missouri) 2014–present
- Whitefish Wolverines – (Whitefish, Montana) 2014–present
- Arizona Hawks – (Peoria, Arizona) 2015–present
- San Diego Sabers – (Escondido, California) 2015–present
- Superior RoughRiders – (Superior, Colorado) 2015–present
- Tahoe Icemen – (South Lake Tahoe, California) 2015–present
- Vancouver Rangers – (Vancouver, Washington) 2015–present
- Bellingham Blazers – (Bellingham, Washington) 2016–present
League staff
- Don Thorne - Chairman of the Board
- Ron White - Commissioner/President
- Bob Armando - Deputy Commissioner/Vice President
- Bruce Miller - Director of Game Operations
- Teri Talluto - Treasurer
- Carol Grinstead - Secretary
- Matt Prosser - Director of Communications
- Arthur Kitano - Director of Officials
- Roger Klein - Midwest Director of Officials
References
- ↑ "WSHL, AAU Official Release". Junior Hockey News. August 16, 2011.
- ↑ "WSHL to Become Tier II Hockey League". WSHL. June 1, 2015.
- ↑ "WSHL to Become Tier II Hockey League Share". WSHL. May 21, 2015.
- ↑ 1997–98 WSHL Standings
- ↑ 2002–03 WSHL Standings
- ↑ 2003–04 WSHL Standings
- ↑ 2004–05 WSHL Standings
- ↑ 2005–06 WSHL Standings
- ↑ 2006–07 WSHL Standings
- ↑ 2007–08 WSHL Standings
- ↑ 2008–09 WSHL Standings
- ↑ 2009–10 WSHL Standings
- ↑ 2010–11 WSHL Standings
- ↑ 2011–12 WSHL Standings
- ↑ "Gamesheet". WSHL. 5 April 2012.
- ↑ 2012–13 WSHL Standings
- ↑ "Gamesheet". WSHL. 31 March 2013.
- ↑ 2013–14 WSHL Standings
- ↑ "Gamesheet". WSHL. 6 April 2014.
- ↑ "El Paso Rhinos Win 2014 UHU National Championship". Junior Hockey News. 21 April 2014.
- ↑ 2014–15 WSHL Standings
- ↑ "WSHL History". WSHL.
External links
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