Western Hockey League

This article covers the Canadian Junior Ice Hockey League WHL. For the former professional league of the same name see Western Hockey League (professional league) ; for the league playing under this name in the 1925/26 season, see Western Canada Hockey League (1921-1926) .

Bully between the Calgary Hitmen and the Prince George Cougars

The Western Hockey League (WHL for short), formerly also known as the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL for short), is one of the top three Canadian junior leagues that make up the Canadian Hockey League .

organization

In addition to the Western Hockey League, the OHL and LHJMQ also exist in the Canadian Hockey League .

Only players between the ages of 15 and 20 are allowed to play in the WHL. However, each team has the option to use three players who are already 20 years old at the start of the season. These are called "Overage" Juniors. The number of non-North American players is limited to three players per team. The teams come from the Canadian provinces of Alberta , British Columbia , Manitoba and Saskatchewan , as well as from the US states Washington and Oregon .

Teams

Eastern Conference Eastern Division Brandon Wheat Kings Moose Jaw Warriors Prince Albert Raiders Regina Pats Saskatoon Blades Winnipeg Ice Central Division Calgary Hitmen Edmonton Oil Kings Lethbridge Hurricanes Medicine Hat Tigers Red Deer Rebels Swift Current Broncos

Western Conference BC Division Kamloops Blazers Kelowna Rockets Prince George Cougars Vancouver Giants Victoria Royals US division Everett Silvertips Portland Winterhawks Seattle Thunderbirds Spokane Chiefs Tri-City Americans

history

The WHL was formed in the summer of 1966 when some of the members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League split off from anger over the poor economics and unequal treatment. The league was initially called the Western Canada Junior Hockey League, later the Western Canada Hockey League, which was later changed to the simple name of today.

master

The winner of the WHL got the Presidents Cup , since 2007 the Ed Chynoweth Cup , named after the long-time President of the WHL Ed Chynoweth . The previous title holders were:

1967 Moose Jaw Canucks 1968 Estevan Bruins 1969 Flin Flon Bombers 1970 Flin Flon Bombers 1971 Edmonton Oil Kings 1972 Edmonton Oil Kings 1973 Medicine Hat Tigers 1974 Regina Pats 1975 New Westminster Bruins 1976 New Westminster Bruins 1977 New Westminster Bruins 1978 New Westminster Bruins 1979 Brandon Wheat Kings 1980 Regina Pats 1981 Victoria Cougars 1982 Portland Winter Hawks 1983 Lethbridge Hurricanes 1984 Kamloops Blazers

1985 Prince Albert Raiders 1986 Kamloops Blazers 1987 Medicine Hat Tigers 1988 Medicine Hat Tigers 1989 Swift Current Broncos 1990 Kamloops Blazers 1991 Spokane Chiefs 1992 Kamloops Blazers 1993 Swift Current Broncos 1994 Kamloops Blazers 1995 Kamloops Blazers 1996 Brandon Wheat Kings 1997 Lethbridge Hurricanes 1998 Portland Winter Hawks 1999 Calgary Hitmen 2000 Kootenay Ice 2001 Red Deer Rebels 2002 Kootenay Ice

2003 Kelowna Rockets 2004 Medicine Hat Tigers 2005 Kelowna Rockets 2006 Vancouver Giants 2007 Medicine Hat Tigers 2008 Spokane Chiefs 2009 Kelowna Rockets 2010 Calgary Hitmen 2011 Kootenay Ice 2012 Edmonton Oil Kings 2013 Portland Winterhawks 2014 Edmonton Oil Kings 2015 Kelowna Rockets 2016 Brandon Wheat Kings 2017 Seattle Thunderbirds 2018 Swift Current Broncos 2019 Prince Albert Raiders

The Ed Chynoweth Cup is awarded to the winner of the playoffs

13 WHL teams have won the Memorial Cup so far . The Regina Pats (1974), New Brunswick Bruins (1977, 1978), Portland Winter Hawks (1983, 1998), Prince Albert Raiders (1985), Medicine Hat Tigers (1987, 1988), Swift Current Broncos (1989), Spokane Chiefs (1991, 2008), Kamloops Blazers (1992, 1994, 1995), Red Deer Rebels (2001), Kootenay Ice (2002), Kelowna Rockets (2004), Vancouver Giants (2007) and Edmonton Oil Kings (2014).

Western Hockey League trophies

Web links

Commons : Western Hockey League  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Official website