Western Hockey League (junior)

For other leagues with the same name, please see Western Hockey League.
Canadian Major Junior Outline
The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada. Teams play for the Ed Chynoweth Cup, with the winner moving on to play for the Memorial Cup, Canada's national junior championship.
The WHL was founded in 1966 with seven teams in Saskatchewan and Alberta. It is the brainchild of Bill Hunter, who intended to build a western league capable of competing with the top leagues in Ontario and Quebec. Originally considered an "outlaw league" by the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, the WHL was sanctioned as the top junior league in Western Canada when junior hockey was reorganized in 1970. WHL teams have won the Memorial Cup 18 times since the league became eligible to compete for the trophy.
Today, the WHL comprises 22 teams, divided into two conferences of two divisions. The Eastern Conference comprises 12 teams from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, while the Western Conference comprises ten teams from British Columbia, Washington State and Oregon.
== History ==
:See also: Timeline of WHL history
Despite winning the 1966 Memorial Cup, the Edmonton Oil Kings' owner, Bill Hunter, was growing concerned about the state of junior hockey in western Canada. Each of the West's four provinces had its own junior league, and Hunter felt that this put them at a disadvantage when competing nationally against the powerful leagues in Ontario and Quebec. Desiring stronger competition, Hunter's Oil Kings competed in the Alberta Senior Hockey League rather than the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
The Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) informed the Oil Kings that they were required to play in a junior hockey league for the 1966–67 season or would be held ineligible to compete for the Memorial Cup. This led Hunter to form a new league with five former members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), the Estevan Bruins, Regina Pats, Saskatoon Blades, Moose Jaw Canucks, and Weyburn Red Wings, to leave the SJHL and join the Oil Kings and the Calgary Buffaloes in a new league known as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League. Despite concerns that this new league would see the demise of the Alberta and Saskatchewan leagues, the governing bodies in both provinces sanctioned the new league. The CAHA did not, however, declaring the CMJHL to be an "outlaw league" and suspending all teams and players from participation in CAHA sanctioned events. The new league accused the CAHA of overstepping its boundaries and with the support of the players and their families, chose to play the season regardless.
The CMJHL renamed itself the Western Canada Hockey League in 1967, adding four new teams to total 11 as the league stretched east into Manitoba. Concerns over the WCHL's relationship with the CAHA led the Pats, Canucks and Red Wings to withdraw before the 1968–69 season, returning to the SJHL. When the CAHA reorganized junior hockey in 1971, it named the WCHL one of three Tier I Major-Junior leagues, along with the Ontario Hockey Association's Tier I division (now the Ontario Hockey League) and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
=== Early years ===
The first decade of the WCHL saw constant expansion and franchise movement as the league spread throughout the West. The Flin Flon Bombers became the league's first powerhouse team, led by future NHL stars Bobby Clarke and Reggie Leach. The Brandon Wheat Kings and Swift Current Broncos joined in 1967, the Medicine Hat Tigers in 1970. The WCHL truly became a western league in 1971 when Estevan moved to B.C. to become the New Westminster Bruins, joined by expansion franchises the Victoria Cougars and Vancouver Nats.
In the mid 1970s, the New Westminster Bruins became the WCHL's first true dynasty, capturing four consecutive championships between 1975 and 1978. The Bruins also won back-to-back Memorial Cups in 1977 and 1978.
In 1976, the Oil Kings succumbed to the competing Edmonton Oilers of the World Hockey Association and relocated to Portland to become the Winter Hawks, the WCHL's first American franchise. With the addition of American teams in Seattle and Billings a year later, the WCHL shortened its name to the Western Hockey League.
=== Brawling '80s ===
The 1980s were marked by several brawls that involved police intervention, one of the most bizarre trades in hockey history, and the tragic deaths of four players in a bus crash.
Early in the 1980–81 WHL season, Medicine Hat Tigers GM/Coach Pat Ginnell traded blows with a linesman during a bench clearing brawl against the Lethbridge Broncos. Ginnell was found guilty of assault, fined $360, and suspended for 36 games by the WHL. In March 1982 a violent brawl between the Regina Pats and Calgary Wranglers saw the two teams collectively fined $2250 and players suspended for 73 games combined. Pats coach Bill LaForge would end up in a courtroom later that season when he got into an altercation with a fan. LaForge was acquitted when the judge noted that it was hard to convict a man for assault when faced with "an obnoxious person trying to get into the coach's area.". LaForge resigned following the season after serving three separate suspensions.
On January 19, 1983, the Seattle Breakers dealt the rights to Tom Martin to the Victoria Cougars in exchange for the Cougars' team bus. The deal made perfect sense: the Breakers were unable to sign Martin, who wanted to play in his home town of Victoria, and the Cougars were unable to use the bus (which they had purchased from the folded Spokane Flyers) because they were unwilling to pay the taxes and duties required to register the vehicle in Canada.
On December 30, 1986, tragedy struck the Swift Current Broncos when their bus slid off an icy highway and rolled on the way to Regina for a game. Scott Kruger, Trent Kresse, Brent Ruff, and Chris Mantyka were killed. The Broncos retired their numbers, and as of 2009 still wear a commemorative patch in remembrance of the four players who died. The WHL later renamed its award for most valuable player as the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy in their honour.
=== Modern league ===
thumb|200px|right|Calgary Hitmen in action against the Saskatoon Blades
The last 15 years in the WHL have been marked by another period of expansion and the return of the league to Western Canada's major cities. The Kamloops Blazers became the WHL's second dynasty in the early 1990s when they won both the WHL Championship and Memorial Cup three times in four years between 1992 and 1995. The Kelowna Rockets have become the third dynasty, winning three WHL titles in 2003, 2005, and 2009; and winning the Memorial Cup as host city in 2004. The Portland Winterhawks became the first American team to win the Memorial Cup, winning it in 1983 while hosting the tournament. The Hawks won the Memorial Cup again in 1998 in Spokane, Washington.
In 1995, the Calgary Hitmen were born when a group of investors, including Bret "the Hitman" Hart, from whom the team got its name, were granted an expansion franchise. Despite early fears that the WHL could not succeed in an NHL city, the Hitmen have been a major success, averaging as many as 10,000 fans per game in 2004–05. The Hitmen were followed one year later by the Edmonton Ice, who failed after only two seasons because of conflicts with the Edmonton Oilers. The team would become the Kootenay Ice, who have become a major success in Cranbrook, British Columbia despite being one of the smallest markets in the league. In the new millennium, the league has given birth to four new expansion teams—the Vancouver Giants in 2001, the Everett Silvertips in 2003, the Chilliwack Bruins in 2005, and the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2007, as the Oilers have taken an interest in cultivating a junior team in the Alberta capital.
The WHL is stereo-typically known for producing large, hard-hitting defencemen and gritty power forwards, although recently a high percentage of quality goaltenders have come out of the Dub as well, as evidenced by the fact that the five of the last six winners of the CHL Goaltender of the Year award have come from the WHL.
Since 2006 Shaw TV has become the television partner with the league in Canada airing a game every Friday Night and other select games through out the season as well as one round of every playoff series. Starting in 2009 FSN Northwest agreed to air some games throughout the northwest United States Of America.
== Member teams ==
For the season, the WHL comprises 22 teams divided into two conferences, making it the largest league in the CHL; the Ontario Hockey League has 20 teams and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has 18. The WHL has member teams across four Canadian provinces, and two American states. The Eastern Conference comprises teams from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and eastern British Columbia. The Western Conference is made up of teams based in British Columbia, Washington and Oregon.
The top eight teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs, with the division winners declared the top two seeds in the first round of the post-season. The four remaining teams in each conference are reseeded by regular season points in the second round of the playoffs. 
==Teams==
=== Eastern Conference ===
Division	Team 	City 	Arena 	Capacity
Central 	Calgary Hitmen 	Calgary, Alberta, Canada 	Scotiabank Saddledome
Stampede Corral (some playoff games)	19,289
6,450
Central 	Edmonton Oil Kings 	Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 	Rogers Place 	18,641
Central 	Lethbridge Hurricanes	Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada 	ENMAX Centre 	5,479
Central 	Medicine Hat Tigers 	Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada 	Co-op Place 	5,500 (expandable to 6,500)
Central 	Red Deer Rebels 	Red Deer, Alberta, Canada 	Peavey Mart Centrium 	6,000
Central 	Swift Current Broncos	Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada	Innovation Credit Union iPlex	3,239
East 	Brandon Wheat Kings 	Brandon, Manitoba, Canada 	Keystone Centre 	5,102
East 	Moose Jaw Warriors 	Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada 	Mosaic Place 	4,714
East 	Prince Albert Raiders	Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada	Art Hauser Centre 	3,366
East 	Regina Pats 	Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada 	Brandt Centre 	6,200
East 	Saskatoon Blades 	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada 	SaskTel Centre 	15,195
East 	Winnipeg Ice 	Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada 	Wayne Fleming Arena 	1,400
=== Western Conference ===
Division	Team 	City 	Arena 	Capacity
B.C. 	Kamloops Blazers 	Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada 	Sandman Centre 	5,464
B.C. 	Kelowna Rockets 	Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada 	Prospera Place 	6,286
B.C. 	Prince George Cougars	Prince George, British Columbia, Canada	CN Centre 	5,971
B.C. 	Vancouver Giants 	Langley, British Columbia, Canada 	Langley Event Center 	5,276
B.C. 	Victoria Royals 	Victoria, British Columbia, Canada 	Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre 	7,006
U.S. 	Everett Silvertips 	Everett, Washington, United States 	Angel of the Winds Arena 	8,149
U.S. 	Portland Winterhawks 	Portland, Oregon, United States 	Memorial ColiseumModa Center 	10,40718,280
U.S. 	Seattle Thunderbirds 	Kent, Washington, United States 	Accesso ShoWare Center 	6,500
U.S. 	Spokane Chiefs 	Spokane, Washington, United States 	Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena	10,759
U.S. 	Tri-City Americans 	Kennewick, Washington, United States 	Toyota Center 	6,000
==Team Timeline==
Team 	Centre 	Arena 	Seasons 	Fate
Calgary Buffaloes 	Calgary, Alberta 	Stampede Corral 	1966-1967 	renamed Calgary Centennials
Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL) 	Edmonton, Alberta 	Edmonton Gardens 	1966-1976 	relocated to Portland, Oregon; renamed Portland Winter Hawks
Estevan Bruins 	Estevan, Saskatchewan 	Estevan Civic Auditorium 	1966-1971 	
relocated to New Westminster, British Columbia; renamed New Westminster Bruins, team of same name joins Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
Moose Jaw Canucks 	Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan 	Moose Jaw Civic Centre 	1966-1968 	join Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
Regina Pats 	Regina, Saskatchewan 	Regina Exhibition Stadium 	1966-1968 	join Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
Saskatoon Blades 	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 	Saskatoon Arena (1966-1988); SaskTel Centre (1988-present) (known as Saskatchewan Place 1988-2004, Credit Union Centre 2004-2014) 	1966-present	
Weyburn Red Wings 	Weyburn, Saskatchewan 	Weyburn Colosseum 	1966-1968 	join Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
Brandon Wheat Kings 	Brandon, Manitoba 	Wheat City Arena (1967-1969), Manex Arena (1969-1973), Westman Place (1973-present) (known as Keystone Arena 1973-2007) 	1967-present	
Calgary Centennials 	Calgary Centennials 	Stampede Corral 	1967-1977 	relocated to Billings, Montana; renamed Billings Bighorns
Flin Flon Bombers 	Flin Flon, Manitoba 	Whitney Forum 	1967-1978 	relocated to Edmonton, Alberta; renamed Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)
Swift Current Broncos 	Swift Current, Saskatchewan 	Credit Union iPlex (known as Centennial Civic Centre 1967-2008) 	1967-1974 	relocated to Lethbridge, Alberta; renamed Lethbridge Broncos
Winnipeg Jets (WCHL) 	Winnipeg, Manitoba 	Winnipeg Arena 	1967-1973 	renamed Winnipeg Clubs
Medicine Hat Tigers 	Medicine Hat, Alberta 	Medicine Hat Arena 	1970-present	
Regina Pats 	Regina, Saskatchewan 	Regina Exhibition Stadium (1970-1977), Brandt Centre (1977-present) (known as Regina Agridome 1977-2005) 	1970-present	
New Westminster Bruins 	New Westminster, British Columbia 	Queen's Park Arena 	1971-1981 	relocated to Kamloops, British Columbia; renamed Kamloops Jr. Oilers
Vancouver Nats 	Vancouver, British Columbia 	Pacific Coliseum 	1971-1973 	relocated to Kamloops, British Columbia; renamed Kamloops Chiefs (WHL)
Victoria Cougars (WHL) 	Victoria, British Columbia 	Victoria Memorial Arena 	1971-1994 	relocated to Prince George, British Columbia; renamed Prince George Cougars
Kamloops Chiefs (WHL) 	Kamloops, British Columbia 	Kamloops Memorial Arena 	1973-1977 	relocated to Seattle, Washington; renamed Seattle Breakers
Winnipeg Clubs 	Winnipeg, Manitoba 	Winnipeg Arena 	1973-1976 	renamed Winnipeg Monarchs (WCHL)
Lethbridge Broncos 	Lethbridge, Alberta 	Lethbridge Sportsplex 	1974-1986 	relocated back to Swift Current, Saskatchewan; revert to Swift Current Broncos name
Portland Winter Hawks 	Portland, Oregon 	Memorial Coliseum (Portland) (1976-2009) Rose Garden (arena) 1995-2009) 	1976-2009 	renamed Portland Winterhawks
Winnipeg Monarchs (WCHL) 	Winnipeg, Manitoba 	Winnipeg Arena 	1976-1977 	relocated to Calgary, Alberta; renamed Calgary Wranglers
Billings Bighorns 	Billings, Montana 	MetraPark Arena 	1977-1982 	relocated to Nanaimo, British Columbia; renamed Nanaimo Islanders
Calgary Wranglers 	Calgary, Alberta 	Stampede Corral 	1977-1987 	relocated to Lethbridge, Alberta; renamed Lethbridge Hurricanes
Seattle Breakers 	Seattle, Washington 	Seattle Center Ice Arena 	1977-1985 	renamed Seattle Thunderbirds
Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL) 	Edmonton, Alberta 	Edmonton Gardens 	1978-1979 	relocated to Great Falls, Montana; renamed Great Falls Americans
Great Falls Americans 	Great Falls, Montana 	Four Seasons Arena 	1979-1979 	folded December 16, 1979; revived as Spokane Flyers (junior) for 1980-81 season
Spokane Flyers (junior) 	Spokane, Washington 	Spokane Coliseum 	1980-1981 	folded December 2, 1981
Winnipeg Warriors (WHL junior)	Winnipeg, Manitoba 	Winnipeg Arena 	1980-1984 	relocated to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan; renamed Moose Jaw Warriors
Kamloops Jr. Oilers 	Kamloops, British Columbia 	Kamloops Memorial Arena 	1981-1984 	renamed Kamloops Blazers
Kelowna Wings 	Kelowna, British Columbia 	Kelowna Memorial Arena 	1982-1985 	relocated to Spokane, Washington; renamed Kelowna Chiefs
Nanaimo Islanders 	Nanaimo, British Columbia 	Nanaimo Civic Arena 	1982-1983 	relocated to New Westminster, British Columbia; renamed New Westminster Bruins
Prince Albert Raiders 	Prince Albert, Saskatchewan 	Art Hauser Centre (known as Prince Albert Communiplex 1982-2004) 	1982-present	
New Westminster Bruins 	New Westminster, British Columbia 	Queen's Park Arena 	1983-1988 	relocated to Kennewick, Washington; renamed Tri City Americans
Kamloops Blazers 	Kamloops, British Columbia 	Kamloops Memorial Arena (1984-1992), Sandman Centre (1992-present) (known as Riverside Coliseum 1992-?, Sport Mart Place ?-2005, Interior Savings Centre 2005-2015)	1984-present	
Moose Jaw Warriors 	Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan 	Moose Jaw Civic Centre (1984-2011), Mosaic Place (2011-present) 	1984-present	
Spokane Chiefs 	Spokane, Washington 	Spokane Coliseum (1985-1995) Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena (1995-present) 	1985-present	
Seattle Thunderbirds 	Seattle, Washington (1985-2009)Kent, Washington (2009-present) 	Seattle Center Ice Arena (1985-1995), Seattle Center Coliseum (1997-2009), ShoWare Center (2009-present) 	1985-present	
Swift Current Broncos 	Swift Current, Saskatchewan 	Credit Union iPlex 	1986-present	
Lethbridge Hurricanes 	Lethbridge, Alberta 	ENMAX Centre 	1987-present	
Tri City Americans 	Kennewick, Washington 	Toyota Center (Kennewick) (known as Three Rivers Coliseum (2004-2005)Tri-Cities Coliseum (1988-2004)) 	1988-present	
Tacoma Rockets (WHL) 	Tacoma, Washington 	Tacoma Dome 	1991-1995 	relocated to Kelowna, British Columbia; renamed Kelowna Rockets
Red Deer Rebels 	Red Deer, Alberta 	ENMAX Centrium 	1992-present	
Prince George Cougars 	Prince George, British Columbia 	Prince George Coliseum (1994-1995) CN Centre (1995-present) (known as Prince George Multiplex 1995-2005) 	1994-present	
Calgary Hitmen 	Calgary, Alberta 	Scotiabank Saddledome(known as Canadian Airlines Saddledome 1995–2000 andPengrowth Saddledome 2000–2010) 	1995-present	
Kelowna Rockets 	Kelowna, British Columbia 	Kelowna Memorial Arena (1995-1999) Prospera Place (1999-present) (known as Skyreach Place 1999-2003) 	1995-present	
Edmonton Ice 	Edmonton, Alberta 	Northlands Agricom 	1996-1998 	relocated to Cranbrook, British Columbia; renamed Kootenay Ice
Kootenay Ice 	Cranbrook, British Columbia 	Western Financial Place (previously known as Cranbrook Recreational Complex 1998-2012) 	1998-2019 	relocated to Winnipeg, Manitoba; renamed Winnipeg Ice
Vancouver Giants 	Vancouver, British Columbia (2001-2016), Langley, British Columbia (2016-present)	Pacific Coliseum (2001-2016) Langley Events Center (2016-present) 	2001-present	
Everett Silvertips 	Everett, Washington 	Angel of the Winds Arena (known as Everett Events Center 2003–2007, Comcast Center 2007-2014, Xfinity Arena, 2014-2017) 	2003-present	
Chilliwack Bruins 	Chilliwack, British Columbia 	Prospera Centre 	2006-2011 	relocated to Victoria, British Columbia; renamed Victoria Royals
Edmonton Oil Kings 	Edmonton, Alberta 	Rexall Place (2007-2016), Rogers Place (2016-present) 	2007-present	
Victoria Royals 	Victoria, British Columbia 	Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre 	2011-present	
Winnipeg Ice 	Winnipeg, Manitoba 	Wayne Fleming Arena 	2019-present	
==Education==
The WHL has taken a much greater role in its players educational needs in recent years. The league operates a scholarship program that offers one full year of tuition, textbooks and compulsory fees for each season they play in the WHL. Since the program was introduced in 1993, over 3,000 such scholarships have been handed out at a total value of $9-million. Each team maintains an academic advisor, who monitors the academic progress of all players along with the league's Director of Education Services.
Canadian universities and colleges recruit extensively from the WHL, affording graduating players the opportunity to continue playing hockey as they attend post-secondary institutions. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) considers graduates of the WHL to be ineligible to participate in university hockey programs in the United States. Players hoping to receive scholarships to, and play for, American universities play Junior A hockey in one of the Canadian Junior Hockey League's member organizations so as to retain their NCAA eligibility.
==Player eligibility==
The WHL Bantam Draft is an annual event which teams select players from bantam hockey league age groups, 14 or 15 years old. The order of selection depends on the final standings of the teams, the last place team selects first the 2nd to last will choose 2nd and so on.
Players aged 15–20 are eligible to play in the WHL, though 15-year olds are permitted to play only five games unless their midget team's season has ended. Also, each team is allowed to have only three 20-year olds on their rosters. Each team is permitted to carry only two non-North American players. Each of the CHL's three member leagues are granted exclusive territorial rights to players from within North America. The WHL holds rights to players from the four western provinces, the western United States and the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
== Memorial Cup champions ==
The Memorial Cup has been captured by a WHL team 18 times since the league's founding
* 2014: Edmonton Oil Kings
* 2008: Spokane Chiefs
* 2007: Vancouver Giants
* 2004: Kelowna Rockets
* 2002: Kootenay Ice
* 2001: Red Deer Rebels
* 1998: Portland Winter Hawks	
* 1995: Kamloops Blazers
* 1994: Kamloops Blazers
* 1992: Kamloops Blazers
* 1991: Spokane Chiefs
* 1989: Swift Current Broncos
* 1988: Medicine Hat Tigers	
* 1987: Medicine Hat Tigers
* 1985: Prince Albert Raiders
* 1983: Portland Winter Hawks
* 1978: New Westminster Bruins
* 1977: New Westminster Bruins
* 1974: Regina Pats
== Records ==
*WHL Single Season Records
Individual
* Most goals in a season: 108, Ray Ferraro, 1983–84
* Most assists in a season: 136, Rob Brown, 1986–87
* Most points in a season: 212, Rob Brown, 1986–87
* Most penalty minutes in a season: 511, Brent Gogol, 1977–78
* Most points in a season, rookie: 145, Petr Nedved, 1989–90
* Most points in a season, defenceman: 140, Cam Plante, 1983–84
* Most hat-tricks in a season: 15, Ray Ferraro, 1983–84
Team
* Most wins in a season: 60, Victoria Cougars, 1980–81
* Most wins in an inaugural season: 35, Everett Silvertips, 2003–04
* Most points in a season: 125, Brandon Wheat Kings, 1978–79
* Most goals in a season: 496, Kamloops Blazers, 1986–87
* Fewest goals against in a season: 125, Kelowna Rockets, 2003–04
== Trophies and awards ==
thumb|150px|right|The Ed Chynoweth Cup is awarded to the WHL's champion
* Ed Chynoweth Cup—playoff champions
* Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy—regular season champions
* Four Broncos Memorial Trophy—player of the year
* Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy—scholastic player of the year
* Bob Clarke Trophy—top scorer
* Brad Hornung Trophy—most sportsmanlike player
* Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy—top defencemen
* Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy—rookie of the year
* Del Wilson Trophy—top goaltender
* Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy—coach of the year
* Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy—executive of the year
* Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy—top official
* St. Clair Group Trophy—marketing/public relations award
* Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy—humanitarian of the year
* WHL Plus-Minus Award
* airBC Trophy—most valuable player in the playoffs
* WHL All-Star Teams
==League Leaders==
*WHL Regular Season Goal Scoring Leader
*WHL Regular Season Assist Leader
*WHL Regular Season Goals Against Average Leader
== Commissioners ==
* Ed Chynoweth - 1972-95
* Dev Dley - 1995-2000
* Ron Robison - 2000-present
== See also ==
* Ontario Hockey League
* Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
== References ==
;General
*
*
*
;Specific
== External links ==
* Official website of the Western Hockey League
* Official website of the Canadian Hockey League
* Maps to WHL arenas
Category:Ice hockey leagues
Category:Canadian Hockey League
Category:Western Hockey League (junior)
Category:Established in 1966