West Kootenay League

==Ancestor League or First Season==
What may have been either the first season or a predecessor to the league occurred in 1921-22 with the Nelson Cubs winning what was described as the Interior Championship and competing in the 1921-22 British Columbia Intermediate Playoffs playing in the final against the Vancouver Bluebirds of the Vancouver City Intermediate League losing 7-goals-to-6.
==History==
This was a senior league in southeastern British Columbia. This was an isolated, mountainous region that relied heavily on mining. The mining industry attracted a lot of hockey players who were able to get local jobs, a strong selling point during the Great Depression.
The league ran from 1922-23 through 1940-41. In 1941-42 it merged with the Alberta Senior League. After that the league suspended operations for three seasons due to World War II. It was resurrected in 1945-46.
In 1946-47 the league expanded to Spokane and Los Angeles and became the Western International Hockey League. The WIHL would last until the 1987-88 season.
In its 20 years of operation, the West Kootenay League won every British Columbia Senior Championship (Savage Cup) after its first season except 1925-26, and won the Allan Cup twice (1936 and 1938). Both Allan Cup champions (see below) went to Europe and won the World Championship.
==Teams==
Team 	Centre 	Arena 	Tenure 	Notes
Nelson Cubs 	Nelson 	Hall Mines Arena 	1922-1923 	renamed Nelson Kokanees
Trail Tigers 	Trail 	Trail Fall Fair Skating Rink 	1922-1923 	renamed Trail Hockey Club
Nelson Kokanees 	Nelson 	Hall Mines Arena 	1923-1931 	renamed Nelson Maple Leafs
Rossland Miners 	Rossland 	Rossland Arena 	1923-19301933-1938 	withdrewwithdrew
Trail Hockey Club 	Trail 	Trail Fall Fair Skating Rink 	1923-1927 	renamed Trail Smoke Eaters
Trail Smoke Eaters 	Trail 	Trail Fall Fair Skating Rink 	1927-19381939-19411945-1946	Represented Canada at 1939 World Championshipjoin Alberta-British Columbia Senior League for 1941-42join Western International Hockey League for 1946-47
Kimberley Dynamiters 	Kimberley 	Kimberley Arena 	1931-19361937-19411945-1946	Represented Canada at 1937 World Championshipjoin Alberta-British Columbia Senior League for 1941-42join Western International Hockey League for 1946-47
Nelson Maple Leafs 	Nelson 	Hall Mines Arena (to 1936)Nelson Civic Centre (1936 on)	1931-19321935-19411945-1946	withdrew prior to 1932-33 seasonSuspend operations due to World War IIjoin Western International Hockey League for 1946-47
Nelson Red Wings 	Nelson 	Hall Mines Arena 	1933-1935 	Withdrew January 7, 1934>br>revert to Nelson Maple Leafs name for 1935-36 season
Trail Canucks 	Trail 	Trail Fall Fair Skating Rink 	1936-1937 	fill in team to replace Kimberley Dynamiters for 1936-37 season
Coleman Canadians 	Coleman, Alberta 	Coleman Skating Rink 	1937-1938 	join Alberta Senior Hockey League
Lethbridge Maple Leafs 	Lethbridge, Alberta	Lethbridge Arena 	1937-1938 	join Alberta Senior Hockey League
Trail Blazers 	Trail 	Trail Fall Fair Skating Rink 	1938-1939 	Fill in team to replace Trail Smoke Eaters for 1938-39 season
Gonzaga University Bulldogs	Spokane, Washington	Elm Street Barn 	1939-1940 	Ice hockey program ended by university
==Seasons/Playoff Champions/Provincials/Nationals==
Season 	Playoff Champions 	Provincials 	Western Canada Playoffs 	Allan Cup
1921-22 	Nelson Cubs 	Lost Provincial Final 	N/A 	N/A
1922-23 	Nelson Cubs 	Lost Provincial Final 	N/A 	N/A
1923-24 	Rossland Miners 	Won Provincial Championship 	Lost W. Canada Quarterfinals 	N/A
1924-25 	Rossland Miners 	Won Provincial Championship 	Lost W. Canada Semifinals 	N/A
1925-26 	Nelson Kokanees 	Lost Provincial Semifinals 	N/A 	N/A
1926-27 	Trail Hockey Club 	Won Provincial Championship 	Lost W. Canada Final 	N/A
1927-28 	Trail Hockey Club 	Won Provincial Championship 	Lost W. Canada Final 	N/A
1928-29 	Trail Smoke Eaters 	Won Provincial Championship 	Lost W. Canada Final 	N/A
1929-30 	Trail Smoke Eaters 	Won Provincial Championship 	Lost W. Canada Final 	N/A
1930-31 	Trail Smoke Eaters 	Won Provincial Championship 	Lost W. Canada Semifinals 	N/A
1931-32 	Trail Smoke Eaters 	Won Provincial Championship 	Lost W. Canada Quarterfinals 	N/A
1932-33 	Trail Smoke Eaters 	Won Provincial Championship 	Lost W. Canada Final 	N/A
1933-34 	Kimberley Dynamiters 	Won Provincial Championship 	Lost W. Canada Final 	N/A
1934-35 	Kimberley Dynamiters 	Won Provincial Championship 	Lost W. Canada Quarterfinals 	N/A
1935-36 	Kimberley Dynamiters 	Won Provincial Championship 	Won Western Canada Championship 	Won Allan Cup
1936-37 	Nelson Maple Leafs 	Won Provincial Championship 	Lost W. Canada Quarterfinals 	N/A
1937-38 	Trail Smoke Eaters 	Won Provincial Championship 	Won Western Canada Championship 	Won Allan Cup
1938-39 	Kimberley Dynamiters 	Won Provincial Championship 	Lost W. Canada Final 	N/A
1939-40 	Trail Smoke Eaters 	Won Provincial Championship 	Lost W. Canada semifinals 	N/A
1940-41 	Trail Smoke Eaters 	Won Provincial Championship 	Lost W. Canada Semifinals 	N/A
League inactive 1941-42 to 1944-45 due to World War II	League inactive 1941-42 to 1944-45 due to World War II	League inactive 1941-42 to 1944-45 due to World War II	League inactive 1941-42 to 1944-45 due to World War II	League inactive 1941-42 to 1944-45 due to World War II
1945-46 	Trail Smoke Eaters 	Won Provincial Championship 	Lost W. Canada Final 	N/A
Note the WKHL was the only senior level league in the province for 1938-39, 1939-40, and 1940-41.
==See also==
For the 1941-42 season, please see 1941-42 Alberta Senior Playoffs.
For seasons after 1945-46, please see Western International Hockey League.
For a list of West Kootenay League seasons, please see List of WKHL Seasons.
Category:Defunct ice hockey leagues
Category:Established in 1922
Category:Disestablished in 1946
Category:West Kootenay League