Western Hockey League (minor pro)

For other leagues with the same name, please see Western Hockey League.
----
The Western Hockey League is a now defunct minor professional league in North America that existed from 1952 to 1974. Created out of the merger of the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Canada Senior Hockey League, the WHL epanded much in the 1960s toward the southwestern coast; this expansion and the threat that it posed to the National Hockey League of becoming a rival major hockey league forced the latter league to announce its 1967 NHL Expansion plans.
The league finally had to cease its activities in 1974, after both the NHL and the World Hockey Association had moved into its traditional markets and the resulting diluted talent pool lowered the quality of play and the player availability.
==Teams==
Team 	Location 	Arena 	Tenure 	Notes
Calgary Stampeders 	Calgary, Alberta 	Stampede Corral 	1952-1963	folded
Edmonton Flyers 	Edmonton, Alberta 	Edmonton Gardens 	1952-1963	folded
New Westminster Royals 	New Westminster, British Columbia 	Queen's Park Arena 	1952-1959	folded
Saskatoon Quakers 	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 	Saskatoon Arena 	1952-1956	folded
Seattle Ironmen 	Seattle, Washington 	Seattle Civic Ice Arena 	1952-1953	renamed Bombers
Tacoma Rockets 	Tacoma, Washington 	Tacoma Ice Palace 	1952-1953	folded
Vancouver Canucks 	Vancouver, British Columbia 	PNE Forum, (1952-1968) Pacific Coliseum (1968-1970) 	1952-1970	Join National Hockey League
Victoria Cougars 	Victoria, British Columbia 	Victoria Memorial Arena 	1952-1961	Moved to Los Angeles
Seattle Bombers 	Seattle, Washington 	Seattle Civic Ice Arena 	1953-1954	Suspended operations for 1954-55 season
Regina Regals 	Regina, Saskatchewan 	Regina Exhibition Stadium 	1955-1955	Relocated to Brandon, Manitoba during season
Brandon Regals 	Brandon, Manitoba 	Wheat City Arena 	1955-1957	Become Saskatoon/St. Paul Regals
Seattle Americans 	Seattle, Washington 	Seattle Civic Ice Arena 	1955-1957	renamed Totems
Winnipeg Warriors 	Winnipeg, Manitoba 	Winnipeg Arena 	1955-1961	Moved to San Francisco
Saskatoon/St. Paul Regals	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan/St. Paul, Minnesota	Saskatoon Arena/St. Paul Auditorium 	1957-1958	abandon St. Paul
Saskatoon Quakers 	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 	Saskatoon Arena 	1958-1959	folded
Spokane Flyers 	Spokane, Washington 	Spokane Coliseum 	1958-1960	renamed Spokane Spokes
Portland Buckaroos 	Portland, Oregon 	Memorial Coliseum 	1960-1974	Joined Western International Hockey League
Spokane Spokes 	Spokane, Washington 	Spokane Coliseum 	1960-1963	Relocated to Denver
Los Angeles Blades 	Los Angeles, California 	Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 	1961-1967	city gets National Hockey League team
San Francisco Seals 	San Francisco/Daly City, California 	Cow Palace 	1961-1966	become California Seals when move to Oakland
Denver Invaders 	Denver, Colorado 	Denver Coliseum 	1963-1964	relocated to Victoria
Victoria Maple Leafs 	Victoria, British Columbia 	Victoria Memorial Arena 	1964-1967	Moved to Phoenix
Seattle Totems 	Seattle, Washington 	Seattle Civic Ice Arena, (1957-1962) Seattle Center Coliseum (1962-1974)	1957-1974	Joined Central Hockey League (1963-1984)
Salt Lake Golden Eagles 	Salt Lake City, Utah 	Salt Palace 	1969-1974	Joined Central Hockey League (1963-1984)
California Seals 	Oakland, California 	Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum 	1966-1967	Join National Hockey League
San Diego Gulls 	San Diego, California 	San Diego Sports Arena 	1966-1974	Fold when city gets World Hockey Association team
Phoenix Roadrunners 	Phoenix, Arizona 	Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 	1967-1974	Joined World Hockey Association
Denver Spurs 	Denver, Colorado 	Denver Coliseum 	1969-1974	Joined Central Hockey League (1963-1984)
==Awards==
*Hal Laycoe Cup (leading defenceman)
*Fred J. Hume Cup (most gentlemanly player)
*George Leader Cup (most valuable player)
*WHL Leading Goaltender
*WHL Leading Scorer
*WHL Leading Rookie
*Lester Patrick Cup (league playoff title)
==See Also==
List of WHL (minor pro) Seasons
*
Category:Defunct ice hockey leagues