Chinook Hockey League

The Chinook Hockey League (known as Allan Cup Hockey West from 2017 to 2022) was a Canadian Senior ice hockey league based in Alberta, but includes teams from other provinces. The ChHL was one of two Allan Cup eligible ice hockey leagues operating in Canada until it disbanded in 2024, the other is Ontario's Allan Cup Hockey.  
In the past the league has been made up of some intermediate teams and the intermediate teams would play in the provincial intermediate playoffs and try to qualify for a berth in the Western Canada Intermediate Playoffs for the Edmonton Journal Trophy and a birth in the Hardy Cup final.  The Hardy Cup was contested from 1968 to 1990.  Four of the league champions won the provincial playoffs to advance to the Western Canada Intermediate Playoffs
The league champion traditionally plays the champion of the province of British Columbia in the McKenzie Cup for a birth in the Allan Cup as the Pacific Region representative in the tournament as the league has had the only Senior AAA registered teams in the province, so the league playoffs are the de facto provincial playoffs.  The McKenzie Cup is not held when the event is held in either Alberta or British Columbia (or there is no competing team in British Columbia, as the case is in 2015, when the Powell River Regals were the only team in BC and withdrew from the tournament on January 1, 2015).
For the 2015-16 season the league received interest from the previously independent Rosetown Red Wings from Saskatchewan.  The team was added to the league schedule. However the team withdrew from the league prior to the starting of the season (and after the schedule was written).  The Okotoks Drillers had previously notified the league that they were taking a leave for the 2015-16 season.
===2016-17===
In late May 2016 the Bentley Generals announced they were relocating to Lacombe, Alberta and would be renamed the Lacombe Generals.
The Rosetown Red Wings were approved by Hockey Canada to join the CHL for the 2016-17 season.  However, the team played in the 2017 Saskatchewan Senior AAA playdowns (played in Rathgaber Cup against the 2017 Manitoba Senior AAA Hockey Playoffs champion) instead of the 2017 Alberta Senior AAA playdowns (the CHL playoffs) for a berth in the 2017 Allan Cup as Saskatchewan in in the Western Region where as Alberta is in the Pacific Region.
===2017-18===
The league would be renamed Allan Cup Hockey West during the 2017 off season.  For this season the league would hold playoffs seperate of the provincial playdowns as the Rosetown Red Wings were participating in the league playoffs.  The top three teams would play a single elimination playoff over two days. The semifinal matched up the two and three seeds at the second seeds arena and the winner would play the next night against the one seed in the one seeds arena.
===2018-19===
The Lacombe Generals were named host of the 2019 Allan Cup.  Due to no teams from Quebec participating at the Senior AAA level for 2018-19 the province will be guaranteed a second spot in the tournament.  A provincial playoff will be held separate of the league playoffs again as Rosetown has indicated they will participate in the league playoffs.  The team that wins the provincial championship or the finalist is Lacombe wins the championship will advance to the Allan Cup tournament.  Traditionally, the provincial champion would have to play the British Columbia champions for the McKenzie Cup and a spot in the Allan Cup but both provinces are guaranteed spots in the tournament this year so no inter-province championship will be played.
===2019-20===
On May 10, 2019 the Rosetown Redwings announced they would be departing from the league.https://westcentralonline.com/local-sports/it-s-a-massive-commitment-rosetown-coach-comments-on-team-s-exit-from-achw This has put the survival of the league into question as the league will be down to three teams for the 2019-20 season.https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/sports/future-of-allan-cup-hockey-west-up-in-the-air/
On May 27,2019 the Lacombe Generals announced they would not be playing for the 2019-20 season citing issues within the system set up for Senior AAA hockey in Canada.https://www.lacombeglobe.com/news/local-news/lacombe-generals-withdrawing-from-achw
Shortly after the withdrawal of Lacombe, the Innisfail Eagles announced they would be attempting to join the North Central Hockey League (Alberta) along with the Stony Plain Eagles for the 2019-20 season and attempting to qualify for the 2020 Allan Cup as an independent team.https://www.innisfailprovince.ca/article/eagles-will-play-next-year-but-where-20190528?fbclid=IwAR32orkBqP8kpoeys2wBf4peC9s3DK2oiKF_8uFAT_qMZ5C1JMsu6znl_OM  The two teams will compete in ACHW also in an attempt to qualify for the Allan Cup and in an attempt to save Senior AAA hockey in the province.https://www.innisfailprovince.ca/article/eagles-will-stay-put-in-current-nest-20190604
==2019-20==
The league would revert to the Chinook Hockey League name in September and the Innisfail Eagles and the Stony Plain Eagles would announce that they would play an abbreviated schedule for the 2019-20 season involving games between the two teams as well as trying to set up exhibition games against other teams such as the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers alumni team, followed by the playing of a series to determine the provincial Senior AAA champion and the Pacific region representative at the 2020 Allan Cup.https://www.innisfailprovince.ca/article/eagles-work-with-new-schedule-20190917
Amid speculation that the format for the Allan Cup would revert to the old East-West format as early as 2021; the hope has been raised that the Lacombe Generals would possibly return to play with in a season or two as they had been pushing for the change in format.
==2022-23==
The league would be reformed for the 2022-23 playing season with the Innisfail Eagles and the Stony Plain Eagles returning to the league. The league would originally intend to have a team based out of Carstairs as the Carstairs Coyotes but due to an inability to secure acceptable ice times the team would relocate to Innisfail, Alberta and play its' games out of the Innisfail Twin Arena along with the Eagles. In December, the Coyotes announced they would be playing their home games out of Cremona.
==2023-24==
All three teams from 2022-23 were planned on returning, with the teams playing twelve game schedules playing each other six times, three home and three away.https://www.chinookhockeyleague.ca/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientid=3293&leagueid=8735&page=114159 However, on September 23, 2023 the league issued a statement saying that the Cremona Coyotes would not be returning to the CHL for the following year due to "unforeseen circumstances".https://www.chinookhockeyleague.ca/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientid=3293&leagueid=8735&page=114519 Due to Cremona withdrawing the remaning two teams will play eight games against each other from October 14th to February 3rd with provincial playoffs being held in February with the schedule being released following the conclusion of the regular season.
On May 15, 2024 the North Central Hockey League (Alberta) announced that the Innisfail Eagles and Stony Plain Eagles would be added to the league essentially ending the Chinook Hockey League as they were the only two remaining members of the league.https://www.northcentralhockeyleague.com/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?clientid=4841&leagueid=17388&page=115511
==Teams==
Team 	Centre 	Arena
Cremona Coyotes 	Cremona 	Cremona Ag Society Community Arena
Innisfail Eagles 	Innisfail 	Innisfail Twin Arena
Stony Plain Eagles	Stony Plain	Glenn Hall Centennial Arena
==Timeline of teams==
==Member Teams==
Team 	Location 	Arena 	Tenure 	Notes
Red Deer Burnt Lake Clippers 	Red Deer, Alberta 	Red Deer Arena 	1955-1956	renamed Red Deer Monarchs
Carstairs Colts 	Carstairs, Alberta 	 	1955-1959	sit out 1959-60 season
Crossfield Cowboys 	Crossfield, Alberta 	 	1955-1956	
Didsbury Ramblers 	Didsbury, Alberta 	 	1955-1981	
Innisfail Eagles 	Innisfail, Alberta 	War Memorial Arena 	1955-1989	temporarily merged with Olds when lost use of arena
Stettler Imperials 	Stettler, Alberta 	 	1955-1956	
Trochu Arenas 	Trochu, Alberta 	Trochu Memorial Arena 	1955-1969	sit out 1969-70 season
Ponoka Superiors 	Ponoka, Alberta 	Ponoka Arena 	1956-1957	
Red Deer Monarchs 	Red Deer, Alberta 	Red Deer Arena 	1956-1962	
Calgary Bowness Royals 	Calgary, Alberta 	 	1958-1962	
Olds Elks 	Olds, Alberta 	 	1958-1990	sit out 1990-91 season
Carstairs Colts 	Carstairs, Alberta 	 	1960-1965	return for 1966-67 season
Penhold RCAF Wings 	RCAF Station Penhold Penhold, Alberta 	Penhold RCAF Arena 	1960-1961	
Lacombe Purity 99ers 	Lacombe, Alberta 	Lacombe Arena 	1961-1963	
Alix Warriors 	Alix, Alberta 	Alix Arena 	1962-1963	
Rocky Rams 	Rocky Mountain House, Alberta 	 	1963-1973	
Eckville Eagles 	Eckville, Alberta 	Eckville Arena 	1963-1967	
Carstairs Colts 	Carstairs, Alberta 	 	1966-1972	return for 1976-77 season
Trochu Arenas 	Trochu, Alberta 	Trochu Memorial Arena 	1970-1971	return for 1974-75 season
Okotoks Oilers 	Okotoks, Alberta 	 	1972-1973	
Red Deer Roadrunners 	Red Deer, Alberta 	Red Deer Arena 	1973-1977	
Lacombe Merchants 	Lacombe, Alberta 	Lacombe Arena 	1973-1990	
Trochu Arenas 	Trochu, Alberta 	Trochu Memorial Arena 	1974-1986	
Carstairs Colts 	Carstairs, Alberta 	 	1976-1977	
Red Deer Border Pavers 	Red Deer, Alberta 	Red Deer Arena 	1977-1981	
Hobbema Oilers 	Hobbema, Alberta 	 	1978-1982	
Drumheller Miners 	Drumheller, Alberta 	 	1981-1988	
Stettler Sabres 	Stettler, Alberta 	 	1983-1987	
Eckville Eagles 	Eckville, Alberta 	Eckville Arena 	1985-1988	
Ponoka Stampeders 	Ponoka, Alberta 	 	1985-1990	
Paul Band Black Hawks 	(Paul Bands First Nations) (based in Wabamun, Alberta)	 	1988-1991	
Stettler Sabres 	Stettler, Alberta 	 	1988-1989	
Drumheller Miners 	Drumheller, Alberta 	 	1989-1990	
Stony Plain Eagles 	Stony Plain, Alberta 	Glenn Hall Arena 	1989-1991	
Trochu Arenas 	Trochu, Alberta 	Trochu Memorial Arena 	1990-1992	
Hobbema Oilers 	Hobbema, Alberta 	 	1990-1993	
Innisfail Eagles 	Innisfail, Alberta 	Innisfail Twin Arena 	1990-2024	Join North Central Hockey League (Alberta)
Olds Elks 	Olds, Alberta 	 	1991-1996	fold before playoffs start
Didsbury Ramblers 	Didsbury, Alberta 	Didsbury Recreation Complex 	1991-1994	
Big Valley Oil Kings 	Big Valley, Alberta 	Big Valley Arena 	1992-1997	
Millet Thunder 	Millet, Alberta 	Millet Agriplex Arena 	1993-1998	
Bashaw Stars 	Bashaw, Alberta 	Bashaw Arena 	1993-1995	folded 9 games into 1995-96 season
Drayton Valley Wildcats 	Drayton Valley, Alberta 	 	1994-1997	join North Central Hockey League (Alberta)
Enoch Falcons 	Enoch, Alberta (Stony Plain Indian Reserve #135) 	Enoch Recreation Centre 	1996-1999	
Stony Plain Eagles 	Stony Plain, Alberta 	Glenn Hall Arena 	1995-2024	Join North Central Hockey League (Alberta)
Rocky Rams 	Rocky Mountain House, Alberta 	Rocky Arena Complex 	1995-1999	take one year leave of absence
Wetaskiwin Thunder 	Wetaskiwin, Alberta 	Wetaskiwin Civic Centre 	1998-2001	
Drayton Valley Wildcats 	Drayton Valley, Alberta 	Drayton Valley Omni-Plex 	1999-2004	join North Central Hockey League (Alberta)
Bentley Generals 	Bentley, Alberta 	Bentley Arena 	1999-2016	relocated to Lacombe
Westlock Wolfpack 	Westlock, Alberta 	Westlock Rotary Spirit Centre 	2000-2004	
Rocky Rams 	Rocky Mountain House, Alberta 	Rocky Arena Complex 	2000-2009	join North Central Hockey League (Alberta)
Beaumont Warriors 	Beaumont, Alberta 	Ken Nichol Regional Recreation Centre Arena	2001-2007	renamed River Cree Warriors
Fort Saskatchewan Chiefs 	Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta 	Jubilee Recreation Centre 	2003-2006	renamed MeEwan Chiefs
Millet Thunder 	Millet, Alberta 	Millet Agriplex Arena 	2004-2007	
Fort Saskatchewan McEwan Chiefs	Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta 	Jubilee Recreation Centre 	2006-2010	drop McEwan from name
River Cree Warriors 	Beaumont, Alberta 	Ken Nichol Regional Recreation Centre Arena	2007-2009	
Lloydminster Border Kings 	Lloydminster, Saskatchewan 	Lloydminster Centennial Civic Centre 	2008-2012	join Sask West Senior Hockey League for 2012-2013 season
West Central Alberta Rams 	Sylvan Lake, Alberta 	Sylvan Lake Arena 	2009-2010	renamed Sylvan Lake Admirals
Fort Saskatchewan Chiefs 	Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta 	Jubilee Recreation Centre 	2010-2018	suspend operations at start of 2018-19 season, join the North Central Hockey League for the 2019-20 season.
Sylvan Lake Admirals 	Sylvan Lake, Alberta 	Sylvan Lake Arena 	2010-2013	ceased operations for at least the 2013-14 season on September 5, 2013
Carstairs Redhawks 	Carstairs 	Carstairs Memorial Arena 	2011-2012	
Okotoks Drillers 	Okotoks, Alberta 	Pason Centennial Arena 	2013-2015	
Lacombe Generals 	Lacombe, Alberta 	Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex 	2016-2019	suspended operations May 27, 2019
Rosetown Red Wings 	Rosetown, Saskatchewan 	Saskcan Centre 	2016-2019	withdrew from league May 10, 2019
Cremona Coyotes 	Cremona, Alberta 	Cremona Ag Society Community Arena 	2022-2023	withdrew prior to 2023-24 season
==Seasons==
Season 	Champion 	Season 	Champion 	Season 	Champion
1955-56	Stettler Imperials 	1956-57	Red Deer Monarchs 	1957-58	Didsbury Ramblers
1958-59	Didsbury Ramblers 	1959-60	Olds B's 	1960-61	Red Deer Montgomery V's
1961-62	Olds B's 	1962-63	Innisfail Eagles 	1963-64	Carstairs Colts
1964-65	Olds B's 	1965-66	Didsbury Ramblers 	1966-67	Didsbury Ramblers
1967-68	Carstairs Colts 	1968-69	Didsbury Ramblers 	1969-70	Rocky Rams
1970-71	Didsbury Ramblers 	1971-72	Innisfail Eagles 	1972-73	Okotoks Oilers
1973-74	Olds Elks 	1974-75	Red Deer Roadrunners 	1975-76	Olds Elks
1976-77	Olds Elks 	1977-78	Red Deer Border Pavers 	1978-79	Innisfail Eagles
1979-80	Innisfail Eagles 	1980-81	Innisfail Eagles 	1981-82	Lacombe Merchants
1982-83	Innisfail Eagles 	1983-84	Innisfail Eagles 	1984-85	Innisfail Eagles
1985-86	Stettler Sabres 	1986-87	Eckville Eagles 	1987-88	Ponoka Stampeders
1988-89	Paul Band Black Hawks	1989-90	No winner(see note below)	1990-91	Paul Band Black Hawks
1991-92	Olds Elks 	1992-93	Innisfail Eagles 	1993-94	Bashaw Bears
1994-95	Millet Thunder 	1995-96	Stony Plain Eagles 	1996-97	Millet Thunder
1997-98	Stony Plain Eagles 	1998-99	Stony Plain Eagles 	1999-00	Stony Plain Eagles
2000-01	Stony Plain Eagles 	2001-02	Stony Plain Eagles 	2002-03	Stony Plain Eagles
2003-04	Stony Plain Eagles 	2004-05	Stony Plain Eagles 	2005-06	Fort Hotel Chiefs
2006-07	Bentley Generals 	2007-08	Stony Plain Eagles 	2008-09	Bentley Generals
2009-10	Bentley Generals 	2010-11	Bentley Generals 	2011-12	Stony Plain Eagles
2012-13	Bentley Generals 	2013-14	Bentley Generals 	2014-15	Bentley Generals
2015-16	Bentley Generals 	2016-17	Lacombe Generals 	2017-18	Lacombe Generals
2018-19	Lacombe Generals 	2019-20	Playoffs cancelled 	2020-21	Season Cancelled
2021-22	League inactive 	2022-23	Innisfail Eagles 	2023-24	Innisfail Eagles
Note:Paul Band competed in the 1989-90 Hardy Cup Championships with the final never played between Paul Band and Stony Plain.
==Provincial Intermediate Champions==
Season	Champion 	Season	Champion
1980 	Innisfail Eagles 	1983 	Innisfail Eagles
1989 	Paul Band Black Hawks	1990 	Paul Band Black Hawks
==Western Canada Intermediate Champions==
Season	Champion
1990 	Paul Band Black Hawks
==McKenzie Cup Champions==
Season	Champion 	Season	Champion 	Season	Champion
1992 	Stony Plain Eagles	1994 	Stony Plain Eagles	1996 	Stony Plain Eagles
1996 	Stony Plain Eagles	2001 	Stony Plain Eagles	2003 	Stony Plain Eagles
2004 	Bentley Generals 	2007 	Bentley Generals 	2008 	Bentley Generals
2009 	Bentley Generals 	2011 	Stony Plain Eagles	2013 	Stony Plain Eagles
2014 	Bentley Generals 	 	 	 	
==Allan Cup Champions==
Season	Champion 	Season	Champion
2009 	Bentley Generals	2013 	Bentley Generals
2016 	Bentley Generals	2019 	Lacombe Generals
==References==
==External links==
*Official Allan Cup Hockey West Website
Category:Ice hockey leagues
Category:Established in 1955
Category:Allan Cup Hockey West
Category:Disestablished in 2024