Pacific Coast Hockey League
Encyclopedia
The Pacific Coast Hockey League was an ice hockey
minor league
with teams in the western United States
and western Canada
that existed in several incarnations: from 1928 to 1931, from 1936 to 1941, and from 1944 to 1952.
or the North West Hockey League
. In 1936, the Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver franchises of the North West Hockey League
joined with an Oakland team to re-form the Pacific Coast Hockey League. The Oakland team relocated to Spokane in its first year. The Spokane team disbanded for the 1939-40 season, but reappeared the next year as the Spokane Bombers.
The league disbanded after the 1941 season, primarily as a result of World War II
.
1937: Portland Buckaroos
1938: Seattle Seahawks
1939: Portland Buckaroos
1940: Vancouver Lions
1941: Vancouver Lions
member Al Leader
, and grew out of combining teams from the Southern California Hockey League and the Northwest International Hockey League. The PCHL was founded as an amateur loop, partly because the National Hockey League
recognized Pacific Coast Hockey Association
(PCHA) founder Lester Patrick
as the territorial rights holder for professional hockey in Vancouver, Portland
and Seattle
. In 1948, however, the ten team league voted to turn pro, and was recognized as such by the NHL.
In 1951, having dwindled to a six team league, the PCHL merged with the Western Canada Senior Hockey League
, adding three new franchises on the Canadian
prairies. One year later, the league became the Western Hockey League
.
The PCHL championship trophy was the President's Cup
.
1946: Vancouver Canucks
1947: Los Angeles Monarchs
1948: Vancouver Canucks
1949: San Diego Skyhawks
1950: New Westminster Royals
1951: Victoria Cougars
1952: Saskatoon Quakers
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
minor league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
with teams in the western United States
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
and western Canada
Western Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...
that existed in several incarnations: from 1928 to 1931, from 1936 to 1941, and from 1944 to 1952.
PCHL 1928-1931
The first incarnation of the PCHL had four teams and lasted three seasons (The Victoria franchise was replaced by Tacoma in its final year).Teams
- Portland BuckaroosPortland BuckaroosThe Portland Buckaroos was the name of several professional ice hockey teams based in Portland, Oregon.-PCHL/NWHL era :The first incarnation of Portland Buckaroos played their home games at the Portland Ice Arena. The Buckaroos initially played in the four-team Pacific Coast Hockey League from...
(1928-1931) - Seattle Eskimos (1928-1931)
- Tacoma Tigers (1930-1931)
- Vancouver Lions (1928-1931)
- Victoria Cubs (1928-1930)
PCHL 1936-1941
From 1931 to 1936, no league called the PCHL existed, although teams from the first PCHL joined the Western Canada Hockey LeagueWestern Canada Hockey League (minor pro)
The Western Canada Hockey League was an ice hockey minor league with teams from western Canada that existed for one hockey season, 1932 to 1933...
or the North West Hockey League
North West Hockey League
The North West Hockey League was an ice hockey minor league with teams in the western United States and western Canada that existed from 1933 to 1936...
. In 1936, the Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver franchises of the North West Hockey League
North West Hockey League
The North West Hockey League was an ice hockey minor league with teams in the western United States and western Canada that existed from 1933 to 1936...
joined with an Oakland team to re-form the Pacific Coast Hockey League. The Oakland team relocated to Spokane in its first year. The Spokane team disbanded for the 1939-40 season, but reappeared the next year as the Spokane Bombers.
The league disbanded after the 1941 season, primarily as a result of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Teams
- Oakland Clippers/Spokane Clippers (1936-1938)
- Portland BuckaroosPortland BuckaroosThe Portland Buckaroos was the name of several professional ice hockey teams based in Portland, Oregon.-PCHL/NWHL era :The first incarnation of Portland Buckaroos played their home games at the Portland Ice Arena. The Buckaroos initially played in the four-team Pacific Coast Hockey League from...
(1936-1941) - Seattle Seahawks (1936-1940)
- Vancouver Lions (1936-1941)
- Spokane Bombers (1940-1941)
- Seattle Olympics (1940-1941)
Champions
1937: Portland Buckaroos
1938: Seattle Seahawks
1939: Portland Buckaroos
1940: Vancouver Lions
1941: Vancouver Lions
PCHL 1944-1952
The final incarnation of the league was managed by Hockey Hall of FameHockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
member Al Leader
Al Leader
George Alfred "Al" Leader was a Canadian-American ice hockey player, referee, and administrator. He is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame in the "Builder" category. Leader settled in Seattle, Washington in the 1930s and became involved in hockey as the administrator of the Seattle City League...
, and grew out of combining teams from the Southern California Hockey League and the Northwest International Hockey League. The PCHL was founded as an amateur loop, partly because the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
recognized Pacific Coast Hockey Association
Pacific Coast Hockey Association
The Pacific Coast Hockey Association was a professional men's ice hockey league in western Canada and the western United States, which operated from 1911 to 1924 when it then merged with the Western Canada Hockey League...
(PCHA) founder Lester Patrick
Lester Patrick
Curtis Lester "The Silver Fox" Patrick born in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada, was a professional ice hockey player and coach associated with the Victoria Aristocrats/Cougars of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association , and the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League...
as the territorial rights holder for professional hockey in Vancouver, Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
and Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. In 1948, however, the ten team league voted to turn pro, and was recognized as such by the NHL.
In 1951, having dwindled to a six team league, the PCHL merged with the Western Canada Senior Hockey League
Western Canada Senior Hockey League
The Western Canada Senior Hockey League was an ice hockey league that played six seasons in Alberta and Saskatchewan, from 1945 to 1951. It was founded as a four team league featuring teams in Calgary, Edmonton, Regina and Saskatoon...
, adding three new franchises on the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
prairies. One year later, the league became the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League (minor pro)
The Western Hockey League was a minor pro ice hockey league that operated from 1952 to 1974. Managed for most of its history by Hockey Hall of Fame member Al Leader, it was created out of the merger of the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Canada Senior Hockey League...
.
The PCHL championship trophy was the President's Cup
Lester Patrick Cup
The Lester Patrick Cup was the championship trophy of the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Hockey League from 1949 to 1974. Originally known as the President's Cup, the trophy was renamed in 1960 to honor pacific coast hockey pioneer and legend Lester Patrick following his death on June...
.
Teams
- Calgary StampedersCalgary Stampeders (hockey)The Calgary Stampeders are a defunct ice hockey team that was based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The team existed from 1938 until 1972, playing in various senior and minor professional leagues during that time...
(1951-1952) - Edmonton FlyersEdmonton FlyersThe Edmonton Flyers are a defunct ice hockey team that was based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The team existed from 1940 until 1963, playing in various senior and minor professional leagues during that time...
(1951-1952) - Fresno FalconsFresno FalconsThe Fresno Falcons are a defunct minor league hockey team. They were once members of the ECHL . They were located in Fresno, California.-Early history:...
(1946-1950) - Hollywood Wolves (1944-1947)
- Los Angeles MonarchsLos Angeles MonarchsThe Los Angeles Monarchs were a professional ice hockey team, active from 1944–1950, in the Pacific Coast Hockey League . The Monarchs are the only professional ice hockey team to win a league championship for the city of Los Angeles...
(1944-1950) - New Westminster RoyalsNew Westminster RoyalsThe New Westminster Royals was the name of several professional and junior ice hockey teams based in New Westminster, British Columbia.The first team played from 1912-1914 in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association which was established in 1911....
(1944-1952) - Oakland Oaks (1944-1949)
- Pasadena Panthers (1944-1945)
- Portland EaglesPortland EaglesThe Portland Eagles were a minor league professional hockey team located in Portland, Oregon. They were known as the Portland Penguins for one season.-History:...
(1944-1949, 1950-1951) - Portland PenguinsPortland EaglesThe Portland Eagles were a minor league professional hockey team located in Portland, Oregon. They were known as the Portland Penguins for one season.-History:...
(1949-1950) - San Diego SkyhawksSan Diego SkyhawksThe San Diego Skyhawks were a professional ice hockey team in San Diego, California. They were a member of the Pacific Coast Hockey League from 1948 to 1950. They played their home games in the Glacier Gardens....
(1944-1950) - San Francisco Shamrocks (1944-1950)
- Saskatoon QuakersSaskatoon QuakersThe Saskatoon Quakers were an ice hockey team that was based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The team existed from 1945 until 1959, and again from 1965-1971, playing in various senior and minor-professional leagues during that time. The Quakers represented Canada in 1934 World Ice Hockey...
(1951-1952) - Seattle Bombers (1949-1950)
- Seattle IronmenSeattle IronmenThe Seattle Ironmen were a minor pro ice hockey franchise based in Seattle, Washington. They played in the Pacific Coast Hockey League from 1944-1952.-History:After World War II, the Pacific Coast Hockey League was resurrected as a semi-professional loop...
(1944-1949, 1950-1952) - Seattle Stars (1944-1945)
- Tacoma RocketsTacoma Rockets (WHL)The Tacoma Rockets were a professional ice hockey team in Tacoma, Washington.The Rockets played in the Pacific Coast Hockey League before becoming a member of the Western Hockey League from 1952 to 1953. They played their home games in the Tacoma Ice Palace....
(1946-1952) - Vancouver Vanguards (1944-1945)
- Vancouver CanucksVancouver Canucks (WHL)The Vancouver Canucks were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. Inaugurated in 1945 with the PCHL, they became a WHL team with the merger of the PCHL with the Western Canada Senior Hockey League in 1952...
(1945-1952) - Victoria CougarsVictoria CougarsThe Victoria Cougars were a major league professional ice hockey team that played in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association from 1922 to 1924, and in the Western Hockey League from 1924 to 1926...
(1949-1952)
Champions
1945: Seattle Ironmen1946: Vancouver Canucks
1947: Los Angeles Monarchs
1948: Vancouver Canucks
1949: San Diego Skyhawks
1950: New Westminster Royals
1951: Victoria Cougars
1952: Saskatoon Quakers