Timeline of WHL history
Encyclopedia : T : TI : TIM : Timeline of WHL history
This is a timeline of events throughout the 40 year history of the Western Hockey League
1960s
- 1966: League began play as the Western Canada Junior Hockey League with seven teams: Calgary Buffaloes, Edmonton Oil Kings, Estevan Bruins, Moose Jaw Canucks, Regina Pats, Saskatoon Blades, and Weyburn Red Wings.
- 1967: Calgary Buffaloes become the Calgary Centennials. Flin Flon Bombers, Winnipeg Jets and Brandon Wheat Kings join the league.
- 1968: League shortens its name to Western Canada Hockey League.
- 1968: Regina Pats, Weyburn Red Wings and Moose Jaw Canucks leave the league. Remaining eight teams broken into two divisions: East (Flin Flon, Estevan, Winnipeg, Brandon); West (Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Swift Current).
1970s
- 1970: Regina Pats return, and play in the Eastern Division; Medicine Hat Tigers are granted a franchise, and play in the Western Division.
- 1971: Estevan Bruins move to New Westminster, and play in the Western Division. Victoria Cougars, and Vancouver Nats granted franchises, both play in the Western Division. Swift Current and Saskatoon move to the Eastern Division.
- 1973: Vancouver Nats move to Kamloops and become the Kamloops Chiefs; Winnipeg Jets become Winnipeg Clubs.
- 1974: Swift Current Broncos move to Lethbridge
- 1976: Edmonton Oil Kings move to Portland and become the Portland Winter Hawks. Winnipeg Clubs become Winnipeg Monarchs.
- 1976: League splits into three divisions: East (Brandon, Saskatoon, Flin Flon, Regina); Central (Medicine Hat, Winnipeg, Lethbridge, Calgary); West (New Westminster, Kamloops, Portland, Victoria).
- 1977: Calgary Centennials move to Billings to become the Billings Bighorns. Winnipeg Monarchs move to Calgary and become the Calgary Wranglers. Kamloops Chiefs fold. Seattle Breakers granted a franchise and play in the Western Division.
- 1978: The WCHL becomes the Western Hockey League. Flin Flon Bombers move to Edmonton to become the second incarnation of the Edmonton Oil Kings.
- 1979: Edmonton Oil Kings move to Great Falls to become the Great Falls Americans; They would fold on December 16.
- 1979: The WHL shrinks back into two divisions: West (Portland, Victoria, Seattle, New Westminster) and East (Regina, Calgary, Medicine Hat, Billings, Brandon, Lethbridge, Saskatoon, Great Falls)
1980s
- 1980: Winnipeg Warriors granted a franchise and play in the East Division. Spokane Flyers granted a franchise and play in the West Division.
- 1981: New Westminster Bruins move to Kamloops and become the Kamloops Junior Oilers. Spokane Flyers fold on December 2.
- 1982: Billings Bighorns fold. Prince Albert Raiders, Nanaimo Islanders, and Kelowna Wings are all granted franchises. Prince Albert plays in the East Division, Kelowna and Nanaimo in the West.
- 1983: Nanaimo Islanders move to New Westminster and become the 2nd incarnation of the New Westminster Bruins.
- 1984: Winnipeg Warriors become the Moose Jaw Warriors. Kamloops Junior Oilers become the Kamloops Blazers.
- 1985: Kelowna Wings move to Spokane and become the Spokane Chiefs. Seattle Breakers become Seattle Thunderbirds.
- 1986: Lethbridge Broncos return to Swift Current.
- 1987: Calgary Wranglers move to Lethbridge to become the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
- 1988: New Westminster Bruins move to Tri-Cities and become the Tri-City Americans.
1990s
- 1991: Tacoma Rockets granted a franchise and play in the Western Division.
- 1992: Red Deer Rebels granted a franchise and play in the Eastern Division.
- 1994: Victoria Cougars move to Prince George and become the Prince George Cougars.
- 1995: Calgary Hitmen are granted a franchise. Tacoma Rockets move to Kelowna and become the Kelowna Rockets.
- 1995: WHL divides into three divisions: West (Spokane, Tri-Cities, Tacoma, Seattle, Kamloops, Portland, Prince George), Central (Swift Current, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Calgary), and East (Brandon, Prince Albert, Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw).
- 1996: Edmonton Ice are granted a franchise, and play in the central division. Swift Current moves to the east division.
- 1998: Edmonton Ice move to Cranbrook and become the Kootenay Ice.
2000s
- 2001: Vancouver Giants granted a franchise.
- 2001: WHL divides into two conferences of two divisions each: Eastern Conference: East Division (Brandon, Regina, Moose Jaw, Saskatoon, Prince Albert); Central Division (Red Deer, Swift Current, Lethbridge, Calgary, Medicine Hat); Western Conference: British Columbia Division (Kamloops, Kootenay, Prince George, Kelowna, Vancouver); United States Division (Portland, Spokane, Tri-Cities, Seattle).
- 2003: Everett Silvertips are granted a franchise and play in the United States division.
- 2005: Tri-Cities Americans' plan to move to Chilliwack is voted down by the league board of governors; however, three weeks after the initial vote, the league decides to grant Chilliwack an expansion team named the Chilliwack Bruins to be ready to play in the 2006-07 sesaon, with the Tri-City Americans staying put under a new ownership group lead by former Tri-City Americans and current National Hockey League players Stu Barnes and Olaf Kolzig.
- 2006: Edmonton granted a conditional franchise that would begin play in 2007-08. The team will be owned by the Edmonton Investors Group, owner of the Edmonton Oilers.
See also
References
- [Official WHL web site]
- [WHL historical archive]
- [Archive of standings and statistics]
- 2005-06 WHL Guide
| Western Hockey League |
|---|
| Current teams : Brandon Wheat Kings | Calgary Hitmen | Chilliwack Bruins | Everett Silvertips | Kamloops Blazers | Kelowna Rockets | Kootenay Ice | Lethbridge Hurricanes | Medicine Hat Tigers | Moose Jaw Warriors | Portland Winter Hawks | Prince Albert Raiders | Prince George Cougars | Red Deer Rebels | Regina Pats | Saskatoon Blades | Seattle Thunderbirds | Spokane Chiefs | Swift Current Broncos | Tri-City Americans | Vancouver Giants |
| Expansion for 2007-08 : Edmonton |
| CHL: | Memorial Cup | OHL | QMJHL | WHL |
| Current arenas in the Western Hockey League | ||
| Eastern Conference | Western Conference | |
|---|---|---|
| Art Hauser Centre | Brandt Centre | Centennial Civic Centre | Cranbrook Recreational Complex | Credit Union Centre | ENMAX Centre | ENMAX Centrium | Keystone Centre | Medicine Hat Arena | Moose Jaw Civic Centre | Pengrowth Saddledome | CN Centre | Everett Events Center | Interior Savings Centre | KeyArena | Memorial Coliseum | Pacific Coliseum | Prospera Centre | Prospera Place | Rose Garden Arena | Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena | Toyota Center | |
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