READING, PA – The Western Hockey League started with just seven teams based in the provinces of Saskatchewan and Albert in 1966. The WHL now has representation in all four Western Canadian provinces and the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington. With the addition of the Edmonton Oil Kings for the 2007-08 season, the WHL now consists of 22 member Clubs with 17 based in Canadian markets and 5 in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. 
Each season lasts 72 games and runs from Mid-September to Mid-March. There are four divisions and two conferences in the leauge. The East and Central Divisions are six team divisions and reside in the Eastern Conference. The B.C. and U.S. Divisions are five team divisions and reside in the Western Conference. Below are the list of each team in there respective divisions and conferences. Eastern Conference East Division Saskatoon Blades Brandon Wheat Kings Swift Current Broncos Prince Albert Raiders Regina Pats Moose Jaw Warriors Central Division Calgary Hitman Medicine Hat Tigers Kootenay Ice Lethbridge Hurricanes Edmonton Oil Kings Red Deer Rebels Western Conference B.C. Division Vancouver Giants Kelowna Rockets Kamloops Blazers Prince George Cougars Chilliwack Bruins U.S. Division Tri-City Americans Spokane Chiefs Seattle Thunderbirds Everett Silvertips Portland Winter Hawks Players who reside in Alberta, B.C., Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming are protected for the WHL and are eligible to be listed by WHL clubs through regular WHL listing procedures. Top level players will develop through the various age groups of hockey and in the year of their 16th birthday, become eligible to play in the Western Hockey League. Players can begin playing, and continue to play in the WHL until the year of their 20th birthday, after which they graduate from the Major Junior ranks. 
The WHL is a member of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) whose membership is comprised of three major junior hockey leagues: Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and the Western Hockey League (WHL). At the conclusion of each League’s playoffs, the CHL hosts the Mastercard Memorial Cup. A National Championship tournament involving each of the League’s Champion and the tournament host. The Western Hockey League’s Head Office is located in Calgary, Alberta and is responsible to administer all functions related to League operations. Under the direction of the WHL Commissioner, the WHL Head Office functions include: game supervision, scheduling, League meetings, player drafts, agreements and scholarships, player transactions, finance, marketing, media relations, communications and statistics/results. During the 2007 Memorial Cup Championship, the Western Hockey League announced that the WHL Championship Trophy will be renamed the Ed Chynoweth Cup, after former WHL President Mr. Ed Chynoweth. The WHL Championship trophy, previously referred to as the Presidents Cup, will be presented annually to the WHL Champions commencing with the 2007-08 season. Born in Dodsland, Saskatchewan, Chynoweth was the driving force behind the growth and development of Major Junior Hockey throughout Canada over the past four decades. Chynoweth’s career in both the WHL and the Canadian Hockey League spanned 37 years. He was appointed President of the WHL in 1972 and held that position for 23 years before becoming the majority owner of a WHL expansion franchise in Edmonton in 1996. The franchise relocated to Cranbrook, British Columbia in 1998. Chynoweth also played a major role in the game at the national level, serving as President of the CHL for 20 years from 1975 – 1995. During his tenure as CHL President, Chynoweth was instrumental in forming the partnership between CHL and Hockey Canada in 1981 to oversee Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team. The Hockey Canada and CHL partnership led to the formation of Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence and Canada’s dominance in International Hockey at the junior level. Chynoweth, the WHL Chairman of the Board until his passing, has served in this capacity on two separate occasions since 1996 and also has served as a member of the CHL Board of Directors. Below is the list of WHL Champions and the recipients of the Ed Chynoweth Cup 2008 – Spokane Chiefs* 2007 – Medicine Hat Tigers 2006 – Vancouver Giants 2005 – Kelowna Rockets 2004 – Medicine Hat Tigers 2003 – Kelowna Rockets** 2002 – Kootenay Ice* 2001 – Red Deer Rebels* 2000 – Kootenay Ice 1999 – Calgary Hitmen 1998 – Portland Winter Hawks* 1997 – Lethbridge Hurricanes 1996 – Brandon Wheat Kings 1995 – Kamloops Blazers* 1994 – Kamloops Blazers* 1993 – Swift Current Broncos 1992 – Kamloops Blazers* 1991 – Spokane Chiefs* 1990 – Kamloops Blazers 1989 – Swift Current Broncos* 1988 – Medicine Hat Tigers * 1987 – Medicine Hat Tigers* 1986 – Kamloops Blazers 1985 – Prince Albert Raiders* 1984 – Kamloops Jr. Oilers 1983 – Lethbridge Broncos 1982 – Portland Winter Hawks 1981 – Victoria Cougars 1980 – Regina Pats 1979 – Brandon Wheat Kings 1978 – New Westminster Bruins* 1977 – New Westminster Bruins* 1976 – New Westminster Bruins 1975 – New Westminster Bruins 1974 – Regina Pats* 1973 – Medicine Hat Tigers 1972 – Edmonton Oil Kings 1971 – Edmonton Oil Kings 1970 – Flin Flon Bombers 1969 – Flin Flon Bombers 1968 – Estevan Bruins 1967 – Moose Jaw Canucks *Won Memorial Cup **Kelowna won Memorial Cup as tournament host Source: The Western Hockey League Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.