| Western States Hockey League | |
| |
| Sport | |
| Founded | 1993 |
| No. of teams | 29 |
| Country(ies) |  United States
|
| Most recent champion(s) | Idaho Jr. Steelheads (2014-15) |
| Most championship(s) | Phoenix Polar Bears (7) |
| Official website | WSHL |
The Western States Hockey League (WSHL) is a Junior 'A' Tier III hockey league that has teams located in the mid-west and western United States. It started its first season in 1994 as a Junior B league with six teams. The WSHL currently has 13 teams in two divisions, Western and Mid-West.
History
Year one consisted of six teams, spanning Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah, with all member clubs playing a 30-game schedule operating as Tier III Junior B teams. The Anaheim Jr. Ducks won the first-ever Thorne Cup Championship that year and is the only franchise from the inaugural season still in existence, now operating as the Long Beach Bombers.
Current Commissioner Ron White took over operation of the WSHL in 1995 and continued to expand it over time eventually growing to the current 28 teams stretching across 14 states, making it the second largest junior hockey league in North America. In 2007 the WSHL upgraded their league status from the Tier III Junior B level to Junior A to attract higher quality prospects. In 2011 the league would join the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and dropped its USA Hockey sanctioning[1] leading to the loss of its most successful franchise, the Phoenix Polar Bears, while adding many new teams. After the WSHL's success without USA Hockey the United Hockey Union was formed under the AAU sanctioning along with the Northern States Hockey League (NSHL) and the Midwest Junior Hockey League (MWJHL). The UHU leagues continued to operate with Tier III Junior A player requirements. In 2015, the WSHL Board of Governors announced the approval of the league to start competing as a Tier II-level player league for a higher caliber of play beginning in the 2015–16 season. Prior to the announcement the only Tier II-level league in the United States was the North American Hockey League. As part of the approval to Tier II status, the Board of Governors also announced the formation of the Western Prospects League, a UHU approved Tier III development league for the WHL.[2]
The WSHL has had numerous teams attend and win the USA Hockey National Championship over the years and most recently, the El Paso Rhinos were crowned the United Hockey Union National Champions in 2014. The WSHL has had great success in moving players on to the college hockey ranks through the “Western States Shootout”, an annual all-league showcase held every December in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event averages in excess of 80 scouts in attendance, all of whom are looking to bolster their roster for the following season.
The 2014–15 regular season featured 28 teams competing across four divisions, all playing a 46-game regular season schedule, which mimics what players would experience at the collegiate level. Hockey politics in Texas extended into the legal realm and resulted in the Polar Ice House closing its doors. This facility was the home arena of the Dallas Ice Jets and a new expansion franchise, the Texas Attack. With the loss of their ice rink both teams had to bow out of the 2014–15 season and there has been no announcement if the teams will return.
The San Diego Gulls announced they were changing their name to the San Diego Sabers to allow for the new American Hockey League team in town to take the San Diego Gulls moniker.
On June 1, 2015 the league announced the addition of an expansion team to begin play for the 2015-16 season based in Vancouver, Washington. The team has some of the same ownership as the Lake Tahoe Icemen The later announced it would be called the Vancouver Rangers. According to the release the league is hoping to add a couple more teams in the northwest region for the 2016-17 season.
Teams
Thorne Cup Champions
- 2014-2015 Idaho Jr. Steelheads (No UHU championship tournament held)
- 2013-2014 El Paso Rhinos (UHU National Champions)
- 2012-2013 Idaho Jr. Steelheads (UHU National Champions)
- 2011-2012 Idaho Jr. Steelheads
- 2010-2011 Idaho Jr. Steelheads (El Paso Rhinos (Junior A Runner-up)
- 2009-2010 Phoenix Polar Bears
- 2008-2009 Phoenix Polar Bears
- 2007-2008 El Paso Rhinos
- 2006-2007 Phoenix Polar Bears
- 2005-2006 Fort Worth Texans
- 2004-2005 Phoenix Polar Bears
- 2003-2004 Phoenix Polar Bears
- 2002-2003 Phoenix Polar Bears (Junior B National Champions)
- 2001-2002 Phoenix Polar Bears (Junior B Runner-up)
- 2000-2001 Ventura Mariners
- 1999-2000 Ventura Mariners (Junior B National Champions)
- 1998-1999 Ventura Mariners
- 1997-1998 Flagstaff Mountaineers
- 1996-1997 Flagstaff Mountaineers
- 1995-1996 Anaheim Junior Ducks
- 1994-1995 Anaheim Junior Ducks
Team History
Teams that have played in the WSHL include:
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Notable alumni
Sin Bad Sailors
1996 - 1997
- Eddie Garrison - Phoenix Desert Rats, Empire State Cobras
Bay Cities Bombers
- Matt Wolf - Oswego State
- Anthony Massoto - Colgate University
- Manu Manu - Johnson & Wales College
- Chris Fratterigo - Fitchburg State
2000-2001
- Mike Heindi - German Elite Pro League
- Malk Tatavosian - Concordia College
2001-2002
- Cory Anderson - Johnson & Wales College
- Aman Kler - Johnson & Wales College
2002-2003
- Mark Schnider - Nichols College
- Shane Mohr - OPJHL: Brampton Capitals, Milton Icehawks
2004-2005
- Kyle Cook - Nichols College
Idaho Rattlers
2006-2007
- Blaise Leal - UMBC
Phoenix Polar Bears
- David Lehman - WHL: Moose Jaw Warriors, USHL: Des Moines Buccaneers
- Edwin Trebian - NAHL: Central Texas Blackhawks, CHL: Oklahoma Blazers, Arizona Sundogs
- Derek Tijan - NAHL: Minnesota Blizzard
- Blane Pohl - NAHL: Central Texas Blackhawks
2001-2002
- Kilby Griff - Hamline University
- Jason Stellino - Hamline University
- Jason Loughrey - NAHL Springfield Jr. Blues
2002-2003
- Dustin Droscher - CHL: Fort Worth Brahmas
- Dusty Collins - Univ. of Northern Michigan, AHL: Springfield Falcons. Drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 5th round in 2004, 163rd overall
- Tyler Haskins - USHL: Sioux City Musketeers, OHL: Guelph Storm, Toronto St. Michael Majors, Saginaw Spirit. Drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the 5th round in 2004, 162nd overall
- Aaron Quinton - University of Oklahoma ACHA Div. 1
2004-2005
- Hartley Krulicki - Univ. of Manitoba
- Joe Lorentz - Hamline University
- Max Mobley - NAHL: North Iowa Outlaws
- Stephen Mcleod - NAHL: North Iowa Outlaws
- Lee Joos - NAHL: Minnesota Blizzard
- Ryna Shelfoe - NAHL: Minnesota Blizzard
- Ryan Bezdicek - NAHL: Fargo Jets
- Alex Brownlee - WHL: Regina Pats
- Curtis Kelner - WHL: Calgary Hitmen, Spokane Chiefs
- Brian Cooke - Wayne State
San Diego Surf
- David Brito - Sacred Heart University, WCHL: San Diego Gulls
2002-2003
- Joey Perricone - WHL: Moose Jaw Warriors
- Warren Ruibinoff - Lakeforest University
2006-2007
- Itan Chavira - USHL: Ohio Blue Jackets
Valencia Vipers/Flyers
2004-2005
- Rene Huegli - Switzerland Professional Hockey
- Lavrenty Kazaryan - NAHL: Helena Bighorns
- Joey Howard - USHL: Topeka Scarcrows
- Blake Miller - Finlandia University
- Coby Robinson - American International College
Dallas Titans
2004-2005
- Martin Winzer - NAHL: Santa Fe Roadrunners, CHL: Tulsa Oilers
- Joel Rechlicz - NAHL: Santa Fe Roadrunners, UHL: Chicago Hounds, UHL: Kalamazoo Wings, AHL: Albany River Rats, NHL: New York Islanders
El Paso Rhinos
2006-2007
- Zach Jaraczerski - St. Norbert College
- Tad Norris - NAHL: Kenai River Brown Bears
- Corey Jendras - NAHL: Topeka Roadrunners
- Daniel Barnes - OPJHL: Vaughan Vipers
Tulsa Rampage
2006-2007
- Billy Strain - Nichols College
- Dennis Capa - UMASS Boston
- Joshua Erhardt - NAHL: Alaska Avalanche
- Kent Kirby - Nichols College
- Connor Nunnally - Nichols College
- Dan Swanson - Concordia College
Cajun Catahoulas
2005-2006
- Cary Chiampi - OPJHL: Oswego Admirals
Fort Worth Texans
2004-2005
- Austin Smith - Drafted by the Dallas Stars in the 5th round in 2007, 128th overall
Ventura Mariners
- Ryan Weber - University of Findlay Div 1 NCAA
- Keoni Huegli- Switzerland Professional Hockey
- Brandon Crawford-West - USHL: Tri-City Storm, Miami (Ohio) University
- Stephen Schofield - Fitchburg State
- Ricardo Hernandez - Buffalo State
- Cyle McCorkle - Buffalo State
- Rocky Reeves - Buffalo State
- Jason Davis - Buffalo State
Utah Junior Grizzlies
1997-1998
- Rich Dempsey -ACHA Div 1. Kent State University
- George Avery - WCHL Idaho Steelheads, CHL Lubbock Cotton Kings, CHL Amarillo Rattlers
- Nate Gorney - ACHA Div 1.
- Gergely Majoross - Alban Vola Fe Vita H.C.- Austria
- Szabolcs Fekete - Alban Vola FeVita H.C. - Austria
Utah Golden Eagles
2001-2002
- Matt Trojovsky - WHL: Swift Current Broncos,
- Mike Pope - Fredonia State, OPJHL: Trenton Sting
Utah Lightning
1996-1997
- Ryan Hrankowski - Univ. of Minnesota-Crookston
New Mexico Breakers
- Jeremy Bechdel - Neumann College
- Scott Meehan - New England College
- Kurtis Dukelow - New England College
Flagstaff Mountaineers
- Vince Malts - QMJHL: Hull Olympiques, ECHL: Arkansas Riverblades, Pee-Dee Pride, Charlotte Checkers, Augusta Lynx, Bakersfield Condors, UHL: Rockford Icehogs, Elmira Jackals, Drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the 7th round in 1998
- Dean Vandervort - Cortland State
- Ed Harding - ECHL: Assistant Coach Arkansas RiverBlades, QMJHL: Assistant Coach Lewiston MAINiacs
Nevada Rattlers
2001-2002
- Joe Dramise - UMASS Dartmouth
- PJ Miles - Northeastern University
Salt Lake Maple Leafs
2001-2002
- Clark Minken - Neumann College
- Mike Bernardy - USHL: Indianapolis Ice, St. Norbert College
League Staff
- Don Thorne - Chairman of the Board
- Ron White - Commissioner/President
- M.F. Schurman - Deputy Commissioner/Vice President
- Laura Ellis - Secretary
- Carl Brown - Director of Publicity
- Arthur Kitano - Referee in Chief
League Web Site
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