Minor professional hockey leagues are the backbone of the NHL. These leagues over the years have served as training grounds for the NHL teams. Entertaining hockey in their own right and offering non NHL players a chance to earn a living.

Canadian Professional Hockey League (1926-30)

The Canadian Professional Hockey League, a minor pro league operated between 1926 and 1930. There were 5 teams in the league's opening season. The Hamilton Tigers, London Panthers, Niagara Falls Cataracts, Stratford Nationals and Windsor Hornets, all located in the province of Ontario made up the initial teams. In the second season the league expanded to include the Detroit Olympics, Kitchener Millionaires and Toronto Ravinas. In 1928-29 the Stratford Nationals were replaced by the Buffalo Bisons and three teams changed their names. The Kitchener Millionaires became the Kitchener Flying Dutchmen, Toronto Ravinas became the Toronto Millionaires and the Windsor Hornets became the Windsor Bulldogs.

For the final season of the league in 1929-30, the Buffalo Bisons, Detroit Olympics, Hamilton Tigers, London Panthers, Niagara Falls Cataracts, Toronto Millionaires and Windsor Bulldogs moved to the International Hockey League. Only the Kitchener Flying Dutchmen remained and were joined by the Guelph Maple Leafs, Galt Terriers and the Brantford Indians.

Guelph and Galt joined the Ontario Professional Hockey League for the 1930-1931 season.

Canadian Professional Hockey League (1926-30) Franchises

Stratford Nationals (1927-1928)
London Panthers (1927-1929)
Hamilton Tigers (1927-1929)
Windsor Hornets (1927-1928)
Windsor Bulldogs (1929)
Niagara Falls Cataracts (1927-1929)
Detroit Olympics (1928-1929)
Toronto Falcons (1928)
Toronto Millionaires (1929)
Kitchener Millionaires (1928)
Kitchener Flying Dutchmen (1929-1930)
Buffalo Bisons (1929)
Galt Terriers (1930)
Guelph Maple Leafs (1930)
Brantford Indians (1930)

Canadian Professional Hockey League (1926-30) Champions

Year
Playoffs
Season Champion
     
1927
London Panthers defeated Stratford Nationals 4 goals to 1
Stratford Nationals
1928
Stratford Nationals defeated Kitchener Millionaires 2 games to 0
Stratford Nationals
1929
Windsor Bulldogs defeated Detroit Olympics 3 games to 2
Detroit Olympics
1930
Guelph Maple Leafs
Guelph Maple Leafs

Canadian Professional Hockey League (1926-30) Seasons

1927
GP
Win
Lose
Tie
GF
GA
Points
 
Stratford Nationals
32
20
12
0
92
80
40
London Panthers
32
16
15
1
89
78
33
Hamilton Tigers
32
16
15
1
81
78
33
Windsor Hornets
32
14
17
1
72
95
29
Niagara Falls Cataracts
32
12
19
1
78
81
25
               
1928
GP
Win
Lose
Tie
GF
GA
Points
               
Stratford Nationals
42
25
12
5
104
53
55
Detroit Olympics
42
24
14
4
95
75
52
Toronto Falcons
42
20
18
4
93
95
44
Kitchener Millionaires
42
19
17
6
103
110
44
Hamilton Tigers
42
19
17
6
100
90
44
Niagara Falls Cataracts
42
13
17
12
89
99
38
Windsor Hornets
42
13
24
5
115
138
31
London Panthers
42
14
26
2
103
141
30
               
1929
GP
Win
Lose
Tie
GF
GA
Points
               
Detroit Olympics
42
27
10
5
131
67
59
Windsor Bulldogs
42
25
12
5
114
76
55
Toronto Millionaires
42
19
16
7
94
88
45
Kitchener Flying Dutchmen
42
19
19
4
105
118
42
Buffalo Bisons
42
17
18
7
89
72
41
London Panthers
42
16
22
4
86
113
36
Hamilton Tigers
42
16
24
4
83
115
32
Niagara Falls Cataracts
42
12
28
2
70
128
26
               
1930
GP
Win
Lose
Tie
GF
GA
Points
               
Guelph Maple Leafs
30
17
10
3
112
83
37
Galt Terriers
30
15
12
3
89
104
33
Kitchener Flying Dutchmen
30
13
16
1
76
74
27
Brantford Indians
30
10
17
3
68
83
23