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.
International Hockey League (1950-1959)
The International Hockey League (1945-2001) was a triple-A level professional minor league in the United States and Canada. For more information on this league visit our International Hockey League page.
This page contains information on the International Hockey League for the years 1950-59.
International Hockey League (1950-1959) Awards
Season |
Leading
Scorer |
MVP |
1949-50 |
Dick Kowcinak Sarnia |
Dick Kowcinak Sarnia |
1950-51 |
Herve Parent Grand Rapids |
John McGrath Toledo |
1951-52 |
George Parker Grand Rapids |
Ernie Dick Chatham |
1952-53 |
Alex Irving Milwaukee |
Donnie Marshall Cincinnati |
1953-54 |
Don Hall Johnstown |
No Award |
1954-55 |
Phil Goyette Cincinnati |
Phil Goyette Cincinnati |
1955-56 |
Max Mekilok Cincinnati |
George Hayes Grand Rapids |
1956-57 |
Pierre Brillant Indianapolis |
Pierre Brillant Indianapolis |
1957-58 |
Warren Hynes Cincinnati |
Pierre Brillant Indianapolis |
1958-59 |
George Ranieri Louisville |
Len Thornson Ft. Wayne |
All Star Team Selections
1949-50 First Team |
Position |
Second Team |
Fred Sparks Auto Club |
Goal |
Monty Reynolds Chatham |
Leo Dodds Sarnia |
Defence |
John Drury Hettche |
Al Plouffe Chatham |
Defence |
Jeff Hillier Auto Club |
Stu Cousins Sarnia |
Left Wing |
Pat Cooney Sarnia |
Dick Kowcinak Sarnia |
Center |
Eddie Joss Hettche |
Ted Garvin Sarnia |
Right Wing |
Al Renfrew Auto Club |
1950-51 First Team |
Position |
Second Team |
Bill Tibbs Hettche |
Goal |
Ivan Walmsley Toledo |
Harold Johnson Toledo |
Defence |
Norm Grinke Toledo |
John Sneddon Sarnia |
Defence |
Jack Bownass Hettche |
George Parker Grand Rapids |
Left Wing |
Carl Liscombe Auto Club |
Herve Parent Grand Rapids |
Center |
Barney O'Connell Toledo |
Jack Kernahan Toledo |
Right Wing |
George Burcham Grand Rapids |
1951 - 52 First Team |
Position |
|
Bill Tibbs Toledo |
Goal |
|
Julian Sawchuk Troy |
Defence |
|
Al Plouffe Chatham |
Defence |
|
George Parker Grand Rapids |
Left Wing |
|
Julius Swick Troy |
Center |
|
George Drysdale Chatham |
Right Wing |
|
1952 - 53 First Team |
Position |
Second Team |
Bill Tibbs Toledo |
Goal |
Claude Evans Cincinnati |
Mickey Keating Cincinnati |
Defence |
Tom Goodfellow Grand Rapids |
Julian Sawchuk Troy |
Defence |
Doug McCaig Toledo |
Russ Kowolchuk Cincinnati |
Left Wing |
George Parker Grand Rapids |
Don Marshall Cincinnati |
Center |
Julius Swick Troy |
Steve Gaber Troy |
Right Wing |
Eddie Bruneteau Milwaukee |
1953 - 54 First Team |
Position |
Second Team |
Bill Tibbs Toledo |
Goal |
Charlie Hodge Cincinnati |
Gaff Turner Grand Rapids |
Defence |
Mickey Keating Cincinnati |
Roly McLenahan Cincinnati |
Defence |
Ott Heller Marion |
Arnie Schmautz Johnstown |
Left Wing |
Ken Schultz Marion |
Gordie Vejprava Marion |
Center |
Billy Watson Ft. Wayne |
Don Hall Johnstown |
Right Wing |
Bob Rawlyk Troy |
1954 - 55 First Team |
Position |
Second Team |
Roy McMeekin Toledo |
Goal |
Bill Tibbs Troy |
Roly McLenahan Cincinnati |
Defence |
Jack McCarthy Troy |
Moose Lallo Grand Rapids |
Defence |
Doug McCaig Toledo |
Don Hall Johnstown |
Left Wing |
Rick Hogg Grand Rapids |
Phil Goyette Cincinnati |
Center |
John Horvath Johnstown |
Gerry Prince Toledo |
Right Wing |
Denis Boucher Cincinnati |
Roly McLenahan Cincinnati |
Coach |
Doug McCaig Toledo |
1955 - 56 First Team |
Position |
Second Team |
Bill Tibbs Troy |
Goal |
Jacques Marcotte Cincinnati |
Roly McLenahan Cincinnati |
Defence |
Red Olson Troy |
Bill Short Ft. Wayne |
Defence |
Lou Dietrich Troy |
Duke Edmundson Cincinnati |
Left Wing |
Bun Smith Cincinnati |
Max Mekilok Cincinnati |
Center |
Pete Wywrot Ft. Wayne |
Warren Hynes Cincinnati |
Right Wing |
Steve Gaber Troy Joe Kastelic Ft. Wayne |
Nelson Podolsky Troy |
Coach |
Roly McLenahan Cincinnati |
1956 - 57 First Team |
Position |
Second Team |
Glenn Ramsay Cincinnati |
Goal |
Cliff Hicks Indianapolis |
Moe Mantha Cincinnati |
Defence |
Lou Marcon Cincinnati |
Red Olson Troy |
Defence |
Butch MacKay Cincinnati |
Bun Smith Cincinnati |
Left Wing |
Duke Edmundson Cincinnati |
Billy Gould Cincinnati |
Center |
Art Stone Ft. Wayne |
Pierre Brillant Indianapolis |
Right Wing |
Eddie Long Ft. Wayne |
Roly McLenahan Cincinnati |
Coach |
Leo Lamoureux Indianapolis |
1957 - 58 First Team |
Position |
Second Team |
Glenn Ramsay Cincinnati |
Goal |
Cliff Hicks Indianapolis |
Fiori Goegan Louisville |
Defence |
Butch MacKay Cincinnati |
Lou Marcon Cincinnati |
Defence |
Orrin Gould Ft. Wayne |
Bun Smith Cincinnati |
Left Wing |
Gary Sharp Louisville |
Marc Boileau Indianapolis |
Center |
Bill Sutherland Cincinnati Len Thornson Ft. Wayne |
Pierre Brillant Indianapolis |
Right Wing |
Warren Hynes Cincinnati |
Billy Gould Cincinnati |
Coach |
Leo Lamoureux Indianapolis |
1958 - 59 First Team |
Position |
Second Team |
Don Rigazio Louisville |
Goal |
Cliff Hicks Indianapolis |
Butch MacKay Troy |
Defence |
Lloyd McKey Indianapolis |
Bill Short Indianapolis |
Defence |
Orrin Gould Ft. Wayne |
George Ranieri Louisville |
Left Wing |
Len Ronson Ft. Wayne |
Len Thornson Ft. Wayne |
Center |
Brian Kilrea Troy |
Pierre Brillant Indianapolis |
Right Wing |
Andy Milne Troy Norm Waslawski Ft. Wayne |
Ken Ullyot Ft. Wayne |
Coach |
Leo Gasparini Louisville |
International Hockey League (1950-1959) Seasons
| 1950 Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
Pts |
| Sarnia Sailors | 40 | 26 | 11 | 3 | 219 | 136 |
55 |
| Detroit Auto Club | 40 | 19 | 14 | 7 | 170 | 139 |
45 |
| Chatham Maroons | 40 | 19 | 18 | 3 | 152 | 148 |
41 |
| Detroit Hettche | 40 | 15 | 21 | 4 | 157 | 191 |
34 |
| Windsor Ryan Cretes | 40 | 10 | 25 | 5 | 152 | 236 |
25 |
| 1951 Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
Pts |
| Grand-Rapids Rockets | 56 | 39 | 11 | 6 | 274 | 165 |
84 |
| Toledo Mercurys | 56 | 35 | 15 | 6 | 290 | 174 |
76 |
| Chatham Maroons | 52 | 25 | 23 | 4 | 211 | 215 |
59 |
| Sarnia Sailors | 52 | 24 | 19 | 9 | 226 | 191 |
59 |
| Detroit Auto Club | 52 | 10 | 32 | 10 | 136 | 238 |
31 |
| Detroit Hettche | 52 | 6 | 39 | 7 | 112 | 266 |
19 |
| 1952 Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
Pts |
| Grand-Rapids Rockets | 48 | 29 | 13 | 6 | 213 | 156 |
64 |
| Toledo Mercurys | 48 | 24 | 18 | 6 | 210 | 192 |
54 |
| Troy Bruins | 48 | 23 | 19 | 6 | 211 | 180 |
52 |
| Chatham Maroons | 48 | 22 | 23 | 3 | 206 | 218 |
47 |
| Detroit Hettche | 48 | 10 | 35 | 3 | 138 | 232 |
23 |
| 1953 Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
Pts |
| Cincinnati Mohawks | 60 | 43 | 13 | 4 | 310 | 152 |
90 |
| Troy Bruins | 60 | 34 | 21 | 5 | 264 | 221 |
73 |
| Toledo Mercurys | 60 | 32 | 25 | 3 | 210 | 207 |
67 |
| Grand-Rapids Rockets | 60 | 27 | 32 | 1 | 231 | 257 |
55 |
| Fort Wayne Komets | 60 | 20 | 38 | 2 | 182 | 244 |
42 |
| Milwaukee Chiefs | 60 | 15 | 42 | 3 | 234 | 350 |
33 |
| 1954 Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
Pts |
| Cincinnati Mohawks | 64 | 47 | 15 | 2 | 325 | 153 |
96 |
| Marion Barons | 64 | 40 | 24 | 0 | 279 | 207 |
80 |
| Johnstown Jets | 65 | 35 | 27 | 3 | 254 | 221 |
73 |
| Toledo Mercurys | 64 | 33 | 26 | 5 | 221 | 157 |
71 |
| Troy Bruins | 64 | 31 | 32 | 1 | 241 | 258 |
63 |
| Fort Wayne Komets | 64 | 29 | 30 | 5 | 203 | 220 |
63 |
| Grand-Rapids Rockets | 64 | 29 | 32 | 3 | 252 | 274 |
61 |
| Louisville Shooting Stars | 64 | 18 | 42 | 4 | 202 | 331 |
40 |
| Milwaukee Chiefs | 64 | 13 | 48 | 3 | 187 | 343 |
29 |
| 1955 Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
Pts |
| Cincinnati Mohawks | 60 | 40 | 19 | 1 | 268 | 164 |
81 |
| Troy Bruins | 60 | 31 | 27 | 2 | 190 | 180 |
64 |
| Toledo Mercurys | 60 | 31 | 29 | 0 | 183 | 196 |
62 |
| Grand-Rapids Rockets | 60 | 28 | 31 | 1 | 199 | 215 |
57 |
| Johnstown Jets | 60 | 25 | 34 | 1 | 188 | 215 |
51 |
| Fort Wayne Komets | 60 | 22 | 37 | 1 | 181 | 235 |
45 |
| 1956 Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
Pts |
| Cincinnati Mohawks | 60 | 45 | 13 | 2 | 336 | 159 |
92 |
| Troy Bruins | 60 | 39 | 20 | 1 | 216 | 152 |
79 |
| Fort Wayne Komets | 60 | 29 | 29 | 2 | 272 | 219 |
60 |
| Toledo/Marion Mercurys | 60 | 25 | 30 | 5 | 178 | 229 |
55 |
| Grand-Rapids Rockets | 60 | 24 | 33 | 3 | 198 | 237 |
51 |
| Indianapolis Chiefs | 60 | 11 | 48 | 1 | 126 | 330 |
23 |
| 1957 Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
Pts |
| Cincinnati Mohawks | 60 | 50 | 9 | 1 | 245 | 113 |
101 |
| Indianapolis Chiefs | 60 | 26 | 29 | 5 | 168 | 177 |
57 |
| Huntington Hornets | 60 | 26 | 30 | 4 | 180 | 188 |
56 |
| Toledo Mercurys | 60 | 26 | 30 | 4 | 166 | 186 |
56 |
| Fort Wayne Komets | 60 | 25 | 29 | 6 | 170 | 177 |
56 |
| Troy Bruins | 60 | 15 | 41 | 4 | 135 | 223 |
34 |
| 1958 Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
Pts |
| Cincinnati Mohawks | 64 | 43 | 16 | 5 | 303 | 176 |
91 |
| Fort Wayne Komets | 64 | 28 | 28 | 8 | 213 | 224 |
64 |
| Louisville Rebels | 64 | 30 | 31 | 3 | 239 | 263 |
63 |
| Indianapolis Chiefs | 64 | 28 | 30 | 6 | 209 | 208 |
62 |
| Toledo Mercurys | 64 | 26 | 32 | 6 | 214 | 248 |
58 |
| Troy Bruins | 64 | 20 | 38 | 6 | 192 | 251 |
46 |
| 1959 Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
Pts |
| Louisville Rebels | 60 | 35 | 24 | 1 | 280 | 197 |
71 |
| Fort Wayne Komets | 60 | 32 | 27 | 1 | 236 | 213 |
65 |
| Troy Bruins | 60 | 30 | 28 | 2 | 245 | 283 |
62 |
| Indianapolis Chiefs | 60 | 26 | 30 | 4 | 231 | 247 |
56 |
| Toledo Mercurys | 60 | 22 | 36 | 2 | 196 | 248 |
46 |
International Hockey League (1950-1959) Playoffs
Season |
Finals |
Semi Finals |
Quarter Finals |
||
1949-50 |
Chatham Maroons beat Sarnia Sailors 4 games to 3 |
Chatham Maroons beat Detroit Auto Club 3 games to 1 Sarnia Sailors beat Detroit Hettche 3 games to 0 |
|||
1950-51 |
Toledo Mercurys beat Grand Rapids Rockets 4 games to 1 | Toledo Mercurys beat Sarnia Sailors 3 games to 0 Grand Rapids Rockets beat Chatham Maroons 3 games to 0 |
|||
1951-52 |
Toledo Mercurys beat Grand Rapids Rockets 4 games to 2 | Toledo Mercurys beat Chatham Maroons 4 games to 0 Grand Rapids Rockets beat Troy Bruins 4 games to 3 |
|||
1952-53 |
Cincinnati Mohawks beat Grand Rapids Rockets 4 games to 0 | Cincinnati Mohawks beat Toledo Mercurys 4 games to 1 Grand Rapids Rockets beat Troy Bruins 4 games to 2 |
|||
1953-54 |
Cincinnati Mohawks beat Johnstown Jets 4 games to 2 | Cincinnati Mohawks beat Marion Barons 4 games to 1 Johnstown Jets beat Toledo Mercurys 2 games to 0 |
Johnstown Jets beat Ft. Wayne Komets 2 games to 0 Toledo Mercurys beat Troy Bruins 2 games to 1 |
||
1954-55 |
Cincinnati Mohawks beat Troy Bruins 4 games to 3 | Cincinnati Mohawks beat Toledo Mercurys 3 games to 0 Troy Bruins beat Grand Rapids Rockets 3 games to 1 |
|||
1955-56 |
Cincinnati Mohawks beat Toledo Mercurys 4 games to 0 | Cincinnati Mohawks beat Ft. Wayne Komets 3 games to 1 Toledo Mercurys beat Troy Bruins 3 games to 2 |
|||
1956-57 |
Cincinnati Mohawks beat Indianapolis Chiefs 3 games to 0 | Cincinnati Mohawks beat Hubtington Hornets 3 games to 1 Indianapolis Chiefs beat Toledo Mercurys 3 games to 2 |
|||
1957-58 |
Indianapolis Chiefs beat Louisville Rebels 4 games to 3 | Indianapolis Chiefs beat Ft. Wayne Komets 3 games to 1 Louisville Rebels beat Cincinnati Mohawks 3 games to 1 |
|||
1958-59 |
Louisville Rebels beat Ft. Wayne Komets 4 games to 2 | Louisville Rebels beat Troy Bruins 4 games to 1 Ft. Wayne Komets beat Indianapolis Chiefs 4 games to 1 |