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 (1945-1949)
The International Hockey League (1945-1949) 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 1945-50.
International Hockey League (1945-1949) Awards
Season |
Leading Scorer |
MVP |
Leading Goaltender |
1945-46 |
Lyle Dowell Detroit Bright's Goodyears |
Bob Coulson Detroit Bright's Goodyears |
|
1946-47 |
Harry Marchand Windsor |
Herb Jones Detroit Auto Club |
John MacInnes Detroit Metal Mouldings |
1947-48 |
Dick Kowcinak Detroit Auto Club |
Lyle Dowell Detroit Goodyears |
Stan Fogg Toledo Mercurys |
1948-49 |
Leo Richard Toledo |
Bob McFadden Detroit Jerry Lynch |
Alex Nicholson Toledo Mercurys |
All Star Selections
| 1948-49 First Team | Position | Second Team |
| North Division | ||
| Ivan Walmsley Auto Club | Goal | Ken Johnson Jerry Lynch |
| Jim Ross Jerry Lynch | Defence | Walt Renaud Detroit Bight's |
| Harold Johnson Toledo | Defence | Jim Baudino Auto Club |
| Hartley McLeod Hettche | Left Wing | Bill McDonagh Detroit Bright's |
| Earl Keyes Detroit Bright's | Center | Dick Kowcinak Auto Club |
| John Taylor Auto Club | Right Wing | Jack Kernahan Toledo |
| South Division | ||
| Alex Nicholson Toledo | Goal | Phil Charron Louisville Bob Rothbethge Akron |
| Harold Johnson Toledo | Defence | Fred Ferens Muncie |
| Keith Tolton Louisville | Defence | John McGrath Toledo |
| Jim Cunningham Louisville | Left Wing | Herve Parent Louisville |
| George Harrison Toledo Leo Richard Toledo |
Center | George Boothman Milwaukee |
| Sandy Air Milwaukee | Right Wing | Roly Duranceau Louisville |
International Hockey League (1945-1949) Seasons
| 1946 Season | GP |
W |
L |
T |
GF |
GA |
Pts |
| Detroit Bright's Goodyears | 15 |
9 |
3 |
3 |
70 |
21 |
90 |
| Windsor Gotfredson | 15 |
8 |
4 |
3 |
72 |
19 |
90 |
| Detroit Auto Club | 15 |
8 |
7 |
0 |
81 |
16 |
82 |
| Windsor Spitfires | 15 |
1 |
12 |
2 |
89 |
4 |
50 |
| 1947 Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
Pts |
| Windsor Staffords | 28 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 167 | 138 |
37 |
| Windsor Spitfires | 28 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 162 | 141 |
32 |
| Detroit Bright's Goodyears | 28 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 154 | 128 |
32 |
| Detroit Metal Mouldings | 28 | 9 | 13 | 6 | 89 | 122 |
24 |
| Detroit Auto Club | 28 | 7 | 20 | 1 | 113 | 156 |
15 |
| 1948 Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
Pts |
| Windsor Hettche Spitfires | 30 | 19 | 10 | 1 | 151 | 105 |
39 |
| Toledo Mercurys | 30 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 113 | 98 |
35 |
| Detroit Metal Mouldings | 30 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 135 | 139 |
33 |
| Detroit Bright's Goodyears | 30 | 13 | 14 | 3 | 157 | 149 |
29 |
| Detroit Auto Club | 30 | 13 | 16 | 1 | 161 | 155 |
27 |
| Windsor Staffords | 30 | 8 | 21 | 1 | 117 | 188 |
17 |
| 1949 Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
Pts |
| North Division | |||||||
| Toledo Mercurys North | 35 | 20 | 7 | 8 | 185 | 140 |
48 |
| Detroit Jerry Lynch | 31 | 16 | 6 | 9 | 163 | 125 |
44 |
| Detroit Auto Club | 31 | 17 | 11 | 3 | 146 | 130 |
39 |
| Windsor Hettche Spitfires | 31 | 15 | 11 | 5 | 152 | 144 |
39 |
| Detroit Bright's Goodyears | 31 | 8 | 16 | 7 | 135 | 154 |
28 |
| Windsor Ryan Cretes | 31 | 0 | 25 | 6 | 89 | 177 |
6 |
| South Division | |||||||
| Louisville Blades | 32 | 21 | 5 | 6 | 192 | 127 |
48 |
| Toledo Mercurys South | 32 | 21 | 7 | 4 | 173 | 93 |
46 |
| Milwaukee Clarks | 32 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 148 | 139 |
33 |
| Muncie Flyers | 32 | 9 | 19 | 4 | 103 | 168 |
22 |
| Akron Americans | 32 | 4 | 25 | 3 | 111 | 200 |
11 |
In 1949 the two divisions did not play an interlocking schedule, however Toledo Mercurys played in both leagues. In the North Division there were a number of 4 point games played.
International Hockey League (1945-1949) Playoffs
Season
|
Finals |
Semi Finals | Quarter Finals | ||
| 1945-46 | Detroit Auto Club defeated
Detroit Goodyears 2 games to 1 |
Detroit Auto Club defeated
Windsor Gotfredson 11-10 in two game total goals series |
|||
| 1946-47 | Windsor Spitfires defeated
Detroit Bright’s Goodyears 3 games to 0 |
Windsor Spitfires defeated Detroit Metal Mouldings 2 games to 1 Detroit Bright’s Goodyears defeated Windsor Staffords 2 games to 0 | |||
| 1947-48 | Toledo Mercurys defeated
Windsor Hettche Spitfires 4 games to 1 |
Toledo Mercurys defeated Detroit Bright’s Goodyears 2 games to 0 Windsor Hettche Spitfires defeated Detroit Metal Mouldings 2 games to 1 | |||
| 1948-49 | Windsor Hettche Spitfires defeated
Toledo Mercurys 4 games to 3 |
Windsor Hettche Spitfires defeated Detroit Auto Club 4 games to 0 | Windsor Hettche Spitfire defeated
Detroit Jerry Lynch 2 games to 0 Detroit Auto Club defeated Detroit Bright's Goodyears 2 games to 0 |