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.
United States Hockey League (1945-1951)
The United States Hockey League (1945-1951) was a minor hockey league. It started as a seven team league, grew to an eight team two division set-up (North Division and South Division) from 1946-47 to 1948-49 and played its final two seaons as a six team league. Teams included Dallas Texans, Denver Falcons, Fort Worth Rangers, Houston Huskies, Kansas City Mohawks, Kansas City Pla-Mors, Kansas City Royals, Louisville Blades, Milwaukee Seagulls, Minneapolis Millers, Omaha Knights, St Paul Saints and Tulsa Oilers.
United States Hockey League (1945-1951) Franchises
Dallas Texans (1945-1949)
Denver Falcons (1950-1951)
Ft. Worth Rangers (1945-1949)
Houston Huskies (1947-1949)
Houston Skippers (1946-1947)
Kansas City Mohawks (1949-1950)
Kansas City Pla-mors (1945-1950)
Kansas City Royals (1950-1951)
Louisville Blades (1949-1950)
Milwaukee Sea Gulls (1950-1951)
Minneapolis Millers (1945-1950)
Omaha Knights (1945-1951)
St. Paul Saints (1945-1951)
Tulsa Oilers (1946-1951)
United States Hockey League (1945-1951) Champions
The league playoff champion was awarded the Paul W. Loudon Trophy while the regular season champions were awarded the Directors' Cup.
|
|
|
|
|
1946
|
Kansas City Pla-mors |
Kansas City Pla-mors |
|
1947
|
Kansas City Pla-mors |
Omaha Knights |
1948
|
Houston Huskies |
Houston Huskies |
1949
|
St. Paul Saints |
St. Paul Saints |
1950 |
Minneapolis Millers |
Omaha Knights |
1951 |
Omaha Knights |
Omaha Knights |
United States Hockey League (1945-1951) Seasons
| 1946 Season | GP
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
GF
|
GA
|
PTs
|
| Kansas City Pla-mors | 56 |
35 |
17 |
4 |
271 |
185 |
74 |
| Omaha Knights | 56 |
31 |
22 |
3 |
214 |
193 |
65 |
| St. Paul Saints | 56 |
28 |
26 |
2 |
208 |
185 |
58 |
| Tulsa Oilers | 56 |
27 |
25 |
4 |
263 |
237 |
58 |
| Ft. Worth Rangers | 56 |
24 |
31 |
1 |
187 |
237 |
49 |
| Dallas Texans | 56 |
21 |
32 |
3 |
228 |
267 |
45 |
| Minneapolis Millers | 56 |
20 |
33 |
3 |
195 |
263 |
43 |
| 1947 Season | GP
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
GF
|
GA
|
PTs
|
| Northern Division | |||||||
| Omaha Knights | 60 |
29 |
16 |
15 |
225 |
181 |
73 |
| Kansas City Pla-mors | 60 |
29 |
20 |
11 |
264 |
197 |
69 |
| Minneapolis Millers | 60 |
28 |
22 |
10 |
214 |
197 |
66 |
| St. Paul Saints | 60 |
27 |
27 |
6 |
216 |
234 |
60 |
| Southern Division | |||||||
| Dallas Texans | 60 |
27 |
18 |
15 |
232 |
218 |
69 |
| Ft. Worth Rangers | 60 |
22 |
27 |
11 |
195 |
214 |
55 |
| Tulsa Oilers | 60 |
17 |
31 |
12 |
203 |
259 |
46 |
| Houston Skippers | 60 |
14 |
32 |
14 |
210 |
259 |
42 |
| 1948 Season | GP
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
GF
|
GA
|
PTs
|
| Northern Division | |||||||
| Kansas City Pla-mors | 66 |
35 |
27 |
4 |
274 |
244 |
74 |
| Minneapolis Millers | 66 |
34 |
26 |
6 |
259 |
228 |
74 |
| Omaha Knights | 66 |
32 |
27 |
7 |
275 |
252 |
71 |
| St. Paul Saints | 66 |
30 |
30 |
6 |
236 |
245 |
66 |
| Southern Division | |||||||
| Houston Huskies | 66 |
36 |
27 |
3 |
317 |
267 |
75 |
| Ft. Worth Rangers | 66 |
30 |
31 |
5 |
230 |
234 |
65 |
| Tulsa Oilers | 66 |
23 |
34 |
9 |
222 |
275 |
55 |
| Dallas Texans | 66 |
21 |
39 |
6 |
208 |
276 |
48 |
| 1949 Season | GP
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
GF
|
GA
|
PTs
|
| Northern Division | |||||||
| St. Paul Saints | 66 |
36 |
20 |
10 |
284 |
210 |
82 |
| Kansas City Pla-mors | 66 |
30 |
23 |
13 |
261 |
206 |
73 |
| Omaha Knights | 66 |
28 |
25 |
13 |
226 |
220 |
69 |
| Minneapolis Millers | 66 |
27 |
24 |
15 |
223 |
211 |
69 |
| Southern Division | |||||||
| Tulsa Oilers | 66 |
33 |
23 |
10 |
281 |
216 |
76 |
| Dallas Texans | 66 |
24 |
27 |
15 |
246 |
251 |
63 |
| Ft. Worth Rangers | 66 |
24 |
35 |
7 |
217 |
298 |
55 |
| Houston Huskies | 66 |
17 |
42 |
7 |
200 |
326 |
41 |
| 1950 Season | GP
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
GF
|
GA
|
PTs
|
| Omaha Knights | 70 |
41 |
22 |
7 |
313 |
240 |
89 |
| Minneapolis Millers | 70 |
33 |
28 |
9 |
297 |
257 |
75 |
| Kansas City Mohawks | 70 |
30 |
28 |
12 |
293 |
267 |
72 |
| St. Paul Saints | 70 |
29 |
30 |
11 |
253 |
289 |
69 |
| Tulsa Oilers | 70 |
25 |
33 |
12 |
276 |
302 |
62 |
| Louisville Blades | 70 |
22 |
39 |
9 |
256 |
333 |
53 |
| 1951 Season | GP
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
GF
|
GA
|
PTs
|
| Omaha Knights | 64 |
43 |
17 |
4 |
306 |
211 |
90 |
| St. Paul Saints | 64 |
33 |
26 |
5 |
213 |
186 |
71 |
| Denver Falcons | 64 |
31 |
31 |
2 |
233 |
232 |
64 |
| Tulsa Oilers | 64 |
30 |
31 |
3 |
248 |
237 |
63 |
| Kansas City Royals | 64 |
22 |
36 |
6 |
231 |
287 |
50 |
| Milwaukee Sea Gulls | 64 |
20 |
38 |
6 |
202 |
280 |
46 |
United States Hockey League (1945-1951) Award Winners
Most Valuable Player - Herman W. Peterson Cup
Year |
Player | Team |
1946 |
Not Awarded | |
1947 |
Murray Armstrong | Dallas |
1948 |
Clint Smith | Tulsa |
1949 |
Paul Bibeault | Dallas |
1950 |
Ray Powell | Kansas City |
1951 |
Hank Blade | Milwaukee |
Outstanding Rookie Award
Year
|
Player | Team |
1946
|
Not Awarded | |
1947
|
Ken Davies | St. Paul |
1948
|
Terry Sawchuk | Omaha |
1949
|
Jim Uniac | Omaha |
1950
|
Marcel Pronovost | Omaha |
1951
|
Lorne Worsley | St. Paul |
Best Goaltender - Charles Gardiner Memorial Trophy
Year
|
Player | Team |
1946
|
Harvey Jessiman | Omaha |
1947
|
Harvey Jessiman | Omaha |
1948
|
Phil McAtee | Ft. Worth |
1949
|
Paul Bibeault | Dallas |
1950
|
Jim Henry | Kansas City |
1951
|
Lorne Worsley | St. Paul |
Scoring Leaders by Year
Year
|
Player | Pos. |
Team |
GP |
Goals |
Assists |
Points |
1946
|
Byron McDonald | C |
Kansas City Pla-mors |
51 |
39 |
60 |
99 |
1947
|
Don Morrison | C |
Omaha Knights |
59 |
32 |
44 |
76 |
1948
|
George Agar | C |
Houston Huskies |
66 |
43 |
69 |
112 |
1949
|
Ray Powell | C |
Kansas City Pla-mors |
61 |
48 |
58 |
106 |
1950
|
Ray Powell | C |
Kansas City Mohawks |
64 |
27 |
84 |
111 |
1951
|
Len Halderson | C |
Tulsa Oilers |
62 |
27 |
67 |
94 |
Leading Goaltender by Year
Year
|
Player | Team |
GP |
Goals |
G/A Avg. |
SO |
1946
|
John McGill | St. Paul Saints |
49 |
158 |
3.23 |
2 |
1947
|
Harvey Jessiman | Omaha Knights |
60 |
181 |
3.02 |
3 |
1948
|
Terry Sawchuk | Omaha Knights |
54 |
174 |
3.22 |
4 |
1949
|
Gordie Bell | Omaha - Ft. Worth |
49 |
141 |
2.88 |
1 |
1950
|
Harry McQueston | Minneapolis Millers |
26 |
85 |
3.27 |
2 |
1951
|
Lorne Worsley | St. Paul Saints |
64 |
184 |
2.88 |
3 |
League Leaders - All Time
Games Played
| Player | Games Played (Career) |
| Jake Forbes | 376 |
| Clare Dillon | 370 |
| Hal Brown | 344 |
| John McGill | 320 |
| Hank Blade | 318 |
| Ray Powell | 310 |
| George Agar | 306 |
| Gus Schwartz | 305 |
| Alex Sandalack | 304 |
| Walter Melnyk | 302 |
Leading Scorers
| Player | GP |
Goals |
Assists |
Total Points |
| Ray Powell | 310 |
177 |
279 |
456 |
| George Agar | 306 |
180 |
266 |
446 |
| Hank Blade | 318 |
161 |
233 |
394 |
| Hal Brown | 344 |
175 |
139 |
314 |
| John Harms | 292 |
110 |
174 |
284 |
| Ken MacKenzie | 281 |
129 |
141 |
270 |
| Len Halderson | 202 |
94 |
176 |
270 |
| Walter Melnyk | 302 |
117 |
146 |
263 |
| Frank Ashworth | 241 |
100 |
160 |
260 |
| Dick Butler | 237 |
118 |
126 |
244 |
Leading Goal Scorers - All Time
| Player | GP |
Goals |
| George Agar | 306 |
180 |
| Ray Powell | 310 |
177 |
| Hal Brown | 344 |
175 |
| Hank Blade | 318 |
161 |
| Jack Giesebrecht | 233 |
130 |
| Ken MacKenzie | 281 |
129 |
| Dick Butler | 237 |
118 |
| John Harms | 292 |
110 |
| Walter Melnyk | 302 |
107 |
| Ralph Wycherly | 175 |
102 |
Assist Leaders - All Time
| Player | GP |
Assists |
| Ray Powell | 310 |
279 |
| George Agar | 306 |
266 |
| Hank Blade | 318 |
233 |
| Len Halderson | 202 |
176 |
| John Harms | 292 |
174 |
| Jake Forbes | 376 |
161 |
| Frank Ashworth | 241 |
160 |
| Walter Melnyk | 302 |
146 |
| Ken MacKenzie | 281 |
141 |
| Hal Brown | 344 |
139 |
Goaltenders - Goals/Game Average Leaders All Time
| Player | GP |
Goals Against |
Average/Game |
Shutouts |
| Bill Brennan | 122 |
408 |
3.34 |
5 |
| Harry McQueston | 221 |
742 |
3.36 |
13 |
| Gordie Bell | 78 |
262 |
3.36 |
1 |
| Doug Jackson | 165 |
566 |
3.43 |
9 |
| Phil McAtee | 76 |
263 |
3.46 |
4 |
| Paul Bibeault | 76 |
276 |
3.63 |
3 |
| Jim Henry | 75 |
273 |
3.64 |
4 |
| Lou Crowdis | 87 |
320 |
3.68 |
3 |
| John McGill | 320 |
1197 |
3.74 |
9 |
| Nelson Little | 289 |
1092 |
3.78 |
9 |
Games Played Leaders - Goaltenders All Time
| Player | Games
Played (Career) |
| John McGill | 320 |
| Nelson Little | 289 |
| Harry McQueston | 221 |
| Nick Pidsodny | 204 |
| Doug Jackson | 165 |
Shutout Leaders - All Time
| Player | GP |
Shutouts |
| Harry McQueston | 221 |
13 |
| Doug Jackson | 165 |
9 |
| Nelson Little | 289 |
9 |
| John McGill | 320 |
9 |
| Bill Brennan | 122 |
5 |
All Star Teams
| 1946 | ||
First
Team |
Position |
Second
Team |
Harvey Jessiman Omaha |
Goal |
Doug Jackson Kansas City |
Leo Reise Jr. Kansas City |
Defense |
Lloyd Ailsby St. Paul |
Jake Forbes Omaha |
Defense |
Nick Knott Tulsa |
Carl Smith Omaha |
Left Wing |
Hugh Mair Tulsa |
Byron McDonald Kansas City |
Center |
Mel Read Dallas |
George Johnston Kansas City |
Right Wing |
Gordie Howe Omaha |
| 1947 | ||
First
Team |
Position |
Second
Team |
Harvey Jessiman Omaha |
Goal |
Harry McQueston Minneapolis |
Doug Baldwin Kansas City |
Defense |
Tom Williams Minneapolis |
Bob Dill St. Paul |
Defense |
Alex Sandalack St. Paul |
Ralph Wycherley Tulsa |
Left Wing |
Ken Mackenzie Dallas |
Don Morrison Omaha |
Center |
Ken Davies St. Paul |
George
Johnston Kansas City |
Right Wing |
Hal Brown St. Paul |
| 1948 | ||
First
Team |
Position |
Second
Team |
Phil McAtee Ft. Worth |
Goal |
Terry Sawchuk Omaha |
Doug Baldwin Kansas City |
Defense |
Lloyd Ailsby St. Paul |
Jake Forbes Omaha |
Defense |
Bill Allum Minneapolis Lloyd Finkbeiner Dallas |
Ralph Wycherley Minneapolis |
Left Wing |
Ken MacKenzie Houston |
George Agar Houston |
Center |
Max McNab Omaha |
Hal Brown St. Paul |
Right Wing |
John Harms Kansas City |
| 1949 | ||
First
Team |
Position |
Second
Team |
Paul Bibeault Dallas |
Goal |
Gordie Bell Omaha |
| Lloyd Ailsby St. Paul |
Defense |
Joe Schertzl Tulsa |
Jake Forbes Omaha |
Defense |
Vic Lofvendahl Ft. Worth Tom Rockey Dallas |
Bing Juckes St. Paul |
Left Wing |
Joe Bell Dallas |
Ray Powell Kansas City |
Center |
Frank Ashworth Tulsa Sam Kennedy Ft. Worth |
Dick Butler Tulsa |
Right Wing |
Hal Brown St. Paul |
| 1950 | ||
First
Team |
Position |
Second
Team |
Jim Henry Kansas City |
Goal |
Bill Brennan Omaha |
| Marcel Pronovost Omaha |
Defense |
Doug Baldwin Kansas City |
Bob Dill St. Paul |
Defense |
Lloyd Ailsby St. Paul Jake Forbes Omaha |
Gord Fashoway Kansas City |
Left Wing |
Johnny Wilson Omaha |
Ray Powell Kansas City |
Center |
George Agar Minneapolis |
Wally Hergesheimer Minneapolis |
Right Wing |
Ed Brunteau Omaha |
| 1951 | ||
First
Team |
Position |
Second
Team |
Lorne Worsley St. Paul |
Goal |
Bill Brennan Omaha |
Lloyd Ailsby St. Paul |
Defense |
Joe Levandoski Kansas City |
Jake Forbes Omaha |
Defense |
Bob Chrystal Denver Jim Hay Omaha |
Ian MacKintosh St. Paul |
Left Wing |
Obie O'Brien Tulsa |
Len Halderson Tulsa |
Center |
Cal Stearns Kansas City |
Ike Hildebrand Kansas City |
Right Wing |
Ed Bruneteau Omaha |