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.

Western Hockey League (1952-1974)

The Western Hockey League (1952-1974), a minor pro league, was formed from the Pacific Coast Hockey League. The Pacific Coast Hockey League amalgamated with the Westen Canada Senior Hockey League to form this league. During the 1965-66 & 1967-68 seasons the WHL played an interlocking schedule with the American Hockey League. For the 1972/73 regular season, the WHL played an interlocking schedule with the Central Hockey League. Each team in each league played a four game home and home series with each team of the other league.

Western Hockey League (1952-1974) Franchises

Brandon Regals (1955 - 1957)
Calgary Stampeders (1952 - 1963)
California Seals (1966 - 1967)
Denver Invaders (1963 - 1964)
Denver Spurs (1969 - 1974)
Edmonton Flyers (1952 - 1963)
Los Angeles Blades (1961 - 1967)
New Westminister Royals (1952 - 1959)
Phoenix Roadrunners (1967 - 1974)
Portland Buckaroos (1960 - 1974)
Salt Lake Golden Eagles (1969 - 1974)
San Diego Gulls (1966 - 1974)
San Francisco Seals (1961 - 1967)
Saskatoon Quakers (1952 - 1959)
Seattle Americans (1955 - 1957)
Seattle Bombers (1953 - 1954)
Seattle Ironmen (1952 - 1953)
Seattle Totems (1957 - 1974)
Spokane Comets (1958 - 1963)
Tacoma Rockets (1952 - 1953)
Vancouver Canucks (1952 - 1970)
Victoria Cougars (1952 - 1961)
Victoria Maple Leafs (1964 - 1967)
Winnipeg Warriors (1955 - 1961)

Western Hockey League (1952-1974) Champion


Lester Patrick Cup

The playoff championship trophy was origionally called the President's Cup. In 1960, on the death of Lester Patrick, the name was changed to the Lester Patrick Cup. The Cup was originally awarded in 1944-45 for the champion of the Pacific Coast Hockey League.

Between 1953 and 1956 the Edinburgh Trophy was presented o the winner of a Challenge Series between the Western Hockey League and the Quebec Hockey League.

1953-54 Calgary Stampeders WHL defeated Quebec Aces QHL
1954-55 Shawinigan Cataracts QHL defeated Edmonton Flyers WHL
1955-56 Winnipeg Warriors WHL defeated Montreal Royals QHL
1956-57 Quebec Aces QHL defeated Brandon Regals WHL


Season
Playoff Champion
Regular Season Champion
1953
Edmonton Flyers
Saskatoon Quakers
1954
Calgary Stampeders
Vancouver Canucks
1955
Edmonton Flyers
Edmonton Flyers
1956
Winnipeg Warriors
Winnipeg Warriors
1957
Brandon Regals
Brandon Regals
1958
Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
1959
Seattle Totems
Calgary Stampeders
1960
Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
1961
Portland Buckaroos
Calgary Stampeders
1962
Edmonton Flyers
Portland Buckaroos
1963
San Francisco Seals
Portland Buckaroos
1964
San Francisco Seals
Denver Invaders
1965
Portland Buckaroos
Portland Buckaroos
1966
Victoria Maple Leafs
Portland Buckaroos
1967
Seattle Totems
Portland Buckaroos
1968
Seattle Totems
Portland Buckaroos
1969
Vancouver Canucks
Portland Buckaroos
1970
Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
1971
Portland Buckaroos
Portland Buckaroos
1972
Denver Spurs
Denver Spurs
1973
Phoenix Roadrunners
Phoenix Roadrunners
1974
Phoenix Roadrunners
Phoenix Roadrunners

Western Hockey League (1952-1974) Season

1953 Season
 GP W L T Pts GF GA  
                 
Saskatoon Quakers 
70
35
26
9
79
268
240
  
Vancouver Canucks 
70
32
28
10
74
222
216
  
Calgary Stampeders 
70
31
27
12
74
254
252
  
Edmonton Flyers 
60
21
28
11
73
263
227
  
Seattle Ironmen 
70
30
32
8
68
222
225
  
New Westminster Royals 
70
29
33
8
66
217
254
  
Tacoma Rockets 
70
27
31
12
66
246
249
  
Victoria Cougars 
70
26
36
8
60
244
273
  
                 
1954 Season
 GP W L T Pts GF GA  
                 
Vancouver Canucks 
70
39
24
7
85
218
174
  
Calgary Stampeders 
60
28
25
7
83
266
206
  
Saskatoon Quakers 
70
32
29
9
73
226
214
  
Edmonton Flyers 
70
29
30
11
69
246
260
  
Victoria Cougars 
70
27
32
11
65
203
223
  
New Westminster Royals 
70
28
34
8
64
218
261
  
Seattle Bombers 
70
22
41
7
51
209
248
  
                 
1955 Season
 GP W L T Pts GF GA  
                 
Edmonton Flyers 
70
39
20
11
89
273
204
  
Victoria Cougars 
70
33
29
8
74
237
199
  
Vancouver Canucks 
70
31
30
9
71
207
202
  
Calgary Stampeders 
70
29
29
12
70
262
258
  
New Westminster Royals 
70
29
32
9
67
249
299
  
Saskatoon Quakers 
71
19
41
11
49
207
273
  
                 
1956 Season
 GP W L T Pts GF GA  
 
Coast Division
                 
Vancouver Canucks 
70
38
28
4
80
252
181
  
Victoria Cougars 
70
35
30
5
75
206
196
  
Seattle Americans 
70
31
37
2
64
201
243
  
New Westminster Royals 
70
31
37
2
64
238
258
  
 
Praire Division
                 
Winnipeg Warriors 
70
40
28
2
82
248
212
  
Calgary Stampeders 
70
40
30
0
80
292
242
  
Saskatoon Quakers 
70
27
35
8
62
208
249
  
Edmonton Flyers 
70
33
34
3
56
236
256
  
Brandon Regals 
70
23
39
8
54
199
243
  
                 
1957 Season
 GP W L T Pts GF GA  
 
Coast Division
                 
Seattle Americans 
70
36
28
6
78
263
225
  
New Westminster Royals 
70
34
31
5
73
215
235
  
Victoria Cougars 
70
29
34
7
65
208
204
  
Vancouver Canucks 
70
27
37
6
60
203
231
  
 
Praire Division
                 
Brandon Regals 
70
44
22
4
92
250
186
  
Edmonton Flyers 
70
39
27
4
82
239
212
  
Calgary Stampeders 
70
29
37
4
62
220
230
  
Winnipeg Warriors 
70
23
45
2
48
198
273
  
               
1958 Season
 GP W L T Pts GF GA  
 
Coast Division
                 
Vancouver Canucks 
70
44
21
5
93
238
174
  
New Westminster Royals 
70
39
28
3
81
254
224
  
Seattle Totems 
70
32
32
6
70
244
231
  
Victoria Cougars 
70
18
50
2
38
226
313
  
 
Praire Division
                 
Winnipeg Warriors 
70
39
26
5
83
262
211
  
Edmonton Flyers 
70
38
28
4
80
264
225
  
Calgary Stampeders 
70
30
35
5
65
222
223
  
Saskatoon/St.-Paul Regals 
70
25
45
0
50
214
323
  
                 
1959 Season
 GP W L T Pts GF GA  
 
Coast Division
                 
Seattle Totems 
70
40
27
3
83
277
225
  
Vancouver Canucks 
70
31
28
11
73
219
214
  
Victoria Cougars 
70
30
36
4
64
219
254
  
Spokane Flyers 
70
26
38
6
58
217
275
  
New Westminster Royals 
70
23
45
2
48
237
301
  
 
Praire Division
                 
Calgary Stampeders 
64
42
21
1
85
263
196
  
Edmonton Flyers 
64
33
28
3
69
205
206
  
Winnipeg Warriors 
64
31
31
2
64
256
229
  
Saskatoon Quakers 
64
29
31
4
62
208
201
  
                 
1960 Season
 GP W L T Pts GF GA  
                 
Vancouver Canucks 
70
44
20
6
94
230
177
  
Seattle Totems 
70
38
28
4
80
270
219
  
Victoria Cougars 
70
37
29
4
78
227
194
  
Edmonton Flyers 
70
37
29
4
78
246
240
  
Calgary Stampeders 
70
32
36
2
66
245
227
  
Winnipeg Warriors 
70
25
42
3
53
224
262
  
Spokane Flyers 
70
19
48
3
41
201
324
  
                 
1961 Season
 GP W L T Pts GF GA  
                 
Calgary Stampeders 
70
44
22
4
92
300
215
  
Portland Buckaroos 
70
38
23
9
85
242
192
  
Vancouver Canucks 
70
38
29
3
79
208
191
  
Seattle Totems 
70
37
28
5
79
262
222
  
Spokane Comets 
70
33
34
3
69
247
258
  
Victoria Cougars 
70
27
41
2
56
220
267
  
Edmonton Flyers 
70
27
43
0
54
229
295
  
Winnipeg Warriors 
70
21
45
4
46
191
259
  
                 
1962 Season
 GP W L T Pts GF GA  
 
Northern Division
                 
Edmonton Flyers 
70
39
27
4
82
296
245
  
Calgary Stampeders 
70
36
29
5
77
292
271
  
Seattle Totems 
70
36
29
5
77
244
222
  
Vancouver Canucks 
70
18
48
4
40
223
324
  
 
Southern Division
                 
Portland Buckaroos 
70
42
23
5
89
265
203
  
Spokane Comets 
70
37
28
5
79
272
242
  
San Francisco Seals 
70
29
39
2
60
229
270
  
Los Angeles Blades 
70
25
39
6
56
265
309
  
                 
1963 Season
 GP W L T Pts GF GA  
 
Northern Division
                 
Vancouver Canucks 
70
35
31
4
74
243
234
  
Seattle Totems 
70
35
33
2
72
239
237
  
Edmonton Flyers 
70
24
44
2
50
215
309
  
Calgary Stampeders 
70
23
45
2
48
227
284
  
 
Southern Division
                 
Portland Buckaroos 
70
43
21
6
92
279
184
  
San Francisco Seals 
70
44
25
1
89
288
219
  
Los Angeles Blades 
70
35
32
3
73
235
226
  
Spokane Comets 
70
30
38
2
62
219
252
  
                 
1964 Season
 GP W L T Pts GF GA  
                 
Denver Invaders 
70
44
23
3
91
271
202
  
Portland Buckaroos 
70
33
30
7
73
229
228
  
Los Angeles Blades 
70
31
31
8
70
218
244
  
San Francisco Seals 
70
32
35
3
67
228
262
  
Seattle Totems 
70
29
35
6
64
247
228
  
Vancouver Canucks 
70
26
41
3
55
229
258
  
                 
1965 Season
 GP W L T Pts GF GA  
                 
Portland Buckaroos 
70
42
23
5
89
267
216
  
Seattle Totems 
70
36
30
4
76
204
198
  
Vancouver Canucks 
70
32
32
6
70
263
244
  
Victoria Maple Leafs 
70
32
36
2
66
246
242
  
San Francisco Seals 
70
31
37
2
64
255
283
  
Los Angeles Blades 
70
26
41
3
55
217
269
  
                 
1966 Season
 GP W L T Pts GF GA  
                 
Portland Buckaroos 
72
43
24
5
91
271
218
  
Victoria Maple Leafs 
72
40
28
4
84
260
243
  
Vancouver Canucks 
72
33
35
4
70
252
233
  
San Francisco Seals 
72
32
36
4
68
243
248
  
Seattle Totems 
72
32
37
3
67
231
256
  
Los Angeles Blades 
72
22
48
2
46
236
329
  
                 
1967 Season
 GP W L T Pts GF GA  
                 
Portland Buckaroos 
72
41
24
7
89
255
209
  
Seattle Totems 
72
39
26
7
85
228
195
  
Vancouver Canucks 
72
38
32
2
78
228
215
  
San Francisco Seals 
72
32
30
10
74
228
242
  
Victoria Maple Leafs 
72
30
34
8
68
224
232
  
Los Angeles Blades 
72
29
38
5
63
260
286
  
San Diego Gulls 
72
22
47
3
47
222
266
  
                 
1968 Season
 GP W L T Pts GF GA  
                 
Portland Buckaroos 
72
40
26
6
86
246
168
  
Seattle Totems 
72
35
30
7
77
207
199
  
San Diego Gulls 
72
31
36
5
67
241
236
  
Phoenix Roadrunners 
72
28
40
4
60
215
276
  
Vancouver Canucks 
72
26
41
5
57
213
258
  
                 
1969 Season
 GP W L T Pts GF GA  
                 
Portland Buckaroos 
74
40
18
16
96
291
201
  
Vancouver Canucks 
74
36
24
14
86
259
223
  
San Diego Gulls 
74
33
29
12
78
273
260
  
Seattle Totems 
74
33
30
11
77
236
238
  
Phoenix Roadrunners 
74
21
41
12
54
199
282
  
Denver Spurs 
74
23
44
7
53
254
308
  
                 
1970 Season
 GP W L T Pts GF GA  
                 
Vancouver Canucks 
72
47
17
8
102
334
219
  
Portland Buckaroos 
72
42
23
7
91
322
241
  
San Diego Gulls 
72
33
29
10
76
263
242
  
Seattle Totems 
73
30
35
8
68
240
260
  
Phoenix Roadrunners 
73
27
34
12
66
252
257
  
Denver Spurs 
72
24
37
11
59
250
316
  
Salt Lake Golden Eagles 
72
15
43
14
44
240
366
  
                 
Seattle beat Phoenix, 3-1, in a one game playoff to make it to the Lester Cup Playoffs.
                 
1971 Season
 GP W L T Pts GF GA  
                 
Portland Buckaroos 
72
48
17
7
103
306
210
  
Phoenix Roadrunners 
72
36
27
9
81
271
234
  
San Diego Gulls 
72
33
27
12
78
248
223
  
Denver Spurs 
72
25
31
16
66
242
253
  
Seattle Totems 
72
27
36
9
63
223
260
  
Salt Lake Golden Eagles 
72
18
49
5
41
217
327
  
                 
1972 Season
 GP W L T Pts GF GA  
                 
Denver Spurs 
72
44
20
8
96
293
209
  
Phoenix Roadrunners 
72
40
27
5
85
283
235
  
Portland Buckaroos 
72
38
31
3
79
301
271
  
San Diego Gulls 
72
32
31
9
73
241
243
  
Salt Lake Golden Eagles 
72
29
33
10
68
250
254
  
Seattle Totems 
72
12
53
7
31
175
331
  
                 
1973 Season
 GP W L T Pts GF GA  
                 
Phoenix Roadrunners 
72
37
26
9
83
310
250
  
Salt Lake Golden Eagles 
72
32
25
15
79
288
259
  
San Diego Gulls 
72
32
29
11
75
239
223
  
Denver Spurs 
72
27
32
13
67
264
275
  
Seattle Totems 
72
26
32
14
66
270
286
  
Portland Buckaroos 
72
21
39
12
54
226
287
  
                 
1974 Season
 GP W L T Pts GF GA  
                 
Phoenix Roadrunners 
78
43
32
3
89
300
273
  
Salt Lake Golden Eagles 
78
41
33
4
86
356
297
  
San Diego Gulls 
78
40
33
5
85
278
281
  
Portland Buckaroos 
78
39
33
6
84
292
258
  
Seattle Totems 
78
32
42
4
68
288
319
  
Denver Spurs 
78
28
50
0
56
249
335
  

Western Hockey League (1952-1974) Leaders

Western Hockey League (1952-1974) Most Valuable Player

Year Player Team
     
1952-53 Emile Francis Vancouver Canucks
1953-54 Lorne Worsley Vancouver Canucks
1954-55 Max McNab New Westminster Royals
1955-56 Phil Maloney Vancouver Canucks
1956-57 Lucien Dechene- Prairie Division Brandon Regals
  Guyle Fielder-Coast Division Seattle Americans
1957-58 Sid Finney-Prairie Division Calgary Stampeders
  Guyle Fielder-Coast Division Seattle Totems
1958-59 Eddie Dorohoy-Prairie Division Calgary Stampeders
  GuyIe Fielder-Coast Division Seattle Totems
1959-60 Hank Bassen Vancouver Canucks
1960-61 Lou Jankowski Calgary Stampedes
1961-62 Bill Macfarland Seattle Totems
1962-63 Phil Maloney Vancouver Canucks
1943-64 Guyle Fielder Seattle Totems
1964-65 Billy McNeill Vancouver Canucks
1965-66 Billy McNeill Vancouver Canucks
1966-67 GuyIe Fielder Seattle Totems
1967-68 Art Jones Portland Buckaroos
1968-69 John Hanna Seattle Totems
1969-70 Andy Bathgate Vancouver Canucks
1970-71 Art Jones Portland Buckaroos
1971-72 Fran Huck Denver Spurs
1972-73 Ken Broderick San Diego Gulls
1973-74 Lyle Bradley Salt Lake Golden Eagles

Western Hockey League (1952-1974) Rookie Player

Year Player Team
     
1952-53 Gerry Foley Seattles Bombers
1953-54 Don Poile Edmonton Flyers
1954-55 John Bucyk Edmonton Flyers
1955-56 Barry Cullen Winnipeg Warriors
1956-57
 Dennis Riggin-Prairie Division Edmonton Flyers
  Denny Olson-Coast Division New Westminster Royals
1957-58 Art Stratton-Prairie Division Winnipeg Warriors
  Orland Kurtenbach-Coast Division Vancouver Canucks
1958-59 Roy Edwards-Prairie Division Calgary Stampeders

Bruce Gamble-Coast Division Vancouver Canucks
1959-60 Norm Waslowski Winnipeg Warriors
1960-61 Don Head Portland Buckaroos
1961-62 Jim Baird Vancouver Canucks
1962-63 GillesVillemure Vancouvor Canucks
1963-64 Dave Kelly Portland Buckaroos
1964-65 George Swarbrick San Francisco Seals
1965-66 Bill Orban LosAngeles Blades
1966-67 Ron Boehm Vancouver Canucks
1967-68 Walt McKechnie Phoenix Roadrunners
1998-69 Jack Michie Seattle Totems
1969-70 Brad Selwood Vancouver Canucks
1970-71 Jack Rathwell Salt Lake Golden Eagles
1971-72 Bobby Whitlock Phoenix Roadrunners
1972-73 Ron Huston Salt Lake Golden Eagles
1973-74 Larry Patey Salt Lake Golden Eagles


Western Hockey League (1952-1974) Gentlemanly Player

Year Player Team
     
1960-61 Gordon Fashoway Portland Buckaroos
196l-62 Phil Maloney Vancouver Canucks
1962-63 Phil Maloney Vancouver Canucks
1963-64 Lou Jankowski Denver lnvaders
1964-65 Andy Hebenton Portland Buckaroos
1965-66 Guyle Fielder Seattle Totems
1966-67 Guyle Fielder Seattle Totems
1967-68 Phil Maloney Vancouver Canucks
1968-69 Guyle FieIder Seattte Totems
1969-70 Andy Hebenton Portland Buckaroos
1970-71 Andy Hebenton Portland Buckaroos
1971-72 Andy Hebenton Portland Buckaroos
1972-73 Andy Hebenton Portland Buckaroos
1973-74 Andy Hebenton Portland Buckaroos


Western Hockey League (1952-1974) Outstanding Defenseman

Year Player Team
     
1964-65 Pat Stapleton Portland Buckaroos
1965-66 Con Madigon Portland Buckaroos
1966-67 Larry Cahan Vancouver Canucks
1967-68 Alex "Sandy" Hucul Phoenix Roadrunners
1968-69 John Hanna Seattle Totems
1969-70 Marc Reaume Vancouver Canucks
1970-71 John Hanna Seattle Totems
1971-72 Alex "Sandy" Hucul Phoenix Roadrunners
1972-73 Dave Dunn Seattle Totems
1973-74 John Barber Phoenix Roadrunners


Western Hockey League (1952-1974) Leading Scorer

Year Player Team Points
       
1952-53 Earl Reibel Edmonton 90
1953-54 Guyle Fielder Seattle 88
1954-55 Bronco Horvath Edmonton 110
1955-56 Phil Maloney Vancouver 95
1956-57 Guyle Fielder Seattle 122
1957-58 Guyle Fielder Seattle 111
1958-59 Guyle Fielder Seattle 119
1959-60 Guyle Fielder Seattle 95
1960-61 Art Jones Portland 100
1961-62 Gene Mekilok Spokane 97
1962-63 Guyle Fielder Seattle 97
1963-64 Guyle Fielder Seattle 102
1964-65 Guyle Fielder Seattle 92
1965-66 Cliff Schmautz Portland 104
1966-67 Guyle Fielder Seattle 91
1967-68 Art Jones Portland 87
1968-69 Art Jones Portland 114
1969-70 Art Jones Portland 127
1970-71 Art Jones Portland 114
1971-72 Art Jones Portland 124
1972-73 Bob Walton Seattle 101
1973-74 Lyle Bradley Salt Lake 115


Western Hockey League (1952-1974) Goalkeeper

Year Goalkeeper Team
Goals
Average
     
1952-53 Emile Francis Vancouver
216
3.08
1953-54 Lorne Worsley Vancouver
168
2.40
1954-55 Johnny Bower Vancouver
63
1.71
1955-56 Ray Mikulan Vancouver
181
2.54
1956-57 Lucien Dechene Brandon
175
2.65
1957-58 Marcel Pelletier Vancouver
173
2.43
1958-59 Lucien Dechene Saskatoon
170
3.03
1959-60 Hank Bassen Vancouver
172
2.48
1960-61 Don Head Portland
192
2.74
1961-62 Al Millar Seattle
182
3.14
1962-63 Don Head Portland
177
2.53
1963-64 Al Millar Denver
198
2.83
1964-65 Jim McLeod Seattle
181
2.78
1965-66 Don Head Portland
100
2.84
1966-67 Jim McLeod Seattle
101
2.44
1967-68 Marv Edwards Portland
93
2.44
1968-69 Jim McLeod Portland
90
2.39
Dave Kelly Portland
103
3.10
1969-70 George Gardner Vancouver
171
2.88
1970-71 Jim McLeod Portland
122
2.70
Dave Kelly Portland
87
3.25
197l-72 Bob Johnson Denver
96
2.83
1972-73 Ken Broderick San Diego
146
2.94
1973-74 Rick Charron Portland
123
2.63

Presented to Goaltender or Goaltenders who play with team with fewest goals scored against during regular season. To be eligible, player must participate in 25 complete games or a minimum of 100 minutes