Western International Hockey League 1946-1988
Compiled by Greg Nesteroff from Nelson Daily News, Trail Daily Times, Rossland Miner, Trail On Ice, Cominco Magazine, Internet Hockey Database, NHL Guide & Record Book, Total Hockey, Sporting News NHL Guide, The Complete Encyclopedia Of Hockey, The Last Time We Won Hockey.
| 1911 Trail's Fall Fair building is built and the first team appears. | 1939-40 The Spokane Bulldogs of Gonzaga University are admitted to the league. |
|
1922 Kootenay teams begin playing for B.C. amateur |
1940-41 First inter-league match-ups with the Alberta Senior League. |
| 1924 Rossland wins the Savage Cup. | 1941-42 Nelson takes a year off and the league merges with the Alberta Senior Hockey League. Teams joining are Calgary, Lethbridge and Red Deer. League changes its name to the Alberta-British Columbia Hockey League. |
| 1927 Artificial ice put into Trail's Fall Fair building. The Nelson team is named the Kokanees after the Daily News holds a contest. | 1942-45 The league suspends operations during World War II. |
| 1933-34 The Nelson team is re-named the Red Wings for this year only. The Nelson team is named the Kokanees after the Daily News holds a contest. |
1946-47 League changes its name to the Western International Hockey League. Los Angeles and Spokane are granted franchises. |
| December 1, 1935 First exhibition game played in Nelson's Civic Center arena. Trail Smoke Eaters beat hometown Leafs 3-1. |
1948-49 Spokane team changes its name from the Spartans to the Flyers. |
| February 7, 1936 Jackie Hutton of Trail becomes the first goaltender to score a goal in a 4-3 win over Rossland. | November 29, 1949 First match played at Cominco Arena in Trail. Capacity crowd watches Smoke Eaters beat Kimberley 9-3. |
| 1936-37 Kimberley Dynamiters take the year off to play in the World Championships. They are replaced by a second Trail team, the Canucks. | 1950-51 First inter-league games with Okanagan Senior League. |
| 1937-38 Coleman and Lethbridge enter the league. The league is split into East and West divisions. Rossland Miners fold at year's end. | 1956-57 Kimberley pulls out of the league after their rink is condemned. Rossland Warriors are admitted to the league. |
| 1938-39 Trail takes the year off to play in the World Championships. They are replaced by the Trail Blazers. | 1958-59 Spokane leaves to join the pro WHL, where they are known as the Spokes and the Comets. |
| February 13, 1939 Trail beats the United States, 4-0 in Switzerland to take the World Championship. |
November 1960 East Kootenay Rams are admitted to the league. Initially this is to replace the Nelson Maple Leafs, who are on the brink of folding, but manage to survive. |
more...  Page 2 |