West Coast Hockey League

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

West Coast Hockey League was a minor league in ice hockey in United States from 1995 to 2003. The number of teams ranged from 6 to 9 and the teams were located in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Washington. The league was formed in part by a conversion of the Pacific Southwest Hockey League from semi-professional to professional status. The charter member teams were the Alaska Gold Kings, Anchorage Aces, Bakersfield Fog, Fresno Falcons, Reno Renegades and San Diego Gulls.

In 2003, the WCHL (and the Taylor Cup) was absorbed by the East Coast Hockey League. In a change reflective of the nationwide presence of the ECHL, the East Coast Hockey League changed its name to simply ECHL on May 19, 2003. Six former WCHL teams (Alaska, Bakersfield, Fresno, Idaho, Long Beach, and San Diego) play in the West and Pacific Divisions of the ECHL's National Conference. The Reno Rage may return as the ECHL's Reno Raiders in 2007, a decade after suspending operations in the WCHL.

[edit] Teams

Alaska (Fairbanks) Gold Kings (1995–1997)
Anchorage Aces (1995–2003)
Bakersfield Fog (1995–1998)
Bakersfield Condors (1998–2003)
Colorado (Colorado Springs) Gold Kings (1998–2002)
Fresno Falcons (1995–2003, known as "Fresno's Fighting Falcons" during the 1997-98 season)
Idaho Steelheads (1997–2003)
Long Beach Ice Dogs (2000–2003)
Phoenix Mustangs (1997–2001)
Reno Renegades (1995–1997)
Reno Rage (1997–1998)
San Diego Gulls (1995–2003)
Tacoma Sabercats (1997–2002)
Tucson Gila Monsters (known as Tucson Javalinas in 1999) (1997–1999)

[edit] Taylor Cup

The WCHL championship trophy was the Taylor Cup. It was named for the founder of the league, who also owned three of the six founding teams (Bakersfield, Fresno, Reno).