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3 unusual facts about Western Hockey League


Canadian Major Junior Hockey League

The Western Hockey League was known as the CMJHL in its inaugural season of 1966–67 before changing its name to the Western Canada Hockey League

Western Hockey League

In 1995, the Calgary Hitmen were born when a group of investors, including Bret "the Hitman" Hart, from whom the team got its name, were granted an expansion franchise.

The 2010–2011 season was the first to be featured in EA Sports NHL 11 video game including all the teams and rosters.


Corey Schwab

Following a three year WHL career in Seattle, Schwab saw time with the ECHL's Cincinnati Cyclones and the AHL's Utica Devils before settling in with the AHL's Albany River Rats for two seasons.

Fred J. Hume Award

The Fred J. Hume Award was first presented after the Canucks' inaugural season in 1970–71 and was named after former Mayor of Vancouver Fred J. Hume, who was also owner of the Canucks while they were in the Western Hockey League and an active campaigner to bring the NHL to Vancouver.

Gary Leeman

He attended Notre Dame College in Wilcox, Saskatchewan and was a standout defenceman for two seasons with the WHL's Regina Pats where he was voted the league's Top Defenceman and a First Team All-Star.

Jerry Toppazzini

His rights were then acquired by the Los Angeles Blades of the Western Hockey League in the 1965 Reverse Draft; he initially held out before joining the Blades for the 1966 and 1967 seasons.

Kris Hogg

In addition, Hogg has played for the Kamloops Blazers and Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League and at the University level for the Lakehead University Thunderwolves of Canadian Interuniversity Sport.

Lethbridge

The 6,500-seat facility has hosted concerts, three-ring circuses, multicultural events, national curling championships, basketball events, banquets, skating events and the Lethbridge Hurricanes, a major Western Hockey League franchise.

Marc Habscheid

Marc Joseph Habscheid (born March 1, 1963 in Swift Current, Saskatchewan and raised in Wymark, Saskatchewan) is a former National Hockey League forward and current head coach and general manager of the Victoria Royals of the Western Hockey League.

Patrick Arena

The Cougars transferred to the Western Hockey League (WHL) in 1952 and left Victoria for Los Angeles in 1961.

Punch Imlach

Imlach, Joe Crozier, and Foster Hewitt had become partners in the Vancouver Canucks of the Western Hockey League and were in line to become owners of the Vancouver NHL team.

Russ Rankin

Rankin holds the position of California/Western United States Regional Scout for the Kootenay Ice, a hockey team that competes in the Western Hockey League.

Seattle Center

It also served as the home court of the relocated Seattle SuperSonics and the Seattle Thunderbirds (Western Hockey League) ice hockey.


see also

1925–26 WHL season

The 1925–26 WHL season was the fifth and last season for the now defunct Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL), which was renamed Western Hockey League (WHL) at the start of the season due to one of its Canadian teams, the Regina Capitals, moving to Portland, Oregon in the United States and being renamed the Portland Rosebuds.

Hillary Pattenden

Her grandfather Bob Barlow was the captain of the Vancouver Canucks of the Western Hockey League during the 1968-69 season.