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 started playing in 1995 with the following teams:

• Alaska Gold Kings
• Anchorage Aces
• Bakersfield Fog
• Fresno Falcons
• Reno Renegades
• San Diego Gulls

The teams played for the Taylor Cup, named for the founder of the league, who also owned 3 of the 6 teams (Bakersfield, Fresno, Reno).

The winners of the Taylor Cup were:

• 1995–1996 - San Diego Gulls
• 1996–1997 - San Diego Gulls
• 1997–1998 - San Diego Gulls
• 1998–1999 - Tacoma Sabercats
• 1999–2000 - Phoenix Mustangs
• 2000–2001 - San Diego Gulls
• 2001–2002 - Fresno Falcons
• 2002–2003 - San Diego Gulls

The teams that were part of the West Coast Hockey League were (in alphabetical order)

• 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 (1997–1999)

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 Deigo) 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.