United States Hockey League

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United States Hockey League
Current season or competition:
2013–14 USHL Season
Sport Ice Hockey
Founded 1947
Commissioner Ellis T. "Skip" Prince
No. of teams 16
Country USA
Most recent champion(s) Dubuque Fighting Saints
Most titles (overall) Waterloo Black Hawks (9)
(Clark Cup era) Omaha Lancers (7)
Official website www.ushl.com

The United States Hockey League (USHL) is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger. The USHL is strictly amateur, allowing former USHL players to compete in NCAA college hockey.

The Dubuque Fighting Saints won the 2012–2013 Clark Cup Championship, defeating the Western Conference Champion Fargo Force 3 games to 0 in overtime at the Scheel's Arena in Fargo, North Dakota. The Dubuque Fighting Saints also won the Anderson Cup as the 2012-2013 regular season champions.

Operations

The United States Hockey League (USHL) is the country's top junior hockey league, classified as Tier I. Like comparable entities such as the Canadian Hockey League (CHL)'s three member leagues, the USHL offers a schedule of high-level, competitive games for top players aged 16 to 20. Unlike the CHL it does not pay a stipend to its players, who thus retain amateur status and are eligible to play in the NCAA.[1]

USHL teams, which are typically located in mid-sized cities (see map of team locations), pay for all uniforms and equipment. Players live with local families, who receive a small stipend for food expenses, and either continue school or work part-time jobs. Due to their schedules more than 90% of games are on weekends, which many NHL and college scouts attend. As of 2007 average attendance for games was about 3,000.[ 1]

One hockey analyst stated that the USHL's first line players are as good as their counterparts in the CHL—historically an important producer of NHL players—but that the Canadian league has better third and fourth lines. In 2006, 155 USHL players committed to NCAA Division I hockey teams, while Trevor Lewis, the 17th pick in the NHL Entry Draft, was the first USHL player to sign an NHL contract immediately after playing in the league.[ 1]

Teams

Current USHL team locations (Eastern Conference teams in red; Western Conference teams in blue)
Eastern Conference
Team Founded Arena City
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders 1999 Cedar Rapids Ice Arena Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Chicago Steel 2000 Edge Ice Arena Bensenville, Illinois
Dubuque Fighting Saints 2010 Mystique Ice Center Dubuque, Iowa
Green Bay Gamblers 1994 Resch Center Green Bay, Wisconsin
Indiana Ice 2004 Bankers Life Fieldhouse Indianapolis, Indiana
Muskegon Lumberjacks 2010 L. C. Walker Arena Muskegon, Michigan
USA Hockey National Team Development Program 1996 Ann Arbor Ice Cube Ann Arbor, Michigan
Youngstown Phantoms 2003 Covelli Centre Youngstown, Ohio
Western Conference
Team Founded Arena City
Des Moines Buccaneers 1980 Buccaneer Arena Urbandale, Iowa
Fargo Force 2008 Scheels Arena Fargo, North Dakota
Lincoln Stars 1996 Ice Box Lincoln, Nebraska
Omaha Lancers 1986 Ralston Arena Omaha, Nebraska
Sioux City Musketeers 1972 Gateway Arena Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux Falls Stampede 1999 Sioux Falls Arena Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Tri-City Storm 2000 Viaero Event Center Kearney, Nebraska
Waterloo Black Hawks 1962 Young Arena Waterloo, Iowa
2014-15 Expansion
Team Founded Arena City
Madison Capitols 2014 Alliant Energy Center Madison, Wisconsin

History

Precursors to this league were:

American Amateur Hockey League

The United States Hockey League was established as the American Amateur Hockey League in 1947 and began play for the 1947-48 season. When the league began operations it had five teams in and around the twin cities arena along with a team in Rochester. The league was made up three clubs from St. Paul which were 7-Up, Koppy's and Tally's. Two from Minneapolis Jersey's and Bermans. Along with a team from Rochester called the Rochester Mustangs. After the 1947-48 season the St. Paul Tally's dropped out of the league and left the five remaining members to make up the league for the 1948-49 and 1949-50 seasons. For the 1950-51 season the St. Paul 7-Up and St. Paul Koppy's merged and became St. Paul 7-Up/Koppy's. The Minneapoils Bermans dropped out of the league and new team called the Twin City Fords were added to give the American Amateur Hockey League four teams for 1950-51 season. The Rochester Mustangs were the only club to returned for the fifth and final season of the American Amateur Hockey League in 1951-52. Gone were the St. Paul 7-Up/Koppy's, Twin City Fords and the Minneapolis Jerseys. Replaced by the St. Paul Saints, Hibbing Flyers, Minneapolis Millers, Eveleth Rangers and the first club based outside of the state of Minnesota the Sioux City Iowa Sunhawks. Which gave the league six clubs for 1951-52.

Central Hockey League

The American Amateur Hockey League was renamed the Central Hockey League for the 1952-53 season. Only five of the clubs who had made up the American Amateur Hockey League for 1951-52 season returned. Those clubs were the Rochester Mustangs, St. Paul Saints, Minneapolis Millers, Hibbing Flyers and the now called Eveleth-Virginia Rangers. Gone were the Sioux City Sunhawks.

Minnesota Hockey League

After a year as the Central Hockey League the league was renamed the Minnesota Hockey League and would be called this for the 1953-54 and 1954-55 seasons. Only two teams who had made up the Central Hockey League returned to make up the Minnesota Hockey League for the 1953-54 season. Those teams were the Rochester Mustangs and the Hibbing Flyers. Gone were the St. Paul Saints. Minneapolis Millers and the Eveleth-Virginia Rangers. The Grand Forks Red Wings were added and gave the league three teams for 1953-54 season. The Rochester Mustangs were the only team to return for the second and final season of the Minnesota Hockey League. Gone were Hibbing and Grand Forks. The league added two teams in Minneapolis called the Culbersons and Bungalows and a team in St. Paul called the Saints to give the league four teams for 1954-55.

United States Central Hockey League

After two seasons as the Minnesota Hockey League the league became the United States Central Hockey League and would be called this for five years 1956 to 1960. Only three of the four teams who had made up the Minnesota Hockey League for the 1954-55 season returned. those teams were the Rochester Mustangs along with both Minneapolis clubs the Culbersons and the Bungalows. Gone were the St. Paul Saints who replaced by a team called the St. Paul Peters. These four clubs would make up the USCHL for the 1955-56 and 1956-57 seasons. For the 1957-58 season the St Paul Peters were replaced by a team called St. Paul K.S.T.P. The Rochester Mustangs were the only team to return for the 1958-59 season. Gone were St. Paul K.S.T.P along with both Minneapolis clubs the Culbersons and the Bungalows. The league returned to four teams when it replaced these clubs with the St. Paul Capitols, Minneapolis Millers and the Des Moines Ice Hawks, marking the league's return to Iowa. For the fifth and final season of the USCHL the St Paul Capitols dropped out and the league expanded to five teams and into new territory with a team in Michigan with the addition of the Marquette Sentinals and Wisconsin with the addition of the Green Bay Bobcats.

1961–79

The United States Hockey League (USHL) operated as a senior ice hockey league 1961 to 1979.[2]

The USHL welcomed the first female professional hockey player in 1969–70, when the Marquette Iron Rangers signed Karen Koch.[3]

By the late 1970s, the USHL had fallen on hard times. In the summer of 1977, clubs from the recently folded Midwest Junior Hockey League contacted the USHL. A unique merger was formed, with the three junior teams (Bloomington Junior Stars, Austin Mavericks, St. Paul Vulcans) and three remaining pro teams (Sioux City Musketeers, Waterloo Black Hawks, Green Bay Bobcats) gathered under the USHL banner. League governors decided on a two-division format, with the junior-aged teams in the Midwest Division and the professionals in the U.S. Division. The teams played an interlocking schedule that was, predictably, dominated by the professionals. The USHL's split existence would last just two seasons. The minor-pro wing of the league folded following the 1978–79 season, providing junior hockey operators with the opportunity to redefine the circuit. The 1979–80 season was the league's first as an entirely junior arrangement.[4]

The league's last season as a senior hockey league was 1978–79. During this final season the league comprised seven teams in two conferences. The U.S. Conference (with the Green Bay Bobcats, the Sioux City Musketeers and the Waterloo Black Hawks); while the Midwest Conference (with the Anoka Nordiques, the Austin Mavericks, the Bloomington Junior Stars, and the St. Paul Vulcans. All seven teams were made up with players categorized as "Senior Amateur".[5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Following the 1978–79 season the senior league teams in the U.S. Conference folded and the USHL became an all-junior league the following season.[12]

Teams

Team City Years
Anoka Nordiques Anoka, Minnesota 1978–79
Austin Mavericks Austin, Minnesota 1977–79
Bloomington Junior Stars Bloomington, Minnesota 1977–79
Calumet-Houghton Chiefs Calumet Township, Michigan 1972–73
Central Wisconsin Flyers Stevens Point, Wisconsin 1974–76
Chicago Warriors Chicago, Illinois 1972–75
Copper-Country Chiefs Calumet, Michigan 1974–76
Copper-Country Islanders Calumet, Michigan 1973–74
Des Moines Oak Leafs Urbandale, Iowa 1968–69
Duluth Port Stars Duluth, Minnesota 1968–69 (Duluth dropped out of league on December 30, 1968)[13]
Fox Valley Astros Dundee, Illinois[14] 1965–66
Grand Rapids Blades Grand Rapids, Michigan 1976–77
Grand Rapids Bruins Grand Rapids, Minnesota 1968–69
Green Bay Bobcats Green Bay, Wisconsin 1961–79
Madison Blues Madison, Wisconsin 1973–74 (transferred to CHL)
Marquette Iron Rangers Marquette, Michigan 1964–76
Milwaukee Admirals Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1973–77 (transferred to IHL)
Milwaukee Metros Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1961–62 (Milwaukee folded Jan 16, 1962, due to financial trouble)[15]
Minneapolis Rebels Minneapolis, Minnesota 1961–62
Minnesota Nationals Saint Paul, Minnesota 1967–68 (U.S. 1968 Olympic team[16])
Rochester Mustangs Rochester, Minnesota 1961–70
Sault Ste. Marie Canadians Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario 1968–72
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario 1972–73
Sioux City Musketeers Sioux City, Iowa 1972–79
St. Paul Steers Saint Paul, Minnesota 1962–66
Thunder Bay Twins Thunder Bay, Ontario 1970–75 (transferred to OHA)
Traverse City Bays Traverse City, Michigan 1975–77
U.S. Nationals Saint Paul, Minnesota 1966–67
Waterloo Black Hawks Waterloo, Iowa 1962–69, 1970–79

1979 – present

Defunct junior teams

Team City Years
Austin Mavericks Austin, Minnesota 1977–1985
Danville Wings Danville, Illinois 2003–2004
Dubuque Fighting Saints Dubuque, Iowa 1980–2001
Fargo-Moorhead Bears Fargo, North Dakota 1995–1996
Fargo-Moorhead Ice Sharks Fargo, North Dakota 1996–2000
Green Bay Bobcats Green Bay, Wisconsin 1958–1981
Hennepin Nordiques Minneapolis, Minnesota 1979–1980
Minneapolis Stars Minneapolis/Bloomington, Minnesota 1977–1985
North Iowa Huskies Mason City, Iowa 1983–1999
Ohio Junior Blue Jackets Columbus, Ohio 2006–2008
Rochester Mustangs Rochester, Minnesota 1985–2002
St. Louis Heartland Eagles Chesterfield, Missouri 2003–2004
Twin Cities/St. Paul Vulcans[17] St. Paul/Bloomington, Minnesota 1977–2000
Thunder Bay Flyers Thunder Bay, Ontario 1984–2000
Topeka ScareCrows Topeka, Kansas 2001–2003
Tulsa Crude Tulsa, Oklahoma 2001–2002
Madison/Wisconsin Capitols Madison, Wisconsin 1984–1995

Timeline of junior league teams

  • 1979–80 The USHL becomes an all-junior league with seven teams in two divisions. North Division: Hennepin Nordiques, Bloomington Jr. Stars, Green Bay Bobcats, and St. Paul Vulcans. South Division: Austin Mavericks, Sioux City Musketeers, and Waterloo Black Hawks.
  • 1980–81 Des Moines Buccaneers enter the league. Waterloo Black Hawks move to Dubuque and become the Fighting Saints. Hennepin Nordiques move to Waterloo and become the Black Hawks. North Division: Austin, Bloomington, Green Bay, and St. Paul. South Division: Des Moines, Dubuque, Sioux City, and Waterloo.
  • 1981–82 Green Bay folds. The remaining seven teams merge into one division.
  • 1983–84 North Iowa Huskies enter league.
  • 1984–85 Madison Capitols and Thunder Bay Flyers enter league. Bloomington changes name to Minneapolis Stars.
  • 1985–86 Minneapolis folds. Austin relocates to Rochester and renamed Mustangs.
  • 1986–87 Omaha Lancers enter league.
  • 1991–92 Madison changes name to Wisconsin Capitols.
  • 1994–95 Green Bay Gamblers enter league.
  • 1995–96 Wisconsin folds. Fargo-Moorhead Bears enter league. St. Paul changes name to Twin Cities Vulcans.
  • 1996–97 Fargo-Moorhead Bears disband. Fargo-Moorhead Ice Sharks enter league. Lincoln Stars enter league. League returns to divisional play. North Division: Fargo-Moorhead, Green Bay, North Iowa, Rochester, Thunder Bay, Twin Cities. South Division: Des Moines, Dubuque, Lincoln, Omaha, Sioux City, Waterloo.
  • 1997–98 USA Hockey National Team Development Program plays 24-game schedule in the USHL.
  • 1998–99 USHL agrees to play full-season schedule with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program as part of a two-year agreement. League moves to three-division format. East Division: Dubuque, Green Bay, Team USA, and Waterloo. Central Division: Des Moines, North Iowa, Rochester, Thunder Bay, and Twin Cities. West Division: Fargo-Moorhead, Lincoln, Omaha, and Sioux City.
  • 1999-00 Sioux Falls Stampede enters league. North Iowa relocates to Cedar Rapids and renamed the RoughRiders. League moves to two-division format. West Division: Des Moines, Fargo-Moorhead, Lincoln, Omaha, Sioux City, Sioux Falls, Twin Cities. East Division: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Green Bay, Rochester, Thunder Bay, USA Development, Waterloo.
  • 2000–01 Thunder Bay ceases operations. Fargo-Moorhead moves to Bensenville, IL and becomes the Chicago Steel. Twin Cities relocates to Kearney, NE and is renamed the Tri-City Storm. Team USA plays 34-game league schedule.
  • 2001–02 Dubuque Fighting Saints relocate to Tulsa, Oklahoma and become the Tulsa Crude. Topeka, KS gains an expansion team called the Topeka ScareCrows.
  • 2002–03 Rochester ceases operations. Tulsa ceases operations. Omaha relocates to Council Bluffs, Ia., and changes its name to the River City Lancers.
  • 2003–04 Danville Wings enter the league. Topeka moves to St. Louis and becomes the Heartland Eagles.
  • 2004–05 Danville moves to Indianapolis and becomes the Indiana Ice. St. Louis suspends operations.
  • 2005–06 River City Lancers change name back to Omaha Lancers.
  • 2006–07 Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets join the league after purchasing the membership of the former Thunder Bay Flyers.
  • 2007–08 Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets cease operations at the conclusion of the season.
  • 2008–09 Fargo Force join the league.
  • 2009–10 United States National Development Team (Team USA) rejoins league as fully competitive member. Youngstown Phantoms expansion team added. Omaha Lancers relocate back to Omaha, Ne.
  • 2010–11 Dubuque Fighting Saints rejoin league and Muskegon Lumberjacks join league as expansion team in the Eastern Division.
  • 2011–12 Division realignment with Dubuque moving to East and Waterloo moving to the West.
  • 2013 USHL announced on August 5 that a franchise would start play in 2014-15 in Madison, WI.[18] The team name was announced as the Madison Capitols.[19]

Awards

Main article: List of USHL award winners

Semi-Pro Season Champions

Year Team
1961–62 Rochester Mustangs
1962–63 Green Bay Bobcats
1963–64 Waterloo Black Hawks
1964–65 Waterloo Black Hawks
1965–66 Waterloo Black Hawks
1966–67 Waterloo Black Hawks
1967–68 Waterloo Black Hawks
1968–69 Marquette Iron Rangers
1969–70 Marquette Iron Rangers
1970–71 Marquette Iron Rangers
1971–72 Green Bay Bobcats
1972–73 Thunder Bay Twins
1973–74 Thunder Bay Twins
1974–75 Waterloo Black Hawks
1975–76 Milwaukee Admirals
1976–77 Grand Rapids Blades
1977–78 Waterloo Black Hawks
1978–79 Waterloo Black Hawks

Anderson Cup Champions

Year Team
1979–80 Hennepin Nordiques
1980–81 Dubuque Fighting Saints
1981–82 Sioux City Musketeers
1982–83 Dubuque Fighting Saints
1983–84 St. Paul Vulcans
1984–85 Austin Mavericks
1985–86 Sioux City Musketeers
1986–87 Rochester Mustangs
1987–88 Thunder Bay Flyers
1988–89 Thunder Bay Flyers
1989–90 Omaha Lancers
1990–91 Thunder Bay Flyers
1991–92 Thunder Bay Flyers
1992–93 Omaha Lancers
1993–94 Des Moines Buccaneers
1994–95 Des Moines Buccaneers
1995–96 Green Bay Gamblers
1996–97 Green Bay Gamblers
1997–98 Des Moines Buccaneers
1998–99 Des Moines Buccaneers
1999-00 Lincoln Stars
2000–01 Lincoln Stars
2001–02 Omaha Lancers
2002–03 Lincoln Stars
2003–04 Tri-City Storm
2004–05 Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
Omaha Lancers
2005–06 Sioux Falls Stampede
2006–07 Waterloo Black Hawks
2007–08 Omaha Lancers
2008–09 Green Bay Gamblers
2009–10 Green Bay Gamblers
2010–11 Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
2011–12 Green Bay Gamblers
2012–13 Dubuque Fighting Saints

Clark Cup Champions

Year Team
1979–80 Hennepin Nordiques
1980–81 Dubuque Fighting Saints
1981–82 Sioux City Musketeers
1982–83 Dubuque Fighting Saints
1983–84 St. Paul Vulcans
1984–85 Dubuque Fighting Saints
1985–86 Sioux City Musketeers
1986–87 Rochester Mustangs
1987–88 Thunder Bay Flyers
1988–89 Thunder Bay Flyers
1989–90 Omaha Lancers
1990–91 Omaha Lancers
1991–92 Des Moines Buccaneers
1992–93 Omaha Lancers
1993–94 Omaha Lancers
1994–95 Des Moines Buccaneers
1995–96 Green Bay Gamblers
1996–97 Lincoln Stars
1997–98 Omaha Lancers
1998–99 Des Moines Buccaneers
1999-00 Green Bay Gamblers
2000–01 Omaha Lancers
2001–02 Sioux City Musketeers
2002–03 Lincoln Stars
2003–04 Waterloo Black Hawks
2004–05 Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
2005–06 Des Moines Buccaneers
2006–07 Sioux Falls Stampede
2007–08 Omaha Lancers
2008–09 Indiana Ice
2009–10 Green Bay Gamblers
2010–11 Dubuque Fighting Saints
2011-12 Green Bay Gamblers
2012–13 Dubuque Fighting Saints

Alumni

League records

Team

Individual

  • Most points in a season – 135 by Tim Ferguson of Sioux City Musketeers in 1985–86 season.
  • Most goals in a season – 67 by Rod Taylor of Sioux City Musketeers in 1985–86 season.
  • Most assists in a season – 79 by Tim Ferguson of Sioux City Musketeers in 1985–86 season.
  • Most PIMs in a season – 316 by Chad Stauffacher of Green Bay Gamblers in 1996–97 season.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Allen, Kevin (February 6, 2007). "Youngsters hoping to realize hockey dreams". USA Today. Retrieved March 24, 2012. 
  2. ↑ United States Hockey League [USHL] seasons at. Hockeydb.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  3. ↑ www.marquetteironrangers.com. www.marquetteironrangers.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ Sioux City Musketeers hockey team of the USHL at. Hockeydb.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  6. ↑ Green Bay Bobcats hockey team of the USHL at. Hockeydb.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  7. ↑ Anoka Nordiques hockey team of the USHL at. Hockeydb.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  8. ↑ Waterloo Black Hawks hockey team of the USHL at. Hockeydb.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  9. ↑ Austin Mavericks hockey team of the USHL at. Hockeydb.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  10. ↑ Bloomington Junior Stars hockey team of the USHL at. Hockeydb.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  11. ↑ St. Paul Vulcans hockey team of the USHL at. Hockeydb.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  12. ↑ 1978–79 United States Hockey League [USHL] standings at. Hockeydb.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  13. ↑ 1968–69 United States Hockey League [USHL] standings at. Hockeydb.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  14. ↑ Santa's Village by Phillip L. Wenz, Published by Arcadia Publishing, 2007 ISBN 0-7385-4149-4, ISBN 978-0-7385-4149-5
  15. ↑ 1961–62 United States Hockey League [USHL] standings at. Hockeydb.com (January 16, 1962). Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  16. ↑ http://www.murraywilliamson.org/Pages/1968.aspx
  17. ↑ St Paul Vulcans Hockey History. Vintageminnesotahockey.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  18. ↑ http://www.ushl.com/news.php?news_id=1899
  19. ↑ http://www.ushl.com/news.php?news_id=2148
  • USHL 2006–07 Media Guide

External links

East Division
West Division
Junior ice hockey leagues in North America
Canada
Major Junior
Junior A
Junior B
Junior C
Independent
United States
Tier I
Tier II
Tier III
Independent
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