List of ice hockey teams in Alberta

Location of hockey teams in Alberta
  NHL
  WHL
  AJHL

This is a list of ice hockey teams in Alberta. It features the leagues they have played for, and championships won.

Since hockey was introduced to Alberta in the 1890s, teams at all levels have come and gone. While the professional ranks have been confined to the major cities of Calgary and Edmonton, partially due to geographical isolation from the major eastern and pacific coast centres, junior and senior teams have thrived across the province.

Alberta is currently home to two National Hockey League teams, five Western Hockey League teams, the 16 team Alberta Junior Hockey League, as well as five Junior B hockey leagues comprising over 50 teams. The Canadian Women's Hockey League is represented in Alberta, as are teams competing at the senior, university and college ranks.

This list does not include teams below the junior age group, or adult teams below Senior AAA.

Major professional

National Hockey League

The Edmonton Oilers became the first National Hockey League team in Alberta as they were absorbed by the NHL when the WHA folded. The Calgary Flames arrived from Atlanta the following year.

Team City Established Stanley Cups[1] Notes
Calgary Flames Calgary 1980 1 Founded in 1972 as the Atlanta Flames[2]
Edmonton Oilers Edmonton 1979 5 Founded in 1972 as a World Hockey Association franchise[3]

Western Canada Hockey League

The Western Canada Hockey League was the first major-professional league on the prairies. Founded in 1921, it collapsed due to escalating costs in 1926, and was reformed as the Prairie Hockey League from 1926–28.

Team City Existed[4] League titles[4] Notes
Calgary Tigers Calgary 1921–27 2* Appeared in 1924 Stanley Cup championship[1]
Edmonton Eskimos Edmonton 1921–27 1 Appeared in 1923 Stanley Cup championship.[1]

*Includes 1926–27 championship after league was renamed the Prairie Hockey League.[5]

World Hockey Association

The World Hockey Association had envisioned that franchises in Calgary and Edmonton would create an effective rivalry. When the Calgary Broncos were unable to start their inaugural season, the Oilers were briefly renamed the Alberta Oilers with the intention of splitting games between the two cities. This plan also failed to materialize.

Team City Existed Avco Cups[6] Notes
Calgary Broncos Calgary 1972 0 Original WHA franchise, folded before playing first game[7]
Calgary Cowboys Calgary 1975–77 0 Founded in 1972 as the Miami Screaming Eagles[7]
Edmonton Oilers Edmonton 1972–79 0 Known as the Alberta Oilers 1972–73; Joined the National Hockey League in 1979[3]

Minor professional

American Hockey League

The Edmonton Oilers brought their American Hockey League franchise to the Alberta capital during the 2004–05 NHL lockout season. The team was suspended following the resumption of the NHL, and was eventually reformed as the Oklahoma City Barons.

Team City Existed Calder Cups Notes
Edmonton Road Runners Edmonton 2004–05 0 Brought to Edmonton during the 2004–05 NHL lockout.[8]

Western Hockey League

The professional Western Hockey League was formed following a merger with the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Canada Senior Hockey League. Both Alberta franchises lost their amateur status when they joined the new league.

Team City Existed[9] Lester Patrick Cups[10] Notes
Calgary Stampeders Calgary 1951–63 1
Edmonton Flyers Edmonton 1951–63 3

Junior

Western Hockey League

The Major-Junior Western Hockey League was formed in 1966 to strengthen junior hockey in the west. The Calgary Buffaloes were the only expansion team, as the other six founding members defected from existing leagues.

Current teams

Team City Established[11] Ed Chynoweth Cups[12] Memorial Cups[13] Notes[11]
Calgary Hitmen Calgary 1995 2 0
Edmonton Oil Kings Edmonton 2007 2 1
Lethbridge Hurricanes Lethbridge 1987 1 0 Founded in 1967 as the Winnipeg Jets; known as the Calgary Wranglers (1977–87)
Medicine Hat Tigers Medicine Hat 1970 5 2
Red Deer Rebels Red Deer 1992 1 1

Former teams

Team City Existed[11] President's Cups[12] Memorial Cups[13] Notes[11]
Calgary Centennials Calgary 1966–77 0 0 Known as the Buffaloes in 1966–67; became the Billings Bighorns (1977–82), Nanaimo Islanders (1982–83), New Westminster Bruins (1983–88) and Tri-City Americans (1988–present)
Calgary Wranglers Calgary 1977–87 0 0 Founded in 1967 as the Winnipeg Jets; became Lethbridge Hurricanes in 1987
Edmonton Oil Kings Edmonton 1966–76 2 2* Founding pre-dates WHL; became the Portland Winter Hawks in 1976
Edmonton Oil Kings Edmonton 1978–79 0 0 Founded in 1967 as the Flin Flon Bombers; became Great Falls Americans (1979) and Spokane Flyers (1980–81)
Edmonton Ice Edmonton 1996–98 0 0 Became the Kootenay Ice in 1998
Lethbridge Broncos Lethbridge 1974–86 1 0 Founded in 1967 as the Swift Current Broncos; returned to Swift Current in 1986

*The Oil Kings' two Memorial Cups predate the WHL.

Alberta Junior Hockey League

The Junior A Alberta Junior Hockey League was founded to improve the level of junior hockey in Alberta, motivated by the dominance of the Edmonton Oil Kings in the early 1960s.

Team City Established[14] League titles[15] Western Canada Cups[15] Royal Bank Cups[15] Notes[16]
Bonnyville Pontiacs Bonnyville 1991 0 0 0
Brooks Bandits Brooks 2000 2 0 1
Calgary Canucks Calgary 1971 9 2 1
Calgary Mustangs Calgary 1990 1 0 0 Founded in 1972 as The Pass Red Devils; known as the Pincher Creek Panthers (1976–78), the Calgary Chinooks/Spurs (1978–90) and Calgary Royals (1990–2010)
Camrose Kodiaks Camrose 1997 5 5 1
Canmore Eagles Canmore 1995 0 0 0 Known as the Bow Valley Eagles (1995–01)
Drayton Valley Thunder Drayton Valley 1998 1 0 0
Drumheller Dragons Drumheller 2003 0 0 0
Fort McMurray Oil Barons Fort McMurray 1981 3 1 1
Grande Prairie Storm Grande Prairie 1995 1 0 0
Lloydminster Bobcats Lloydminster 1982 0 0 0 Known as the Lloydminster Blazers (1988–05). The team's arena lies one block on the Saskatchewan side of the biprovincial city.
Okotoks Oilers Okotoks 2005 0 0 0 Founded in 1998 as the Crowsnest Pass Timberwolves
Olds Grizzlys Olds 1981 3 1 1 Founded in 1974 as the Taber Golden Suns
Sherwood Park Crusaders Sherwood Park 1978 0 0 0 Founded in 1976 as the Edmonton Crusaders
Spruce Grove Saints Spruce Grove 2004 1 0 0 Founded in 1963 as the Edmonton Movers; known as the Spruce Grove Mets (1974–77) and St. Albert Saints (1977–04)
Whitecourt Wolverines Whitecourt 2012 0 0 0 Founded in 1976 as the Fort Saskatchewan Traders; known as the St. Albert Steel (2007–12)[17]

Junior B hockey leagues

League Region Established Provincial titles[18] Keystone Cup titles[19] Notes
Calgary Junior Hockey League Calgary 1945 4 1 8 teams
Capital Junior Hockey League Edmonton region 1972? 17 2 15 teams
Heritage Junior B Hockey League Southern Alberta 1987 3 1 15 teams
North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League Northeast Alberta Unknown 5 2 9 teams
Northwest Junior Hockey League Peace River Country Unknown 1 0 7 teams (5 in Alberta)

Junior C hockey leagues

League Region Established Provincial Titles Notes
Calgary Junior C Hockey League Calgary Unknown N/A
Noralta Junior Hockey League Edmonton region Unknown N/A

Junior female

The Alberta Junior Female Hockey League was founded in 2009 to promote female junior hockey for players aged 18–21 in Alberta. The league has grown from its original 6 team to 10 teams throughout the province.

Team City Established Titles Notes
Banff Academy Bears Banff 2012 0 The Banff Academy Bears played in the AJFHL until the end of the 2013/14 season as a conditional team as they were a midget academy team.
Calgary Titans Calgary 2010 0
Calgary Warriors Calgary 2012 0
Central Alberta Amazons Red Deer 2009 1
Cremona/Mountain View Hurricanes Cremona/Mountain View 2010 0 Folded in 2012 due a lack of players
Edmonton Wolves Edmonton 2009 2
Fort Saskatchewan Fury Fort Saskatchewan 2009 1
Irma Chargers Irma 2009 0
Lethbridge Jr. Eagles Lethbridge 2012 1
Medicine Hat Hockey Hounds Medicine Hat 2012 0
Sherwood Park Steele Sherwood Park 2009 0
Spruce Grove Stars Spruce Grove 2009 0 Moved to Thorsby in 2011
Thorsby Thunder Thorsby 2011 * 0 Originally founded as the Spruce Grove Stars, moved to Thorsby in 2011
Wainwright Wainwright 2009 0

Semi-professional, senior and amateur

Canadian Women's Hockey League

Both of Alberta's elite women's teams were invited to join the National Women's Hockey League in 2002. In 2004, they broke away to form the Western Women's Hockey League due to the lack of competition in the west. They returned to the NWHL fold in 2006 following a merger between the two leagues. However, due to circumstances arising over scheduling between the WWHL and the NWHL, the merger was never officially consummated. This coupled with the collapse of the NWHL in 2007, left the Oval X-Treme and Chimos as members of the WWHL. The league announced on April 19, 2011, that it would merge with the Canadian Women's Hockey League for the 2011-12 season. The merger will feature one team based in Edmonton and Calgary and is a combination of the former WWHL franchises the Edmonton Chimos and Strathmore Rockies. The team will play their games in various locations around Alberta. In August 2011, the WWHL announced that there in fact had not been a merger and that the WWHL would continue to compete against the CWHL.[20]

Current teams

Team City Established NWHL/WWHL/CWHL titles Notes
Calgary Inferno Calgary 2011 0 Known as Team Alberta from 2011 to 2013.

Defunct teams

Team City Established NWHL/WWHL/CWHL titles Notes
Calgary Oval X-Treme Calgary 2002–10 5 Members of the NWHL 2002–04; 2006-07[21]
Club originally founded in 1995 and joined the NWHL in 2002.
Edmonton Chimos Edmonton 2002–11 0 Members of the NWHL 2002–04; 2006-07[22]
Club originally founded in 1973 and joined the NWHL in 2002.
Strathmore Rockies Strathmore 2006–11 0 Members of the NWHL 2006-07[23]

Senior

Several teams from Alberta have gone on to capture the Allan Cup, Canada's national senior championship.

Team City Existence Allan Cups[24] Notes
Calgary Stampeders Calgary 1938–51 1 Turned professional in 1951 by joining the WPHL[25]
Drumheller Miners Drumheller 1936–39, 1960s 1 [26]
Edmonton Flyers Edmonton 1941–51 1 Turned professional in 1951 by joining the WPHL[27]
Edmonton Mercurys Edmonton Unknown -- Won 1950 World Hockey Championship and 1952 Olympic gold medal[28]
Lloydminster Border Kings Lloydminster unknown-present 1 Member of the Wild Goose Hockey League[29]
Stony Plain Eagles Stony Plain 1930s–present 1 Member of the Chinook Hockey League[30]
Nanton Palominos Nanton 1930s–present 0 Member of the Ranchland Hockey League[31]

University

The Canada West Universities Athletic Association was founded in 1919, representing schools across Western Canada.

Team City Established Conference titles[32][33][34] University Cups[35] Women's Titles[36] Notes
Alberta Golden Bears Edmonton 1913 46 13 7
Calgary Dinos Calgary 1964 8 0 0 Women's Hockey team played in ACAC from 2002–03 to 2008–09
Lethbridge Pronghorns Lethbridge 1980 1 1 0

College

The Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference organizes sport at the collegiate level.

Team City Established ACAC men's titles[37] CCAA men's national titles[37] ACAC women's titles[38] Notes
Augustana Vikings Camrose 1971 1 1 N/A Does not play ACAC women's hockey, only men's
Calgary Dinos Calgary Unknown N/A N/A 1 Women's Hockey team played in ACAC from 2002–03 to 2008–09
Concordia Thunder Edmonton 1992 1 0 0
MacEwan Gryphons Edmonton 1998 1 0 1
Mount Royal Cougars Calgary 1968 11 4 4
NAIT Ooks Edmonton 1965 13 7 0
Portage Voyageurs Lac La Biche 2008 0 0 N/A Does not play ACAC women's hockey, only men's
Red Deer Queens Red Deer Unknown N/A N/A 2 Does not play ACAC men's hockey, only women's
SAIT Trojans Calgary 1965 9 2 2

League, regional and national championships

Teams from Alberta have captured titles at all levels of hockey.

Championship Times won Description
Stanley Cup 6 National Hockey League champion[1]
WCHL Championship 3† Western Canada Hockey League champion[4]
Lester Patrick Cup 4 Western Hockey League (minor pro) champion[10]
President's Cup 11 Western Hockey League champion[12]
Memorial Cup 6 Canadian Major-Junior national champion[13]
Allan Cup 4‡ Canadian senior national champion[24]
Doyle Cup 24 Alberta/B.C. Junior "A" regional championship[15]
Royal Bank Cup 7 Canadian Junior "A" national champion[15]
Keystone Cup 8 Western Canada Junior "B" champion[19]
NWHL Championship Cup 2 National Women's Hockey League championship[21]
WWHL Championship Cup 3 Western Women's Hockey League championship[21]
University Cup 14 CIS national men's university champion[35]
CIS Women's Championship 7 CIS national women's university champion[36]
CCHA Championship 14 CCAA national college champion[37]
†Includes Calgary's 1926-27 title after league renamed itself the Prairie Hockey League
‡Does not include win by Lloydminster Border Kings as team is primarily based in Saskatchewan

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Stanley Cup Champions and Finalists". nhl.com. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
  2. ↑ 2006–07 Calgary Flamed Media Guide. Calgary Flames. 2006. pp. 4–5.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Edmonton Oilers - History". CBS Sportsline. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Western Canada Hockey League (1921-25)". hockeyleaguehistory.com. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
  5. ↑ "Prairie Hockey League (1926–28)". hockeyleaguehistory.com. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
  6. ↑ "Avco World Trophy". legendsofhockey.net. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Calgary Cowboys—Those Brawlin’ Broncos". Edmonton Oilers Heritage. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
  8. ↑ "Edmonton Roadrunners (AHL)". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
  9. ↑ "Teams of the WHL/PCHL". The old Western Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2005-12-14. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Lester Patrick Cup". legendsofhockey.net. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 2006-07 WHL Guide. Western Hockey League. pp. 41–136.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 2006-07 WHL Guide. Western Hockey League. p. 149.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Memorial Cup winners". chl.ca. Archived from the original on 2006-10-13. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
  14. ↑ "hockeydb team search (search for league "AJHL")". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 AJHL Annual Guide & Record Book. Alberta Junior Hockey League. pp. 69–70.
  16. ↑ "History of the Alberta Junior Hockey League". ajhl.ca. Retrieved 2006-12-23.
  17. ↑ "AJHL Moving to Whitecourt, Alberta". Alberta Junior Hockey League. 2012-05-02. Retrieved 2012-05-03.
  18. ↑ "HJHL history". Red Deer Vipers hockey club. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Keystone Cup champions". Rauzulu's Street. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
  20. ↑ Chimos Part of Merger With CWHL
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 "Calgary Oval X-Treme excited for new National league". Calgary Oval-Xtreme Hockey Club. Retrieved 2006-12-12.
  22. ↑ "The Edmonton Chimos". Edmonton Chimos Hockey Club. Retrieved 2006-12-12.
  23. ↑ "The Strathmore Rockies". Strathmore Rockies Hockey Club. Retrieved 2006-12-12.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Past winners of the Allan Cup". allancup.ca. Retrieved 2006-12-12.
  25. ↑ "hockeydb team search (search for team name "Stampeders")". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
  26. ↑ "hockeydb team search (search for team name "Miners")". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
  27. ↑ "hockeydb team search (search for team name "Flyers")". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
  28. ↑ "Edmonton Mercurys". thecanadianencyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
  29. ↑ "Lloydminster Border Kings win Allan Cup". cbc.ca. 2001-04-14. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
  30. ↑ "The Eagles". Stony Plain Eagles Hockey Club. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
  31. ↑ "Pals". Nanton Palominos Hockey Club. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
  32. ↑ "Golden Bears Ice Hockey History" (pdf). bears.ualberta.ca. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  33. ↑ "Dinos Hockey Program". godinos.com. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  34. ↑ "Canada West Winter Championship History" (pdf). canadawest.org. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 "CIS Winter Championship History" (pdf). canadawest.org. Retrieved 2006-12-12.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 "2007-08 CIS Women's Hockey Media Guide And Almanac" (pdf). cisport.ca. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 "Men's hockey champions". ACAC. Retrieved 2006-12-12.
  38. ↑ "Women's hockey champions". ACAC. Retrieved 2008-03-10.