Mountain West Hockey League
|
Mountain West Hockey League | |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2012 |
| Inaugural season | 2012–13 |
| Commissioner | Thomas Brown |
| No. of teams | 10 |
| Country | United States |
| Most recent champion(s) | San Diego Skates (2016) |
| Most titles | San Diego Skates (2) |
| Official website | MWHL.net |
The Mountain West Hockey League (MWHL) is a Senior ice hockey league consisting of teams from the Western United States.
History
The league was founded in 2012. MWHL teams are composed of North American and European players with junior, college, and professional experience. MWHL teams play a schedule that runs from November through March. The top four teams participate in the MWHL Cup Championship playoffs in April. The league also sponsors the MWHL Classic, a mid-season inter-division game held in Las Vegas.
Park City Pioneers were the first league champion in 2013 defeating the Las Vegas Hookers in the final.
San Diego Skates became the first repeat champion winning the league championship in 2015 and again in 2016.
Teams
| Team | City | Arena | Joined MWHL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Outlaws | Phoenix, Arizona | AZ Ice | 2015 |
| Boulder Bison | Boulder, Colorado | Sport Stable | 2015 |
| Breckenridge Vipers | Breckenridge, Colorado | Stephen C. West Ice Arena | 2015 |
| Las Vegas Wolves | Las Vegas, Nevada | Sobe Ice Arena | 2012 |
| NorCal Ice Raiders | Vacaville, California | Vacaville Ice Arena | 2015 |
| Orange County Checkers | Anaheim, California | Anaheim Ice - Lakes | 2014 |
| PIkes Peak Vigilantes | Denver, Colorado | Joy Burns Ice Arena | 2015 |
| San Diego Skates | San Diego, California | Ice-Plex Escondido | 2013 |
| Utah Spiders | Park City, Utah | Park City Ice Arena | 2016 |
| Vail Yeti | Vail, Colorado | Dobson Arena | 2013 |
Former teams
- Aspen Leafs (2012-14)
- Breckenridge Brewers (2014-15)
- Jackson Hole Moose (2012-14)
- Las Vegas Hookers (2012-13) - renamed Wolves
- McCall Buccaneers (2012-13)
- Park City Pioneers (2012-15)[1]
- Salt Lake City Ice Wolves (2013-15) - sold and relocated to Oakland; renamed Ice Raiders.
- Salt Lake City Rebels/Golden Eagles (2012-14)
- Sun Valley Suns (2013-14)
- Utah Buccaneers (2015-16)
Champions
| Season | Commissioners' Cup
(regular season) |
MWHL Cup
(playoff champion) |
Playoff
Runner-up |
Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-13 | Las Vegas Hookers | Park City Pioneers | Las Vegas Hookers | |
| 2013-14 | Vail Yeti | Vail Yeti[2] | Las Vegas Wolves | 7-4[3] |
| 2014-15 | San Diego Skates | San Diego Skates | ||
| 2015-16 | Breckenridge Vipers[4] | San Diego Skates[5] | Breckenridge Vipers | 2-1 (best-of 3) |
Notable alumni
- Mark Adamek, Park City Pioneers - Utah Grizzlies (ECHL)
- Mike Adamek, Park City Pioneers - Utah Grizzlies (ECHL)
- Zack Hale, Park City Pioneers - Watertown Privateers (FHL)
- Jeff Hazelwood, Las Vegas Hookers - Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL)
- Ben Wilner, Park City Pioneers - Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL)
See also
- List of ice hockey leagues
- Federal Hockey League
- Southern Professional Hockey League
- Great Lakes Hockey League
References
- ↑ "Pioneers call it quits". Park Record. 23 October 2015.
- ↑ "Thank you for your support". Vail Daily. 22 May 2014.
- ↑ "Vail Yeti Schedule". Vail Yeti. 13 April 2014.
- ↑ "Breck Vipers men's team brings 3rd hockey title to town in 2016". Summit Daily. 16 April 2016.
- ↑ "Skates Win MWHL Cup". Mountain West Hockey League. 2 May 2016.