Mountain West Hockey League

Mountain West Hockey League
Mountain West Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Founded2012
First season2012–13
CommissionerThomas Brown
No. of teams9
CountryUnited States
Most recent
champion(s)		NorCal Ice Raiders
(2019)
Most titlesSan Diego Skates
Vail Yeti
NorCal Ice Raiders (2 each)
Official websiteMWHL.net

The Mountain West Hockey League (MWHL) is a Senior ice hockey league consisting of teams from the Western United States.

History

The MWHL was founded in Las Vegas, Nevada by Thomas Brown in 2012. It is a Senior A ice hockey league with clubs spanning the western United States. MWHL clubs are composed of North American and European players with junior, college, and professional experience. The MWHL features two geographic divisions: Sierra and Rocky.

The MWHL regular season runs from November through March. The club with the best record at the end of the regular season is awarded the Commissioner's Cup. The MWHL Cup Playoffs are held in April, culminating in the MWHL Cup Finals. The winner of the MWHL Cup Finals is awarded the MWHL Cup. The league also sponsors the MWHL Classic, a mid-season inter-division game held at a neutral location.

The Park City Pioneers were the first league champion in 2013 defeating the Las Vegas Hookers in the final.

The San Diego Skates became the first repeat champion winning the league championship in 2015 and again in 2016.

Media

The MWHL Network provides news, scores, stats, and features about the league and its clubs via the league website and associated club websites. The MWHL Network also provides live webcast coverage of select games during the regular season and playoffs on its YouTube channel.

Teams

Team City Arena Joined MWHL
Breckenridge Vipers Breckenridge, Colorado Stephen C. West Ice Arena 2015
Mansfield Barracudas Mansfield, Texas Children's Health StarCenter Mansfield 2019
Vegas Jesters Summerlin, Nevada City National Arena 2012
Reno Ice Raiders Reno, Nevada Reno Ice 2015
San Diego Super Hornets San Diego, California UTC Ice 2023
Santa Rosa Growlers Santa Rosa, California Snoopy's Home Ice 2019
Stockton Stampede Stockton, California Oak Park Arena 2020
Texas Titans Dallas, Texas StarCenter Frisco 2018
Utah County Blizzard Provo, Utah Peaks Ice Arena 2016

Former teams

  • Arizona Outlaws (2015-19)
  • Aspen Leafs (2012-14)
  • Breckenridge Brewers (2014-15)
  • Boulder Bison (2015-16)
  • Jackson Hole Moose (2012-14)
  • Las Vegas Hookers (2012-13) - renamed Wolves, Cavalry, Jesters
  • McCall Buccaneers (2012-13)
  • North County Checkers (2017-19)
  • Orange County Checkers (2014-17) - moved and renamed North County Checkers
  • Park City Pioneers (2012-15)[1]
  • Pikes Peak Vigilantes (2015-19)
  • 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)
  • Vail Yeti (2013-19)
  • West Coast Seals (2017-19)

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)
2016-17 NorCal Ice Raiders[6] Vail Yeti Arizona Outlaws 2-0 (best-of 3)
2017-18 San Diego Skates NorCal Ice Raiders Vail Yeti 2-1 (best-of 3)
2018-19 NorCal Ice Raiders[7] NorCal Ice Raiders Breckenridge Vipers 2-0 (best-of 3)
2019-20 none none --- ---

Notable alumni

See also

References

  1. ^ "Pioneers call it quits". Park Record. 23 October 2015.
  2. ^ "Thank you for your support". Vail Daily. 22 May 2014.
  3. ^ "Vail Yeti Schedule". Vail Yeti. 13 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Breck Vipers men's team brings 3rd hockey title to town in 2016". Summit Daily. 16 April 2016.
  5. ^ "Skates Win MWHL Cup". Mountain West Hockey League. 2 May 2016.
  6. ^ "NorCal Ice Raiders to host playoffs April 7-9". Vacaville Reporter. March 21, 2017.
  7. ^ "Vacaville's minor league hockey team ready to host playoffs". Vacaville Reporter. April 2, 2019.