The International Hockey League (IHL) was a minor professional ice hockey league in the United States and Canada that operated from 1945 to 2001. The IHL served as the National Hockey League's alternate farm system to the American Hockey League (AHL). After 56 years of operation, financial instability led to the league's demise. Six of the surviving seven teams merged into the AHL in 2001.
Walter Thomas John McKechnie is a Canadian former professional hockey centre. He played for nine teams in the National Hockey League (NHL) and four minor professional teams over a 17-year pro career.
The Western Hockey League (WHL) was a minor professional ice hockey league based in Western Canada that operated from 1952 to 1974. The league was managed for most of its history by Al Leader, and had roots in the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Canada Senior Hockey League. The championship trophy of the WHL was the Lester Patrick Cup.
The Utah Grizzlies were an ice hockey team in the International Hockey League (IHL) and American Hockey League (AHL). They originally played at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, before relocating to the E Center in the Salt Lake City suburb of West Valley City in 1997. After the 2004–05 season, the franchise was suspended. It was sold in 2006 and moved to Cleveland where it returned to play in 2007 as the Lake Erie Monsters. A new Utah Grizzlies franchise in the ECHL began play in 2005.
The Central Professional Hockey League was a minor professional ice hockey league that operated in the United States from 1963 to 1984. Named the Central Hockey League for the 1968–69 season and forward, it was owned and operated by the National Hockey League and served as a successor to the Eastern Professional Hockey League, which had folded after the 1962–63 season. Four of the CHL's initial franchises were, in fact, relocations of the previous year's EPHL teams, while the fifth came from the International Hockey League. Its founding president was Jack Adams, who served in the role until his death in 1968. The CHL's championship trophy was called the Adams Cup in his honor.
William Edward McCreary Sr. was an ice hockey left winger, coach and general manager. He played in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens and the St. Louis Blues from between 1953 and 1971, and then coached in the league with the Blues, Vancouver Canucks, and California Golden Seals between 1971 and 1975. After stepping down as coach of the Golden Seals he served as their general manager from 1975 to 1977, including their first year as the Cleveland Barons.
Robert James Schmautz was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the Chicago Black Hawks, Vancouver Canucks, Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, and Colorado Rockies from 1967 to 1981. He featured in three Stanley Cup Finals with the Bruins.
Brian Thomas Glynn is a German-born Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played six seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). A second round selection of the Calgary Flames, 37th overall at the 1986 NHL Entry Draft, Glynn played with the Flames, Minnesota North Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Ottawa Senators, Vancouver Canucks and Hartford Whalers during his NHL career before playing one season in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) for Kölner Haie.
Joseph Lawrence Zanussi is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played 149 games in the World Hockey Association and 87 games in the National Hockey League. Zanussi's skating ability and agility earned him the nicknames 'Crazy Legs' and 'Tazmanian Devil' and although small for a pro hockey defenseman, Zanussi was a good bodychecker and possessed a big shot.
Peter Kasowski is a Canadian former ice hockey and roller hockey player. He was drafted by the Hartford Whalers of the NHL in 1989.
The Professional Hockey Players' Association, or PHPA, is the labor union that represents the interests of hockey players in the American Hockey League and ECHL, the two largest minor leagues in North American professional ice hockey. Established in 1967, the PHPA is one of the oldest players' unions in professional sports and the only minor league players' association within a major league sport. Recognized by the US National Labor Relations Board as the certified bargaining unit for all members enrolled in the Association, the main function of the PHPA is to negotiate and protect various player benefits by way of a collective bargaining agreement. These benefits include: health and welfare benefits, training camp allowances, travel and trade relocation expenses, per diem, housing allowances, play-off shares, licensing rights, revenue-sharing, and membership assistance programs.
Ray Martynuik, sometimes spelled Martyniuk, was a professional ice hockey goaltender. He was born in Flin Flon, Manitoba, and played for the Flin Flon Bombers in the Western Canada Hockey League, where he earned the nickname "Can't Miss Kid". He won the WCHL Top Goaltender Award in the 1968–69 and 1969–70 seasons, helping his team win the President's Cup, the league championship, in both seasons. Martynuik was drafted in the first round, fifth overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft. At the time, this was the second highest selection of a goaltender in draft history.
Lyle Dwight Carter is a Canadian former professional hockey goalie. He played 15 games in the National Hockey League with the California Golden Seals during the 1971–72 season. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1967 to 1975, was spent in various minor leagues. He was also an all-Canadian softball player.
Stephen Paul Martinson is an American former professional ice hockey player and coach. He played 49 games in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, and Minnesota North Stars between 1987 and 1992. The rest of his playing career, which lasted from 1981 to 1996, was spent in various minor leagues. After retiring as a player he turned to coaching, and his 1,123 career professional coaching wins are the most ever for an American born ice hockey head coach.
Del Allison Hall is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left wing.
James Edward Malone is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey centre.
Larry Stephen Gould is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played two games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Vancouver Canucks, with most of his professional career being in the minor International Hockey League. Gould's brother, John Gould, also played hockey, and played over 500 games in the NHL.
Todd Kenneth Strueby is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey centre who played most of his career in the minor leagues.
Floyd Harvey Thomson is a Canadian former ice hockey player. He played with the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1971 to 1980. An undrafted player, Thomson began his professional career in 1969 in the International Hockey League with the Fort Wayne Komets before signing with the Blues as a free agent in 1970. He played 411 NHL games, all with St. Louis, scoring 56 goals and 97 assists. He spent the majority of his last five seasons in the Central Hockey League with the Salt Lake Golden Eagles where he was a Second and First Team All-Star in 1978 and 1979, respectively. Thomson retired in 1982.
Utah has a growing interest with ice hockey in the United States.
