Saskatoon Blades | |
---|---|
City | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |
League | Western Hockey League |
Conference | Eastern |
Division | East |
Founded | 1964 |
Home arena | SaskTel Centre |
Colours | Royal blue, gold, white |
Owner(s) | Mike Priestner |
General manager | Colin Priestner |
Head coach | Dan DaSilva |
Website | chl.ca/whl-blades/ |
Franchise history | |
1964–1966 | Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League |
1966–present | Western Hockey League |
Championships | |
Regular season titles | 5 (1972–73, 1982–83, 1987–88, 2010–11, 2023–24) |
Playoff championships | Division titles 2 (1991–92, 1993–94) Ed Chynoweth Cup 0 |
Current uniform | |
The Saskatoon Blades are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Founded in 1964, the Blades were a charter team of the then-Western Canada Junior Hockey League in 1966, and are the only club that has played every season in the league in its original location. Today, the team plays in the East Division of the Western Hockey League's Eastern Conference, and hosts games at the SaskTel Centre. Despite five regular season titles and five appearances in the championship series, the Blades have never won the Ed Chynoweth Cup as league playoff champions. The team has twice hosted the Memorial Cup tournament, in 1989 and in 2013.
The Blades were established in 1964 as members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, evolving from the Saskatoon Junior Quakers, who had played in the league since 1956. [1] [2] Owner Jim Piggott saw the team as a junior affiliate for his minor professional Western Hockey League Los Angeles Blades. [3] However, Piggott became an instrumental figure in establishing a new major junior league for Western Canada that could compete against teams across Canada for the Memorial Cup. [4] The Blades became one of seven founding members of the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League in 1966, which became the Western Canada Junior Hockey League in 1967, the Western Canada Hockey League in 1968, and, finally, the Western Hockey League in 1978, after the admission of American-based clubs. [4] The Blades are the only team to have played every WHL season in its original location—the Regina Pats were also a founding team, but briefly left the WHL to re-join the SJHL at the end of the 1960s. [5] [6]
The Blades, playing out of the 1930s-era Saskatoon Arena, were a middling team in the late 1960s, failing to win a playoff series in any of their first six seasons. [3] [7]
The Blades hired Jackie McLeod, a former National Hockey League (NHL) player from Regina who had also managed the Canadian national team from 1967 to 1969, as its coach and general manager, roles he filled for most of the 1970s. [8] [9] McLeod also became part owner of the franchise from 1976 to 1980 after he partnered with two others, including Nate Brodsky, to buy the team from Piggott. [3] Under McLeod's guidance and with star players like Bernie Federko, Bob Bourne, Larry Sacharauk, Brent Ashton, Randy Ireland, and Blair Chapman, the Blades emerged as a contending team in the 1970s, missing the playoffs just once and making three finals appearances. [3] Saskatoon finished with the league's best record in 1972–73 and made their first ever appearance in the league final, which they lost to the Medicine Hat Tigers. [6] The Blades topped the East Division in both the 1974–75 and 1975–76 seasons and made consecutive finals appearances; they lost both in seven games to a dynastic New Westminster Bruins team that made four straight Memorial Cup finals appearances from 1975 to 1978. [6] [10] McLeod's last season behind the bench was 1978–79, when the Blades lost the Division final to the eventual champion and Memorial Cup-finalist Brandon Wheat Kings.
In 1980, the Brodsky family, which had become majority owners in 1976, took over sole ownership of the club, which they would retain until 2013. [11] Despite the presence of new star players and future NHL figures like Lane Lambert, Brian Skrudland, Wendel Clark, Trent Yawney, Marc Habscheid, Todd McLellan, Curtis Leschyshyn, and Tim Cheveldae, the Blades continued to fall short of the elusive league championship. The team topped the league standings in both the 1982–83 and 1987–88 seasons, but failed to advance to the finals either season. The highlights of the 1980s were the opening of the new Saskatchewan Place arena in 1988, and hosting the 1989 Memorial Cup there. The Blades' first game at the new rink took place on 9 February 1988, a 4–3 victory over the Wheat Kings, a game in which the Blades trailed 3–0, in front of a sell-out crowd of 9,343. [12] In the 1989 Memorial Cup tournament, the Blades, who lost in the third round of the WHL playoffs to the Swift Current Broncos, met the Broncos in the Final, losing in overtime by a score of 4–3. [13]
The Blades finally returned to the championship series twice in the first half of the 1990s, both times facing the Kamloops Blazers. Coached by Lorne Molleken and led on the ice by the likes of Glen Gulutzan, Richard Matvichuk, Rhett Warrener, Wade Belak, and Norm Maracle, the Blades lost both the 1992 and 1994 finals 4 games to 3 against Blazers teams that went on to win the Memorial Cup, part of a run of three Memorial Cups in four years for Kamloops, the only team to achieve such a feat. [14] The run to the 1994 finals would mark the last time the Blades would advance past the second round of the WHL playoffs for nearly three decades. Before 1997, the Blades had failed to qualify for the post-season only five times; between 1997 and 2008, they would miss the playoffs six times, despite boasting future NHL players including Martin Erat, Mike Green, Devin Setoguchi, Anton Khudobin, and Braden Holtby.
After moving to the professional ranks in 1995, Molleken returned to coach the Blades in 2004, a role he would keep until 2013. He added general manager duties in 2011, and stayed in that role until 2014. [15] The Blades won another regular season title in this era, finishing with the best record of the 2010–11 season. Despite trading for star forward Brayden Schenn, the Blades lost in the second round to the eventual champions, the Kootenay Ice. [16] Saskatoon also hosted its second Memorial Cup tournament in 2013. The Blades appeared to be peaking towards the end of the WHL regular season, winning 18 straight games between late January and early March. [17] During that run, the Blades set a record attendance mark of 12,588 on 9 February against the Lethbridge Hurricanes, 25 years to the day since the opening of their arena. [18] However, the team lost its first round playoff series against the Medicine Hat Tigers, and won just one game at the Memorial Cup tournament. [19]
After hosting the 2013 Memorial Cup, it became known that the Brodsky family was looking to sell the Blades after 37 years of ownership. [20] In August 2013, Brodsky sold the team to Edmonton businessman Mike Priestner, who had previously attempted to purchase the Kamloops Blazers in 2007. [21] Priestner had played as a goaltender in the league for the Kamloops Chiefs in 1974–75, while his son James tended goal for the Blazers and two other teams from 2007 to 2011. [22] The new ownership expressed a commitment to keeping the team in Saskatoon, and Mike's son Colin Priestner moved to the city and ultimately took over as general manager. [23]
This marked the beginning of a challenging on-ice period for the Blades, who had sacrificed draft picks and prospects for trades in anticipation of a longer 2013 Memorial Cup season. The team missed the playoffs for five consecutive seasons from 2014 to 2018. Led by Kirby Dach, the Blades returned to the playoffs in 2019 and won their first playoff series since 2011, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of the 2020 playoffs and a heavily modified 2021 campaign without playoffs. [24] The team finally found more on-ice consistency as the WHL returned to regular scheduling in the 2021–22 season. In 2022–23, the Blades posted their first 100-point season since 2011, and went on their deepest playoff run since 1994. The Blades met the Regina Pats—captained by top NHL prospect Connor Bedard—in the first round, the first playoff matchup between the teams since 2006; the Blades set new attendance records against the Pats, selling out multiple games to the capacity of 14,768 for the first time in team history. [25] Despite losing the first two games of the series on home ice, the Blades won the series 4 games to 3, winning the decisive game 7 at home by a score of 4–1. [26] In the second round, the Blades became just the third team in WHL history to win a series after falling behind 3 games to none, defeating the Red Deer Rebels at home in game 7 by a 5–2 score. [27] The Blades' run came to an end in their first third-round appearance in nearly 30 years, when they were swept by the top-seeded Winnipeg Ice. [28] [29] The Blades followed this up in 2023–24 with their fifth Scotty Munro Trophy for best regular season record, reaching the 50-win plateau for the third time. [30] In the playoffs, they defeated the Prince Albert Raiders in five games and swept the Rebels in the second round; they lost to the eventual-champion Moose Jaw Warriors in their second straight third round appearance in a 7-game series that featured a WHL-record six overtime games, including all four hosted in Saskatoon. [31] [32] The season also saw the Blades play their record 4,000th game in the WHL. [33]
The Blades have never won a WHL championship for the chance to compete for the Memorial Cup. However, Saskatoon has hosted the Memorial Cup tournament twice, in 1989 and in 2013, enabling the Blades to participate. In 1989, a year after the team began playing at Saskatchewan Place, the Blades were joined by their provincial counterpart and WHL Champion Swift Current Broncos, the OHL Champion Peterborough Petes, and the QMJHL Champion Laval Titan. The Blades finished first in the round robin with a 2–1 record, including a 5–4 victory over the Broncos, who had a 14-game undefeated streak dating back to the start of the WHL playoffs, including a third-round sweep over the Blades. [34] Their record gave the Blades a berth in the Memorial Cup final, where they lost a re-match to the Broncos, 4–3 in overtime. [13] It was the first Memorial Cup final contested between two teams from the WHL, let alone from Saskatchewan. [13] The tournament set a new attendance record. [34]
In 2013, which marked the 25-year anniversary of their home arena, the tournament included the WHL Champion Portland Winterhawks, the OHL Champion London Knights, and the QMJHL Champion Halifax Mooseheads. The Blades finished the round robin with a 1–2 record, their lone win coming over the Mooseheads, and they lost to the Knights in a tiebreaker, failing to advance to the semi-final. The Mooseheads won the Memorial Cup with a 6–4 victory over the Winterhawks. [35] The tournament boasted the fourth-highest attendance to date in tournament history. [36]
The Blades have longstanding rivalries with the Regina Pats and Prince Albert Raiders, the two teams closest to the Blades' home in Saskatoon—all three cities are connected via Highway 11. [25] [37] The Blades have faced the Pats in the playoffs seven times and the Raiders eight times. The only other teams they have met in the post-season eight times are the Broncos—including five meetings since the franchise returned to Swift Current from Lethbridge in 1986—and the Brandon Wheat Kings. The Blades also faced the Broncos in the 1989 Memorial Cup final. [38]
For most of the team's history, the Blades have sported royal blue, gold, and white jerseys featuring a variation of a skate blade logo that has become known as the "Pac-Man." They dropped that logo from primary status in 1993, and dropped yellow from the colour palette in 2004, opting for navy blue and white on a new skate logo, with the skate blade emerging from stylized "SB" initials. [39] In 2017, the Blades re-adopted their classic colour scheme and logo. [40]
Like many major junior teams, the Blades frequently don special event jerseys, such as Star Wars-themed jerseys they wore in a 2015 game. [41] In September 2018, the Blades wore a special jersey to honour the Humboldt Broncos after the Broncos bus crash earlier that year. [42] In 2022, the Blades unveiled their first Pride-themed jerseys, which they wore on a Pride night on 22 January. [43] [44] During the 2012–13 season, the Blades held a fan jersey design contest; the team wore the winning jersey, designed by Fabio Burà, during a game on 2 February 2013. [45]
The Blades' mascot is a yeti named Poke Check. [46]
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
1966–67 | 56 | 25 | 24 | 7 | – | 288 | 271 | 57 | 5th Overall | Lost quarterfinal |
1967–68 | 60 | 20 | 31 | 9 | – | 260 | 362 | 49 | 7th Overall | Lost quarterfinal |
1968–69 | 60 | 24 | 35 | 1 | – | 195 | 271 | 49 | 3rd West | Lost quarterfinal |
1969–70 | 60 | 18 | 41 | 1 | – | 202 | 282 | 37 | 4th West | Lost quarterfinal |
1970–71 | 66 | 29 | 36 | 1 | – | 295 | 299 | 59 | 3rd West | Lost quarterfinal |
1971–72 | 68 | 37 | 28 | 3 | – | 312 | 258 | 77 | 2nd East | Lost quarterfinal |
1972–73 | 68 | 46 | 11 | 11 | – | 323 | 184 | 103 | 1st East | Lost final |
1973–74 | 68 | 30 | 29 | 9 | – | 283 | 272 | 69 | 4th East | Lost quarterfinal |
1974–75 | 70 | 38 | 22 | 10 | – | 344 | 244 | 86 | 1st East | Lost final |
1975–76 | 72 | 43 | 19 | 10 | – | 390 | 269 | 96 | 1st East | Lost final |
1976–77 | 72 | 30 | 30 | 12 | – | 317 | 290 | 72 | 2nd East | Lost preliminary round |
1977–78 | 72 | 20 | 50 | 2 | – | 340 | 460 | 42 | 4th East | Did not qualify |
1978–79 | 72 | 26 | 32 | 14 | – | 385 | 398 | 66 | 2nd East | Lost East Division final |
1979–80 | 72 | 27 | 40 | 5 | – | 331 | 382 | 59 | 7th East | Did not qualify |
1980–81 | 72 | 22 | 47 | 3 | – | 297 | 427 | 47 | 8th East | Did not qualify |
1981–82 | 72 | 44 | 26 | 2 | – | 450 | 343 | 90 | 3rd East | Lost East Division quarterfinal |
1982–83 | 72 | 52 | 19 | 1 | – | 467 | 303 | 105 | 1st East | Lost East Division semifinal |
1983–84 | 72 | 36 | 36 | 0 | – | 347 | 350 | 72 | 7th East | Did not qualify |
1984–85 | 72 | 29 | 41 | 2 | – | 309 | 378 | 60 | 6th East | Lost East Division quarterfinal |
1985–86 | 72 | 38 | 28 | 6 | – | 381 | 360 | 82 | 4th East | Lost East Division semifinal |
1986–87 | 72 | 44 | 26 | 2 | – | 369 | 282 | 90 | 2nd East | Lost East Division final |
1987–88 | 72 | 47 | 22 | 3 | – | 381 | 294 | 97 | 1st East | Lost East Division final |
1988–89 | 72 | 42 | 28 | 2 | – | 366 | 335 | 86 | 2nd East | Lost East Division final; Lost Memorial Cup final |
1989–90 | 72 | 33 | 34 | 5 | – | 325 | 354 | 71 | 4th East | Lost East Division semifinal |
1990–91 | 72 | 29 | 41 | 2 | – | 309 | 363 | 60 | 7th East | Did not qualify |
1991–92 | 72 | 38 | 29 | 5 | – | 315 | 260 | 81 | 3rd East | Lost final |
1992–93 | 72 | 42 | 27 | 3 | – | 311 | 236 | 87 | 3rd East | Lost East Division semifinal |
1993–94 | 72 | 49 | 22 | 1 | – | 326 | 229 | 99 | 1st East | Lost final |
1994–95 | 72 | 41 | 23 | 8 | – | 324 | 254 | 90 | 3rd East | Lost East Division semifinal |
1995–96 | 72 | 29 | 42 | 1 | – | 314 | 351 | 59 | 4th East | Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal |
1996–97 | 72 | 18 | 48 | 6 | – | 227 | 344 | 42 | 6th East | Did not qualify |
1997–98 | 72 | 25 | 39 | 8 | – | 263 | 327 | 58 | 4th East | Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal |
1998–99 | 72 | 16 | 49 | 7 | – | 184 | 291 | 39 | 6th East | Did not qualify |
1999–00 | 72 | 34 | 27 | 8 | 3 | 216 | 223 | 79 | 2nd East | Lost Eastern Conference semifinal |
2000–01 | 72 | 19 | 43 | 5 | 5 | 193 | 265 | 48 | 5th East | Did not qualify |
2001–02 | 72 | 27 | 37 | 5 | 3 | 216 | 257 | 62 | 4th East | Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal |
2002–03 | 72 | 40 | 27 | 5 | 0 | 234 | 205 | 85 | 3rd East | Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal |
2003–04 | 72 | 7 | 52 | 11 | 2 | 140 | 279 | 27 | 5th East | Did not qualify |
2004–05 | 72 | 37 | 23 | 6 | 6 | 234 | 215 | 86 | 2nd East | Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal |
Season | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
2005–06 | 72 | 41 | 25 | 2 | 4 | 232 | 217 | 88 | 2nd East | Lost Eastern Conference semifinal |
2006–07 | 72 | 27 | 41 | 2 | 2 | 174 | 231 | 58 | 6th East | Did not qualify |
2007–08 | 72 | 29 | 34 | 3 | 6 | 182 | 229 | 67 | 5th East | Did not qualify |
2008–09 | 72 | 49 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 283 | 195 | 103 | 1st East | Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal |
2009–10 | 72 | 46 | 19 | 3 | 4 | 258 | 227 | 99 | 2nd East | Lost Eastern Conference semifinal |
2010–11 | 72 | 56 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 310 | 213 | 115 | 1st East | Lost Eastern Conference semifinal |
2011–12 | 72 | 40 | 29 | 1 | 2 | 268 | 250 | 83 | 2nd East | Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal |
2012–13 | 72 | 44 | 22 | 2 | 4 | 280 | 221 | 94 | 1st East | Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal |
2013–14 | 72 | 16 | 51 | 2 | 3 | 207 | 317 | 37 | 6th East | Did not qualify |
2014–15 | 72 | 19 | 49 | 2 | 2 | 195 | 308 | 42 | 6th East | Did not qualify |
2015–16 | 72 | 26 | 42 | 4 | 0 | 219 | 318 | 56 | 6th East | Did not qualify |
2016–17 | 72 | 28 | 35 | 7 | 2 | 190 | 248 | 65 | 5th East | Did not qualify |
2017–18 | 72 | 35 | 33 | 3 | 1 | 237 | 276 | 74 | 6th East | Did not qualify |
2018–19 | 68 | 45 | 15 | 8 | 0 | 259 | 190 | 98 | 2nd East | Lost Eastern Conference semifinal |
2019–20 | 63 | 34 | 24 | 2 | 3 | 211 | 197 | 73 | 4th East | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic |
2020–21 | 24 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 80 | 62 | 35 | 3rd East | No playoffs held due to COVID-19 pandemic |
2021-22 | 68 | 38 | 26 | 3 | 1 | 219 | 217 | 80 | 3rd East | Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal |
2022–23 | 68 | 48 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 257 | 171 | 101 | 2nd East | Lost Eastern Conference final |
2023-24 | 68 | 50 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 255 | 163 | 105 | 1st East | Lost Eastern Conference final |
General Manager: Colin Priestner
Head Coach: Dan DaSilva Associate Coach: TBA Assistant Coach: Wacey Rabbit Assistant Coach: Jerome Engele [47]
# | Coach | Years |
---|---|---|
1 | Burns McDonald | 1964–65 |
2 | George Agar | 1964–69 |
† | George Senick | 1969–70 |
3 | Jackie McLeod | 1970–79 |
4 | Jerry Engele | 1979–80 |
5 | Lorne Frey | 1980–81 |
6 | Daryl Lubiniecki | 1981–84 |
7 | Marcel Comeau | 1984–89 |
8 | Terry Ruskowski | 1989–91 |
† | Bob Hoffmeyer | 1991 |
9 | Lorne Molleken | 1991–95 |
10 | Donn Clark | 1995–98 |
† | Willie Desjardins | 1998 |
11 | Brad McCrimmon | 1998–2000 |
12 | Kevin Dickie | 2000–03 |
† | Jamie Reeve | 2003–04 |
13 | Lorne Molleken | 2004–13 |
14 | Dave Struch | 2013–14 |
15 | Bob Woods | 2014–16 |
16 | Dean Brockman | 2016–18 |
17 | Mitch Love | 2018–2021 |
18 | Brennan Sonne | 2021–2024 |
19 | Dan DaSilva | 2024–Present |
† Interim coach |
Bernie Federko is the only former Blades' player inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. [33]
List of Blades' players who also played in the National Hockey League (NHL):[ citation needed ]
# | Player |
---|---|
7 | Gerry Pinder / Brent Ashton |
10 | Brian Skrudland |
12 | Bob Bourne |
15 | Bernie Federko |
22 | Wendel Clark |
39 | Frank Banham |
44 | Chase Wouters |
In addition to the seven retired numbers, the Blades unveiled a banner honouring former captain Bruce Gordon in 2017. Gordon went on to a long career in policing and later attended law school, before he was diagnosed with cancer and died in 2017. [48]
Statistic | Total | Season |
---|---|---|
Most points | 115 | 2010–11 |
Most wins | 56 | 2010–11 |
Most road wins | 28 | 2008–09 |
Most home wins | 32 | 2010–11 |
Most goals for | 461 | 1982–83 |
Fewest goals for | 140 | 2003–04 |
Fewest goals against | 163 | 2023–24 |
Most goals against | 460 | 1977–78 |
Statistic | Player | Total | Season |
---|---|---|---|
Most goals | Frank Banham | 83 | 1995–96 |
Most assists | Bruce Eakin | 125 | 1981–82 |
Most points | Bernie Federko | 187 | 1975–76 |
Most points, rookie | Lane Lambert | 114 | 1981–82 |
Most points, defenceman | Pat Price | 95 | 1973–74 |
Best GAA (goalie) | Ed Humphreys | 2.57 | 1972–73 |
Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played |
Statistic | Player | Total | Career |
---|---|---|---|
Most goals | Frank Banham | 190 | 1992–1996 |
Most assists | Paul Buczkowski | 224 | 1990–1996 |
Most points | Frank Banham | 370 | 1992–1996 |
Most points, defenceman | Stefan Elliott | 241 | 2007–2011 |
Most games played | Paul Buczkowski | 337 | 1990–1996 |
Most wins (goalie) | Nolan Maier | 122 | 2017–2022 |
Most shutouts (goalie) | Nolan Maier | 12 | 2017–2022 |
Bob Clarke Trophy (WHL top scorer)
Four Broncos Memorial Trophy (WHL player of the year)
Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy (WHL rookie of the year)
Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy (WHL top defenceman)
Del Wilson Trophy (WHL top goaltender)
Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy (WHL coach of the year)
Doc Seaman Trophy (WHL scholastic player of the year)
Hap Emms Memorial Trophy (Memorial Cup top goaltender)
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The Ed Chynoweth Cup is an ice hockey club championship trophy awarded to the playoff champion of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Originally called the President's Cup when the league was founded in 1966, the trophy was renamed in 2007 to honour Ed Chynoweth's long service to junior ice hockey in Canada. The WHL champion earns a berth into the Memorial Cup tournament, Canada's major junior hockey championship. The Kamloops Blazers have won the most WHL championships with six, followed by the Medicine Hat Tigers with five. The Spokane Chiefs were the first team to win the renamed trophy in the 2007–08 WHL season. The current (2023–24) holders of the Ed Chynoweth Cup are the Moose Jaw Warriors.
The 1991–92 WHL season was the 26th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The season featured fifteen teams and a 72-game regular season. The Kamloops Blazers won their fifth Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as regular season champions, and followed this up in the playoffs by defeating the Saskatoon Blades in the championship series to claim their fourth President's Cup title. With the win, the Blazers advanced to the 1992 Memorial Cup tournament, where they won the franchise's first Memorial Cup championship.
The 1988–89 WHL season was the 23rd season of the Western Hockey League (WHL), featuring fourteen teams and a 72-game regular season. Less than three years after the 1986 team bus crash that killed four players, the Swift Current Broncos put together the best season in the club's history. The Broncos won their first Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for the best regular season record, and in the playoffs defeated the Portland Winter Hawks to win their first President's Cup as league champions—the Broncos went undefeated throughout the playoffs. This earned the Broncos a berth in the 1989 Memorial Cup tournament, which was hosted in Saskatoon. At the tournament, the Broncos defeated the host Saskatoon Blades to win the Memorial Cup title.
The 1987–88 WHL season was the 22nd season of the Western Hockey League (WHL), featuring fourteen teams and a 72-game season. The Saskatoon Blades won their third Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for best regular season record. In the playoffs, the Medicine Hat Tigers won their second consecutive President's Cup, defeating the Kamloops Blazers in the championship series. The Tigers advanced to the 1988 Memorial Cup tournament, where they won their second straight Memorial Cup title.
The 1986–87 WHL season was the 21st season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). While the Kamloops Blazers won their second Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as regular season champions, the Medicine Hat Tigers won the President's Cup as playoff champions before going on to win the 1987 Memorial Cup tournament.
The 1982–83 WHL season was the 17th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Fourteen teams completed a 72-game season. The Saskatoon Blades topped the regular season standings to capture their second Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy. In the playoffs, the Lethbridge Broncos won the President's Cup, defeating the Portland Winter Hawks in the championship series. The Broncos thus earned a berth in the 1983 Memorial Cup tournament. This was the first Memorial Cup to feature a host team as a fourth participant, and that host was the host Winter Hawks. Portland won the tournament, becoming the first American team to win the Memorial Cup title.
The 1981–82 WHL season was the 16th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL), featuring twelve teams completing a 72-game regular season. The Lethbridge Broncos won the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for posting the best record during the regular season. In the playoffs, the Portland Winter Hawks became the first American-based club to win the President's Cup championship when they defeated the Regina Pats in the championship series. This also made the Winter Hawks the first American team to compete for the Memorial Cup at the 1982 tournament.
The 1974–75 WCHL season was the ninth season of the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL). It featured twelve teams playing a 70-game regular season, an increase from 68. The Victoria Cougars topped the regular season standings with 47 wins. In the playoffs, the New Westminster Bruins defeated the Saskatoon Blades in a seven-game championship series to win the President's Cup. With the win, the Bruins earned a berth at the 1975 Memorial Cup tournament, in which they lost the final to the Toronto Marlboros, who captured their record seventh national title.
The 1989 Memorial Cup occurred May 6–13 at the brand new Saskatchewan Place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It was the 71st annual Memorial Cup competition and determined the major junior ice hockey champion of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). Participating teams were the Western Hockey League champion Swift Current Broncos, the WHL hosts, the Saskatoon Blades, as well as the winners of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League which were the Laval Titan and Peterborough Petes. In the first ever all-WHL final, an overflow, bi-partisan crowd of more than 11,000 saw Swift Current beat Saskatoon in overtime to win their first Memorial Cup.
The 2009–10 WHL season was the 44th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The regular season began on September 17, 2009, and ended on March 14, 2010. The 2009 Subway Super Series, featuring Team WHL versus Team Russia, took place mid-season from November 25 to 26, 2009. The Calgary Hitmen won their second consecutive and fourth overall Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for best regular season record. The playoffs took place from March 18 to May 7. The Hitmen followed up their regular season title by defeating the Tri-City Americans in the championship series to claim their second Ed Chynoweth Cup, and a berth in the 2010 Memorial Cup tournament.
The 2012–13 WHL season was the 47th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The regular season began in September 2012 and ended in March 2013. The Portland Winterhawks won their third Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy with the best record in the regular season. The playoffs began in late March 2013 and ended in mid-May 2013, with the Winterhawks defeating the Edmonton Oil Kings in a rematch of the 2012 final to win their third Ed Chynoweth Cup, their first since 1997–98, and a berth in the 2013 Memorial Cup tournament, which was held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The Saskatoon Blades also participated in the Memorial Cup tournament by virtue of hosting it.