Valencia Flyers

Last updated
Valencia Flyers
ValFlyers logo.png
City Santa Clarita, California
League Western States Hockey League
DivisionWestern
Founded2001
Home arenaIce Station Valencia
ColorsNavy blue, golden yellow, white
   
Owner(s)Roger Perez
Head coachShane McColgan [1]
Franchise history
2001–2003Valencia Flyers
2004–2007Valencia Vipers
2007–2020Valencia Flyers

The Valencia Flyers were an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU)-sanctioned junior ice hockey team based in Valencia, Santa Clarita, California. The team played in the Western Division of the Western States Hockey League at the Ice Station Valencia. [2] [3]

Contents

History

The franchise was founded in 2001 as the Valencia Flyers in the Western States Hockey League (WSHL) with three other expansion franchises. [4] The team played as the Flyers from 2001 to 2003 until suspending operations for the 2003–04 season before returning for the 2004–05 season as the Valencia Vipers. In 2007, the team reverted to its original name.

From 2001 to 2007, the Flyers were a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior B team. In 2007, the WSHL was promoted to Tier III Junior A. Before the 2011–12 season, the WSHL and all its team members, including the Flyers, became AAU-sanctioned and dropped its USA Hockey sanctioning, the first Junior A hockey league to make that transition.

At the end of the 2019–20 regular season, the Flyers' home rink was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ice Station Valencia, which was also owned by the Flyers' owner Roger Perez. The closure was made permanent due to the financial losses incurred by the shutdown, [5] leaving the future of the team undetermined. [6]

Season-by-season records

SeasonGPWLOTWOTLPtsGFGAPIMFinishPlayoffs
2010–11461825—339133174—5th of 8, Western
9th of 13, WSHL		did not qualify
2011–12462317—65218116310533rd of 6, Western
8th of 16, WSHL		Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. San Diego Gulls
Lost Div. Finals, 1–2 vs. Fresno Monsters
2012–13462417—55319015711403rd of 6, Western
8th of 22, WSHL		Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–2 vs. Bay Area Seals
2013–14462715—4581711757503rd of 6, Pacific
10th of 24, WSHL		Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–2 vs. Ontario Avalanche
2014–1546359—2722241169802nd of 8, Western
5th of 28, WSHL		Div. Quarterfinals, Bye
Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Ontario Avalanche
Lost Div. Finals, 1–2 vs. Fresno Monsters
2015–1652457—090257947421st of 8, Western
1st of 29, WSHL		Div. Quarterfinals, Bye
Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Ontario Avalanche
Lost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Long Beach Bombers
2016–1752409—3832621278072nd of 8, Western
4th of 27, WSHL		Div. Quarterfinals, Bye
Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Ontario Avalanche
Lost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Long Beach Bombers
1–1–1, 3rd of 6, Thorne Cup round-robin (as wild card)
(W, 3–1 vs. Jr. Eagles; L, 1–3 vs. Jr. Steelheads; OTL, 2–3 vs. Bombers)
Lost Thorne Cup Semifinal game, 1–3 vs. Idaho Jr. Steelheads
2017–18512522—4542422157314th of 6, Western
13th of 23, WSHL		Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Phoenix Knights
2018–195113302649 [lower-alpha 1] 1942598625th of 5, Western
17th of 23, WSHL		Lost Play-in series, 0–2 vs. Ontario Avalanche
2019–205134422151173596615th of 5, Western
20th of 20, WSHL		did not qualify
  1. ↑ Beginning with the 2018–19 season, the WSHL began awarding 3pts for a win, 2pts for an overtime win, and 1pt for an overtime loss.

Alumni

The Flyers have had a number of alumni move on to NCAA Division III, and higher levels of junior ice hockey, and professional ice hockey. [7]

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References

  1. ↑ "VALENCIA FLYERS BRING IN NEW HEAD COACH". WSHL. July 9, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Valencia Flyers Junior A Hockey". Icestation.net. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  3. ↑ "Valencia Flyers Hockey Notebook: Flyers Flying High Into League Playoffs Valencia Home Tonight For First Round. - Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. 2002-03-08. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  4. ↑ "Junior League Helps Locals Become High Flyers Valencia-Based Team Gives Pair A Chance At Big-Time Hockey. - Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. 2001-10-13. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  5. ↑ "PUBLIC CLOSURE ANNOUNCEMENT". Valencia Flyers. March 25, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Public Closure FAQs". Valencia Flyers. March 25, 2020.
  7. ↑ "WSHL League - Player Alumni". Western States Hockey League. Archived from the original on 11 August 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
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