United States Hockey League

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For the defunct league by the same name, see United States Hockey League (1945–1951).
United States Hockey League
Current season or competition:
2011–12 USHL season
USHL1.png
Sport Ice Hockey
Founded 1947
Commissioner Ellis T. "Skip" Prince
No. of teams 16
Country(ies) USA
Most recent champion(s) Dubuque Fighting Saints
Most titles (overall) Waterloo Black Hawks (9)
(Clark Cup era) Omaha Lancers (7)
Official website www.ushl.com

The United States Hockey League (USHL) is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger. The USHL is strictly amateur, allowing former USHL players to compete in NCAA college hockey.

The Dubuque Fighting Saints took the 2010–2011 Clark Cup Championship in their inaugural season, defeating the defending champions Green Bay Gamblers 3 games to 1. The final game was played in front of a crowd of 3,480, the largest crowd ever to watch a hockey game in the city of Dubuque. The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders won the Anderson Cup that season before losing to Green Bay in the Clark Cup semifinals.

Contents

[edit] Teams

Eastern Conference
Team Founded City
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders 1999 Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Chicago Steel 2000 Bensenville, Illinois
Dubuque Fighting Saints 2010 Dubuque, Iowa
Green Bay Gamblers 1994 Green Bay, Wisconsin
Indiana Ice 2004 Indianapolis, Indiana
Muskegon Lumberjacks 2010 Muskegon, Michigan
USA Hockey National Team Development Program 1996 Ann Arbor, Michigan
Youngstown Phantoms 2003 Youngstown, Ohio
Western Conference
Team Founded City
Des Moines Buccaneers 1980 Urbandale, Iowa
Fargo Force 2008 Fargo, North Dakota
Lincoln Stars 1996 Lincoln, Nebraska
Omaha Lancers 1986 Omaha, Nebraska
Sioux City Musketeers 1972 Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux Falls Stampede 1999 Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Tri-City Storm 2000 Kearney, Nebraska
Waterloo Black Hawks 1962 Waterloo, Iowa

[edit] History

Current USHL team locations (Eastern Conference teams in red; Western Conference teams in blue)

Precursors to this league were:

The American Amateur Hockey League was established in 1947 as the Minnesota-based American Amateur Hockey League with teams in Minneapolis, Rochester and St. Paul.[1] Since its debut, the league has progressed and changed its name several times: In 1952, it became the Central Hockey League; then the next season it became the Minnesota Hockey League; and in 1956 the name was changed again to the Central Hockey League. In 1961, it adopted its present name, the United States Hockey League (USHL),[2] but operated as a minor professional league until 1979.

[edit] 1961–79

The United States Hockey League (USHL) operated as a senior ice hockey league 1961 to 1979.[3]

The USHL welcomed the first female professional hockey player in 1969–70, when the Marquette Iron Rangers signed Karen Koch.[4]

By the late 1970s, the USHL had fallen on hard times. In the summer of 1977, clubs from the recently folded Midwest Junior Hockey League contacted the USHL. A unique merger was formed, with the three junior teams (Bloomington Junior Stars, Austin Mavericks, St. Paul Vulcans) and three remaining pro teams (Sioux City Musketeers, Waterloo Black Hawks, Green Bay Bobcats) gathered under the USHL banner. League governors decided on a two-division format, with the junior-aged teams in the Midwest Division and the professionals in the U.S. Division. The teams played an interlocking schedule that was, predictably, dominated by the professionals. The USHL's split existence would last just two seasons. The minor-pro wing of the league folded following the 1978–79 season, providing junior hockey operators with the opportunity to redefine the circuit. The 1979–80 season was the league's first as an entirely junior arrangement.[5]

The league's last season as a senior hockey league was 1978–79. During this final season the league comprised seven teams in two conferences. The U.S. Conference (with the Green Bay Bobcats, the Sioux City Musketeers and the Waterloo Black Hawks); while the Midwest Conference (with the Anoka Nordiques, the Austin Mavericks, the Bloomington Junior Stars, and the St. Paul Vulcans. All seven teams were made up with players categorized as "Senior Amateur".[6][7][8][9][10][11][12] Following the 1978–79 season the senior league teams in the U.S. Conference folded and the USHL became an all-junior league the following season.[13]

[edit] Teams

Team City Years
Anoka Nordiques Anoka, Minnesota 1978–79
Austin Mavericks Austin, Minnesota 1977–79
Bloomington Junior Stars Bloomington, Minnesota 1977–79
Calumet-Houghton Chiefs Calumet Township, Michigan 1972–73
Central Wisconsin Flyers Stevens Point, Wisconsin 1974–76
Chicago Warriors Chicago, Illinois 1972–75
Copper-Country Chiefs Calumet, Michigan 1974–76
Copper-Country Islanders Calumet, Michigan 1973–74
Des Moines Oak Leafs Urbandale, Iowa 1968–69
Duluth Port Stars Duluth, Minnesota 1968–69 (Duluth dropped out of league on December 30, 1968)[14]
Fox Valley Astros Dundee, Illinois[15] 1965–66
Grand-Rapids Blades Grand Rapids, Michigan 1976–77
Grand-Rapids Bruins Grand Rapids, Minnesota 1968–69
Green Bay Bobcats Green Bay, Wisconsin 1961–79
Madison Blues Madison, Wisconsin 1973–74 (transferred to CHL)
Marquette Iron Rangers Marquette, Michigan 1964–76
Milwaukee Admirals Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1973–77 (transferred to IHL)
Milwaukee Metros Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1961–62 (Milwaukee folded Jan 16, 1962, due to financial trouble)[16]
Minneapolis Rebels Minneapolis, Minnesota 1961–62
Minnesota Nationals Saint Paul, Minnesota 1967–68 (U.S. 1968 Olympic team[17])
Rochester Mustangs Rochester, Minnesota 1961–70
Sault Ste. Marie Canadians Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario 1968–72
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario 1972–73
Sioux City Musketeers Sioux City, Iowa 1972–79
St. Paul Steers Saint Paul, Minnesota 1962–66
Thunder Bay Twins Thunder Bay, Ontario 1970–75 (transferred to OHA)
Traverse City Bays Traverse City, Michigan 1975–77
U.S. Nationals Saint Paul, Minnesota 1966–67
Waterloo Black Hawks Waterloo, Iowa 1962–69, 1970–79

[edit] 1979 – present

[edit] Defunct Junior Teams

Team City Years
Austin Mavericks Austin, Minnesota 1977–1985
Danville Wings Danville, Illinois 2003–2004
Dubuque Fighting Saints Dubuque, Iowa 1980–2001
Fargo-Moorhead Bears Fargo, North Dakota 1995–1996
Fargo-Moorhead Ice Sharks Fargo, North Dakota 1996–2000
Green Bay Bobcats Green Bay, Wisconsin 1958–1981
Hennepin Nordiques Minneapolis, Minnesota 1979–1980
Minneapolis Stars Minneapolis/Bloomington, Minnesota 1977–1985
North Iowa Huskies Mason City, Iowa 1983–1999
Ohio Junior Blue Jackets Columbus, Ohio 2006–2008
Rochester Mustangs Rochester, Minnesota 1985–2002
St. Louis Heartland Eagles Chesterfield, Missouri 2003–2004
Twin Cities/St. Paul Vulcans[18] St. Paul/Bloomington, Minnesota 1977–2000
Thunder Bay Flyers Thunder Bay, Ontario 1984–2000
Topeka ScareCrows Topeka, Kansas 2001–2003
Tulsa Crude Tulsa, Oklahoma 2001–2002
Madison/Wisconsin Capitols Madison, Wisconsin 1984–1995

[edit] Timeline of junior league teams

  • 1979–80 The USHL becomes an all-junior league with seven teams in two divisions. North Division: Hennepin Nordiques, Bloomington Jr. Stars, Green Bay Bobcats, and St. Paul Vulcans. South Division: Austin Mavericks, Sioux City Musketeers, and Waterloo Black Hawks.
  • 1980–81 Des Moines Buccaneers enter the league. Waterloo Black Hawks move to Dubuque and become the Fighting Saints. Hennepin Nordiques move to Waterloo and become the Black Hawks. North Division: Austin, Bloomington, Green Bay, and St. Paul. South Division: Des Moines, Dubuque, Sioux City, and Waterloo.
  • 1981–82 Green Bay folds. The remaining seven teams merge into one division.
  • 1983–84 North Iowa Huskies enter league.
  • 1984–85 Madison Capitols and Thunder Bay Flyers enter league. Bloomington changes name to Minneapolis Stars.
  • 1985–86 Minneapolis folds. Austin relocates to Rochester and renamed Mustangs.
  • 1986–87 Omaha Lancers enter league.
  • 1991–92 Madison changes name to Wisconsin Capitols.
  • 1994–95 Green Bay Gamblers enter league.
  • 1995–96 Wisconsin folds. Fargo-Moorhead Bears enter league. St. Paul changes name to Twin Cities Vulcans.
  • 1996–97 Fargo-Moorhead Bears disband. Fargo-Moorhead Ice Sharks enter league. Lincoln Stars enter league. League returns to divisional play. North Division: Fargo-Moorhead, Green Bay, North Iowa, Rochester, Thunder Bay, Twin Cities. South Division: Des Moines, Dubuque, Lincoln, Omaha, Sioux City, Waterloo.
  • 1997–98 USA Hockey National Team Development Program plays 24-game schedule in the USHL.
  • 1998–99 USHL agrees to play full-season schedule with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program as part of a two-year agreement. League moves to three-division format. East Division: Dubuque, Green Bay, Team USA, and Waterloo. Central Division: Des Moines, North Iowa, Rochester, Thunder Bay, and Twin Cities. West Division: Fargo-Moorhead, Lincoln, Omaha, and Sioux City.
  • 1999-00 Sioux Falls Stampede enters league. North Iowa relocates to Cedar Rapids and renamed the RoughRiders. League moves to two-division format. West Division: Des Moines, Fargo-Moorhead, Lincoln, Omaha, Sioux City, Sioux Falls, Twin Cities. East Division: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Green Bay, Rochester, Thunder Bay, USA Development, Waterloo.
  • 2000–01 Thunder Bay ceases operations. Fargo-Moorhead moves to Bensenville, IL and becomes the Chicago Steel. Twin Cities relocates to Kearney, NE and is renamed the Tri-City Storm. Team USA plays 34-game league schedule.
  • 2001–02 Dubuque Fighting Saints relocate to Tulsa, Oklahoma and become the Tulsa Crude. Topeka, KS gains an expansion team called the Topeka ScareCrows.
  • 2002–03 Rochester ceases operations. Tulsa ceases operations. Omaha relocates to Council Bluffs, Ia., and changes its name to the River City Lancers.
  • 2003–04 Danville Wings enter the league. Topeka moves to St. Louis and becomes the Heartland Eagles.
  • 2004–05 Danville moves to Indianapolis and becomes the Indiana Ice. St. Louis granted one-year suspension of operations.
  • 2005–06 River City Lancers change name back to Omaha Lancers.
  • 2006–07 Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets join the league after purchasing the membership of the former Thunder Bay Flyers.
  • 2007–08 Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets cease operations at the conclusion of the season.
  • 2008–09 Fargo Force will begin operations.
  • 2009–10 United States National Development Team (Team USA) will re-join league as fully competitive member. Youngstown Phantoms expansion team added.Omaha Lancers relocate back to Omaha, Ne.
  • 2010–11 Dubuque Fighting Saints rejoin league and Muskegon Lumberjacks join league as expansion teams.

[edit] Awards

Main article: List of USHL award winners

[edit] Semi-Pro Season Champions

Year Team
1961–62 Rochester Mustangs
1962–63 Green Bay Bobcats
1963–64 Waterloo Black Hawks
1964–65 Waterloo Black Hawks
1965–66 Waterloo Black Hawks
1966–67 Waterloo Black Hawks
1967–68 Waterloo Black Hawks
1968–69 Marquette Iron Rangers
1969–70 Marquette Iron Rangers
1970–71 Marquette Iron Rangers
1971–72 Green Bay Bobcats
1972–73 Thunder Bay Twins
1973–74 Thunder Bay Twins
1974–75 Waterloo Black Hawks
1975–76 Milwaukee Admirals
1976–77 Grand-Rapids Blades
1977–78 Waterloo Black Hawks
1978–79 Waterloo Black Hawks

[edit] Anderson Cup Champions

Year Team
1979–80 Hennepin Nordiques
1980–81 Dubuque Fighting Saints
1981–82 Sioux City Musketeers
1982–83 Dubuque Fighting Saints
1983–84 St. Paul Vulcans
1984–85 Austin Mavericks
1985–86 Sioux City Musketeers
1986–87 Rochester Mustangs
1987–88 Thunder Bay Flyers
1988–89 Thunder Bay Flyers
1989–90 Omaha Lancers
1990–91 Thunder Bay Flyers
1991–92 Thunder Bay Flyers
1992–93 Omaha Lancers
1993–94 Des Moines Buccaneers
1994–95 Des Moines Buccaneers
1995–96 Green Bay Gamblers
1996–97 Green Bay Gamblers
1997–98 Des Moines Buccaneers
1998–99 Des Moines Buccaneers
1999-00 Lincoln Stars
2000–01 Lincoln Stars
2001–02 Omaha Lancers
2002–03 Lincoln Stars
2003–04 Tri-City Storm
2004–05 Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
Omaha Lancers
2005–06 Sioux Falls Stampede
2006–07 Waterloo Black Hawks
2007–08 Omaha Lancers
2008–09 Green Bay Gamblers
2009–10 Green Bay Gamblers
2010–11 Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

[edit] Clark Cup Champions

Year Team
1979–80 Hennepin Nordiques
1980–81 Dubuque Fighting Saints
1981–82 Sioux City Musketeers
1982–83 Dubuque Fighting Saints
1983–84 St. Paul Vulcans
1984–85 Dubuque Fighting Saints
1985–86 Sioux City Musketeers
1986–87 Rochester Mustangs
1987–88 Thunder Bay Flyers
1988–89 Thunder Bay Flyers
1989–90 Omaha Lancers
1990–91 Omaha Lancers
1991–92 Des Moines Buccaneers
1992–93 Omaha Lancers
1993–94 Omaha Lancers
1994–95 Des Moines Buccaneers
1995–96 Green Bay Gamblers
1996–97 Lincoln Stars
1997–98 Omaha Lancers
1998–99 Des Moines Buccaneers
1999-00 Green Bay Gamblers
2000–01 Omaha Lancers
2001–02 Sioux City Musketeers
2002–03 Lincoln Stars
2003–04 Waterloo Black Hawks
2004–05 Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
2005–06 Des Moines Buccaneers
2006–07 Sioux Falls Stampede
2007–08 Omaha Lancers
2008–09 Indiana Ice
2009–10 Green Bay Gamblers
2010–11 Dubuque Fighting Saints

[edit] Alumni

[edit] League records

[edit] Team

  • Most points in a season – 97 by Des Moines Buccaneers in 1998–99 season.
  • Most wins in a season – 48 by Des Moines Buccaneers in 1998–99 season.
  • Most losses in a season – 48 by Omaha Lancers in 1986–87 season.
  • Longest winning streak – 19 by Des Moines Buccaneers between November 1, 1998 and January 6, 1999.

[edit] Individual

  • Most points in a season – 135 by Tim Ferguson of Sioux City Musketeers in 1985–86 season.
  • Most goals in a season – 67 by Rod Taylor of Sioux City Musketeers in 1985–86 season.
  • Most assists in a season – 79 by Tim Ferguson of Sioux City Musketeers in 1985–86 season.
  • Most PIMs in a season – 316 by Chad Stauffacher of Green Bay Gamblers in 1996–97 season.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ 1947–48 American Amateur Hockey League [AAHL] standings at. Hockeydb.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  2. ^ Marquette Iron Rnagers: History. Marquetteironrangers.com (June 1, 1964). Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  3. ^ United States Hockey League [USHL] seasons at. Hockeydb.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  4. ^ www.marquetteironrangers.com. www.marquetteironrangers.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  5. ^ [1][dead link]
  6. ^ Sioux City Musketeers hockey team of the USHL at. Hockeydb.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  7. ^ Green Bay Bobcats hockey team of the USHL at. Hockeydb.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  8. ^ Anoka Nordiques hockey team of the USHL at. Hockeydb.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  9. ^ Waterloo Black Hawks hockey team of the USHL at. Hockeydb.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  10. ^ Austin Mavericks hockey team of the USHL at. Hockeydb.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  11. ^ Bloomington Junior Stars hockey team of the USHL at. Hockeydb.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  12. ^ St. Paul Vulcans hockey team of the USHL at. Hockeydb.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  13. ^ 1978–79 United States Hockey League [USHL] standings at. Hockeydb.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  14. ^ 1968–69 United States Hockey League [USHL] standings at. Hockeydb.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  15. ^ Santa's Village by Phillip L. Wenz, Published by Arcadia Publishing, 2007 ISBN 0738541494, 9780738541495
  16. ^ 1961–62 United States Hockey League [USHL] standings at. Hockeydb.com (January 16, 1962). Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  17. ^ http://www.murraywilliamson.org/Pages/1968.aspx
  18. ^ St Paul Vulcans Hockey History. Vintageminnesotahockey.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  • USHL 2006–07 Media Guide

[edit] External links

United States Hockey League
East Division
West Division
Related articles: Clark Cup  · Anderson Cup  · Annual awards · NHL alumni · NHL draftees
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