Washington

Washington is a state in the northwestern United States.

Its population is about 7,700,000.

The capital is Olympia and the largest city is Seattle.

History of hockey in Washington

see also: Washington Amateur Hockey (1946-1985)

Ice polo was played in Spokane for the first time during the winter of 1899-1900. On February 1, the Spokane Ice Polo Club thumped Blair Business College 7-0. The Spokane High School was destroyed 16-0 by the Sandon (BC) Hockey Club at Rossland two weeks later. The Spokane players were under the misconception that hockey and ice polo were the same game, and were surprised by the differences, particularly the offside rule, which was not a term known to them, and the fact that ice hockey was played with a puck and straight sticks, whereas a ball and curved sticks were used in ice polo. Hockey replaced ice polo in Spokane the following winter. Warm weather played consistent play challenging, but in February 1906, the Star Shingle Company opened an artificial ice rink at their plant. It closed after the 1907 season. Spokane entered a team in the Rossland Winter Carnival in 1907, 1908, and 1917.

The Seattle Ice Arena opened in 1915 and the Seattle Metropolitans joined the Pacific Coast Hockey Association for the 1915-16 season. They finished tied for second with the Vancouver Millionaires. With the opening of the Spokane Arena, the Metropolitans were joined by the Spokane Canaries for 1916-17. The Metropolitans won the PCHA championship, and went on to defeat the Montreal Canadiens, becoming the first American team to win the Stanley Cup. The Canaries did not return the following year, but the Metropolitans remained in the PCHA until 1924. The University of Washington Huskies played its first games in 1921. They were members of the Seattle Amateur League from 1922-1924.

Hockey disappeared from Seattle in 1925, but returned to Spokane that year, the Spokane Arctic Club meeting the Fourth Infantry in two games. In 1925-26, the Spokane Zips faced Couer d'Alene (ID), and went on a tour of British Columbia. Couer d'Alene was a common opponent for Spokane in the following years, and the two cities founded the Inland Empire League in 1930-31. Hockey returned to Seattle in 1928-29, when the Eskimos joined the Pacific Coast Hockey League. The Tacoma Tigers also joined the league for 1930-31. After the PCHL folded, the Puget Sound Hockey League was established in Seattle for 1931-32. It became the Seattle City League the following year, and for 1933-34 the Seattle Sea Hawks joined the North West Hockey League, remaining in it until 1936.

The Sea Hawks joined a revived PCHL for the 1936-37 season, playing in it until the Seattle Olympics took their place for 1940-41. The Oakland Clippers moved to Spokane on February 11, 1937, and played there until 1939. Later, the Spokane Bombers played in the PCHL in 1940-41. The Washington Huskies were reformed in 1934-35, and lasted until 1938-39. The Gonzaga University Bulldogs sponsored a varsity hockey program from 1937-1940. There was hockey played in Yakima in 1939-40. In the fall of 1941, teams from Seattle and Portland played in the Northwest Hockey League. It folded and was replaced by the Seattle City League in December, after the Portland teams dropped out. The league remained in place for 1942-43, and in 1943-44 the Seattle Bombers and Ironmen joined the Northwest International Hockey League.

For 1944-45, the Seattle Stars, Ironmen, and the Vancouver Vanguards were founding members of the third incarnation of the PCHL. The Ironmen (known as the Bombers in 1949-50) played in the league until 1952. The Tacoma Rockets also competed in the PCHL from 1946-1952 and the Western Hockey League in 1952-53. The Seattle Bombers (1953-1954), Americans (1955-1957) and Totems (1957-1974) were all members of the Western Hockey League. The Totems later spent the 1974-75 season in the Central Hockey League. The Seattle Bombers played in the Northwest Amateur Hockey League in 1954-55. The Seattle Seahawks had an independent amateur team in 1958-59. They lost 6-1 and 5-2 to the Vancouver Pilseners on December 17 and February 4, respectively. The Seahawks also faced the Flamingos (losing 7-4 to them) and Loggers from Chilliwack, BC, and played the Great Falls Americans for the Western US Intermediate title, losing 2 games to one.

The Seattle Thunderbirds (known as the Breakers until 1985) have been members of the major junior Western Hockey League since 1977. The Spokane Chiefs, Tri-City Americans (based in Kennewick) and Everett Silvertips have also played in the league since 1985, 1988 and 2003, respectively. The Seattle Kraken were admitted to the National Hockey League as its 32nd franchise for the 2021-22 season.

Spokane teams to play in the Western International Hockey League include the Spartans (1946-1948), Flyers (1948-1958, 1974-1978, 1979-1980, and 1982-1985), and Jets (1963-1974). The Flyers played in the minor pro Western Hockey League in 1958-59, being renamed the Sookes for 1959-60, and then the Comets from 1960-1963. The Flyers also played in the Pacific Hockey League in 1978-79 and the major junior Western Hockey League from 1980-December 1981. The Tacoma Rockets were also members of the WHL from 1991-1995. The Tacoma Sabercats played in the West Coast Hockey League from 1997-2002.

The Fairchild Air Force Base had a team from 1951-1953, and the Spokane Junior Flyers were active from 1951-1957. The Spokane Intermediate Flyers (also called the All-Stars) were active as an independent team from 1956-1958, losing to the Great Falls Americans in the Western US Intermediate Championship all three times. The Intermediate Flyers beat the Seattle Intermediate Americans 11-5 on March 17, 1957. On December 14, they were set to face Walla Walla College. Cranbrook (BC) whacked the Intermediates 13-2 on February 9, 1958. Spokane Eagle Electric had an intermediate team from 1964-1981.

American States

US Capital: Washington, D.C.

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