Yukon

The location of the territory in Canada.

Yukon is a territory in northern Canada. It has a population of about 38,000. The capital is Whitehorse.

History of hockey in Yukon

see also: Whitehorse Hockey (1940-1997) and Whitehorse Recreational Hockey League

The first ice hockey game in the Yukon was played in Dawson City on February 11, 1899. The Dawson City Civilians defeated the Evans Hockey Club 12-4. Hockey was first played in Whitehorse around 1900. By 1901, there were four ice rinks set out on the Yukon River. The first enclosed rink west of Winnipeg was erected in Dawson City in the fall of 1902 and a four-team hockey league was formed for 1902-03. It consisted of the Eagles, Mounties, Dawson Amateur Athletic Association, and Civil Service. The most famous event in Yukon hockey history was undoubtedly the Dawson City Nuggets' Stanley Cup challenge in 1905. On December 11, 1920, the Mucklucks and the Malamutes played to a 12-12 tie in Whitehorse.

The Dawson Knights captured the 1921 Yukon hockey championship with a win over the Klondyke Huskies on March 30. The Knights won a best of seven series in six games (8-2, 2-3, 4-4, 4-3, 5-4, 3-1). The North Pole Hockey League was contested in 1922. The Dawson Tigers won the championship, defeating the Dawson Wanderers in the sixth game, played on April 4. Series results: (3/1: 7-5, 3/7: 4-8, 3/11: 8-4, 3/25: 1-10, 3/29: 6-3, 4/4: 5-4 OT). Archie Gillespie, captain of the Wanderers, scored 15 goals on the season for his team. In 1923, the St Patrick's and Mohawks competed in the Dawson Hockey League. The St. Patrick's won four out of seven games played against the Mohawks and became Champions of the Yukon, clinching the title on April 2. Series results: (2/26: 3-2, 3/5: 4-7, 3/14: 6-2, 3/19: 0-6, 3/26: 4-3 OT, 4/2: 6-2). On March 16, 1925, the Bronchos defeated the Cougars 5-4, winning their way into a two game final series against the Senators. In 1926, the St Patrick's blasted the Cardinals 7-3 in the final. Dawson Town beat the Police by one goal on February 9, 1927. On March 15, the High School beat the Pirates. In 1929, the Franich team won an exhibition series by beating the Coatalians 3-2, and also defeated them 3-1 in the first game for the Dan Coates Shield. In 1940, the Alley Cats beat the Wolverines 6-3. In the early 1960s, the Cheechakos, Comets and Flyers competed in the Dawson City Senior League.

Three players (Andy Gilpin, Ross King, and Len Beech) who were members of the RCAF Flyers team that represented Canada at the 1948 Winter Olympics, played in Whitehorse for a local Airforce team during the 1947-48 and 1948-49 seasons. The Airforce team was beaten by the Whitehorse Merchants for the Men's League title both years. The Merchants played one season in the Wheatbelt-Yukon Hockey League in 1953-54.

The Whitehorse Huskies won the Allan Cup in 1993, the only team in the territory to achieve this feat. After a 16-year hiatus, the team returned to play senior hockey in 2010. They were eliminated from Allan Cup contention when they were swept 3-games-to-none by the Powell River Regals in the Pacific finals.

Canadian Provinces

Alberta - British Columbia - Manitoba - Newfoundland and Labrador - New Brunswick

Nova Scotia - Ontario - Prince Edward Island - Quebec - Saskatchewan

Territories: Northwest Territories - Nunavut - Yukon