Eastern Professional Hockey League
Encyclopedia
The Eastern Professional Hockey League (EPHL) was a minor professional ice hockey
league that operated primarily in Ontario
and Quebec
from 1959 to 1963.
While the NHL had established working relationships with teams in leagues such as the AHL
and WHL
, these leagues and their teams were not fully under the control of the NHL, and in this era operated more independently than is the case today. The Eastern Professional Hockey League was created in 1959 as the first farm league fully run and controlled by the NHL. While the league proved to be a success on the ice, it largely failed off the ice. Attendance in these smaller cities could not support professional hockey, and by 1962, the league was reduced to just four teams. While the intent was for the EPHL to be the primary development league for the NHL, the Detroit Red Wings
did not participate until the final season, and the Toronto Maple Leafs
never had an affiliate.
During its final season the league played an interlocking schedule with the International Hockey League. Following the demise of the EPHL, the NHL created the new Central Hockey League of minor-pro farm teams in larger, midwestern U.S. cities. Four of the CHL's initial five franchises were relocations of the previous season's EPHL teams.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
league that operated primarily in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
from 1959 to 1963.
While the NHL had established working relationships with teams in leagues such as the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
and WHL
Western Hockey League (minor pro)
The Western Hockey League was a minor pro ice hockey league that operated from 1952 to 1974. Managed for most of its history by Hockey Hall of Fame member Al Leader, it was created out of the merger of the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Canada Senior Hockey League...
, these leagues and their teams were not fully under the control of the NHL, and in this era operated more independently than is the case today. The Eastern Professional Hockey League was created in 1959 as the first farm league fully run and controlled by the NHL. While the league proved to be a success on the ice, it largely failed off the ice. Attendance in these smaller cities could not support professional hockey, and by 1962, the league was reduced to just four teams. While the intent was for the EPHL to be the primary development league for the NHL, the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
did not participate until the final season, and the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
never had an affiliate.
During its final season the league played an interlocking schedule with the International Hockey League. Following the demise of the EPHL, the NHL created the new Central Hockey League of minor-pro farm teams in larger, midwestern U.S. cities. Four of the CHL's initial five franchises were relocations of the previous season's EPHL teams.
Member teams
- Hull-Ottawa CanadiensHull-Ottawa CanadiensThe Hull-Ottawa Canadiens were a team in the Ontario Hockey Association Senior "A" league for 3 seasons from 1956-59. The team played an interlocking schedule in 1956-57 with the Quebec Senior Hockey League. The Canadiens then played in the Eastern Professional Hockey League from 1959-63...
(1959–1963) - Kingston FrontenacsKingston Frontenacs (EPHL)The Kingston Frontenacs of the Eastern Professional Hockey League were a minor league professional ice hockey team affiliated with the NHL's Boston Bruins....
(1959–1963) - Montreal Royals(1959–1961)
- Sault ThunderbirdsSault ThunderbirdsThe Sault Thunderbirds were a professional ice hockey team in the Eastern Professional Hockey League from 1959 to 1962. The Thunderbirds were based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and played at the Sault Memorial Gardens.-Hockey Hall of Fame Members:...
(1959–1962) (moved to Syracuse for 1962-63 season) - Sudbury WolvesSudbury Wolves (EPHL)The Sudbury Wolves of the Eastern Professional Hockey League were a minor league professional ice hockey team affiliated with the National Hockey League...
(1959–1963) - Trois-Rivières LionsTrois-Rivières LionsThe Trois-Rivières Lions were an ice hockey team in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. They played in the Quebec Hockey League from 1955-1959, and the Eastern Professional Hockey League for the 1960 season.-Results:-External links:*...
(1959–1960) (moved to Kitchener for 1960-61 season) - Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen (1960–1961)
- Kitchener BeaversKitchener BeaversThe Kitchener Beavers were a Canadian professional ice hockey team in Kitchener, Ontario. They played in the Eastern Professional Hockey League from 1960-1962.-Results:-External links:*...
(1961–1962) - North Bay TrappersNorth Bay TrappersThe North Bay Trappers were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from North Bay, Ontario, Canada. This defunct hockey team was a part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey Association and later the OHA Jr...
(1961–1962) - Syracuse Braves (1962–1963) (moved to St. Louis during the 1962-63 season)
- St. Louis BravesSt. Louis BravesThe St. Louis Braves were a minor league hockey club located in St. Louis, Missouri. The team originated as the Syracuse Braves in the Eastern Professional Hockey League's final season of 1962–63. The team was moved to St. Louis mid-season, and continued in the new Central Hockey League after the...
(1962–1963)
League champions
- 19601959–60 EPHL season-Regular season:- Playoffs :- External Links :*...
- Sudbury Wolves - 19611960–61 EPHL season-Regular season:- Playoffs :-External Links :*...
- Hull-Ottawa Canadians - 19621961–62 EPHL season-Regular season:- Playoffs :- External Links :*...
- Hull-Ottawa Canadians - 19631962–63 EPHL season-Regular season:- Playoffs :- External Links :*...
- Kingston Frontenacs