North Peace Hockey League
Encyclopedia
The North Peace Hockey League (NPHL) is a Canadian
men's Senior ice hockey
league based in Northern Alberta
and North Eastern British Columbia
. It is not professional but the teams and players play at a high calibre. The NPHL draws several hundred fans to each game, with many games being sold out each night.
With a history that dates back to the early 1950s, the NPHL is the has the distinction of being the longest continually running senior hockey league currently in existence in western Canada. The league was down to two teams (Peace River Stampeders and High Prairie Regals) in the early 1970s, when it played an interlocking schedule with the South Peace Hockey League.
Prior to the start of the 2009-10 season, the league voted to disallow any team playing AAA hockey from competing in the NPHL playoffs. This change will affect teams making a try for the Allan Cup
. Despite this decision, the Fort St. John Flyers
hosted, competed at, and won the 2010 Allan Cup
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
men's Senior ice hockey
Senior ice hockey
Senior hockey refers to amateur or semi-professional ice hockey competition for players too old to play junior ice hockey. The top senior amateur teams in Canadian leagues compete annually for the Allan Cup....
league based in Northern Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
and North Eastern British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. It is not professional but the teams and players play at a high calibre. The NPHL draws several hundred fans to each game, with many games being sold out each night.
With a history that dates back to the early 1950s, the NPHL is the has the distinction of being the longest continually running senior hockey league currently in existence in western Canada. The league was down to two teams (Peace River Stampeders and High Prairie Regals) in the early 1970s, when it played an interlocking schedule with the South Peace Hockey League.
Prior to the start of the 2009-10 season, the league voted to disallow any team playing AAA hockey from competing in the NPHL playoffs. This change will affect teams making a try for the Allan Cup
Allan Cup
The Allan Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the national senior amateur men’s ice hockey champions of Canada. It has been competed for since 1909. The current champion is the Clarenville Caribous hockey club of Newfoundland and Labrador.-History:...
. Despite this decision, the Fort St. John Flyers
Fort St. John Flyers
The Fort St. John Flyers are a Canadian Senior ice hockey teams from Fort St. John, British Columbia. They play in the North Peace Hockey League and are one-time Allan Cup National Champions.-History:...
hosted, competed at, and won the 2010 Allan Cup
2010 Allan Cup
The 2010 Allan Cup is the 2010 edition of the Canadian National Championship of Senior ice hockey. This tournament will mark the 102nd year that the Allan Cup has been awarded. The 2010 tournament will be hosted by the City of Fort St. John, British Columbia and the Fort St. John Flyers.-2010 Allan...
.
Current
Ten teams competed in the 2009-2010 season. They are:- Dawson Creek Canucks
- Fairview Kings
- Falher Pirates
- Fort St. John FlyersFort St. John FlyersThe Fort St. John Flyers are a Canadian Senior ice hockey teams from Fort St. John, British Columbia. They play in the North Peace Hockey League and are one-time Allan Cup National Champions.-History:...
- Grande Prairie Athletics
- Grimshaw Huskies
- High Prairie Regals
- Hythe Mustangs
- Lakeland Eagles (from McLennan)
- Peace River Stampeders
- Valleyview Jets
Defunct
- Beaverlodge 77s
- Fairview Elks
- Fairview Monarchs
- Fort Nelson Fury
- Horse Lake ThunderHorse Lake ThunderHorse Lake Thunder is a defunct men's Senior ice hockey team that played in the North Peace Hockey League .-2004-05 season:Former NHL superstar Theoren Fleury played a season with the Horse Lake Thunder in 2004. The 2004 Horse Lake roster also included former NHL players Gino Odjick, Sasha Lakovic...
- Manning Comets
- McLennan Red Wings
- Rycroft Flames
- Spirit River Rangers
Notable players
- Former NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
superstar Theoren FleuryTheoren FleuryTheoren Wallace "Theo" Fleury is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player for the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers, and Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League , Tappara of Finland's SM-liiga, and the Belfast Giants of the UK's Elite Ice Hockey League...
played a season with the Horse Lake Thunder in 2004. The 2004 Horse Lake roster also included former NHL tough guy Gino OdjickGino OdjickWayne Gino "Chief, The Enforcer" Odjick was born on 7 September 1970 in an Algonquin Native Reserve named Chum Sa Bay at Maniwaki, Quebec. He was a professional hockey player in the National Hockey League from 1990–91 to 2001–02....
, bubble players Sasha LakovicSasha LakovicSasha "The Basha, Pitbull" Lakovic is a retired professional ice hockey player who played for 17 different professional teams during his career...
and Dody WoodDody WoodDarin Michael "Dody" Wood is a retired ice hockey left winger drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the 3rd round, 45th overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. He suited up for 106 NHL games with the San Jose Sharks before being traded to the New Jersey Devils on December 7, 1997...
. The Thunder had spent millions of dollars on a new arena, players and the team went on to win the championship that year, but in the 2005 Allan Cup2005 Allan CupThe 2005 Allan Cup was the Canadian national senior ice hockey championship for the 2004-05 Senior "AAA" season. The event was hosted by the Lloydminster Border Kings in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan/Alberta...
the Thunder were defeated in the semi finals by the Thunder Bay BombersThunder Bay BombersThe Thunder Bay Twins are a Canadian Senior ice hockey team from Thunder Bay, Ontario. They play an independent schedule under the supervision of Hockey Northwestern Ontario...
who went on the win the Allan CupAllan CupThe Allan Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the national senior amateur men’s ice hockey champions of Canada. It has been competed for since 1909. The current champion is the Clarenville Caribous hockey club of Newfoundland and Labrador.-History:...
. - Former New York RangersNew York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
goalie and current St. Louis Blues president John Davidson played one season with the High Prairie Regals in the early 1970s. - Reg BentleyReg BentleyReginald Bentley was a Canadian ice hockey player who played 11 games in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks as part of a 20-year senior and professional career...
, one of the famous Bentleys of NHL fame was a player/coach for the High Prairie Regals for a couple years in the early 1960s. - Roger Bellerive, who later spent a few years with the Portland BuckaroosPortland BuckaroosThe Portland Buckaroos was the name of several professional ice hockey teams based in Portland, Oregon.-PCHL/NWHL era :The first incarnation of Portland Buckaroos played their home games at the Portland Ice Arena. The Buckaroos initially played in the four-team Pacific Coast Hockey League from...
of the old Western Professional Hockey LeagueWestern 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...
played for the Falher Pirates in the late 1950s. - Former American Hockey LeagueAmerican Hockey LeagueThe 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...
star, Fred Hilts played a few seasons for the Spirit River Rangers, who were then in the old South Peace Hockey League in the early 1960s. - Norm Skrudland, father of former NHL star Brian SkrudlandBrian SkrudlandBrian Skrudland is a retired former professional ice hockey player who played for the Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers, New York Rangers and Dallas Stars.- Junior and minor pro :...
, starred with the Grimshaw Huskies in the early 1960s. - Former San Jose SharksSan Jose SharksThe San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
property Todd Holt also spent time in the NPHL. - Former NHL and AHL player Wade CampbellWade CampbellWade Allan Campbell is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League for the Winnipeg Jets and the Boston Bruins between 1982 and 1988...
played in Grimshaw before and after his professional career. - Other NHL Payers to don an NPHL jersey include: Ed BeersEd BeersEdward Joseph "Eddy" Beers is a retired professional ice hockey forward who played 250 games in the National Hockey League. He was nearly a point per game player in his time in the NHL, but his NHL career was cut short by injury....
and Howard WalkerHoward WalkerHoward K. Walker is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenceman who played for the Washington Capitals and Calgary Flames. Originally signed by the Capitals as a free agent in 1980, Walker played parts of two seasons before he was traded to the Flames. He retired following the 1982–83 NHL...
.