History United States Hockey League

1 history

1.1 american amateur hockey league
1.2 central hockey league
1.3 minnesota hockey league
1.4 united states central hockey league

1.4.1 1961–79

history

precursors league were:

american amateur hockey league (1947–52)
central hockey league (1952–53)
minnesota hockey league (1953–55)
united states central hockey league (1955–61)

american amateur hockey league

the united states hockey league established american amateur hockey league in 1947 , began play 1947–48 season. when league began operations had 5 teams in , around twin cities arena along team in rochester. league made 3 clubs st. paul 7-up, koppy s , tally s. 2 minneapolis jersey s , bermans. along team rochester called rochester mustangs. after 1947–48 season st. paul tally s dropped out of league , left 5 remaining members make league 1948–49 , 1949–50 seasons. 1950–51 season st. paul 7-up , st. paul koppy s merged , became st. paul 7-up/koppy s. minneapoils bermans dropped out of league , new team called twin city fords added give american amateur hockey league 4 teams 1950–51 season. rochester mustangs club return fifth , final season of american amateur hockey league in 1951–52. gone st. paul 7-up/koppy s, twin city fords , minneapolis jerseys. replaced st. paul saints, hibbing flyers, minneapolis millers, eveleth rangers , first club based outside of state of minnesota sioux city iowa sunhawks. gave league 6 clubs 1951–52.

central hockey league

the american amateur hockey league renamed central hockey league 1952–53 season. 5 of clubs had made american amateur hockey league 1951-52 season returned. clubs rochester mustangs, st. paul saints, minneapolis millers, hibbing flyers , called eveleth-virginia rangers. gone sioux city sunhawks.

minnesota hockey league

after year central hockey league league renamed minnesota hockey league , called 1953–54 , 1954–55 seasons. 2 teams had made central hockey league returned make minnesota hockey league 1953–54 season. teams rochester mustangs , hibbing flyers. gone st. paul saints. minneapolis millers , eveleth-virginia rangers. grand forks red wings added , gave league 3 teams 1953–54 season. rochester mustangs team return second , final season of minnesota hockey league. gone hibbing , grand forks. league added 2 teams in minneapolis called culbersons , bungalows , team in st. paul called saints give league 4 teams 1954–55.

united states central hockey league

after 2 seasons minnesota hockey league league became united states central hockey league , called 5 years 1956 1960. 3 of 4 teams had made minnesota hockey league 1954–55 season returned. teams rochester mustangs along both minneapolis clubs culbersons , bungalows. gone st. paul saints replaced team called st. paul peters. these 4 clubs make uschl 1955–56 , 1956–57 seasons. 1957–58 season st paul peters replaced team called st. paul k.s.t.p. rochester mustangs team return 1958–59 season. gone st. paul k.s.t.p along both minneapolis clubs culbersons , bungalows. league returned 4 teams when replaced these clubs st. paul capitols, minneapolis millers , des moines ice hawks, marking league s return iowa. fifth , final season of uschl st paul capitols dropped out , league expanded 5 teams , new territory team in michigan addition of marquette sentinels , wisconsin addition of green bay bobcats.

1961–79

the united states hockey league (ushl) operated senior ice hockey league 1961 1979.

the ushl welcomed first female professional hockey player in 1969–70, when marquette iron rangers signed karen koch.

by late 1970s, ushl had fallen on hard times. in summer of 1977, clubs folded midwest junior hockey league contacted ushl. unique merger formed, 3 junior teams (bloomington junior stars, austin mavericks, st. paul vulcans) , 3 remaining pro teams (sioux city musketeers, waterloo black hawks, green bay bobcats) gathered under ushl banner. league governors decided on two-division format, junior-aged teams in midwest division , professionals in u.s. division. teams played interlocking schedule was, predictably, dominated professionals. ushl s split existence last 2 seasons. minor-pro wing of league folded following 1978–79 season, providing junior hockey operators opportunity redefine circuit. 1979–80 season league s first entirely junior arrangement.

the league s last season senior hockey league 1978–79. during final season league comprised 7 teams in 2 conferences. u.s. conference (with green bay bobcats, sioux city musketeers , waterloo black hawks); while midwest conference (with anoka nordiques, austin mavericks, bloomington junior stars , st. paul vulcans). 7 teams made players categorized senior amateur . following 1978–79 season senior league teams in u.s. conference folded , ushl became all-junior league following season.