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The International Hockey League (IHL) was a minor professional ice hockey league in the United States and Canada that operated from 1945 to 2001. The IHL served as the National Hockey League's alternate farm system to the American Hockey League (AHL). After 56 years of operation, financial instability led to the league's demise. Six of the surviving seven teams merged into the AHL in 2001.
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| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1945 |
| Ceased | 2001 |
| Countries | United States Canada |
| Most titles | Cincinnati Mohawks (5) |
Early years
The IHL was formed on December 5, 1945, in a three-hour meeting at the Norton Palmer Hotel in Windsor, Ontario. In attendance were Jack Adams (coach of the Detroit Red Wings), Fred Huber (Red Wings public relations), Frank Gallagher (amateur hockey organizer in Detroit and Windsor), Lloyd Pollock (Windsor hockey pioneer), Gerald McHugh (Windsor lawyer), Len Hebert, Len Loree and Bill Beckman. The league began operations in the 1945–46 IHL season with four teams in Windsor and Detroit, and operated as semi-professional league.[1][2]
In 1947, a team from Toledo, Ohio, joined the league, and the following year the IHL expanded significantly, with teams in four additional U.S. cities. The expansion did not take hold, and for 1949–50, the league was back down to teams in Detroit and Windsor as well as two nearby Canadian cities, Sarnia, Ontario, and Chatham, Ontario. Windsor dropped out in 1950, and expansion into the U.S. began again, with Toledo rejoining the league and new teams in Grand Rapids, Michigan (1950), Troy, Ohio, (1951), Cincinnati (1952), Fort Wayne, Indiana (1952), and Milwaukee (1952). At the same time, the last Canadian team left the league in 1952, when the Chatham Maroons pulled out. Three new U.S. cities were added in 1953. The league would expand and shrink between five and nine teams through the 1950s, with another major expansion in 1959. In the 1962–63 season, the IHL played an interlocking schedule with the NHL-owned Eastern Professional Hockey League, which itself folded after its 1962–63 season. After 11 seasons as a strictly U.S.-based league, the IHL admitted two Canadian teams in 1963, with the Windsor Bulldogs and the return of the Chatham Maroons. Both teams dropped out after one season, however, and the league would not have a Canadian team again until 1996.
Major market expansion
Bill Beagan served as commissioner of the IHL from 1969 to 1978. The Canadian Press cited him for turning around the league's financial situation and making it a top-tier development system for future NHL talent.[3]
Starting in the late 1960s, the IHL's quality of play significantly improved. By the mid-1970s it was on par with the American Hockey League (AHL), the longtime top feeder league for the National Hockey League. Many IHL teams became the top farm teams of NHL teams. In 1984, the league swallowed up a few surviving members of the Central Hockey League, which had ceased operations.
In 1985, the league adopted the shootout to determine tie games in place of traditional overtime.[4] The NHL would begin using the shootout to avoid tie games in 2005.
Beginning in the late 1980s and continuing into the mid-90s, the IHL expanded or re-located existing franchises into major U.S. markets such as Atlanta, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Orlando, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, and San Francisco. Many of these markets had been previously served by the defunct World Hockey Association or abandoned by the NHL. The IHL also entered markets that had existing NHL teams, such as Chicago, Detroit, and Los Angeles. In 1996, the IHL moved its Atlanta and Minneapolis–Saint Paul franchises to Quebec City and Winnipeg, respectively, restoring the league's Canadian presence and filling the void left by the departure of the NHL's Quebec Nordiques and the original Winnipeg Jets.
The minimum requirements for an IHL expansion team in 1995 were "a 10,000-seat arena, a population base of one million, and a $6 million franchise fee."[5] As the league expanded into larger markets, many of the smaller-market teams (such as Fort Wayne, Peoria, Muskegon, Kalamazoo and Flint) left the IHL and joined lower-level leagues.
Decline and collapse
The IHL's expansion into NHL markets put a strain on relationships between the leagues. There was some speculation that the IHL was intending to compete directly with the NHL, especially when a lockout in 1994–95 threatened to wipe out the NHL season.[6] However, in the 1995–96 season, the IHL's "soft" salary cap was just $1.5 million,[7] while the lowest NHL team payroll that season was $11.4 million.[8] A Fall 1994 article in Sports Illustrated praising the IHL and mocking the NHL only fueled the fire. In said article, IHL officials detailed plans to continue expanding the league to large markets in North America, as well as, "a six-team European league with franchises in England, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Sweden and France."[9]
In response, many NHL clubs shifted their affiliations to the AHL, and by 1997–98, only four of 18 IHL teams had NHL affiliations.[10] With the loss of subsidized salaries, high expansion fees (by the end the league was charging as much as $8 million US for new teams), exploding travel costs and the NHL itself moving back into some of its markets, the league's rapid expansion proved a critical strain, and it folded after the 2000–01 season.
Six IHL franchises (the Chicago Wolves, Grand Rapids Griffins, Houston Aeros, Utah Grizzlies, Milwaukee Admirals and Manitoba Moose) were admitted into the AHL as expansion teams for the 2001–02 season. Between them, they have played for the AHL Calder Cup seven times, winning four—including three in a row after their arrival. As well, the Cincinnati Cyclones was readmitted to the East Coast Hockey League, which hosted the team from 1990 to 1992 before it moved to the IHL. The Orlando Solar Bears (the final IHL playoff champions) and the Kansas City Blades were not admitted into the AHL because their owner, Rich DeVos, who also owned the Griffins, was allowed to own only one AHL franchise. The league's other two teams, the Cleveland Lumberjacks and Detroit Vipers, ceased operations along with the league.
Two former IHL teams that moved to the AHL have since relocated: the Utah Grizzlies moved to Cleveland, Ohio, to become the Lake Erie Monsters (rebranded as Cleveland Monsters in 2016) in 2007 and the Houston Aeros moved to Des Moines, Iowa, to become the Iowa Wild in 2013. A third team, the Manitoba Moose, temporarily relocated to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador to become the St. John's IceCaps from 2011 to 2015. Three former franchises have been relaunched in lower-tier leagues since the IHL's demise. The Utah Grizzlies name was revived by the former Lexington Men O' War of the ECHL when they moved, and the Orlando Solar Bears restarted as an ECHL expansion team. The Peoria Rivermen have had three more franchises with an expansion team in the East Coast Hockey League from 1996 to 2005, a relocated Worcester IceCats in the American Hockey League from 2005 to 2013, and a fourth incarnation of the Peoria Rivermen subsequently launched in the Southern Professional Hockey League in 2013.
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| Award name | Seasons | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Turner Cup | 1945–2001 | League playoff champions |
| Fred A. Huber Trophy | 1945–2001 | Regular season champions |
| Commissioner's Trophy | 1984–2001 | Coach of the year |
| Leo P. Lamoureux Memorial Trophy | 1946–2001 | Top point scorer. Known as "George H. Wilkinson Trophy" (1946-1960)." |
| James Gatschene Memorial Trophy | 1946–2001 | MVP / Sportsmanship |
| Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy | 1988–2001 | Playoffs MVP |
| Gary F. Longman Memorial Trophy | 1961–2001 | Rookie of the year Known as "Leading Rookie Award" (1961–1967). |
| Ken McKenzie Trophy | 1977–2001 | American-born rookie of the year |
| Governor's Trophy | 1964–2001 | Best defenseman. Known as "Larry D. Gordon Trophy" (1998–2001). |
| James Norris Memorial Trophy | 1955–2001 | Goaltenders with lowest GAA. |
| John Cullen Award | 1996–2001 | Comeback player of the year. Known as "Comeback Player of the Year Award" (1996–1998). |
| Ironman Award | 1988–2001 | Durability / longevity. |
| IHL Man of the Year | 1992–2001 | Outstanding community service. Also known as "I. John Snider, II Trophy." |
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| Founding year |
Team name(s) | Years of operation |
Number of seasons |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Detroit Auto Club | 1945–1951 | 6 | |
| 1945 | Detroit Bright's Goodyears | 1945–1949 | 4 | |
| 1945 | Windsor Gotfredsons Windsor Staffords Windsor Ryan Cretes | 1945–1946 1946–1948 1948–1950 | 5 | |
| 1945 | Windsor Spitfires Windsor Hettche Spitfires Detroit Hettche | 1945–1947 1947–1949 1949–1952 | 7 | |
| 1946 | Detroit Metal Mouldings Detroit Jerry Lynch | 1946–1948 1948–1949 | 3 | |
| 1947 | Toledo Mercurys | 1947–1949 1950–1962 | 14 | Played in North and South divisions (1948–1949 season). Played as Toledo Buckeyes (EAHL) (1949–1950). Played as Toledo-Marion Mercurys (1955–1956). Played as Toledo-St. Louis Mercurys (1959–1960). |
| 1948 | Akron Americans | 1948–1949 | 1 | |
| 1948 | Louisville Blades | 1948–1949 | 1 | Transferred to USHL in 1949. |
| 1948 | Milwaukee Clarks | 1948–1949 | 1 | Transferred to EAHL in 1949. |
| 1948 | Muncie Flyers | 1948–1949 | 1 | |
| 1949 | Sarnia Sailors | 1949–1951 | 2 | Transferred to OHA Sr. A in 1951. |
| 1949 | Chatham Maroons | 1949–1952 1963–1964 | 4 | Played in OHA Sr. A (1952–1963). |
| 1950 | Grand Rapids Rockets Huntington Hornets Louisville Rebels | 1950–1956 1956–1957 1957–1960 | 10 | |
| 1951 | Troy Bruins | 1951–1959 | 8 | |
| 1952 | Cincinnati Mohawks | 1952–1958 | 6 | Transferred from AHL in 1952. |
| 1952 | Fort Wayne Komets Albany Choppers | 1952–1990 1990–1991 | 38 | Ceased operations mid-season on February 15, 1991. |
| 1952 | Milwaukee Chiefs | 1952–1954 | 2 | |
| 1953 | Johnstown Jets | 1953–1955 | 2 | Transferred from EAHL in 1953 Transferred to EHL in 1955. |
| 1953 | Louisville Shooting Stars | 1953–1954 | 1 | |
| 1953 | Marion Barons | 1953–1954 | 1 | |
| 1955 | Indianapolis Chiefs | 1955–1962 | 7 | |
| 1959 | Milwaukee Falcons | 1959–1960 | 2 | Ceased operations November 26, 1960, during second season. |
| 1959 | Denver Mavericks Minneapolis Millers | 1959 1959–1963 | 4 | Denver relocated mid-season to Minneapolis on December 3, 1959. |
| 1959 | St. Paul Saints | 1959–1963 | 4 | |
| 1959 | Omaha Knights Toledo Blades Toledo Hornets Lansing Lancers | 1959–1963 1963–1970 1970–1974 1974–1975 | 16 | |
| 1960 | Muskegon Zephyrs Muskegon Mohawks Muskegon Lumberjacks Cleveland Lumberjacks | 1960–1965 1965–1984 1984–1992 1992–2001 | 41 | |
| 1962 | Port Huron Flags Port Huron Wings Port Huron Flags | 1962–1971 1971–1974 1974–1981 | 19 | |
| 1963 | Des Moines Oak Leafs Des Moines Capitols | 1963–1972 1972–1975 | 12 | |
| 1963 | Windsor Bulldogs | 1963–1964 | 1 | Transferred from OHA Sr. A in 1963. |
| 1964 | Dayton Gems | 1964–1977 1979–1980 | 14 | Team on hiatus from 1977 to 1979. |
| 1966 | Columbus Checkers Columbus Golden Seals Columbus Owls Dayton Owls Grand Rapids Owls | 1966–1970 1971–1973 1973–1977 1977 1977–1980 | 23 | Franchise on hiatus from 1970 to 1971. Dayton relocated mid-season to Grand Rapids on December 15, 1977. |
| 1969 | Flint Generals Saginaw Generals Saginaw Hawks | 1969–1985 1985–1987 1987–1989 | 20 | |
| 1972 | Saginaw Gears | 1972–1983 | 11 | |
| 1974 | Kalamazoo Wings Michigan K-Wings | 1974–1995 1995–2000 | 26 | |
| 1974 | Toledo Goaldiggers Kansas City Blades | 1974–86 1990–2001 | 23 | |
| 1977 | Milwaukee Admirals | 1977–2001 | 24 | Transferred from USHL in 1977. Transferred to AHL in 2001. |
| 1982 | Peoria Prancers Peoria Rivermen San Antonio Dragons | 1982–1984 1984-1996 1996–1998 | 16 | |
| 1984 | Salt Lake Golden Eagles Detroit Vipers | 1984–1994 1994–2001 | 17 | Transferred from CHL in 1984. |
| 1984 | Indianapolis Checkers Colorado Rangers Denver Rangers Phoenix Roadrunners | 1984–1987 1987–1988 1988–1989 1989–1997 | 13 | Transferred from CHL in 1984. |
| 1985 | Flint Spirits Fort Wayne Komets | 1985–1990 1990–1999 | 13 | Transferred to UHL in 1999. |
| 1988 | Indianapolis Ice | 1988–1999 | 11 | Transferred to CHL in 1999. |
| 1990 | San Diego Gulls Los Angeles Ice Dogs Long Beach Ice Dogs | 1990–1995 1995–1996 1996–2000 | 10 | Transferred to WCHL in 2000. |
| 1992 | Atlanta Knights Quebec Rafales | 1992–1996 1996–1998 | 6 | |
| 1992 | Cincinnati Cyclones | 1992–2001 | 9 | Replaced ECHL team of the same name in 1992. Replaced by an ECHL team of the same name after the IHL folded in 2001. |
| 1993 | Las Vegas Thunder | 1993–1999 | 6 | |
| 1994 | Chicago Wolves | 1994–2001 | 7 | Transferred to AHL in 2001. |
| 1994 | Houston Aeros | 1994–2001 | 7 | Transferred to AHL in 2001. |
| 1994 | Minnesota Moose Manitoba Moose | 1994–1996 1996–2001 | 7 | Transferred to AHL in 2001. |
| 1994 | Denver Grizzlies Utah Grizzlies | 1994–1995 1995–2001 | 7 | Transferred to AHL in 2001. |
| 1995 | Orlando Solar Bears | 1995–2001 | 6 | |
| 1995 | San Francisco Spiders | 1995–1996 | 1 | |
| 1996 | Grand Rapids Griffins | 1996–2001 | 5 | Transferred to AHL in 2001. |
Timeline
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