Western Professional Hockey League (1996-2001)

Tombstone

Formed: 1996
Disbanded: May 30, 2001 – Merged with Central Hockey League1Knight, Bill. “Merger puts Buzzards in bigger league”. The Times (El Paso, TX). May 31, 2001

First Game: October 16, 1996
Last Game: May 5, 2001

Seasons: 5
States: 5
(AR, LA, MS, NM, TX)

Leadership

President:

  • January 1996 – May 2001: Rich Kozuback

Attendance

WPHL Total Attendance Trends 1996-2001

*El Paso posted the lowest single-season total attendance for a WPHL club completing a full schedule in 2000-01.  Three teams (Abilene, Central Texas and Waco) disbanded midway through WPHL seasons with lower attendance totals than El Paso’s low-water mark, but they are not being counted for this purpose.

 

WPHL Average Attendance Trends 1996-2001

Trophy Case

Western Professional Hockey League Most Valuable Player

YEARPLAYERPOSITIONTEAM
1996-97Chris BrooksCenterAmarillo Rattlers
1997-98Jamie ThompsonLeft WingEl Paso Buzzards
1998-99Chris RobertsonCenterCorpus Christi Ice Rays
1999-00Ron NewhookRight WingCentral Texas Stampede
2000-01Jason FirthCenterTupelo T-Rex

 

Western Professional Hockey League Outstanding Goaltender

YEARPLAYERTEAM
1996-97Daniel BerthiaumeCentral Texas Stampede
1997-98Kevin St. PierreShreveport Mudbugs
1998-99Kory CooperWaco Wizards
1999-00Matt BarnesCentral Texas Stampede
2000-01Ken CarrollBossier-Shreveport Mudbugs

 

Western Professional Hockey League Rookie of the Year

YEARPLAYERPOSITIONTEAM
1996-97No AwardN/AN/A
1997-98Sami LaineRight WingOdessa Jackalopes
1998-99Kory CooperGoaltenderWaco Wizards
1999-00Dan PriceRight WingAustin Ice Bats
2000-01Ken CarrollGoaltenderBossier-Shreveport Mudbugs

 

Western Professional Hockey League Coach of the Year

YEARCOACHTEAM
1996-97Todd BrostEl Paso Buzzards
1997-98Bill McDonaldFort Worth Brahmas
1998-99Todd LalondeWaco Wizards
1999-00Brian CurranMonroe Moccasins
2000-01Don McKeeOdessa Jackalopes

 

Editor's Pick

Zamboni Rodeo

Chasing Hockey Dreams from Austin to Albuquerque
By Jason Cohen
 

Texas Monthly journalist Jason Cohen’s 2003 Zamboni Rodeo follows the fortunes of the Austin Ice Bats as they wander across Texas, living on junk food and beer, practicing in deserted malls, and navigating slushy ice in too-warm arenas. Writer Jason Cohen joined the team in the locker room between periods, suffered through every lurching bus ride and fog-delayed game, and even spent a night in the penalty box in his quest, hilariously documented here, to know heartland hockey in all its sorry glory. Photographs add to this lively, irreverent ride through the heady world of bush-league hockey.

 

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Background

The Western Professional Hockey League was a low-level independent minor league that played five seasons between 1996  and 2001.  The WPHL was active in five states, with franchises in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas.  The vast majority of clubs were based in Texas.

After the 2000-01 season, the WPHL merged with and was subsumed into the rival Central Hockey League.  Ten former WPHL franchises joined the CHL for the 2001-02 season, but only one still exists in 2012 – the Fort Worth (TX) Brahmas.

 

Western Professional Hockey League Franchise List

FRANCHISEYEARS ACTIVEPRESIDENT'S CUP CHAMPIONS
Abilene Aviators1998-2000Never
Alexandria Warthogs1998-2000Never
Amarillo Rattlers1996-2001Never
Arkansas GlacierCats1998-2000Never
Austin Ice Bats1996-2001Never
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs2000-20011999, 2000 & 2001*
Central Texas Stampede1996-2001Never
Corpus Christi Ice Rays1998-2001Never
El Paso Buzzards1996-20011997 & 1998
Fort Worth Brahmas1997-2001Never
Lake Charles Ice Pirates1997-2001Never
Lubbock Cotton Kings1999-2001Never
Monroe Moccasins1997-2001Never
New Mexico Scorpions1996-2001Never
Odessa Jackalopes1997-2001Never
San Angelo Outlaws1997-2001Never
Shreveport Mudbugs1997-20001999, 2000 & 2001**
Tucson Scorch***1999 (Never Played)Never
Tupelo T-Rex1998-2001Never
Waco Wizards1996-2000Never
*As Shreveport Mudbugs in 1999 & 2000
**As Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs in 2001
*The Scorch franchise went through training camp and then was expelled from the league on opening day of the 1999-00 season without ever playing a game.

 

Western Professional Hockey League Shop

 

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