Western Women's Hockey League

The Western Women's Hockey League (WWHL) is one of two women's hockey leagues in Canada. The league was established in 2004, and consisted of teams in Canada (some former National Women's Hockey League teams) and one from the United States. The league office was in Vancouver, British Columbia and managed by Recreation Sports Management Inc.

On July 13, 2006, the NWHL announced it would absorb the WWHL's teams into its new West division. However, scheduling conflicts between the 2007 Women's World Championships and the WWHL championship game saw the merger collapse.

In 2007, Hockey Canada announced it would revamp the Esso Women's Nationals, with the WWHL champion and finalist meeting the Canadian Women's Hockey League champion and finalist. [Canadian Press. (2007, 09-27) "Players form new Canadian Women's Hockey League", Toronto Star. http://www.thestar.com/article/261338 (Retrieved September 28, 2007)]

WWHL Franchises

* British Columbia Breakers - plays in Langley, British Columbia
* Calgary Oval X-Treme - plays at the Olympic Oval and formerly of the NWHL (2002-2004)
* Chinese National Women's Team - playing an exhibition schedule against the WWHL teams.
* Saskatchewan Prairie Ice - Lumsden, Saskatchewan and formed in 2003 as Saskatchewan Prairie Ice Hockey Club from former players from University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan
* Edmonton Chimos - founded in 1973 and plays at Akinsdale Arena; formerly of the NWHL (2002-2004)
* Minnesota Whitecaps - Brooklyn Center, Minnesota
* Strathmore Rockies - Strathmore, Alberta and formed in 2006 as Strathmore Rockies Ice Hockey Club from former players from University of Calgary and the Calgary Oval Extreme. Became full members in the 2007-2008 season, after playing an exhibition schedule during 2006-07.

Championship

The champion of the WWHL is given the WWHL Champions cup. A list of WWHL winners (winner is in bold):

* 2008 - Calgary Oval X-Treme vs. Minnesota Whitecaps
* 2007 - Calgary Oval X-Treme
* 2006 - Calgary Oval X-Treme vs Minnesota Whitecaps in Lumsden, Saskatchewan
* 2005 - Calgary Oval X-Treme vs Saskatchewan Prairie Ice in Calgary, Alberta

References

External links

* [http://www.westernwomenshockeyleague.com WWHL website]
* [http://www.calgaryovalxtreme.com/ Oval X-treme]
* [http://www.edmontonchimos.com/ Edmonton Chimos]
* [http://www.bcbreakers.com BC Breakers]
* [http://www.prairieice.ca/ Saskatchewan Prairie Ice]
* [http://www.minnesotawhitecaps.com/ Minnesota Whitecaps]
* [http://www.strathmorerockies.com/ Strathmore Rockies]