List of ice hockey teams in Michigan explained

The following is a list of ice hockey teams in Michigan, past and present. It includes the league(s) they play for, and championships won.

Major professional

World Hockey Association 1972–79

Minor professional

All American Hockey League 2008–2011

Current teams

Federal Prospects Hockey League 2010–present

Also called Federal Hockey League from 2010 to 2019.

TeamCityEstablishedCommissioner's CupsNotes
Battle Creek Rumble BeesBattle Creek2019Joined the Federal Hockey League in 2019
2022 0 Joined the Federal Hockey League in 2022
2015 1 Joined the Federal Hockey League in 2015
2016–17 0 Joined the Federal Hockey League in 2016, relocated to Kingsville, Ontario, in 2017

International Hockey League 2007–2010

Former teams

TeamCityEstablishedTurner CupsNotes
2007–2010 0
2007–2010 0
2007–2010 0

Mid-Atlantic Hockey League 2007–08

Current teams

TeamCityEstablishedLeague TitlesNotes
2008 0
2008 0
2008 0
2008 0

United Hockey League 1997–2007

TeamCityExistedColonial CupsNotes
1997–2007 1
2000–2007 1 Played as the Madison Kodiaks in 1999–2000
2004–2006 0 Franchise suspended for 2006–2007 season
1997–2007 4
2002–2005 0 Became the Roanoke Valley Vipers in 2005
1997–2002 0
2005–2007 0
1998–1999 0 Became the Ohio Gears on December 20, 1999
1997–1998 0 Became the Saginaw Gears in 1998

Colonial Hockey League 1991–97

TeamCityExistedColonial CupsNotes
1992–1996 0
1991–1993 0 Became the Utica Bulldogs in 1993
1993–1997 1
1992–1997 0
1991–1992 0 Became the Detroit Falcons in 1992
1996–1997 0
1996–1997 0
1994–1996 0 Became the Saginaw LumberKings in 1996

International Hockey League 1945–2001

TeamCityExistedTurner CupsNotes
Detroit 1945–1951 1
Detroit 1945–1949 0
Detroit 1949–1952 0
Detroit 1948–1949 0
Detroit 1946–1948 0
1994–2001 1
1969–1985 1 Became the Flint Spirits in 1985
1985–1990 0
1996–2001 0 Joined the American Hockey League in 2001
1977–1980 0
1950–1956 0
1974–1995 2 Became the Michigan K-Wings in 1995
1974–1975 0 Suspended operations January 16, 1975 after 41 games
1995–2000 0
1984–1992 2 Became the Cleveland Lumberjacks in 1992
1965–1984 1 Became the Muskegon Lumberjacks in 1984
1960–1965 1 Became the Muskegon Mohawks in 1965
1962–1971 2 Became the Port Huron Wings in 1974
1974–1981 0
1971–1974 1 Became the Port Huron Flags in 1974
1972–1983 2
1985–1987 0
1987–1989 0

International Independent Hockey League 2003–04

TeamCityExistedLeague TitlesNotes
2003–2004 0
Detroit 2003–2004 0
2003–2004 1
2003–2004 0

All-American Hockey League 1986–89

TeamCityExistedLeague TitlesNotes
1986–1987 0
1986–1989 0
1988–1989 0
1987–1988 0 Suspended operations during the season
1987–1988 0

United States Hockey League 1961–79

TeamCityExistedLeague TitlesNotes
1972–1973 0
1974–1976 ?
1973–1974 ?
1976–1977 ?
1968–1969 ?
1964–1976 ?
1975–1977 ?

Ohio State Hockey League 1946–48

TeamCityExistedLeague TitlesNotes
1947–1948 0
Detroit 1947–1948 0

Eastern Amateur Hockey League 1933–53

Early Leagues

International Professional Hockey League 1904–07

TeamCityExistedLeague TitlesNotes
1904–1907 0
1904–1907 1
1904–1907 2

College

NCAA Division I

Big Ten Conference 2013–present

The Big Ten started its men's hockey league in 2013.

TeamCityBig Ten tenureRegular-season titlesTournament titlesNCAA Titles (in Big Ten)Notes
2013–present 1 0 9 (0)
2013–present 0 0 3 (0)

Central Collegiate Hockey Association 1971–2013, 2021–present

The original CCHA, a casualty of the conference realignment brought on by the formation of the Big Ten hockey league, disbanded in 2013. The league was revived in 2020, with play starting in 2021–22, by seven members of the men's Western Collegiate Hockey Association, four of which had played in the final season of the original CCHA.

Current teams
TeamCityCCHA tenureRegular season titlesMason CupsNCAA Titles (in CCHA)Notes
1976–2013, 2021–present 1 0 0 (0) Played in the WCHA during the CCHA's hiatus.
1972–2013, 2021–present 4 4 3 (3) Played in the WCHA during the CCHA's hiatus.
1981–1984, 2021–present 0 0 3 (0) Played in the WCHA through 1980–81; returned to the WCHA in 1984–85 and played there until the revival of the CCHA.
1977–1984, 1997–2013, 2021–present 2 2 1 (0) Played in the WCHA from 1984–1997 and again during the CCHA's hiatus.
Former teams
TeamCityCCHA tenureRegular season titlesMason CupsNCAA Titles (in CCHA)Notes
1981–2013 8 7 9 (2) Played in WCHA 1951–81; now plays in its full-time home of the Big Ten.
1981–2013 7 11 3 (2) Played in WCHA 1951–81; now plays in its full-time home of the Big Ten.
1975–2013 0 1 0 Now plays in the NCHC.

College Hockey America 1999–2008 (men), 2002–present (women)

CHA was founded as a men-only league. It added women's hockey in 2002 and remains in operation today as a women-only league.

Men
Women

National Collegiate Hockey Conference 2013–present

The NCHC, formed during the early-2010s Division I hockey conference realignment brought on by the formation of the Big Ten hockey league, began play in 2013. It has been a men-only league throughout its history.

Western Collegiate Hockey Association 1951–2021

The WCHA was formed 30 years before the NCAA began sponsoring women's sports, and did not establish a women's league until 1999. No Michigan school has ever been a member of the women's WCHA. In late 2019, seven of the 10 then-current men's members announced they would leave the WCHA after the 2020–21 season; shortly thereafter, they announced that they would form a revived CCHA. With the departure of these seven schools, plus an eighth WCHA men's member announcing that it would drop men's hockey after 2020–21, the men's WCHA is all but certain to fold. It will remain in operation as a women-only league.

Former teams
TeamCityWCHA tenureMacNaughton CupsBroadmoor TrophiesNCAA Titles (in WCHA)Notes
1951–1981 ? ? 9 (7)
1951–1981 ? ? 2
1951–1981, 1984–2021 6 9 3 (3) Played in CCHA from 1981–1984; returned to the revived CCHA in 2021.
1984–1997 ?? ? 1 (1)

NCAA Division III

Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association 1998–

TeamCityEstablishedConference titlesNCAA TitlesNotes
2007 1 1
Finlandia Lions2004 0 0

Junior

Ontario Hockey League 1980–

Current teams

TeamCityEstablishedJ. Ross Robertson CupsMemorial CupsNotes
2015 2 0 Also known as the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors (1990–92), Detroit Junior Red Wings (1992–95), Detroit Whalers (1995–97), and Plymouth Whalers
2002 0 1[2] Was previously the North Bay Centennials

Junior A Tier II Hockey Leagues

North American Hockey League 1975–

The NAHL was known as the Great Lakes Junior Hockey League from 1975–1984.[3]

Former teams

TeamCityExistedSeason titlesPlayoff/League titlesNotes
2005–2010 0 0 Previously the Toledo IceDiggers, became the Corpus Christi IceRays
1987–1990 0 0 Became Lakeland Jets
2000–2003 0 0 Previously Grand Rapids Rockets
1990–1991 0 0 Became Michigan Nationals
1994–1996 0 0 Previously Michigan Nationals, became St. Louis Sting
Detroit
Plymouth
Oak Park
1984–1992
1992–2000
2000–2003
8 11
Detroit Falcons 1986–1987 0 0 Formerly the St. Clair Shores Falcons
1992–1997 1 0 Became Chicago Freeze
1975–1983; 1987–1992 0 0
1975–1976 1 1
1981–1984 0 0
1976–1980 0 0
1995–1998 0 0 Became Grand Rapids Bearcats
1998–1999 0 0 Ceased operations December 31, 1999. Team became Grand Rapids Rockets
1999–2000 0 0 Previously the Grand Rapids Bearcats. Became the Capital Centre Pride
1985–1987 0 0
2011–2013 0 0
1989–19941 2 Became the Danville Wings
1990–1995 0 0 Previously Bloomfield Jets, became Soo Indians
2006–2010 0 0Became the Michigan Warriors
1989–1990 0 0
1982–1983 0 0
1991–1994 0 0 Previously Dearborn Magic, became Dearborn Heights Nationals
2010–2015 0 0formerly the Marquette Rangers, folded after being displaced by the OHL Flint Firebirds
2008–2011 0 0 Became the Jamestown Ironmen
1989–1990 0 0
1975–1976 0 0
1975–1984 7 7
2010–2014 0 0 Became the Keystone Ice Miners
1975 0 0 Withdrew November 21, 1975
1978–1984; 1987–1989 0 0
1991–1995 0 0 Became the Gaylord Grizzlies in December 1995
1983–1986 2 2 Became the Detroit Falcons
2012–2015 0 0 purchased Traverse City North Stars franchise; joined from NOJHL
NAHL franchise relocated to become the New Jersey Junior Titans; Soo Eagles rejoined the NOJHL
Soo Indians 1995–2005 1 0
2005–2012 0 0 Franchise became the Soo Eagles
1997–2010 0 0
1981–1982 0 0
1976–1980 1 0 National Champs 1980
1988–1989 0 0 Became Kalamazoo Jr. Wings

Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League 1978–

Current teams

Former teams
TeamCityEstablishedLeague titlesDudley Hewitt CupsRoyal Bank CupsNotes
2006–2008 1 0 0 Became Soo Eagles in 2008
2003–2006 0 0 0 Became Soo Indians in 2006
1962–1964 0 0 0

Continental Elite Hockey League 2001–2004

TeamCityEstablishedLeague titlesNotes
? 0
? 1
? 0
2001–2004 0

Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League 1970–1976

TeamCityEstablishedLeague titlesNotes
Detroit 1970–75 1
1973–74 0

Wolverine Junior Hockey League 1972–1975

The Wolverine Junior Hockey League and the Michigan Junior Hockey League combined in 1975 to form the Great Lakes Junior Hockey League which later became the North American Hockey League. [4]

TeamCityExistedSeason titlesPlayoff titlesNotes
Flint 1973-197? ? ?
Kalamazoo 1973-197? 0 0
Livonia 1973-197? 0 0
Oak Park 1972-197? ? ?
1972–1975 0 0 Oak Park and Southfield started the annual contest for the Purple Paddle (a goalie stick painted purple) in 1972–73. It was awarded to the winner of the season series by the mayors of each city. The same purple paddle was continued into the 1990s by the successors of these two teams who were eventually in the North American Hockey League.
Trenton 1972–1973 0 0

Michigan Junior Hockey League 197?–1975

TeamCityExistedSeason titlesPlayoff titlesNotes
1972–1975 ? ?
Plymouth, Michigan1972–1974 ? ?
Dearborn FabricatingDearborn ? ? ?
St. Clair Shores Saints1970-?? ?
1972–1975 ? ?

Junior A Tier III Hockey Leagues

Central States Hockey League

Current Teams

TeamCityEstablishedRegular season titlesHurster CupsUSA Hockey Silver CupsNotes
1999 ? ? ?
1999 ? ? ?
1989 1 2 1
1997? ? ? ?

Former Teams

TeamCityExistedRegular season titlesHurster CupsUSA Hockey Silver CupsNotes
1997?–1998 ? ? ?
1998–1999 0 0 0
1998–1999 0 0 0
1999–2001? ? ? ?

Western Junior B Hockey League

League, regional and national championships

Championship Times won Description
Stanley Cup 11 National Hockey League champion
Turner Cup 14 International Hockey League champion
Calder Cup 2 American Hockey League championship
Commissioner's Cup 1 Federal Prospects Hockey League championship
Colonial Cup 7 United Hockey League champion
Memorial Cup 0 Canadian Major-Junior national champion
J. Ross Robertson Cup 1 Ontario Hockey League champion
NCAA title 18 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey champion
CCHA regular season champion 22 CCHA regular season champion
Mason Cup 25 CCHA playoff champion
MacNaughton Cup 6? WCHA regular season champion
Broadmoor Trophy 9? WCHA playoff championship
R.H. "Bob" Peters Cup 1 CHA regular season champion
Bruce M. McLeod Trophy 3 CHA playoff champion
Gibson Cup ? (1938–1958) Michigan Ontario Hockey League and (1968–current) played for in the Great Lakes Hockey League between the Portage Lake Pioneers and Calumet Wolves

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stanley Cup Champions and Finalists . 2006-12-10 . nhl.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090629213230/http://www.nhl.com/cup/champs.html . June 29, 2009 .
  2. Web site: Szumowicz . Austin . Pearson . Mark . 2024-06-03 . Saginaw Spirit are Memorial Cup Champions . 2024-06-03 . www.wnem.com . en.
  3. Web site: North American Hockey League [1984-2015] history and statistics]. HockeyDB. March 20, 2015.
  4. Web site: http://www.playyourgame.com/nahl.html.