North Peace Hockey League Explained

North Peace Hockey League
Current Season:2023-24
Last Season:2019-2020
Sport:Senior ice hockey
Founded:c. 1953
Inaugural:1953-54
Teams:8
Champion:Spirit River Rangers
Champ Season:2023-24
Website:NPHL Website

The North Peace Hockey League (NPHL) is a Canadian men's Senior ice hockey league based in Northern Alberta and North Eastern British Columbia.

History

With a history that dates back to the early 1950s, the NPHL has the distinction of being the longest continually running senior hockey league currently in existence in western Canada. The league was down to two teams (Peace River Stampeders and High Prairie Regals) in the early 1970s, when it played an interlocking schedule with the South Peace Hockey League.

Prior to the start of the 2009-10 season, the league voted to disallow any team playing AAA hockey from competing in the NPHL playoffs. This change affects teams competing for the Allan Cup.[1] Despite this decision, the Fort St. John Flyers hosted, competed at, and won the 2010 Allan Cup.

Despite its long-standing tradition, the NPHL and its teams have struggled to stay on the ice. The 2013-14 season saw the league lose two teams when the Hythe Mustangs folded near the end of the season and the Lakeland Eagles were removed from league play.[2]

The 2014-15 saw the league lose two more teams when the Dawson Creek Sr. Canucks[3] and High Prairie Regals[4] opted out of the upcoming season. The result was a six team league.

For the first time in league history the 2015-2016 season saw the Grande Prairie Athletics take a leave of absence [5] due to a lack of players. Both the Dawson Creek Canucks and High Prairie Regals returned, making the league feature an East and West division once more.

The 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons were cancelled due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.[6] The NPHL returned for the 2022-2023 season, that saw the return of the Spirit River Rangers and the Valleyview Jets[7]

Teams

North Peace Hockey League

DivisionTeamCityArenaFounded
WestDawson Creek CanucksDawson Creek, British ColumbiaDawson Creek and District Memorial Arena[8] <-- year -->
Grande Prairie AthleticsGrande Prairie, AlbertaDesign Works Centre1960-1961
Spirit River RangersSpirit River, AlbertaMaclean Rec Centre[9] 1954[10]
Fort St. John FlyersFort St. John, British ColumbiaNorth Peace Arena[11] <-- year -->
EastFalher PiratesFalher, AlbertaFalher Regional Recreation Complex [12] <-- year -->
Grimshaw Huskies **Grimshaw, AlbertaMile Zero Regional Multiplex [13] <-- year -->
Manning CometsManning, AlbertaJack McAvoy Arena<-- year -->
Valleyview JetsValleyview, AlbertaPolar Palace<-- year -->
** Grimshaw Huskies announced on October 27, 2023 that they were taking a one-year leave of absence from the league with the hopes to return for the 2024-25 season. [14]
Notes
  1. An asterisk (*) denotes a franchise move. See the respective team articles for more information.

Defunct

Past Champions

Notable players

Notes and References

  1. http://www.prrecordgazette.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1753818
  2. Web site: Setbacks for Senior League as PLayoffs Start. Logan Clow. 25 November 2014.
  3. Web site: Senior Canucks Bow Out. Byron Hackett. 25 November 2014.
  4. Web site: High Prairie Regals Bow Out of NPHL Season. Chris Klegg. 25 November 2014.
  5. Web site: A's take leave of absence from NPHL . Logan Clow. 26 October 2015.
  6. Web site: Fort St. John senior Flyers back after three year hiatus . Shailynn Foster . 2022-09-11.
  7. Web site: Henson . Jeff . Grande Prairie Athletics excited for return of the North Peace Hockey League . 2023-02-20 . EverythingGP . en.
  8. Web site: Dawson Creek BC - Dawson Creek and District Memorial Arena. . 2023-02-19 . discoverthepeacecountry.com.
  9. News: Lomosad . Beverly . 2023-02-23 . Round 1 series tied at 3-3 . 6 . Central Peace Signal.
  10. News: White . Ken . 2023-02-13 . Spirit River Rangers: The first 10 years . 6 . Central Peace Signal.
  11. Web site: Prentice . Jordan . 2023-01-11 . FSJ Flyers lose close game in shootout . 2023-02-21 . Energeticcity.ca . en-CA.
  12. Web site: Falher Pirates . Travel Sport . 7 January 2023.
  13. Web site: Grimshaw Huskies . Travel Sport . 7 January 2023.
  14. Web site: Log in or sign up to view . 2023-10-30 . m.facebook.com . en.

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