Black Diamond Hockey League
| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2014 |
| Inaugural season | 2014–15 |
| No. of teams | 4 |
| Country | United States |
| Most recent champion(s) | Sun Valley Suns (2016) |
| Most titles | Jackson Hole Moose, Sun Valley Suns (1 each) |
The Black Diamond Hockey League (BDHL) is a Senior ice hockey league consisting of teams from the Western United States. Teams compete for the Joe Casey Cup - named in honor of former Jackson Hole Moose team captain who died suddenly at the age of 37-year old.[1][2][3][4]
History
The league was founded in 2014 with four member clubs: Bozeman Stingers, Jackson Hole Moose, Park City Pioneers and Sun Valley Suns.[5] Teams played a 12-game schedule[6] followed by a single-elimination playoff with the winner awarded the Joe Casey Cup.
In the first-ever league game Jackson Hole shut out Park City 4-0.[7]
Jackson Hole Moose upset regular season winner Sun Valley, who were a perfect 12-0, to capture the first league championship.[8]
Season two in the BDHL saw the end of an era with the Park City Pioneers folding.[9] The league replaced the team with the Missoula Desperados to remain at four teams.
Sun Valley Suns avenged their championship loss by defeating Jackson Hole for the 2016 title.[10]
Teams
| Team | City | Arena | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman Stingers | Bozeman, MT | Haynes Pavilion | 2014 |
| Jackson Hole Moose | Jackson Hole, WY | Snow King Sports & Events Center | 2014 |
| Missoula Desperados | Missoula, MT | Glacier Ice Rink | 2015 |
| Sun Valley Suns | Hailey, ID | Hailey Campion Ice House | 2014 |
Former teams
- Park City Pioneers (2014–15)
Champions
| Season | Champions | Runner-up | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | Jackson Hole Moose | Sun Valley Suns | 5-2 |
| 2015-16 | Sun Valley Suns | Jackson Hole Moose | 4-2 |
| 2016-17 | TBD |
Alumni
- Christian Hanson (Sun Valley Suns) - Stavanger Oilers
- Evan MacIntosh (Park City Pioneers) - Oxford City Stars
- Ryan Widmar (Sun Valley Suns) - IFK Strömsund Hockey
See also
- List of ice hockey leagues
- Federal Hockey League
- Southern Professional Hockey League
- Great Lakes Hockey League
- Mountain West Hockey League
References
- ↑ "Denver Hockey mourns the loss of former player Joe Casey". University of Denver Official Athletics Site. 5 February 2013.
- ↑ "Hockey community mourns death of Moose captain". Planet Jackson Hole. 5 February 2013.
- ↑ "DU Pioneers mourning Joe Casey while awaiting archrival CC Tigers". Denver Post. 7 February 2013.
- ↑ "Casey's heart, humor and hockey remembered". Jackson Hole News & Guide. 13 February 2013.
- ↑ "Suns anchor the new Black Diamond hockey league". Idaho Mountain Express. 6 June 2014.
- ↑ "Suns serve notice with Snow King sweep". Idaho Mountain Express. 24 December 2014.
- ↑ "Moose win 2 during league debut". Jackson Hole News & Guide. 5 November 2014.
- ↑ "Underdog Moose win Black Diamond league title". Jackson Hole News & Guide. 16 March 2015.
- ↑ "Pioneers call it quits". Park Record. 23 October 2015.
- ↑ "Suns celebrate their first BDHL hockey championship". Idaho Mountain Express. 18 March 2016.