Black Diamond Hockey League Explained

Pixels:200px
Sport:Ice hockey
Founded:2014
Folded:2019
Inaugural:2014–15
Teams:8
Country:United States
Champion:Sun Valley Suns (2019)
Most Champs:Sun Valley Suns (3)

The Black Diamond Hockey League (BDHL) was a semi-professional ice hockey league consisting of teams from the Western United States. Teams competed for the Joe Casey Cup, named in honor of the former Jackson Hole Moose team captain who died suddenly at the age of 37.[1] [2] [3] [4]

History

The league was founded in 2014 with four member clubs: the 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 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 Park City Pioneers folding.[9] The league replaced the team with the Missoula Desperados to remain at four teams.

The Sun Valley Suns avenged their championship loss by defeating Jackson Hole for the 2016 title.[10]

Teams

TeamCityArenaJoined
Aspen LeafsAspen, COLewis Ice Arena2019
Bozeman StingersBozeman, MTHaynes Pavilion2014
Breckenridge VipersBreckenridge, COStephen C. West Ice Arena2019
Jackson Hole MooseJackson Hole, WYSnow King Sports & Events Center2014
Park City PioneersPark City, UTPark City Ice Arena2019[11]
Sun Valley SunsHailey, IDHailey Campion Ice House2014
Texas TitansIrving, TXChildren's Health StarCenter2019
Vail YetiVail, CODobson Arena2019

Former teams

Champions

SeasonChampionsRunner-upResult
2014-15Jackson Hole MooseSun Valley Suns5-2
2015-16Sun Valley SunsJackson Hole Moose4-2
2016-17Jackson Hole MooseBozeman Stingers5-4
2017-18Sun Valley SunsJackson Hole Moose5-0
2018-19Sun Valley SunsJackson Hole Moose5-4[12]

Alumni

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Denver Hockey mourns the loss of former player Joe Casey. 5 February 2013. University of Denver Official Athletics Site.
  2. Web site: Hockey community mourns death of Moose captain. 5 February 2013. Planet Jackson Hole.
  3. Web site: DU Pioneers mourning Joe Casey while awaiting archrival CC Tigers. 7 February 2013. Denver Post.
  4. Web site: Casey's heart, humor and hockey remembered. 13 February 2013. Jackson Hole News & Guide.
  5. Web site: Suns anchor the new Black Diamond hockey league. 6 June 2014. Idaho Mountain Express.
  6. Web site: Suns serve notice with Snow King sweep. 24 December 2014. Idaho Mountain Express.
  7. Web site: Moose win 2 during league debut. 5 November 2014. Jackson Hole News & Guide.
  8. Web site: Underdog Moose win Black Diamond league title. 16 March 2015. Jackson Hole News & Guide.
  9. Web site: Pioneers call it quits. 23 October 2015. Park Record.
  10. Web site: Suns celebrate their first BDHL hockey championship. 18 March 2016. Idaho Mountain Express.
  11. Web site: Park City Pioneers host first home games in a week. November 9, 2019. Park Record. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191110173655/https://www.parkrecord.com/sports/park-city-pioneers-host-first-home-games-in-a-week/ . 2019-11-10 .
  12. Web site: Sun Valley Suns keep BDHL hockey title 5-4 over Moose. March 13, 2019. Idaho Mountain Express.