Black Diamond Hockey League
The Black Diamond Hockey League (BDHL) is a Semi Professional 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.[1][2][3][4]
Sport | Ice hockey |
---|---|
Founded | 2014 |
Inaugural season | 2014–15 |
No. of teams | 8 |
Country | United States |
Most recent champion(s) | Sun Valley Suns (2019) |
Most titles | Sun Valley Suns (3) |
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 |
---|---|---|---|
Aspen Leafs | Aspen, CO | Lewis Ice Arena | 2019 |
Bozeman Stingers | Bozeman, MT | Haynes Pavilion | 2014 |
Breckenridge Vipers | Breckenridge, CO | Stephen C. West Ice Arena | 2019 |
Jackson Hole Moose | Jackson Hole, WY | Snow King Sports & Events Center | 2014 |
Park City Pioneers | Park City, UT | Park City Ice Arena | 2019[11] |
Sun Valley Suns | Hailey, ID | Hailey Campion Ice House | 2014 |
Texas Titans | Irving, TX | Children's Health StarCenter | 2019 |
Vail Yeti | Vail, CO | Dobson Arena | 2019 |
Former teams
- Missoula Desperados (2015–17)
- Park City Pioneers (2014–15) - returned in 2019
- Vail Yeti (2017–18) - returned in 2019
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 | Jackson Hole Moose | Bozeman Stingers | 5-4 |
2017-18 | Sun Valley Suns | Jackson Hole Moose | 5-0 |
2018-19 | Sun Valley Suns | Jackson Hole Moose | 5-4[12] |
2019-20 | none | --- | --- |
Alumni
- Garnet Exelby (Sun Valley Suns) - Atlanta Thrashers, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Christian Hanson (Sun Valley Suns) - Stavanger Oilers
- Evan MacIntosh (Park City Pioneers) - Oxford City Stars, Boro/Vetlanda HC, Lindefallets SK, Delaware Thunder
- Ryan Widmar (Sun Valley Suns) - IFK Strömsund Hockey, Oxford City Stars, Antwerp Phantoms, HK Celje
- Brian Gibbons (Park City Pioneers) - EHC Neuweid, Hanover Indians, EHC Preussen Berlin
See also
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.
- "Park City Pioneers host first home games in a week". Park Record. November 9, 2019.
- "Sun Valley Suns keep BDHL hockey title 5-4 over Moose". Idaho Mountain Express. March 13, 2019.