Minor professional hockey leagues are the backbone of the NHL. These leagues over the years have served as training grounds for the NHL teams. Entertaining hockey in their own right and offering non NHL players a chance to earn a living.

Colonial Hockey League (1991-1997)

The Colonial Hockey League (1991-1997) was originally based out of Copetown, Ontario, Canada and later Detroit, Michigan, USA. While professional hockey was rapidly growing in the United States, the senior leagues in Canada were unable to attract players interested in playing amateur hockey. Ontario senior league towns such as Brantford and Thunder Bay and a few US centers that had been abandoned by the International Hockey League formed the initial franchises of the leagueThe Colonial Hockey League had five teams in 1991-92 but doubled that number by 1996-97 with two divisions of five teams.

The league changed its name to the United Hockey League for the 1997-98 season.

Colonial Hockey League (1991-1997) Franchises

Brantford Smoke (1991-1997)
Flint Bulldogs (1991-1992)
Michigan Falcons (1991-1992)
St Thomas Wildcats (1991-1994)
Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks (1991-1994)
Chatham Wheels (1992-1994)
Detroit Falcons (1992-1996)
Flint Generals (1992-1997)
Muskegon Fury (1992-1997)
Utica Bulldogs (1993-1994)
London Wildcats (1994-1995)
Utica Blizzard (1994-1997)
Saginaw Wheels (1994-1996)
Thunder Bay Senators (1994-1997)
Madison Monsters (1995-1997)
Quad City Mallards (1995-1997)
Port Huron Border Cats (1996-1997)
Saginaw Lumber Kings (1996-1997)
Dayton Ice Bandits (1996-1997)
Saginaw Lumber Kings (1996-1997)

Colonial Hockey League (1991-1997) Champions

The playoff champions were awarded the Colonial Cup. From the 1995-1996 season the regular season champions were awarded the Tarry Cup.

Year
Regular Season Champions
Playoff Champion
1992
Michigan Falcons
Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks
1993
Brantford Smoke
Brantford Smoke
1994
Thunder Bay Senators
Thunder Bay Senators
1995
Thunder Bay Senators
Thunder Bay Senators
1996
Flint Generals
Flint Generals
1997
Flint Generals
Quad City Mallards

Colonial Hockey League (1991-1997) Season

1992 Season
GP
W
L
T
OTL
Pts
GF
GA
 
Michigan Falcons
60
34
22
4
0
75
296
257
Brantford Smoke
60
34
22
4
0
72
327
265
Thunder-Bay Thunder Hawks
60
26
28
6
0
62
309
289
St.-Thomas Wildcats
60
24
29
7
0
57
263
288
Flint Bulldogs
60
20
37
3
0
45
272
368
 
1993 Season
GP
W
L
T
OTL
Pts
GF
GA
 
Brantford Smoke
60
39
18
3
0
81
308
264
Detroit Falcons
60
36
20
4
0
76
303
239
Thunder-Bay Thunder Hawks
60
32
24
4
0
68
288
271
Muskegon Fury
60
28
27
5
0
61
293
278
St.-Thomas Wildcats
60
27
27
6
0
60
306
322
Flint Bulldogs
60
27
29
4
0
58
256
296
Chatham Wheels
60
21
35
4
0
46
260
344
 
1994 Season
GP
W
L
T
OTL
Pts
GF
GA
East Division
 
Thunder-Bay Senators
64
45
15
4
0
94
331
236
Brantford Smoke
64
28
26
10
0
66
308
348
St.-Thomas Wildcats
64
22
34
8
0
52
284
343
Utica Bulldogs
64
21
39
4
0
46
226
330
 
West Division
 
Chatham Wheels
64
39
18
7
0
85
336
281
Muskegon Fury
64
35
24
5
0
75
319
301
Detroit Falcons
64
34
25
5
0
73
296
275
Flint Generals
64
32
23
9
0
73
328
314
 
1995 Season
GP
W
L
T
OTL
Pts
GF
GA
East Division
 
Thunder-Bay Senators
74
48
22
4
0
100
341
279
London Wildcats
74
34
38
2
0
70
341
380
Utica Blizzard
74
31
38
5
0
67
299
349
Brantford Smoke
74
26
36
12
0
64
299
357
 
West Division
 
Detroit Falcons
74
45
27
2
0
92
329
273
Muskegon Fury
74
42
27
5
0
89
333
286
Saginaw Wheels
74
36
31
7
0
79
306
321
Flint Generals
74
34
34
6
0
74
350
353
 
1996 Season
GP
W
L
T
OTL
Pts
GF
GA
East Division
 
Flint Generals
74
51
18
5
0
107
347
248
Brantford Smoke
74
45
24
5
0
95
336
283
Detroit Falcons
74
33
32
9
0
75
275
310
Saginaw Wheels
74
32
35
7
0
71
299
341
Utica Blizzard
74
29
39
6
0
64
285
339
 
West Division
 
Muskegon Fury
74
40
27
7
0
87
273
248
Thunder-Bay Senators
74
36
26
12
0
84
302
289
Madison Monsters
74
37
30
7
0
81
267
284
Quad-City Mallards
74
30
39
5
0
65
269
311
 
1997 Season
GP
W
L
T
OTL
Pts
GF
GA
East Division
 
Flint Generals
74
55
18
1
0
111
371
232
Brantford Smoke
74
42
25
7
0
91
321
286
Port Huron Border Cats
74
38
31
5
0
81
280
288
Utica Blizzard
74
22
42
10
0
54
278
385
Saginaw Lumber Kings
74
21
48
5
0
47
263
399
 
West Division
 
Quad-City Mallards
74
51
20
3
0
105
384
245
Madison Monsters
74
46
21
7
0
99
315
259
Thunder-Bay Thunder Cats
74
43
23
8
0
94
333
266
Muskegon Fury
74
39
29
6
0
84
268
257
Dayton Ice Bandits
74
13
53
8
0
34
216
412