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.

United Hockey League (1998-Present)

The United Hockey League (1998-Present) was originally the Colonial Hockey League. The league expanded throughout the late 1990's as other leagues such as the International Hockey League suffered. Today it is still an active professional AA-level minor league.

United Hockey League (1998-Present) Franchises

Brantford Smoke (1997-1998)
Flint Generals (1997-Present)
Thunder Bay Thunder Cats (1997-1999)
Madison Monsters (1997-1999)
Quad City Mallards (1997-Present)
Port Huron Border Cats (1997-2002)
Port Huron Beacons (2002-Present)
Saginaw Lumber Kings (1997-1999)
Saginaw Gears (1999-2000)
Ohio Gears (1999-2000)
Winston-Salem Icehawks (1997-1999)
Muskegon Fury (1997-2001)
Binghamton Icemen (1997-1998)
Asheville Smoke (1998-2002)
B C Icemen (1998-2002)
Mohawk Valley Prowlers (1998-2001)
Adirondack Icehawks (1999-2004)
Knoxville Speed (1999-2002)
Fort Wayne Komets (1999-Present)
Madison Kodiaks (1999-2000)
Missouri River Otters (1999-Present)
Rockford IceHogs (1999-Present)
Kalamazoo Wings (2000-Present)
New Haven Knights (2000-2002)
Elmira Jackals (2000-Present)
Columbus Stars (2003-2004)
Richmond RiverDogs (2003-Present)
Kansas City Outlaws (2004-Present)
Motor City Mechanics (2004-Present)
Adirondack Frostbite (2004-Present)
Danbury Trashers (2004-Present)

United Hockey League (1998-Present) Champions

The playoff champions are awarded the Colonial Cup.
The regular season champions are awarded the Tarry Cup.

 

Year
Regular Season Champions
Playoff Champion
1998
Quad City Mallards
Quad City Mallards
1999
Muskegon Fury
Muskegon Fury
2000
Flint Generals
Flint Generals
2001
Quad City Mallards
Quad City Mallards
2002
Quad City Mallards
Muskegon Fury
2003
Fort Wayne Komets
Fort Wayne Komets
2004
Fort Wayne Komets
Muskegon Fury

United Hockey League (1998-Present) Season

1998 Season
GP
W
L
T
OTL
Pts
GF
GA
East Division
 
Flint Generals
74
46
22
0
6
98
371
278
Brantford Smoke
74
33
27
0
14
80
312
307
Port Huron Border Cats
74
31
33
0
10
72
256
303
Winston-Salem Icehawks
74
33
38
0
3
69
228
305
B.C. Icemen
74
25
40
0
9
59
237
339
Saginaw Lumber Kings
74
23
46
0
5
51
231
342
 
West Division
 
Quad-City Mallards
74
55
18
0
1
111
360
257
Muskegon Fury
74
43
23
0
8
94
341
244
Thunder-Bay Thunder Cats
74
42
26
0
6
90
337
304
Madison Monsters
74
39
24
0
11
89
271
265
 
1999 Season
GP
W
L
T
OTL
Pts
GF
GA
Central Division
 
Muskegon Fury
74
50
18
0
6
106
304
208
Port Huron Border Cats
74
41
26
0
7
89
261
239
Flint Generals
74
37
32
0
5
79
318
299
Saginaw Gears
74
20
46
0
8
48
212
332
 
East Division
 
B.C. Icemen
74
39
30
0
5
83
280
238
Asheville Smoke
74
36
35
0
3
75
292
331
Winston-Salem Icehawks
74
31
40
0
3
65
245
311
Mohawk-Valley Prowlers
74
27
39
0
8
62
214
300
 
West Division
 
Quad-City Mallards
74
50
19
0
5
105
364
253
Thunder-Bay Thunder Cats
74
47
20
0
7
101
325
247
Madison Monsters
74
29
40
0
5
63
237
294
 
2000 Season
GP
W
L
T
OTL
Pts
GF
GA
Central Division
 
Flint Generals
74
51
14
0
9
111
379
250
Port Huron Border Cats
74
47
21
0
6
100
269
202
Muskegon Fury
74
43
26
0
5
91
266
250
Fort Wayne Komets
74
40
27
0
7
87
281
251
Saginaw/Ohio Gears
74
12
57
0
5
29
198
370
 
East Division
 
B.C. Icemen
74
47
20
0
7
101
279
222
Mohawk-Valley Prowlers
74
28
31
0
15
71
254
295
Asheville Smoke
74
34
38
0
2
70
279
315
Adirondack IceHawks
74
28
34
0
12
68
260
308
Knoxville Speed
74
29
41
0
4
62
236
314
 
West Division
 
Quad-City Mallards
74
53
16
0
5
111
369
264
Missouri River Otters
74
39
29
0
6
84
275
252
Madison Kodiaks
74
35
33
0
6
76
254
276
Rockford IceHogs
74
32
34
0
8
72
238
268
 
2001 Season
GP
W
L
T
OTL
Pts
GF
GA
North East Division
 
Adirondack IceHawks
74
40
28
0
6
86
259
235
Elmira Jackals
74
32
33
0
9
73
260
289
B.C. Icemen
74
31
34
0
9
71
263
290
Mohawk-Valley Prowlers
54
15
33
0
6
36
153
253
 
North West Division
 
Fort Wayne Komets
74
42
26
0
6
90
261
253
Muskegon Fury
74
37
28
0
9
83
242
240
Port Huron Border Cats
74
30
34
0
10
70
234
260
Flint Generals
74
30
34
0
10
70
253
303
 
South East Division
 
Asheville Smoke
74
45
22
0
7
97
297
240
New-Haven Knights
74
41
26
0
7
89
268
217
Knoxville Speed
74
39
31
0
4
82
238
233
 
South West Division
 
Quad-City Mallards
74
55
12
0
7
117
341
216
Missouri River Otters
74
41
24
0
9
91
268
259
Kalamazoo Wings
74
37
31
0
6
80
220
220
Rockford IceHogs
74
30
38
0
6
66
207
256
 
2002 Season
GP
W
L
T
OTL
Pts
GF
GA
East Division
 
Elmira Jackals
74
45
21
0
8
98
260
216
B.C. Icemen
74
39
27
0
8
86
233
237
Adirondack IceHawks
74
37
31
0
6
80
257
260
New-Haven Knights
74
34
29
0
11
79
259
263
Asheville Smoke
74
36
34
0
4
76
273
270
Port Huron Border Cats
74
27
35
0
12
66
207
261
Knoxville Speed
74
19
52
0
3
41
225
362
 
West Division
 
Quad-City Mallards
74
57
15
0
2
116
296
175
Muskegon Fury
74
48
22
0
4
100
233
164
Missouri River Otters
74
41
24
0
9
91
262
250
Flint Generals
74
42
26
0
6
90
294
245
Fort Wayne Komets
74
37
24
0
13
87
227
215
Kalamazoo Wings
74
29
37
0
8
66
213
277
Rockford IceHogs
74
27
41
0
6
60
234
278
 
2003 Season
GP
W
L
T
OTL
Pts
GF
GA
East Division
 
Fort Wayne Komets
76
44
21
0
11
99
249
191
Adirondack IceHawks
76
44
28
0
4
92
300
245
Elmira Jackals
76
41
28
0
7
89
257
254
Port Huron Beacons
76
38
30
0
8
84
248
268
Flint Generals
76
32
36
0
8
72
257
298
 
West Division
 
Quad-City Mallards
76
41
25
0
10
92
281
240
Missouri River Otters
76
38
28
0
10
86
262
236
Muskegon Fury
76
38
29
0
9
85
245
257
Rockford IceHogs
76
35
34
0
7
77
233
271
Kalamazoo Wings
76
29
39
0
8
66
210
282
 
2004 Season
GP
W
L
T
OTL
Pts
GF
GA
Eastern Division
 
Richmond Riverdogs
76
44
27
0
5
93
259
251
Flint Generals
76
39
27
0
10
88
253
244
Port Huron Beacons
76
38
31
0
7
83
269
269
Elmira Jackals
76
33
34
0
9
75
238
256
Adirondack IceHawks
76
22
44
0
10
54
210
303
Columbus Stars
34
19
11
0
4
42
102
93
 
Western Division
 
Fort Wayne Komets
76
53
17
0
6
112
281
180
Quad-City Mallards
76
50
20
0
6
106
287
220
Muskegon Fury
76
47
20
0
9
103
298
239
Kalamazoo Wings
76
45
22
0
9
99
281
207
Rockford IceHogs
76
28
43
0
5
61
215
294
Missouri River Otters
76
17
51
0
8
42
191
328