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 States Hockey League (1945-1951)

The United States Hockey League (1945-1951) was a minor hockey league. It started as a seven team league, grew to an eight team two division set-up (North Division and South Division) from 1946-47 to 1948-49 and played its final two seaons as a six team league. Teams included Dallas Texans, Denver Falcons, Fort Worth Rangers, Houston Huskies, Kansas City Mohawks, Kansas City Pla-Mors, Kansas City Royals, Louisville Blades, Milwaukee Seagulls, Minneapolis Millers, Omaha Knights, St Paul Saints and Tulsa Oilers.

United States Hockey League (1945-1951) Franchises

Dallas Texans (1945-1949)
Denver Falcons (1950-1951)
Ft. Worth Rangers (1945-1949)
Houston Huskies (1947-1949)
Houston Skippers (1946-1947)
Kansas City Mohawks (1949-1950)
Kansas City Pla-mors (1945-1950)
Kansas City Royals (1950-1951)
Louisville Blades (1949-1950)
Milwaukee Sea Gulls (1950-1951)
Minneapolis Millers (1945-1950)
Omaha Knights (1945-1951)
St. Paul Saints (1945-1951)
Tulsa Oilers (1946-1951)

United States Hockey League (1945-1951) Champions

The league playoff champion was awarded the Paul W. Loudon Trophy while the regular season champions were awarded the Directors' Cup.

Year
Champion
Regular Season Champions
     
1946
Kansas City Pla-mors
Kansas City Pla-mors
1947
Kansas City Pla-mors
Omaha Knights
1948
Houston Huskies
Houston Huskies
1949
St. Paul Saints
St. Paul Saints
1950
Minneapolis Millers
Omaha Knights
1951
Omaha Knights
Omaha Knights

United States Hockey League (1945-1951) Seasons

1946 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Kansas City Pla-mors
56
35
17
4
271
185
74
Omaha Knights
56
31
22
3
214
193
65
St. Paul Saints
56
28
26
2
208
185
58
Tulsa Oilers
56
27
25
4
263
237
58
Ft. Worth Rangers
56
24
31
1
187
237
49
Dallas Texans
56
21
32
3
228
267
45
Minneapolis Millers
56
20
33
3
195
263
43
               
1947 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Northern Division              
Omaha Knights
60
29
16
15
225
181
73
Kansas City Pla-mors
60
29
20
11
264
197
69
Minneapolis Millers
60
28
22
10
214
197
66
St. Paul Saints
60
27
27
6
216
234
60
 
Southern Division
Dallas Texans
60
27
18
15
232
218
69
Ft. Worth Rangers
60
22
27
11
195
214
55
Tulsa Oilers
60
17
31
12
203
259
46
Houston Skippers
60
14
32
14
210
259
42
               
1948 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Northern Division              
Kansas City Pla-mors
66
35
27
4
274
244
74
Minneapolis Millers
66
34
26
6
259
228
74
Omaha Knights
66
32
27
7
275
252
71
St. Paul Saints
66
30
30
6
236
245
66
 
Southern Division
Houston Huskies
66
36
27
3
317
267
75
Ft. Worth Rangers
66
30
31
5
230
234
65
Tulsa Oilers
66
23
34
9
222
275
55
Dallas Texans
66
21
39
6
208
276
48
               
1949 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Northern Division              
St. Paul Saints
66
36
20
10
284
210
82
Kansas City Pla-mors
66
30
23
13
261
206
73
Omaha Knights
66
28
25
13
226
220
69
Minneapolis Millers
66
27
24
15
223
211
69
 
Southern Division
Tulsa Oilers
66
33
23
10
281
216
76
Dallas Texans
66
24
27
15
246
251
63
Ft. Worth Rangers
66
24
35
7
217
298
55
Houston Huskies
66
17
42
7
200
326
41
               
1950 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Omaha Knights
70
41
22
7
313
240
89
Minneapolis Millers
70
33
28
9
297
257
75
Kansas City Mohawks
70
30
28
12
293
267
72
St. Paul Saints
70
29
30
11
253
289
69
Tulsa Oilers
70
25
33
12
276
302
62
Louisville Blades
70
22
39
9
256
333
53
               
1951 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Omaha Knights
64
43
17
4
306
211
90
St. Paul Saints
64
33
26
5
213
186
71
Denver Falcons
64
31
31
2
233
232
64
Tulsa Oilers
64
30
31
3
248
237
63
Kansas City Royals
64
22
36
6
231
287
50
Milwaukee Sea Gulls
64
20
38
6
202
280
46

United States Hockey League (1945-1951) Award Winners

Most Valuable Player - Herman W. Peterson Cup

Year
Player Team
   
1946
Not Awarded  
1947
Murray Armstrong Dallas
1948
Clint Smith Tulsa
1949
Paul Bibeault Dallas
1950
Ray Powell Kansas City
1951
Hank Blade Milwaukee

Outstanding Rookie Award

Year
Player Team
   
1946
Not Awarded  
1947
Ken Davies St. Paul
1948
Terry Sawchuk Omaha
1949
Jim Uniac Omaha
1950
Marcel Pronovost Omaha
1951
Lorne Worsley St. Paul

Best Goaltender - Charles Gardiner Memorial Trophy

Year
Player Team
   
1946
Harvey Jessiman Omaha
1947
Harvey Jessiman Omaha
1948
Phil McAtee Ft. Worth
1949
Paul Bibeault Dallas
1950
Jim Henry Kansas City
1951
Lorne Worsley St. Paul


Scoring Leaders by Year

Year
Player
Pos.
Team
GP
Goals
Assists
Points
 
1946
Byron McDonald
C
Kansas City Pla-mors
51
39
60
99
1947
Don Morrison
C
Omaha Knights
59
32
44
76
1948
George Agar
C
Houston Huskies
66
43
69
112
1949
Ray Powell
C
Kansas City Pla-mors
61
48
58
106
1950
Ray Powell
C
Kansas City Mohawks
64
27
84
111
1951
Len Halderson
C
Tulsa Oilers
62
27
67
94

Leading Goaltender by Year

Year
Player
Team
GP
Goals
G/A Avg.
SO
 
1946
John McGill
St. Paul Saints
49
158
3.23
2
1947
Harvey Jessiman
Omaha Knights
60
181
3.02
3
1948
Terry Sawchuk
Omaha Knights
54
174
3.22
4
1949
Gordie Bell
Omaha - Ft. Worth
49
141
2.88
1
1950
Harry McQueston
Minneapolis Millers
26
85
3.27
2
1951
Lorne Worsley
St. Paul Saints
64
184
2.88
3

League Leaders - All Time

Games Played

Player
Games Played (Career)
 
Jake Forbes
376
Clare Dillon
370
Hal Brown
344
John McGill
320
Hank Blade
318
Ray Powell
310
George Agar
306
Gus Schwartz
305
Alex Sandalack
304
Walter Melnyk
302

Leading Scorers

Player
GP
Goals
Assists
Total Points
 
Ray Powell
310
177
279
456
George Agar
306
180
266
446
Hank Blade
318
161
233
394
Hal Brown
344
175
139
314
John Harms
292
110
174
284
Ken MacKenzie
281
129
141
270
Len Halderson
202
94
176
270
Walter Melnyk
302
117
146
263
Frank Ashworth
241
100
160
260
Dick Butler
237
118
126
244

Leading Goal Scorers - All Time

Player
GP
Goals
 
George Agar
306
180
Ray Powell
310
177
Hal Brown
344
175
Hank Blade
318
161
Jack Giesebrecht
233
130
Ken MacKenzie
281
129
Dick Butler
237
118
John Harms
292
110
Walter Melnyk
302
107
Ralph Wycherly
175
102

Assist Leaders - All Time

Player
GP
Assists
 
Ray Powell
310
279
George Agar
306
266
Hank Blade
318
233
Len Halderson
202
176
John Harms
292
174
Jake Forbes
376
161
Frank Ashworth
241
160
Walter Melnyk
302
146
Ken MacKenzie
281
141
Hal Brown
344
139

Goaltenders - Goals/Game Average Leaders All Time

Player
GP
Goals Against
Average/Game
Shutouts
 
Bill Brennan
122
408
3.34
5
Harry McQueston
221
742
3.36
13
Gordie Bell
78
262
3.36
1
Doug Jackson
165
566
3.43
9
Phil McAtee
76
263
3.46
4
Paul Bibeault
76
276
3.63
3
Jim Henry
75
273
3.64
4
Lou Crowdis
87
320
3.68
3
John McGill
320
1197
3.74
9
Nelson Little
289
1092
3.78
9

Games Played Leaders - Goaltenders All Time

Player
Games Played (Career)
 
John McGill
320
Nelson Little
289
Harry McQueston
221
Nick Pidsodny
204
Doug Jackson
165

Shutout Leaders - All Time

Player
GP
Shutouts
 
Harry McQueston
221
13
Doug Jackson
165
9
Nelson Little
289
9
John McGill
320
9
Bill Brennan
122
5

All Star Teams

1946
First Team
Position
Second Team
Harvey Jessiman Omaha
Goal
Doug Jackson Kansas City
Leo Reise Jr. Kansas City
Defense
Lloyd Ailsby St. Paul
Jake Forbes Omaha
Defense
Nick Knott Tulsa
Carl Smith Omaha
Left Wing
Hugh Mair Tulsa
Byron McDonald Kansas City
Center
Mel Read Dallas
George Johnston Kansas City
Right Wing
Gordie Howe Omaha

1947    
First Team
Position
Second Team
Harvey Jessiman Omaha
Goal
Harry McQueston Minneapolis
Doug Baldwin Kansas City
Defense
Tom Williams Minneapolis
Bob Dill St. Paul
Defense
Alex Sandalack St. Paul
Ralph Wycherley Tulsa
Left Wing
Ken Mackenzie Dallas
Don Morrison Omaha
Center
Ken Davies St. Paul
George Johnston Kansas City
Right Wing
Hal Brown St. Paul

 

1948    
First Team
Position
Second Team
Phil McAtee Ft. Worth
Goal
Terry Sawchuk Omaha
Doug Baldwin Kansas City
Defense
Lloyd Ailsby St. Paul
Jake Forbes Omaha
Defense
Bill Allum Minneapolis
Lloyd Finkbeiner Dallas
Ralph Wycherley Minneapolis
Left Wing
Ken MacKenzie Houston
George Agar Houston
Center
Max McNab Omaha
Hal Brown St. Paul
Right Wing
John Harms Kansas City

 

1949    
First Team
Position
Second Team
Paul Bibeault Dallas
Goal
Gordie Bell Omaha
Lloyd Ailsby St. Paul
Defense
Joe Schertzl Tulsa
Jake Forbes Omaha
Defense
Vic Lofvendahl Ft. Worth
Tom Rockey Dallas
Bing Juckes St. Paul
Left Wing
Joe Bell Dallas
Ray Powell Kansas City
Center
Frank Ashworth Tulsa
Sam Kennedy Ft. Worth
Dick Butler Tulsa
Right Wing
Hal Brown St. Paul

1950    
First Team
Position
Second Team
Jim Henry Kansas City
Goal
Bill Brennan Omaha
Marcel Pronovost Omaha
Defense
Doug Baldwin Kansas City
Bob Dill St. Paul
Defense
Lloyd Ailsby St. Paul
Jake Forbes Omaha
Gord Fashoway Kansas City
Left Wing
Johnny Wilson Omaha
Ray Powell Kansas City
Center
George Agar Minneapolis
Wally Hergesheimer Minneapolis
Right Wing
Ed Brunteau Omaha

1951    
First Team
Position
Second Team
Lorne Worsley St. Paul
Goal
Bill Brennan Omaha
Lloyd Ailsby St. Paul
Defense
Joe Levandoski Kansas City
Jake Forbes Omaha
Defense
Bob Chrystal Denver
Jim Hay Omaha
Ian MacKintosh St. Paul
Left Wing
Obie O'Brien Tulsa
Len Halderson Tulsa
Center
Cal Stearns Kansas City
Ike Hildebrand Kansas City
Right Wing
Ed Bruneteau Omaha