Bellingham Blazers (2012–)
| Bellingham Blazers | |
|---|---|
| City | Bellingham, Washington |
| League | WSHL |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Home arena | Bellingham Sportsplex |
| Owner(s) | Whatcom Sports Commission |
| General manager | Lance Calloway |
| Head coach | Mark Collins |
| Website | Blazers' website |
| Franchise history | |
| 2012–present | Bellingham Blazers |
The Bellingham Blazers are an Amateur Athletic Union-sanctioned Tier II junior ice hockey team in the Western States Hockey League (WSHL). The Blazers are based in Bellingham, Washington and play home games at the Bellingham Sportsplex.[1]
From 2012 to 2016, the Blazers played in the Northern Pacific Hockey League (NorPac/NPHL). In their first two seasons, the Blazers captured the Cascade Cup, awarded to the league playoff champions, and earned a spot in the USA National Tier III Championships. In 2013, coach Mark Collins was also awarded Coach of the Year when the Blazers won their first Cascade Cup.
In 2016, the team left the NPHL and USA Hockey-sanctioning with the intentions of joining the Amateur Athletic Union-sanctioned Western States Hockey League.[2]
Season-by-season records
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | Regular Season Finish | Playoffs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Pacific Hockey League | |||||||||||
| 2012–13 | 40 | 22 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 46 | 204 | 165 | 3rd of 6, NorPac | Won Semifinals, 3-0 vs. Eugene Generals Won Finals, 3-2 vs. West Sound Warriors CASCADE CUP CHAMPIONS | |
| 2013–14 | 40 | 35 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 230 | 87 | 1st of 5, NPHL McBride Cup | Won Semifinals, 3-0 vs. Tri-City Outlaws Won Finals, 3-2 vs. West Sound Warriors CASCADE CUP CHAMPIONS | |
| 2014–15 | 42 | 33 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 68 | 269 | 91 | 2nd of 6, NPHL | Won Semifinals, 3-2 vs. Wenatchee Wolves Lost Finals, 0-3 vs. West Sound Warriors | |
| 2015–16 | 40 | 30 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 61 | 212 | 77 | 2nd of 6, NPHL | Won Semifinals, 3-2 vs. Eugene Generals Lost Finals, 0-3 vs. Wenatchee Wolves | |
| Western States Hockey League | |||||||||||
Tier III Junior Hockey National Championship
The Bellingham Blazers qualified for the Tier III Junior Hockey National Championships in 2013 and 2014 by winning their league playoff championship. The Blazers have yet to make it past the Round Robin stage of the tournament.
Round robin play in pool with top 4 teams advancing to the semifinals.
| Year | Round Robin | Record | Standing | Semifinal Game | Championship Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | L, Twin Cities Northern Lights (MnJHL) 0-6 L, North Iowa Bulls (NA3HL) 0-7 W, New Hampshire Junior Monarchs (EmJHL) 3-2 | 1-2-0 | 3rd of 4 National Pool | Did not advance | |
| 2014 | L, Flint Jr. Generals (NA3HL) 1-6 L, Northern Cyclones (EHL) 0-12 L, Springfield Pics (USPHL-Elite) 2-8 | 0-3-0 | 4th of 4 Pool B | Did not advance | |
References
- ↑ "Bellingham's new junior hockey team joins Northern Pacific Hockey League". Bellingham Business Journal. August 13, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
- ↑ "DAILY DISH: NPHL Done?". Junior Hockey News. April 25, 2016.