International Hockey Association
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The International Hockey Association is an online fantasy hockey league run using the Fantasy Hockey League Simulator. The League is currently comprised of twenty teams located throughout Canada and the United States. Although the cities are real locations, and actual NHL player names are used, the statistics and teams are fictitous.
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[edit] Teams
[edit] Season 1
Eight teams took to the ice for the IHA's Inaugural Season. Franchises were located in Houston, Las Vegas, Long Beach, and Nashville in the USA, and Kitchener, Montreal, Ottawa and Windsor in Canada. The Nashville franchise, originally named the Knights, became the Outlaws halfway through the season.
- Houston Tigers
- Kitchener Warriors
- Las Vegas Lights
- Long Beach Kings
- Montreal Sharks
- Nashville Knights/Outlaws
- Ottawa Beavers
- Windsor Spitfires
[edit] Season 2
Season two began with the folding of the Ottawa Beavers franchise. The IHA then awarded expansion franchises to Tucson (AZ), Martensville (SASK), Riverview (NB), Quebec City (QC), Denver (CO), and Vancouver (BC). The Montreal franchise relocated to Springfield (MO), and Nashville relocated to Toronto. The Houston franchise changed their nickname to the Aces. Shortly before the season began, the Toronto franchise folded, and the Martensville franchise relocated to Verdun (QC).
- Arizona Indians
- Denver Polar Bears
- Houston Aces
- Kitchener Warriors
- Las Vegas Lights
- Long Beach Kings
- Grenouilles De Quebec
- Riverview Royals
- Springfield Sharks
- Vancouver Vipers
- Verdun Vampyrs
- Windsor Spitfires
[edit] Season 3
Season three started much like season two, with the folding of the Vancouver franchise, as well as Windsor. The Verdun franchise was relocated to Pontiac (MI), and the Denver Polar Bears were relocated to Aspen (CO). Expansion teams were located in DeKalb (IL) and Winnipeg (MB).
- Arizona Indians
- Aspen Polar Bears
- DeKalb Wolves
- Houston Aces
- Kitchener Warriors
- Las Vegas Lights
- Long Beach Kings
- Grenouilles De Quebec
- Pontiac Firebirds
- Riverview Royals
- Springfield Sharks
- Winnipeg Ice
[edit] Season 4
Season four included expansion into three more markets, as Thunder Bay (ON), North Bay (ON), Philadelphia (PA) and Plymouth (MI) joined the league. The Winnipeg franchise was renamed the Chiefs, and Long Beach was renamed the Lazers.
- Arizona Indians
- Aspen Polar Bears
- DeKalb Wolves
- Houston Aces
- Kitchener Warriors
- Las Vegas Lights
- Long Beach Lazers
- North Bay Skyhawks
- Philadelphia Spirit
- Plymouth Phantoms
- Pontiac Firebirds
- Grenouilles De Quebec
- Riverview Royals
- Springfield Sharks
- Thunder Bay Rage
- Winnipeg Chiefs
[edit] Season 5
Season five saw the IHA restart fresh after closing temporarily. The League renewed several teams, and restarted with sixteen franchises.
- Aspen Polar Bears
- Moscow Cerberi
- Springfield Saints
- Kamloops Lumberjacks
- Houston Aces
- Calgary Grizzlies
- Cold Lake Ice
- North Bay Skyhawks
- Kingsville Knights
- Two Rivers Dragons
- Windsor Ice Wasps
- St John's Sealers
- Toronto Blue Devils
- Grenouilles De Quebec
- Riverview Royals
- Kitchener Warriors
[edit] Season 6
Season six began with fourteen teams, including the expansion Barrie Bandits. The Springfield Saints relocated to St James, Louisiana, while the Calgary franchise was renamed the Lionhearts.
- Barrie Bandits
- Calgary Lionhearts
- Cold Lake Ice
- Houston Aces
- Kitchener Warriors
- Kingsville Knights
- Moscow Cerberi
- North Bay Skyhawks
- Les Grenouilles De Quebec
- St James Saints
- St John's Sealers
- Toronto Blue Devils
- Uxbridge Thugz
- Windsor Ice Wasps
[edit] Season 7 Expansion
In season seven, the IHA will add six new teams to the fold. The Labrador Maples, will play under league ownership, while the Fort Worth Oilers, New Hampshire Ninjas (originally to be located in Boston), Ottawa Attack, Austin Red Bulls and yet to be named team to be located in Montreal will also be welcomed. The league will also take over temporary ownership of the Moscow, Toronto, and Quebec franchises while Kitchener will relocate to Blenheim, Ontario, and St James will relocate to Sterling, Colorado.
[edit] Irvine 'Ace' Bailey Memorial Cup
The Bailey Cup, as it is commonly known, is awarded annually to the winning team of the IHA Playoffs. The trophy was donated by the Houston franchise at the beginning of season one, and is named in honor of former Toronto Maple Leaf Irvine Bailey.
[edit] Season 1
In the inaugural Bailey Cup championship, the Kitchener Warriors, who had finished second in the Canadian Conference, defeated the Long Beach Kings of the USA Conference, four games to one. The Warriors had defeated the Ottawa franchise in the first round, and the Montreal Sharks in the semifinals, while the Long Beach Kings defeated the Las Vegas Lights in round one, and the Nashville Outlaws in the semifinals.
[edit] Season 2
Season two saw a clash of two expansion franchises. The Arizona Indians, who had the second best record in the IHA, defeated the Riverview Royals, of the Canadian Conference, in four straight games. The Indians had defeated the Springfield Sharks in the first round, and then the Houston Aces in seven games in the USA Conference finals. On their way to the finals, the Riverview Royals defeated the Vancouver Vypers in the first round, and then the Kitchener Warriors in the semifinal.
[edit] Season 3
Season three saw a few upsets take place. The Aspen Polar Bears defeated the Springfield Sharks in seven games to claim their first Bailey Cup. The Polar Bears defeated Houston in round one, and then the Long Beach Kings in the Orr Conference finals, while St James defeated Kitchener, and then shocked Arizona in the Barilko finals.
[edit] Season 4
In season four, the Houston Aces had won the Orr Conference, having defeated the Springfield Sharks in the first round, and the Las Vegas Lights in the conference finals. On the other end, the Pontiac Firebirds and the Kitchener Warriors were deadlocked at three games a piece. Pontiac had defeated the Aspen Polar Bears, while Kitchener had defeated the Riverview Royals. No Cup was awarded.
[edit] Season 5
Upon it's return, the former Pontiac franchise (now the Moscow Cerberi), having been denied in season four, captured the Bailey Cup in five games over the Kingsville Knights. Moscow had won the Barilko Conference by defeating the Springfield Saints in the first round, and the Kamloops Lumberjacks in the Conference finals. In the Orr Conference, the Knights had defeated the St John's Sealers in a thrilling first round, and then the Two Rivers Dragons.
[edit] Season 6
The Houston Aces defeated the Kitchener Warriors in seven games, after being up three games to none, to claim their first ever Bailey Cup. In the renamed Geoffrion Conference, the Kitchener Warriors defeated the Kingsville Knights in six games, after eliminating Toronto in round one, while in the Barilko Conference, the Houston Aces upset the Moscow Cerberi in seven after shocking the St John's Sealers in the opening round.
