West Kootenay League

The West Kootenay League operated from 1922–23 through 1940–41. Many of the players resisted the idea of turning professional because, with the promise of high paying mining jobs, they had secure jobs for life and were making as much, if not more, than players in the NHL. In 1931 the Kimberley Dynamiters joined the West Kootenay League, beginning an immediate rivalry with the Trail Smoke Eaters, a strong player in of senior British Columbia hockey. and its teams merged with the Alberta Senior League to become the Alberta-British Columbia Senior League for the 1941–42 season. The West Kootenay League was resurrected for the 1945–46 season, and in 1946–47 the league expanded to Spokane and Los Angeles and became the Western International Hockey League. ==List of champions==

• 1922–23 Nelson Hockey Club • 1923–24 Rossland Miners • 1924–25 Trail Hockey Club • 1925–26 Trail Hockey Club • 1926–27 Trail Hockey Club • 1927–28 Trail Hockey Club • 1928–29 Trail Smoke Eaters • 1929–30 Trail Smoke Eaters • 1930–31 Trail Smoke Eaters • 1931–32 Trail Smoke Eaters • 1932–33 Trail Smoke Eaters • 1933–34 Kimberley Dynamiters • 1934–35 Kimberley Dynamiters • 1935–36 Kimberley Dynamiters (won the Allan Cup) • 1936–37 Nelson Maple Leafs • 1937–38 Trail Smoke Eaters (won the Allan Cup) • 1938–39 Kimberley Dynamiters • 1939–40 Trail Smoke Eaters • 1940–41 Trail Smoke Eaters • 1945–46 Trail Smoke Eaters ==References==