Professional Teams
There have been a number of professional hockey teams in Victoria. From the first game of the Victoria Senators in 1912 to the final game of the Salmon Kings in 2011, 483 players have played in our fair city. There are interesting connections between different eras – each team is connected to a later one in one or more ways.
- Victoria Senators/Aristocrats/Cougars: 1911-12 to 1925-27
- Victoria Cubs: 1928-29 and 1929-30
- Victoria Cougars: 1949-50 to 1960-61
- Victoria Maple Leafs: 1964-65 to 1966-67
- Victoria Salmon Kings: 2004-05 to 2010-11
The first professional hockey team in Victoria was named the Senators. The team played under this name for their first two seasons but were more often just called the Victoria hockey team. The team operated under this name from 1913-1914 to 1915-1916 until the team moved to Spokane as the Canaries because the Victoria hockey rink was commandeered for the war effort. The team returned to Victoria for the 1918-19 season as the Victoria Aristocrats. The team changed its name to Cougars at the start of the 1922-1923 season and continued in operation until the end of the 1925-1926 season. This is the team that won the Stanley Cup in 1925, the last non-NHL team to do so, as well as the last winner from British Columbia.
Victoria Cubs: 1928-29 and 1929-30
This short-lived team was founded for the 1928-1929 season. At the beginning of the 1929 season, disaster struck when the Arena was destroyed by fire. The Cubs played the remainder of the season as an “away” team and disbanded at the end of the second season.
Of all the hockey teams to play in Victoria, this is the one that very few people remember.
Victoria Cougars: 1949-50 to 1960-61
The Cougar name was revived in 1949 and a team with this name played here until 1961. They won the league championship in 1951. Victoria Cougars (PCHL and WHL).
Victoria Maple Leafs: 1964-65 to 1966-67
The Victoria Maple Leafs came to town in 1964 and played 3 seasons. They were a farm team for the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and won the league championship in the 1965-66 season. They were sold in 1967 to a group from Phoenix for $500,000 and moved to Arizona.
Victoria Salmon Kings: 2004-05 to 2010-11
The Victoria Salmon Kings played in the ECHL from 2004-2011. They were disbanded when Victoria was granted a franchise in the Junior A WHL.