Western Collegiate Roller Hockey League
www.wcrhl.com
4733 Torrance Blvd., #618
Torrance, CA 90503
Phone: (310) 753-7285
Fax: (310) 347-4001
About WCRHL:
1994
The origins of the league can be followed back to the spring of 1994 when it was developed as an in-line program to the Pacific Collegiate Hockey Association, a collegiate ice hockey league. While the league was small with only three teams, Cal Poly Pomona became the first league winner that year. The other two teams to participate were University of Southern California and The University of California at Los Angeles.
Only a few months later the league grew in popularity and added two new schools, El Camino College and Moorpark College. But not only did the team selection get bigger, but so did the league itself. In the 1994-95 season, The Pacific Collegiate Hockey Association renamed itself and became reorganized.
1995
Just one year after renaming the league to the Collegiate Inline Hockey Association, the league would experience massive growth by adding two new schools, University of San Diego and University of California Santa Barbara in the spring of 1995. By the fall of 1995, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Ventura College, Pepperdine University, California State University Fullerton, University of California Irvine and University of Nevada Las Vegas all joined the still young league. During those beginning seasons, El Camino would roll on dominating the competition by winning the fall 1994, spring 1995, and fall of 1995 championships.
1996
By the spring of 1996, even more teams were joining the league as Pierce College and Marymount College signed on to play. The league also decided to once again change its appearance and name and so from after the spring of 1996, the league would now be recognized as the National Collegiate Inline Hockey Association. Not only did the name change, but so did the season layout to a single, yearly championship that would not only encompass the west coast, but the entire nation.
The first national championships were held in Las Vegas, Nevada for the fall season of 1996. The tournament was held in unison with the National In-line Hockey Association. El Camino College continued their dynasty by defeating Purdue University 4-3 in a shoot-out to win the first ever collegiate roller hockey nationals.
By the fall of 1996, college hockey in the west coast found itself with a national championship and an ever-growing league. The league had just recently received two new schools, Saddleback College and Cuyamaca College, for the 1996-97 season. Saddleback would be a great addition to the league by winning the NCIHA championships that same first year by defeating University of Nevada, Las Vegas 9-3 in Las Vegas, Nevada, an event hosted by USA Hockey InLine.
1997-1998
University of California Davis and California State University Sacramento both joined the league by the start of the 1997-98 season. For the third straight year, the national championships were held in Las Vegas, Nevada. That year, the regional champions, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, would lose to Missouri St. Louis 3-0. The 1998 National Championships were hosted by Roller Hockey International~Amateur.
1998-1999
Due to the expansion the NCIHA had witnessed not only in the west coast, but nation wide. The league decided to implement a different internal organization and so the Western Collegiate Inline Hockey League became a region of the newly formed Collegiate Roller Hockey League. The WCIHL and four other leagues nation wide would be separate to play in regional tournaments, but then meet up at the national level to determine which teams would be the best in the United States.
In that same year, 1998-99, the WCIHL would see California State University Chico, Grossmont College, and Sonoma State University all be added to the competitive WCIHL. U.C. Santa Barbara dominated league play by winning regionals with a 16-1 record, but would go on to lose to Michigan State 5-4 in the championship game of nationals. In Junior College play, Grossmont would go on to win the NCT.
1999-2000
Little change occurred by the turn of the century as Santa Barbara continued their dominating streak and winning regionals again, this time with a 15-0 record. The league received some growth with the additions of California State University in Monterey Bay, California State University in Fresno, and California State University in Sacramento. By the turn of the century, the league had 10 division one ranked teams, five B teams, and 51 affiliates all competing out of the west coast. Five WCIHL teams made it to nationals that year, U.C. Santa Barbara, U.C. Davis, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and Grossmont College. The Pomona Mustangs went on to reach the Sweet Sixteen ranks of the NCT while Santa Barbara would go on to finish in the elite eight. Both Cal Poly SLO and Grossmont made it as far as the Final Four rounds before being eliminated.
2000-2001
By 2000, a new director stepped onto the scene. Brennan Edwards, the current league director, initiated a new format of Northern and Southern Conferences, a 20 game season, and a new schedule comprised of a balanced inter-conference play, along with games verses traditional conference rivals. The Northern Conference consisted of University of California in Davis, California State in Chico, Sonoma State, California State University in Sacramento, and the new active member California State University in Monterey Bay. The Southern Conference comprised of University of California in Santa Barbara, Grossmont College, University of Nevada in Las Vegas, California State Polytechnic University Pomona, California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, and University of San Diego.
While the league was separated by location, they were connected by region and only one team could come out victorious. Cal Poly SLO ended up being victorious by defeating rival Cal Poly Pomona to be titled best in the west for 2001. Cal Poly SLO, Chico State, U.C. Santa Barbara, Cal Poly Pomona, and Grossmont College all made it to the 2001 Nationals held in Upland, California. Both Pomona and Chico State would not make it out of the first round, while UCSB met their fate losing to UCF in the Sweet Sixteen. Cal Poly SLO would go on to the Elite Eight only to lose in double over time to Truman State University. For Junior College, Grossmont College made it to the semifinal round, but was unable to advance any further.
2001-2002
By 2001, the level of competition had greatly increased compared to the previous years. Teams became more unified and focused on winning a national championship. By the end of the season, however, Cal Poly SLO held their title as Regional champions by defeating Chico State 4-1. At the NCT, UCSB and Chico State were unable to make it out of the first round. Cal Poly SLO received a bye for their round robin play only to lose to Penn State in the second round. Cal Poly Pomona shined brightly though making it as far as the elite eight only to lose to Lindenwood 8-1.
2002-2003
In 2002, League Director, Brennan Edwards, changed the league name yet again. The league finally found itself under the Western Collegiate Roller Hockey League, the name it holds to date. Under the title WCRHL, the league expanded to having 10 active DI teams, 2 active DII teams, 2 active DIII teams, and 5 B teams. A new comer to the season, Orange Coast College would dominate the competition by going on to win regionals over Cal Poly Pomona with a final score of 5-3. Three teams from the west coast would end up arriving at nationals and this year a west coast team would come home with the hardware. Cal Poly Pomona would sweep past all the competition and defeat University of Florida in the championship game 4-2. Cal Poly SLO would yet again win a bye for round robin play only to lose in the second round game play. Cal State University in San Bernadino would also struggle and lose in the second round to University of Central Florida.
2003-2004
In another expanding year, the WCRHL saw a massive growth in the B divisions. Both Cal Poly SLO and U.C. Santa Barbara were able to supply two highly competitive B teams and also U.C. Davis, Cal Poly Pomona, and CSU Monterey Bay submitted teams. In the 2001-2002 season, there were only three B teams, but by 2003 there were 7 registered B teams. In Division I play, it was all the same teams from last year continuing their domination. Cal Poly SLO would go on to win regionals against CSU San Bernadino.
The DI teams to make it to nationals that year were Cal Poly SLO, CSU San Bernadino, Chico State, and Cal Poly Pomona. DII schools were University of Nevada in Reno and Sonoma State made their first appearances at the NCT. Moorpark was the lone WCRHL representative for Junior Colleges. To accommodate for a nation wide increase in B teams, the NCRHA initiated the first ever bids for B teams. Cal Poly SLO B Gold made the cut by winning Regionals and thus earned a spot among eight other teams at the NCT. This would be the year Florida dominated California teams in Division I at Nationals. CSUSB would lose in the first round to South Florida, Cal Poly SLO would lose to UCF in the second round after winning a bye from round robin play, Cal Poly Pomona would go on to lose to Florida, and Chico State would lose to Central Florida in the first round as well.
In DII play, University of Reno would win two playoff games, but fall to Neuman 5-4. Sonoma State would also fall to Neuman, but in the first round of playoffs. Junior College team, Moorpark, played well in the playoffs, but would fall to St. Charles in the semifinals. And finally in the B division, Cal Poly SLO B Gold would play on to the semifinals and lose to Meramac B in the final four.
2004-2005
In yet another exciting year for college hockey, a new comer to the league would show their greatness and be titled regional champions. Riverside Community College (Junior College) would go on to defeat Cal Poly SLO in DI play. In DII play, University of Reno would play a near perfect season and win regionals as well. Their only blemish was a tie against the U.C. Riverside. In B division play, Cal Poly SLO Gold would repeat last year's feat and win regionals in a much anticipated game against Cal Poly Pomona.
At the national level, DI team Cal Poly SLO would lose in the second round of playoffs to Michigan State. C.S.U. San Bernadino would win two of their playoff games, but fall to Lindenwood in the third round. Chapman University won one, but fell to Eastern Michigan. In DII play, Reno outplayed all other teams and would go on to win the Division II National title. The team had an undefeated season for the entire year. U.C. San Diego would lose to Neuman in the first round of the playoffs. Regional champions, Riverside Community College, would play on to the finals in the Junior College division against St. Charles, but lose in a close battle 6-5. In the second year of B division nationals, Cal Poly SLO B Gold would make it to the final four, but would lose to Eastern Michigan B.
2005-2006
Cal Poly SLO and UC Santa Barbara finished at the top of the pack in 2005-2006, followed by UC Davis and 4 other teams within one point of each other. It was a very competitive season in Division I. Both Cal Poly SLO and UCSB were defeated in the semifinals of the WCRHL Regional Championship Tournament, and it was Riverside CC defeating UC Irvine by a score of 11-10 in the Championship Game. It was a tough Division I at Nationals this year, as Cal Poly SLO, UCSB and UC Irvine were not able to make it out of the first playoff round.
UC San Diego,
Long Beach
State
and
University
of
Nevada Reno
held the top 3 spots in Division II for the regular season. In the Regional Championship Tournament it was
University
of
Nevada Reno
upsetting UC San Diego by a score of 4-3 for the Division II Championship.
University
of
Nevada Reno
made it to the Final Four at Nationals, UC San Diego made it to the Elite Eight, and
Long Beach
State
was knocked out in the first round of the playoffs.
Riverside
Community College
dominated round robin play at Nationals, going 3-0. They went on to win their 2 playoff games as well, defeating St. Louis CC Meramec for the Division III title, by a score of 5-4.
This was Cal Poly SLO B Gold’s best season from beginning to end. Cal Poly SLO B dominated the regular season with a 15-1 record, and went on to defeat Cal Poly Pomona B by a score of 4-3 at Regionals. Cal Poly SLO B Gold made it to the Final Four at Nationals this year, going 4-2 in the tournament.
2006-2007
UC Irvine finished with a 12-4-2 record in 1st, followed by Cal Poly SLO (10-4-4). At the WCRHL Regional Championship Tournament, #6 Chapman made a run and finished as the Runner-up, losing to WCRHL Champion CSUSB by a score of 5-3. CSUSB upset UC Irvine twice, with a tie in round robin and a 7-3 win in the semifinals at Regionals.
CSU San Bernardino was the lone Division I team from the WCRHL at Nationals this season. CSUSB went 1-3-1, losing their final game against
Eastern Michigan
by a score of 8-1.
Long Beach
dominated Division II play, going 18-1 in the regular season with 160 GF and 42 GA. They were followed by Cal Poly Pomona (12-5-1) and
University
of
San Diego
(10-4-4).
Long Beach
earned the WCRHL Division II Championship, defeating UC San Diego by a score of 7-2.
Long Beach
continued their run, going 3-1-1 at Nationals, losing eventually to
Saint Louis
University
by a score of 4-3. UC San Diego also went 3-1-1 at Nationals, but was defeated by Neumann 4-2.
University
of
San Diego
went 2-3 at Nationals, losing 5-3 in the first round of the playoffs to eventual champion
Stony
Brook
University
.
University
of
Nevada Reno
and Cal Poly Pomona were also in attendance.
The Junior College Division saw two teams neck and neck all season long, in
Evergreen
Valley
College
and
Riverside
Community College
. Evergreen finished the season with a 10-6-2 record, followed immediately by
Riverside
, who went 10-7-1. Modesto JC also participated this season and finished with a 2-11-2 record. There were no Junior College teams representing the WCRHL at Nationals in 2006-2007.
Cal Poly SLO B Gold dominated the WCRHL Regular Season with a 14-1-1 record, followed by archrival UCSB B Gold, who was 10-3-3. Both teams made it to the Championship Game at the Regional Championship Tournament, but it was UCSB B Gold who came out on top, defeating Cal Poly SLO B Gold by a score of 6-0.
UCSB Gold earned the WCRHL’s only bid to the B Division at Nationals and went 1-3-1, losing in the 2nd round of the brackets to eventual champion Lindenwood B Gold by a score of 7-2.
2007-2008
The conversation of the year was undefeated University of California, Irvine, as they dominated play in the first half of the season and into the second half as well. The team totaled 154 goals for and just 50 goals against in 18 games. Their sole defeat came at the hands of University of California Davis, who made a great 2nd half run to earn the number 5 seed going into the Regional Championships. UC Irvine was the Division I WCRHL Regional Champion, defeating CSU Long Beach 6-2 and qualified for the Collegiate Roller Hockey National Championships, along with Long Beach State and UNLV. UCI made a Final Four finish at the National Championships, losing to the eventual champions Lindenwood University.
In Division II, it was a similar story for the top 3 teams, University of California San Diego, California State University San Bernardino and California State Polytechnic University Pomona. These 3 teams were a combined 47-5-2 with a combined goal differential of +263. Cal Poly Pomona was declared the WCRHL Regional Champion, defeating UC San Diego by a score of 5-2. All 3 teams qualified for the National Championships, held in Colorado Springs. Both UC San Diego and CSU San Bernardino finished in the Final Four, and Cal Poly Pomona made an Elite Eight finish.
In the B Division, it was California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo B Gold leading the way all season long, trailed closely by University of California Santa Barbara B Gold. UCSB B Gold earned the WCRHL B Division Regional Championship by defeating Cal Poly SLO B Gold by a score of 8-4 and both teams earned bids to the National Championships. At the National Championships, UCSB B Gold went 4-1, losing in the Final Four to University of Central Florida B.
Active Schools: Arizona State, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, California, Chico State, CSU Northridge, CSU San Bernardino, Long Beach State, Saddleback College, Santa Barbara CC, Sonoma State, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, University of San Diego, UNLV, USC, West Valley JC |
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