The Black Diamond Hockey League (BDHL) was a semi-professional ice hockey league consisting of teams from the Western United States. Teams competed for the Joe Casey Cup, named in honor of the former Jackson Hole Moose team captain who died suddenly at the age of 37.
History The league was founded in 2014 with four member clubs: the Bozeman Stingers, Jackson Hole Moose, Park City Pioneers, and Sun Valley Suns. Teams played a 12-game schedule followed by a single-elimination playoff with the winner awarded the Joe Casey Cup.
In the first-ever league game, Jackson Hole shut out Park City 4-0. Jackson Hole upset regular season winner Sun Valley, who were a perfect 12-0, to capture the first league championship.
Season two in the BDHL saw the Park City Pioneers folding. The league replaced the team with the Missoula Desperados to remain at four teams.
The Sun Valley Suns avenged their championship loss by defeating Jackson Hole for the 2016 title.
Teams TeamCityArenaJoinedAspen LeafsAspen, COLewis Ice Arena2019Bozeman StingersBozeman, MTHaynes Pavilion2014Breckenridge VipersBreckenridge, COStephen C. West Ice Arena2019Jackson Hole MooseJackson Hole, WYSnow King Sports & Events Center2014Park City PioneersPark City, UTPark City Ice Arena2019Sun Valley SunsHailey, IDHailey Campion Ice House2014Texas TitansIrving, TXChildren's Health StarCenter2019Vail YetiVail, CODobson Arena2019
Former teams Missoula Desperados (2015–17) Park City Pioneers (2014–15) - returned in 2019 Vail Yeti (2017–18) - returned in 2019
Champions SeasonChampionsRunner-upResult2014-15Jackson Hole MooseSun Valley Suns5-22015-16Sun Valley SunsJackson Hole Moose4-22016-17Jackson Hole MooseBozeman Stingers5-42017-18Sun Valley SunsJackson Hole Moose5-02018-19Sun Valley SunsJackson Hole Moose5-4
Alumni Garnet Exelby (Sun Valley Suns) - Atlanta Thrashers, Toronto Maple Leafs David Booth - Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Admiral Vladivostok, Avangard Omsk, Detroit Red Wings, Dinamo Minsk Brian Gibbons (Park City Pioneers) - EHC Neuweid, Hanover Indians, EHC Preussen Berlin Christian Hanson (Sun Valley Suns) - Toronto Maple Leafs, Stavanger Oilers Evan MacIntosh (Park City Pioneers) - Oxford City Stars, Boro/Vetlanda HC, Lindefallets SK, Delaware Thunder Ryan Widmar (Sun Valley Suns) - IFK Strömsund Hockey, Oxford City Stars, Antwerp Phantoms, HK Celje, Gladsaxe Bears, Poitiers Dragons
See also List of ice hockey leagues Federal Prospects Hockey League Southern Professional Hockey League Great Lakes Hockey League Mountain West Hockey League
References
External links Official website Bozeman Stingers Breckenridge Vipers Jackson Hole Moose Park City Pioneers Sun Valley Suns Texas Titans Vail Yeti