The Valencia Flyers were an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU)-sanctioned junior ice hockey team based in Valencia, Santa Clarita, California. The team played in the Western Division of the Western States Hockey League at the Ice Station Valencia.
History The franchise was founded in 2001 as the Valencia Flyers in the Western States Hockey League (WSHL) with three other expansion franchises. The team played as the Flyers from 2001 to 2003 until suspending operations for the 2003–04 season before returning for the 2004–05 season as the Valencia Vipers. In 2007, the team reverted to its original name.
From 2001 to 2007, the Flyers were a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior B team. In 2007, the WSHL was promoted to Tier III Junior A. Before the 2011–12 season, the WSHL and all its team members, including the Flyers, became AAU-sanctioned and dropped its USA Hockey sanctioning, the first Junior A hockey league to make that transition.
At the end of the 2019–20 regular season, the Flyers' home rink was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ice Station Valencia, which was also owned by the Flyers' owner Roger Perez. The closure was made permanent due to the financial losses incurred by the shutdown, forcing the franchise to cease operations indefinitely.
Season-by-season records Season GP W L Pts GF GA PIM Finish Playoffs 2010–11 46 18 25 — 3 39 133 174 — 5th of 8, Western9th of 13, WSHL did not qualify 2011–12 46 23 17 — 6 52 181 163 1053 3rd of 6, Western8th of 16, WSHL Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. San Diego GullsLost Div. Finals, 1–2 vs. Fresno Monsters 2012–13 46 24 17 — 5 53 190 157 1140 3rd of 6, Western8th of 22, WSHL Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–2 vs. Bay Area Seals 2013–14 46 27 15 — 4 58 171 175 750 3rd of 6, Pacific10th of 24, WSHL Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–2 vs. Ontario Avalanche 2014–15 46 35 9 — 2 72 224 116 980 2nd of 8, Western5th of 28, WSHL Div. Quarterfinals, ByeWon Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Ontario AvalancheLost Div. Finals, 1–2 vs. Fresno Monsters 2015–16 52 45 7 — 0 90 257 94 742 1st of 8, Western1st of 29, WSHL Div. Quarterfinals, ByeWon Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Ontario AvalancheLost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Long Beach Bombers 2016–17 52 40 9 — 3 83 262 127 807 2nd of 8, Western4th of 27, WSHL Div. Quarterfinals, ByeWon Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Ontario AvalancheLost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Long Beach BombersLost Thorne Cup Semifinal game, 1–3 vs. Idaho Jr. Steelheads 2017–18 51 25 22 — 4 54 242 215 731 4th of 6, Western13th of 23, WSHL Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Phoenix Knights 2018–19 51 13 30 2 6 49 194 259 862 5th of 5, Western17th of 23, WSHL Lost Play-in series, 0–2 vs. Ontario Avalanche 2019–20 51 3 44 2 2 15 117 359 661 5th of 5, Western20th of 20, WSHL did not qualify
Alumni The Flyers have had a number of alumni move on to NCAA Division III, and higher levels of junior ice hockey, and professional ice hockey.
References
External links Official Website