The Bellingham Blazers are an inactive Amateur Athletic Union-sanctioned Tier II junior ice hockey team in the United States Premier Hockey League. The Blazers are based in Bellingham, Washington and play home games at the Bellingham Sportsplex. The team also has the local youth hockey association named after them, going by the Jr. Blazers.
History From 2012 to 2016, the Blazers played in the Northern Pacific Hockey League (NorPac/NPHL). In their first two seasons, the Blazers captured the Cascade Cup, awarded to the league playoff champions, and earned a spot in the USA National Tier III Championships. In 2013, coach Mark Collins was also awarded Coach of the Year when the Blazers won their first Cascade Cup. Collins was fired from team before the 2019 playoffs.
In 2016, the team left the NPHL and USA Hockey-sanctioning with the intentions of joining the Amateur Athletic Union-sanctioned Western States Hockey League. The team won its first WSHL division title and made its first Thorne Cup Final appearance in the 2018-19 season.
The Blazers' 2019–20 season ended early due to a COVID-19 outbreak in Washington. The WSHL itself would cancel the rest of the season not long after. The Blazers and the WSHL returned in the 2021–22 season, but it was short-lived due to the WSHL folding all of its US-based teams. The Blazers were able to continue playing in the Canadian division, but would suspend operations not long after.
The Blazers joined the USPHL the following season after the WSHL folded. The Blazers made their first USPHL playoff appearance in the 2024–25 season, losing in the first round to the Seattle Totems.
On September 11, 2025 the Blazers suspended operations for the 2025–26 season due to a lack of players as a result of the rule changes regarding junior players being eligible for NCAA.https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1465542714979108&set=a.742959003904153
On March 22nd, 2026, it was announced that the Junior Prospects Hockey League would be expanding to Bellingham. Known as the Bellingham Hockey Club, the team is scheduled to play their first season in the fall. The current fate of the Blazers is currently unknown.https://www.cascadiadaily.com/2026/mar/22/new-junior-hockey-team-to-play-at-bellingham-sportsplex/
Season-by-season records Season GP W L Pts GF GA Regular season finish PlayoffsNorthern Pacific Hockey League 2012–13 40 22 16 — 1 1 46 204 165 3rd of 6, NorPac Won Semifinals, 3–0 vs. Eugene GeneralsWon Finals, 3–2 vs. West Sound WarriorsCASCADE CUP CHAMPIONS 2013–14 40 35 5 — 0 0 70 230 87 1st of 5, NPHLMcBride CupWon Semifinals, 3–0 vs. Tri-City OutlawsWon Finals, 3–2 vs. West Sound WarriorsCASCADE CUP CHAMPIONS 2014–15 42 33 7 — 0 2 68 269 91 2nd of 6, NPHL Won Semifinals, 3–2 vs. Wenatchee WolvesLost Finals, 0–3 vs. West Sound Warriors 2015–16 40 30 9 — 1 0 61 212 77 2nd of 6, NPHL Won Semifinals, 3–2 vs. Eugene GeneralsLost Finals, 0–3 vs. Wenatchee WolvesWestern States Hockey League 2016–17 52 15 36 — 1 — 31 122 221 6th of 7, Northwest22nd of 27, WSHL Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Butte Cobras 2017–18 51 28 20 — 3 — 59 228 221 3rd of 6, Northwest12th of 23, WSHL Won Div. Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Southern Oregon SpartansLost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Tahoe Icemen 2018–19 51 34 14 0 3 — 105 281 153 2nd of 4, Northwest7th of 23, WSHL Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Southern Oregon SpartansWon Div. Finals, 2–1 vs. Seattle Totems0–3–0–0, 6th of 6, Thorne Cup round-robin 2019–20 48 17 26 3 2 — 59 157 232 4th of 5, Northwest15th of 20, WSHL Playoffs cancelled 2020–21 No season due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2021–22 5 0 5 0 0 — 0 7 50 Withdrew from seasonUnited States Premier Hockey League - - Premier Division 2022–23 44 9 33 0 2 — 20 120 228 5th of 5, Northwest60th of 70, Premier Did not qualify 2023–24 44 6 36 0 2 — 14 120 228 5th of 5, Northwest56th of 61, Premier Did not qualify 2024–25 44 27 14 1 0 1 55 176 154 3rd of 7, Northwest21st of 73, Premier Lost Div. Semifinal series, 0–2 (Seattle Totems) 2025–26 Suspended Season
Tier III Junior Hockey National Championship The Bellingham Blazers qualified for the Tier III Junior Hockey National Championships in 2013 and 2014 by winning their league playoff championship. The Blazers have never past the round-robin stage of the tournament.
Round-robin play in pool with top four overall teams advancing to the semifinal. Year Round-robin Record Standing Semifinal game Championship game 2013 L, Twin Cities Northern Lights (MnJHL) 0–6L, North Iowa Bulls (NA3HL) 0–7W, New Hampshire Junior Monarchs (EmJHL) 3–2 1–2–0 3rd of 4National Pool Did not advance 2014 L, Flint Jr. Generals (NA3HL) 1–6L, Northern Cyclones (EHL) 0–12L, Springfield Pics (USPHL-Elite) 2–8 0–3–0 4th of 4Pool B Did not advance
References
External links Team Website