The Western Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union ice hockey tournament was an annual conference championship held between member teams.
History Shortly After World War I, the Western Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (WCIAU) was organized. Schools from western Canada had played one another before the war but did not formalize any arrangement until 1919. Initially, the ice hockey division possessed only three conference members but the league was hampered when Alberta withdrew after the inaugural year. With only Manitoba and Saskatchewan as members, the hockey league existed in name only for several years, sometimes not even being contested. Manitoba stopped competing in the late 20s and the league was abandoned until Alberta agreed to play season series with Saskatchewan. However, the WCIAU remained a curiosity until the 1950s.
In 1956, Manitoba returned as full time members and were joined by Brandon, bringing the conference up to four members for the first time. This situation only lasted for two years before Brandon withdrew and the league continued on as a trio. In 1962, the conference dissolved and reformed as the Western Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Association (WCIAA).
The Halpenny Trophy was donated by Dr. J Halpenny of the University of Saskatchewan in 1922. After winning the trophy every year of competition after 1933, it was permanently given to Alberta in 1950. Afterwards, the Hardy Trophy was awarded to the league champion.
Tournaments
1920 Seed School Standings 1 Manitoba 3–1–0 2 Alberta 2–2–0 3 Saskatchewan 1–3–0 No playoff
1921 No regular season play
1922 No regular season play
1923 No regular season play Manitoba declared champion due to Saskatchewan using ineligible players.
1924 No regular season play
1925 No regular season play
Single exhibition game
1926 not contested
1927 No regular season play
1928 not contested
1929 No regular season play
Single exhibition game
1930 Seed School Standings 1 Saskatchewan 4–0–0 2 Manitoba 2–2–0 3 Alberta 0–4–0 No playoff
1931 not contested
1932 not contested
1933 not contested
1934 No regular season play
1935 not contested
1936 No regular season play
1937 No regular season play
1938 No regular season play
1939 No regular season play
1940 Seed School Standings 1 Alberta 4–0–4 2 Saskatchewan 3–2–3 3 Manitoba 1–6–1 No playoff
1941–1945 League suspended due to World War II
1946 No regular season play
1947 Seed School Standings 1 Alberta 5–1–0 2 Manitoba 2–2–0 3 Saskatchewan 1–5–0 Manitoba's games were worth 4 points each no playoff
1948 No regular season play
1949 No regular season play
1950 No regular season play
1951 No regular season play
1952 No regular season play
1953 No regular season play
1954 No regular season play
1955 Seed School Standings 1 Alberta 6–2–0 2 Saskatchewan 4–4–0 3 Brandon 2–6–0 no playoff
1956 No regular season play
1957 Seed School Standings 1 Alberta 10–0–0 2 Manitoba 6–2–0 3 Saskatchewan 3–7–0 4 Brandon 1–11–0 Manitoba cancelled its final 4 games due to poor ice and travel issues no playoff
1958 Seed School Standings 1 Alberta 11–1–0 2 Saskatchewan 8–4–0 3 Manitoba 3–9–0 4 Brandon 2–10–0 no playoff
1959 Seed School Standings 1 Saskatchewan 6–2–0 2 Alberta 4–4–0 3 Manitoba 2–6–0 no playoff
1960 Seed School Standings 1 Alberta 7–1–0 2 Manitoba 4–4–0 3 Saskatchewan 1–7–0 no playoff
1961 Seed School Standings 1 Alberta 7–0–1 2 Saskatchewan 4–4–0 3 Manitoba 0–7–1 no playoff
1962 Seed School Standings 1 Alberta 11–1–0 2 Saskatchewan 5–7–0 3 British Columbia 0–8–0 The eight games between Alberta and Saskatchewan were worth 1 point in the standings.All of British Columbia's games were worth 2 points. no playoff
Championships SchoolChampionships 20 8 4
See also WCIAA men's ice hockey tournament GPAC men's ice hockey tournament Canada West men's ice hockey tournament
References Canada West Men's Hockey History