Valencia Flyers

Valencia Flyers
CitySanta Clarita, California
LeagueWestern States Hockey League
DivisionWestern
Founded2001
Home arenaIce Station Valencia
ColorsNavy blue, golden yellow, white
     
Owner(s)Roger Perez
Head coachShane McColgan[1]
Franchise history
2001–2003Valencia Flyers
2004–2007Valencia Vipers
2007–2020Valencia Flyers

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.[2][3]

History

The franchise was founded in 2001 as the Valencia Flyers in the Western States Hockey League (WSHL) with three other expansion franchises.[4] 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,[5] forcing the franchise to cease operations indefinitely.[6]

Season-by-season records

Season GP W L OTW OTL Pts GF GA PIM Finish Playoffs
2010–11 46 18 25 — 3 39 133 174 — 5th of 8, Western
9th of 13, WSHL		 did not qualify
2011–12 46 23 17 — 6 52 181 163 1053 3rd of 6, Western
8th of 16, WSHL		 Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. San Diego Gulls
Lost Div. Finals, 1–2 vs. Fresno Monsters
2012–13 46 24 17 — 5 53 190 157 1140 3rd of 6, Western
8th 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, Pacific
10th of 24, WSHL		 Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–2 vs. Ontario Avalanche
2014–15 46 35 9 — 2 72 224 116 980 2nd of 8, Western
5th of 28, WSHL		 Div. Quarterfinals, Bye
Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Ontario Avalanche
Lost Div. Finals, 1–2 vs. Fresno Monsters
2015–16 52 45 7 — 0 90 257 94 742 1st of 8, Western
1st of 29, WSHL		 Div. Quarterfinals, Bye
Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Ontario Avalanche
Lost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Long Beach Bombers
2016–17 52 40 9 — 3 83 262 127 807 2nd of 8, Western
4th of 27, WSHL		 Div. Quarterfinals, Bye
Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Ontario Avalanche
Lost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Long Beach Bombers
1–1–1, 3rd of 6, Thorne Cup round-robin (as wild card)
(W, 3–1 vs. Jr. Eagles; L, 1–3 vs. Jr. Steelheads; OTL, 2–3 vs. Bombers)
Lost Thorne Cup Semifinal game, 1–3 vs. Idaho Jr. Steelheads
2017–18 51 25 22 — 4 54 242 215 731 4th of 6, Western
13th of 23, WSHL		 Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Phoenix Knights
2018–19 51 13 30 2 6 49[a] 194 259 862 5th of 5, Western
17th 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, Western
20th of 20, WSHL		 did not qualify
  1. ^ Beginning with the 2018–19 season, the WSHL began awarding 3pts for a win, 2pts for an overtime win, and 1pt for an overtime loss.

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.[7]

References

  1. ^ "VALENCIA FLYERS BRING IN NEW HEAD COACH". WSHL. July 9, 2019. Archived from the original on July 10, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ "Valencia Flyers Junior A Hockey". Icestation.net. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  3. ^ "Valencia Flyers Hockey Notebook: Flyers Flying High Into League Playoffs Valencia Home Tonight For First Round. - Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. 2002-03-08. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  4. ^ "Junior League Helps Locals Become High Flyers Valencia-Based Team Gives Pair A Chance At Big-Time Hockey. - Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. 2001-10-13. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  5. ^ "PUBLIC CLOSURE ANNOUNCEMENT". Valencia Flyers. March 25, 2020.
  6. ^ "Public Closure FAQs". Valencia Flyers. March 25, 2020.
  7. ^ "WSHL League - Player Alumni". Western States Hockey League. Archived from the original on 11 August 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)