Hockey in Seattle

In the past, I've drawn connections between the city of Portland and the Chicago Blackhawks (of which there are many) and given a history of hockey in Kansas City and New Mexico.  Today, I head up I-5 from Portland to a city three hours away in Seattle, WA.  You may be asking yourself, "Why Seattle?"  Well, given the talks of the Edmonton Oilers and their entertaining the idea of moving to Seattle, combined with the fact that Seattle is a rival city of Portland, OR, a fact driven home by the MLS rivalry between the two cities (plus Vancouver, BC), Seattle is not without a history in hockey.

Dating back to 1915, the city of Seattle had the Metropolitans in that time, and along with the Vancouver Millionaires, Portland Rosebuds, and Victoria Aristocrats, were the primary participants in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association.  In 1917, Seattle made history when they became the first United States team to hoist the Stanley Cup.  That franchise would fold in 1924 along with the rest of the PCHA.  The Eskimos/Sea Hawks would have their turn from 1928 until 1941, playing in the PCHL (as the Eskimos) and NWHL (as the Sea Hawks) in that time period.  The city would have a few other minor teams in the Ironmen (1945-52), Bombers (1952-54), and Americans (1955-58).  The Totems would play from 1958 until 1975 in the Western Hockey League, the minor pro league that would be more famous for the Vancouver Canucks team that would eventually join the NHL in 1970.  Seattle had four entries in this league from 1945 until 1975, but the Totems would be the incarnation that experienced the most success.  A couple of years would pass from the Totems folding before Seattle would get another team, this time in the Breakers of the junior league version of the WHL.  Arriving from Kamloops, the Breakers would reach the West Division Finals despite a poor overall record.  In 1985, the Breakers would be renamed the Thunderbirds, who currently play in the Showare Center in the suburb of Kent, WA.  Some of the most notable alumni include Patrick Marleau and Brooks Laich.