After 56 years, the International Hockey League announced today that it was dissolving effective October 1, 2001. Although the dissolution effective date is October 1, 2001, the IHL will cease day-to-day operations and begin winding up its affairs immediately. This announcement comes as a result of a board of governor’s meeting that was held via conference call on Friday June 1. The future of each of the league's member teams will be announced in the coming days and weeks.
"It is with great sadness that I make this announcement," said IHL President and CEO DOUGLAS G. MOSS. "With the landscape of minor league hockey continuing to evolve, the league's board of governors determined that this was a necessary decision. On behalf of everyone in the IHL and all those that have come before us, we thank our many fans for their loyalty and support throughout the years and urge them to continue to support the greatest sport in the world at both the major and minor league levels."
The league was founded on December 5, 1945 at the Norton Palmer Hotel in Windsor, Ontario. At its inception, the league consisted of four teams -- two in Detroit and two in Windsor. Over the course of the league's history, the league grew and expanded throughout the United States and Canada growing to 19 teams during the 1995-96 season.