A Brief History of the WFHL

The Women’s Fantasy Hockey League was established in 1924, following several decades of unofficial and loosely organized hockey competition. The newly formed league brought together six established clubs, now known as the Original Six:

Boston Uprising
One of the league’s founding teams. The franchise rebranded in the 1990s as the Salem Wands and remains active today.

Ontario Otters
A founding franchise and one of the Original Six still competing under its original name.

Baltimore Nevermores
Prior to the formation of the WFHL, the club was informally known as the Gothic Ravens. The Nevermores remain active today.

Dakota Haunting
A founding franchise that remains active today.

Montreal Sirens
The Sirens played in Montreal for the league’s first fifty years before relocating in 1974 and becoming the Venice Beach Mermaids.

New York Nymphs
The first of the Original Six franchises to cease operations. The Nymphs folded in 1936.

Over the last century, teams have joined, relocated, rebranded, and disappeared from the league. Former franchises include the Cincinnati Banshees and the Tempe Phoenix, previously known as the Phoenix Phoenix. At its height, the WFHL fielded 16 active teams.

Now entering a new era of league history, the Salt Lake Unicorns are the WFHL’s first expansion franchise in ten years.