Los Angeles Monarchs

The Monarchs are the first professional ice hockey team to win a league championship for the city of Los Angeles.

They played in the southern division of the PCHL, alongside teams from the neighboring cities such as the Pasadena Panthers, the Hollywood Wolves, and the San Diego Skyhawks.

As ice hockey was a new sport in Southern California, the team enjoyed a decent amount of popularity during its tenure in Los Angeles.

Since ice arenas were in short supply, games were played late at night and fan support was small.

[1] In 1944, as signs indicated the war would be ending soon, and citizens would be able to resume normal life again, league owners decided to start the PCHL back up again.

By this time there was a much larger number of people living in Southern California – in order to support the war industries and military bases – who had transplanted from the northeast U.S., where hockey was very popular.

The league wanted to expand south and take advantage of the growing economic and hockey fan base in California.

While facing their cross-town rival Hollywood Wolves, in game four of the best-of-five Southern Division title series, the Monarchs lost their goaltender to injury.

After winning the PCHL championship they traveled east to face the minor league champion Boston Olympics for the U.S.

When facing local rivals like the Hollywood Wolves, Pasadena Panthers, and San Diego Skyhawks, the Monarchs often filled the 6200 seats in the Pan Pacific arena.

Things started to unravel when the Fresno Falcons decided to fold after the 1950 season, and the San Diego Skyhawks were considering the same.

[1] After meeting on August 30, 1950, the PCHL board decided to disband the Southern Division, and not keep the Monarchs in the league.

That was when the PCHL’s descendant, the Western Hockey League (WHL) expanded south and added the Los Angeles Blades.