League Champion - The Fresno Falcons won their first ever Taylor Cup in the 2001-02 season.

Impact Change - There have been major changes in the WCHL this past season.

The Colorado Gold Kings seized operations in early August and have folded due to lack of sales. At least six of the Gold Kings players became free agents and several have been signed to new teams.

The WCHL has formally announced it is relocating its league offices from Boise, Idaho to Ontario, California. Office manager for the WCHL said, “ The move to California has been very positive. It puts us closer to our four California team owners and has us in a good market, as well as, potential market.”

Minor hockey continues to condense and combine. The West Coast Hockey League (WCHL ), the smallest of the established minor leagues, was absorbed into the ECHL by unanimous vote of both the WCHL.

The move establishes, in terms of numbers, the ECHL as the dominant AA hockey league in the minors, leapfrogging both geographically and numerically over the WPHL-CHL merger last season.

The WCHL will play the 2002-2003 season as an independent entity, then become a conference of the ECHL in 2003-2004. Teams will largely play teams within the same conference. “Fans want to see us play our geographical rivals,” said Matt Riley, spokesperson for the WCHL Bakersfield Condors. “There is a slightly increase in cost and logistics, but it is worth it.”

The ECHL Board of Governors approved the membership applications of the Anchorage Aces, the Bakersfield Condors, the Fresno Falcons, the Idaho (Boise) Steelheads, the Long Beach Ice Dogs, the San Diego Gulls and the expansion Las Vegas Wranglers for the 2003-04 season.

Teams possible in Ontario, California, and Reno, Nevada may also join this conference.

Leading Player/Key Stats - Goal-tender -Trevor Koening
Team: San Diego Gulls
Avg: 2.68
Wins: 42
Losses: 17
Hat Tricks: R.J. Engay
Team: Colorado Gold Kings
Game: Colorado vs. Anchorage
Score: 8-2
Date: 04.07.02

Kathy Bryant, Jonathan Roybal, and Brian Ross Contributed to this story.

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