The SHL now has 81 seasons under it's belt working on season 82. While the league has grown to what I imagine is much larger than anyone envisioned when creating the league the goal has remained the same. Get into the playoffs, and win the championship series. 

When the league was first created there were only 6 teams that made up the entire league. Out of those 6 only 4 made the playoffs. In the first season ever the Winnipeg Jets raised the first and only 6 team banner. 

A season later 8 teams made up the league and that's how it would remain for 3 seasons. During that brief three season stint the Edmonton Comets reigned taking home 2 championships and finishing 2nd overall in the regular season of the year they did not win which went to the West Kendall Platoon. 

Expansion again came in season 5 with the league growing to 10 teams. and for seasons 5-9 Only the Calgary Dragons were able to be a two time championship team winning in seasons 8 and 9. During those seasons however West Kendall remained the team to beat more often then not winning the championship in season 5 and they were the best regular season team during seasons 5, 8, and 9 third best in season 6. Season 7 was the only season in which they failed to make the postseason during that run. 

Season 10 brought not only expansion but also the SMJHL raising the total teams from 10, to 12 in the SHL and adding an additional 6 minor league teams. This would be the first extended period of stability in the number of SHL teams. From season 10 to season 24 The 12 teams battled it out with 8 teams qualifying for the postseason. The SMJHL likewise was stable at 6 teams during that same 14 season stretch. 

During that time frame 9 teams won the championship at least one time. The Texas Renegades and the Edmonton Blizzard each won 3 championships during that 15 season run. The Minnesota Chiefs won 2 as did the Hamilton Steelhawks. The LA Panthers, Seattle Argonauts, Winnipeg Jets, Manhatten Rage, and New England Wolfpack won 1 each.  

Season 25 saw the league expand yet again with the SMJHL adding 2 teams upping their total to 8 and the SHL growing to 14 teams. The SHL remained at 14 teams from then through Season 45 a 21 season run of stability. However the SMJHL expanded to 10 teams one season prior to the next SHL expansion in Season 44. During the 21 seasons of 14 teams, 10 different teams were able to take home at least one cup. The Calgary Dragons won 5 championships leading all teams during this timespan. New England, Manhattan, Toronto, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Edmonton, Texas, Minnesota, and West Kendall all took home at least one trophy during this time as well. 

Season 46 saw 16 teams competing with 10 making the postseason. This was the structure through Season 55 a 10 season set up before expansion hit in Season 56. The SMJHL again expanded one season earlier as they went from 10 to 12 teams in season 55. 
The Buffalo Stampede started out this portion of the league with their first of 3 championships in 46 and capped off the run with their 3rd win in S55. Hamilton took home 2 championships, and West Kendall, Manhattan, Calgary, Edmonton, and New Orleans also won 1 a piece. 

The next expansion did not remain enough for very long as the league comprised of 18 teams only for 4 seasons 56 - 59. The SMJHL also was a short run of 12 teams from 55 - 60. During the 4 season run in the SHL The Hamilton Steelhawks won 2 titles. The Chicago Syndicate and Texas Renegades took home 1 each. 

Starting in Season 60 we saw what we have today in the SHL 20 teams. the SMJHL bumped up to 14 teams in Season 61 and that ran through Season 75 until our most recent expansion to 16 SMJL teams in Season 76. 

Since Season 60 the SHL has had a total of 12 champions in the last 22 seasons. San Francisco Prides latest run of 4 Challenge Cup championships in the last 6 seasons leads all teams in the current format. The LA Panthers and New England Wolfpack are right behind them with 3  each. Seattle, Hamilton, and Buffalo have 2 a piece. And lastly Texas, Chicago, Atlanta, Philidelphia, Winnipeg, and Edmonton each have 1. 

Throughout the 81 seasons a total of 18 franchises have won the Challenge Cup. The Hamilton Steelhawks and the Edmonton Blizzard franchises have 9 a piece leading the way. Like I said at the beginning I don't think the original 6 teams could ever have envisioned the league growing to a total of 36 teams and with another expansion on the near horizon the league is going to continuing growing. I am happy to have found the league and I hope to be a part of this for a long long time.

Approved for +5 TPE @Nol15736

Making it eligible for the double spheal:

Double Spheal

Wander my friends, wander with me. Like the mist on the green mountain, moving eternally.
Despite our weariness, we'll follow the road over hill and valleys, to the end of the journey

Le monde n'est qu'une scène. Il vaut mieux rire que pleurer, car le rire est le propre de l'homme.
Riez de tout cela, ne vous inquiétez pas. Profitons d'aujourd'hui