Williams Lake Stampeders

The current version of the Williams Lake Stampeders were formed in 1996. However, the previous incarnation of the Stampeders were the pre-emanate hockey team, and central form of entertainment in the community for more than 40 years, (1930's to 1970's). The first senior hockey team in Williams Lake was formed in the early 1930's. Tommy McDougall was the driving force behind the team, and an important part of its early history. That first senior team was initially know as the "Lakers" and later became know as the "Stampeders"

The Cariboo Hockey League was officially formed January 1936 with teams from Prince George, Quesnel, Vanderhoof, Lac La Hache, Canim Lake, Soda Creek and of course, Williams Lake. Wells also iced a team in the early years of the league. At the time of the league formation, a new trophy know as the Waller Cup was donated for league competition, and eventually became emblematic of senior hockey supremacy in the central interior of British Columbia. There were other trophies and cups that senior teams could challenge for in the early days of the C.H.L. Included were the Elsley Cup, McKinley Trophy and Loop Trophy, but eventually fell by the wayside, as the Waller Cup became the trophy of champions. Not until the 1965-1966 Waller Cup champions, Quesnel Kangaroos, did a C.H.L. club finally win the Coy Cup, which to this day is awarded to the Senior AA hockey champions of British Columbia.

The Williams Lake Stampeders first Waller Cup championship was not until 1961. The Stamps defeated the Quesnel Kangaroos 4 games to none in the final series. Scores in those 4 games were never in doubt as evidenced by 10-5, 12-4, 8-4 and finally 7-4 in the clinching game 4. The Stamps were only able to win the league crown on one other occasion, the 1962-1963 season, and have never been able to win the Coy Cup in their previous or current history. (The Stamps did most recently play in the 2002 Coy Cup championship tournament, but were only able to win one game during that tournament).

The Stamps remained an integral part of the community through the 1960's and 1970's. In the early to mid 1960's, crowds of 700 to 900 were common place at a Stamps home game. In 1970, for the first time in their history, the Stamps traveled north to the South Peace Hockey League to experience the competition. The club defeated both the Hythe Mustangs and Fort St. John Flyers before returning home. In 1974, the Stamps hosted the Polish national team and played the visiting squad to a tie. By the end of the 1970's, ice time availability and cost, as well as diminishing attendance resulted in the Stampeders folding in 1979. The Cariboo Hockey league continued on into the 1980's but eventually ceased operations after the 1984-1985 season

• Williams Lake Stampeders (official)