The history of youth hockey in Wichita, Kansas, is a testament to the dedication of a passionate community. The sport has been a fixture in the city for over 50 years, with a rich lineage of teams and organizations that have all contributed to its growth.
The Wichita Youth Hockey Association (WYHA) was officially established in 1968 by a group of dedicated individuals who wanted to provide a hockey program for the city's children. The program's founder was Bob Coslett, who led the initial efforts to get the association off the ground.
Coslett was not alone in his efforts. The early years of the WYHA were built on the tireless work of a small group of volunteers, including many parents, who served as the backbone of the organization. Key early contributors and pioneers included:
Bill Nail
Bill Barbour
Cliff Wade
Bill Coons
Sharon Farmer
The Smith Family
This group of founders and volunteers laid the foundation for the WYHA, which would go on to survive periods of limited ice availability and grow into the robust program it is today.
In the decades that followed, the association's travel teams competed under a variety of different names. Each name represents a different era in the organization's history, reflecting the evolution of the program and the local hockey scene. Some of the team names included the Glaciers, Blizzards, Hawks, Bombers, and Jets.
A critical period of growth and consolidation came with the introduction of the Wichita Warriors name. This was more than just a new team identity; it was a unifying brand created to bring together the various youth hockey programs that existed in the city, specifically the teams from the Wichita Youth Association and those associated with the Canlan Ice Sports programs at the Wichita Ice Center. This move was instrumental in consolidating the community and building a single, stronger organization for youth hockey in Wichita.
The most recent and significant name change occurred in August 2020, when the organization's travel teams officially transitioned back to the Wichita Jr. Thunder. This move was a strategic decision to align the youth program more closely with the city's professional ECHL team, the Wichita Thunder. The identity created a unified hockey brand in the city, from the youngest players to the professional athletes, and fostered a stronger sense of community and pride.
The history of youth hockey in Wichita is a story of continuous evolution, from its establishment in the late 1960s by pioneers like Bob Coslett, through the unification under the Wichita Warriors banner, and into its current form as the Wichita Jr. Thunder. This legacy is built on the passion and commitment of the countless coaches, volunteers, and players who have kept the sport thriving in the heart of Kansas.
