Tulsa Oilers

The former Central Hockey League became the AHA in 1926. This league directly challenged the NHL, placing a franchise in Chicago (the Shamrocks) to compete against the Blackhawks. In 1931 Oilers owner Walter Whiteside challenged the NHL to allow AHA teams to compete for the Stanley Cup, a move that was opposed by the NHL, who also used its power to block NHL teams from signing AHA players. The league suspended operations for World War II, but reappeared after the war as the United States Hockey League.