The Billings Bighorns were a junior ice hockey team in the

Western Hockey League The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitutes the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the highest level of junior h ...

who played from 1977 to 1982. The team was originally the Calgary Centennials. They played at the

MetraPark Arena First Interstate Arena (colloquially known as The Metra) is a multi-purpose arena located at MetraPark, the fairgrounds of Billings, Montana. The arena has a capacity of 8,700 for ice hockey and Indoor American football, indoor football games, 10, ...

Billings, Montana Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, with a population of 117,116 as of the 2020 census. Located in the south-central portion of the state, it is the seat of Yellowstone County and the principal city of the Billings Met ...

. The team wore uniforms based upon those then used by the

Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference, a ...

. They moved to Nanaimo after the 1981–82 season.

NHL alumni

* Dave Barr * Murray Brumwell *

Rod Buskas Rod Dale Buskas (born January 7, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who spent 11 seasons in the National Hockey League. A hard-nosed physical defender, Buskas is best known for his time with the Pittsburgh Penguins, whe ...

* Lindsay Carson * Pat Conacher *

Ray Cote Ray Cote (born May 31, 1961) is a former professional ice hockey forward. He spent his junior career with the Calgary Wranglers of the WHL, and signed a free agent contract with the Edmonton Oilers in 1981 after going undrafted. Cote spent the ...

Mike Eagles Michael Bryant Eagles (born March 7, 1963) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played sixteen seasons in the National Hockey League. He is currently the Athletic Director of St. Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswi ...

* Brian Ford * Bruce Holloway *

Gord Kluzak Gordon Glen Kluzak (born March 4, 1964) is a Canadian former professional hockey player who played for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1982 to 1991. He was selected first overall by the Bruins in the 1982 NHL Entry Dra ...

* Mark Lamb *

Jim McGeough James McGeough (born April 13, 1963 in Regina, Saskatchewan) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player. He played 57 games in the National Hockey League with the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins between 1981 and 1987. The r ...

* Jim McTaggart *

Randy Moller Randall W. Moller (born August 23, 1963) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He was drafted in the first round, eleventh overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1981 National Hockey League (NHL) entry draft. The majority of his ca ...

Andy Moog Donald Andrew Moog (; born February 18, 1960) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Moog played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens, and also for the C ...

Don Nachbaur Donald Kenneth Nachbaur (born January 30, 1959) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. He played eight seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Hartford Whalers, Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers between 1980 ...

* Harvie Pocza *

Pokey Reddick Eldon Wade "Pokey" Reddick (born October 6, 1964) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender in the National Hockey League from 1986–87 to 1993–94. Playing career As a youth, Reddick played in the 1977 Quebec International Pee ...

Bob Rouse Robert John Rouse (born June 18, 1964) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, winning in back to back years with the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and 1998. Playing career A prototypical stay- ...

* Mike Toal *

Rocky Trottier Rocky Trottier (born April 11, 1964) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played 38 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) over two seasons with the New Jersey Devils. Trottier, whose brother Bryan was part of the New Yo ...

* Leigh Verstraete *

Mike Zanier Michael Zanier (born August 22, 1962) is a Canadian-born Italian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played extensively in Europe and in North American minor leagues. Born in Trail, British Columbia, Zanier's junior career was spent wit ...

Season-by-season record

''Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against''

References

*2005–06 WHL Guide Defunct Western Hockey League teams Defunct ice hockey teams in the United States Ice hockey teams in Montana Sports in Billings, Montana 1977 establishments in Montana 1982 disestablishments in Montana Ice hockey clubs established in 1977 Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 1982 {{Montana-sport-team-stub