The Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA) stands as one of the most influential and historically significant leagues in the entire history of professional hockey. Operating from 1911 to 1924, the PCHA reshaped the sport with rule changes, innovations, and legendary teams that helped form the foundation of modern hockey. This collection from Royal Retros celebrates that golden era of West Coast hockey with jerseys inspired by the original teams, aesthetics, and traditions that made the PCHA uniquely important.
Founded by the Patrick brothers — Lester and Frank Patrick, two of the most important builders in hockey history — the PCHA was designed as a true rival league to the early National Hockey Association (NHA) and later the NHL. With teams located in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and briefly California, the PCHA brought elite professional hockey to the Pacific Coast long before the NHL expanded west. It remains one of the first major leagues to operate outside of Eastern Canada and was home to some of the greatest players of its era.
The PCHA is remembered not simply for its teams, but for its massive impact on the sport itself. Many key innovations originated in this league, including the introduction of the blue line, the concept of forward passing in the neutral zone, the delayed penalty, and goaltenders being allowed to fall to the ice to make saves. The league also pioneered the idea of playoffs between rival leagues to determine a champion — a tradition that eventually evolved into the modern Stanley Cup format.
The PCHA featured several iconic franchises whose uniforms and identities have become legendary in the world of retro hockey. The Vancouver Millionaires, one of the league’s crown jewels, boasted one of the most recognizable uniforms in early hockey history — the bold maroon V sweater worn during their Stanley Cup championship run in 1915. Stars such as Cyclone Taylor, one of the most electrifying players of the early game, made the Millionaires a powerhouse and a symbol of West Coast hockey excellence.
Another cornerstone franchise, the Seattle Metropolitans, made history in 1917 as the first American team to win the Stanley Cup, defeating the Montreal Canadiens in a groundbreaking championship series. The Metropolitans’ green, red, and cream striped sweaters have become cultural icons, representing the first real foothold of professional hockey in the United States. Their rivalry with eastern teams helped legitimize the sport outside of Canada and remains an important chapter in hockey history.
The Victoria Aristocrats, later renamed the Victoria Senators and eventually the Victoria Cougars, were a defining team of the PCHA era. Over time, the Cougars shifted leagues and became the dominant force in the Western Canada Hockey League, winning the Stanley Cup in 1925 — the last non-NHL team to do so. Their lineage, colors, and early designs continue to inspire collectors and historians, and many of their star players transitioned into key roles as the sport entered its modern era.
The Portland Rosebuds brought professional hockey to Oregon and helped expand the sport’s popularity in the U.S. Northwest. The Rosebuds became the first American team to play in a Stanley Cup Final (1916), setting milestones that paved the way for future American teams long before large arenas or national broadcasts. Their designs, featuring floral iconography and elegant script, remain some of the most unique uniforms from the early days of the sport.
Even the short-lived San Francisco Seals left their mark as a rare California entry during the PCHA’s later years, helping establish the Pacific Coast as a viable hockey market decades before NHL expansion brought teams to California.
The PCHA was a showcase for legendary early players such as Frank Foyston, Hap Holmes, Gordie Roberts, Lester Patrick, Mickey MacKay, and Bernie Morris. Its rosters included pioneers who helped define positions, style of play, goaltending technique, and the cultural identity of professional hockey. Many of these stars regularly played interleague championship series against eastern teams, creating some of the earliest true “best vs. best” matchups in the sport’s history.
Royal Retros honors this remarkable league by reviving the visual heritage of its most iconic franchises. Each jersey in this collection is crafted using modern performance materials, soft breathable fabrics, and fully sublimated graphics that preserve the look and feel of early 20th-century hockey while offering comfort that old wool sweaters could never match. Every design captures the clean striping, bold lettering, vintage colors, and classic fonts that defined the era.
From Vancouver’s deep maroons to Seattle’s striped sweaters, Victoria’s classic crests, and Portland’s elegant designs, this collection pays tribute to a league that helped shape hockey into the game we know today. The PCHA may have folded nearly a century ago, but its impact remains. With this collection, fans can celebrate the forgotten stories, iconic teams, and pioneering innovations of one of hockey’s greatest early leagues — brought back to life with modern craftsmanship and a commitment to historical authenticity.
