The EHL
EASTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE FRANCHISE HISTORY |
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1954-55
August 23, 1954 - SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP)—The Eastern
Hockey League will be reactivated with a possible 10 teams expected to start
action by late October. President Tommy Lockhart of New York City made the
announcement following a meeting here of representatives from nine eastern
communities. Lockhart said some of the prospective entries are still in the
undecided state. The final makeup of the league, plus scheduled arrangements,
may come at a meeting Sept. 12 in New York, he said.
Attending were Ed Stanley for Clinton and Lake Placid,
and Bill Pratt, Bill McCall, Bernard Dillman and Vincent Salarno of Schenectady.
The Schenectady group plans to operate at the RPI Field House
in Troy. Others present were Washington, Jack Riley; Baltimore,
Charles Rock, Kick Campafrilti and Bob Elmer; Worcester, Larz
Anderson; New Haven, Conn., Nathan Podoloff and Gary Belise;
Boston, Kans Blarsden; Springfield, Eduie Shore,
Jr., and Jack Butterfield.
Lewiston, Maine, interests also were reported anxious to enter
the league, but failed to send a representative to the meeting.
September 20, 1954 (AP)- The Eastern Hockey
League will operate with seven teams this season. The cities to be represented
are New York, Boston, New Haven,
Baltimore, Washington, Clinton NY
and Worcester MA. New York will play all of its games on the
road. Each squad will play a 44 game schedule starting Nov 6 and ending Feb
27.
Clinton will have its hockey represented in two leagues during the coming
season, Manager Edward W. Stanley announced yesterday. Meeting at Madison
Square Garden yesterday it was voted to organize a seven-team Eastern Hockey
League. Stanley immediately entered the Comet aggregation. Stanley pointed
out that the franchise would not interfere in any way with previous commitments
to take part in the Eastern Ontario League. The Ontario league's schedule
will be studied before dates are assigned Clinton in the new loop.
October 6, 1954 - (AP) — The Worcester
team of the reorganized Eastern Hockey league is looking for ex-collegians
and other players to attend tryouts later this month. Owner Larz Anderson
said the league—which also includes Baltimore, Washington, New Haven,
New York and Clinton, N- Y.—plans to use American players. The tryout
dates are not definite yet, but interested players may contact Anderson at
Worcester arena.
October 8, 1954 - There is a chance that
several games in the newly-formed Eastern Hockey League will be played in
the RPI Field House in Schanectady. The entry of Schenectady
into league apparently did not materialize.
October 22, 1954 (AP) - The Eastern Hockey
League will operate this season with teams in Baltimore, Clinton
NY, New Haven, Washington and Worcester
MA. Baltimore, Worcester, and Clinton are new members of the league
(formely known as the EAHL), which was formed in 1933. Missing from the lineup
are Springfield. Mass., now a member of the American Hockey League; Johnstown.
Pa., now with the International Hockey League. and Troy, N. Y.is no longer
operating a club.
The James J. Walker Trophy win go to the league champion, decided on a won-lost
percentage basis over the regular season, with a post-season playoff for the
Atlantic City Boardwalk Trophy.
In an effort to keep tie games at a minimum, the recently re-organized Eastern
Amateur Hockey League will play 10-minuto, "sudden death" overtime
periods this season it was announced Friday by League President Tom Lockhart.
October 31, 1954 - War Memorial manager Bill Stark turned aside
all negotiations to bring an Eastern Amateur Hockey League franchise into
Syracuse on an experimental one-year plan.
November 6, 1954
- The Washington Lions erupted for six goals in the first
period and smothered the New Haven Hawks (sic), 10-3, in the
opening game of the Eastern Hockey League before 1202 at Uline Arena last
night.
November 7, 1954 - Defenseman Eddie St.
Louis shoved in the winning goal with only 25 seconds remaining Saturday as
the Baitimcre Clippers of the Eastern Hockey League opened their
home season with a victory over Washington.
December 28, 1954 - Atlantic
City will become the home base of the league-leading Washington Lions of the
Eastern Ice Hockey League for one month when Convention Hall converts to ice
in mid-January. The huge convention hall, which becomes the nation's longest
ice hockey stadium when its main auditorium presents a frozen surface will
be the scene of four league games during the period and with the exception
of these nights will be available for public skating after noons and evenings.
The Lions will meet the Baltimore Clippers on Fri., Jan. 14; Sat., Jan. 29
and Sat., Feb. 5.The Worcester, Mass., Warriors will furnish the opposition
on Sat., Jan. 22.
January 3, 1955 (AP) - The Eastern Hockey
League is eyeing Atlantic City and Philadelphia
as prospective sites for franchises next season according to Jack Riley, general
manager of the Washington Lions . . . In their league meeting last week, league
officials decided not to limit the number of teams in the league for 1955
. . . The league directors want about six or seven teams with all playing
full schedules.
1955-56
June 13, 1955 Directors of the International
Hockey League have turned down a request to switch ownership of the Johnstown
Jets from Cambria Memorial Arena to group of individuals. Johnstown
has played in the IHL for two years since the EAHL folded.
September 7, 1955 (AP) Philadelphia today was granted
a franchise in the Eastern Hockey League for the 1955-56 season. Philadelphia
will join Clinton, N. Y., Johnstown, Pa., Washington, D. C.,
Baltimore and New Haven.
January 24, 1956 (AP) The Eastern Hockey
League today authorized the Baltimore Clippers, who were left
homeless by a fire Sunday night, to play five games in the new Community Coliseum
at Charlotte, N.C.
1956-57
Mar 31, 1956 (AP) — President
Tom Lockhart said Eastern Hockey League officials will discuss here .today
plans for the 1956-57 season involving the possible addition or transfer of
several teams. Lockhart told a reporter last night in Philadelphia that possible
additions to the six-team league may come from Haddonfield, N.J.; Commack,
Long Island, N.Y.; Charlotte, N. C., and Winston-Salem, N. C.
Lockhart said the status of the present Baltimore and Washington
franchises would also be discussed. It was indicated that the Baltimore
team might be transferred to Charlotte and that Winston-Salem
might get the Washington club. Baltimore's hockey rink at Carlin's
Park was destroyed by fire in the middle of'the past season and the team was
adopted by Charlotte as a "home team." Definitely
set for business their present EHL stands next year are Johnstown,
Pa., New Haven, Philadelphia, and Clinton, N.Y.
April 1, 1956 (AP) Officials of the Eastern
Hockey League today approved applications for transfer of the Baltimore
Clippers to Charlotte and the Washington Lions
will become the Winston-Salem (NC) Lions. The
league also approved the application of the New York Rovers
to be operated in conjunction with the New York Rangers of the NHL at Commack,
LI. They denied an application from Haddonfield, NJ for a place
in the circuit. The 1956-57 league will include holdover clubs New Haven,
Philadelphia, Johnstown and Clinton, NY.
April 1, 1956 (UPI) Haddonfield,
N J., failed in its bid for an Eastern Hockey League franchise during
the circuit's meeting Saturday in New Haven. A league spokesman said the bid
was turned down mainly because it would infringe on the territorial rights
of the Philadelphia club.
May 5, 1956 (AP) Charlotte.
N. C. will be a member of ihe Eastern Hockey League next season.
EHL President Lockhart announced Charlotte's membership yesterday along with
a 62-game schedu!e opening October.26 and ending March 10. Other teams in
the league willl be Clinion. N. Y.. New Haven, New York, Philadelphia and
Johnstown, Pa. Lockhart said Winston-Salem N.C., had made overtures to
join the league, but that he understood the owners of the arena there did
not go along with the present setup.Lockhart added that the league also had
received an application from Greenville, S.C., but had not acted on it.
May 14, 1956 (AP) - A modern $400,000
arena next winter will be the scene of Eastern Hockey League games. The New
York Rovers will be the Long Island Arena home team. Sextets in the
circuit include: Charlotte, N. C, Winston-Salem, N. C, New Haven, Conn..
Philadelphia. Johnstown. Pa., and Clinton, N. Y.
August 15, 1956 (AP) -- The Eastern Hockey
League will operate as a 7-team circuit this season with Charlotte,
N.C., a full fledged member and a New York team joining the
league. Uline Arena (Washington) will have a franchise.
October 2, 1956 (AP) - Because of a delay
in construction, the New York Rovers will play twelve of their
scheduled home games on the road. They are scheduled to play their first home
game Jan 3 against Johnstown.
October 12, 1956 - The New York Rovers
will not play in the Eastern Hockey League this season because their arena
will not be completed on time. The league will operate will six teams: Philadelphia,
Johnstown, PA, Washington, Charlotte, Clinton and New Haven.
1957-58
Oct 15, 1957 The first annual All Star
game between the Eastern Hockey League All Stars and the International Hockey
League All Stars will be played at The Arena in Philadelphia Thursday night.
The game is in the nature of an experiment. The EHL and IHL held a peace meeting
before the season got underway and made plans for a World Series between the
two pennant winners, regular intra - league games that would count in each circuit's
standings, and exhibition games between the loops.
January 21, 1958 The Washington
Lions take a new name - the Washington Presidents.
1958-59
Jul 16, 1958 (AP) -- The Eastern
Hockey League today admitted the New York Rovers as a seventh
member. But it refused to take on any of the members of the ailing International
League, or play an interlocking schedule with them. Washington
retains Eastern Hockey team.
September. 19, 1959 (AP) —The Eastern
Hockey League will open its season Oct. 23 with seven clubs and a new owner
for the Washington Presidents, League President Thomas Lockhart
announced Thursday night. Lockhart said the new club will be his New York
Rovers, inactive for four years, and that Lou Pieri, owner of the Providence
Reds of the American Hockey League, will take over the Washington
club.
1959-60
April 24, 1959 (UPI) -- Approval
of a Memorial Coliseum lease has paved the way for an Eastern Hockey League
franchise in Greensboro next season. An attempt is underway to
transfer the Troy, Ohio, Bruins of the International Hockey League to this city.
April 28, 1959 (AP)--The award of an Eastern
Hockey League franchise to Greensboro, N.C. was disclosed today
by Nathan Podoloff, general manager of the New Haven Arena.
May 11, 1959 (UPI) -- The award of an Eastern
Hockey League franchise to Greensboro, N.C., was disclosed here
by Nathan Podoloff, general manager of the New Haven Arena. Podoloff, an official
of the Elm City Hockey Club, which operates the New Haven Blades in the same
league, said the franchise was awarded in New York at a meeting of the league's
board of directors. Ken Wilson, currently operator of the Troy, Ohio, club in
the International League, will serve as vice-president and general manager of
the Greensboro team, Podoloff said. A group of players from last
season's Troy team will form the nucleus of the Greensboro team.
June 1, 1959 (UPI) -- Carson Bain, local
oil distributor, has been named president of the newly formed Central Carolina
Sports, inc., operator of the International Hockey League t e a m
brought here to Greensboro from Troy, Ohio. Ken Wilson, who moved his franchise
and most of the team's players here from Troy, was named a vice president in
the election last Friday. Other officers are Sidney Stern Jr., secretary and
Hargrove Bowles Jr., treasurer. The officers will also constitute the board
of directors. Bain said the corporation meets all requirements for the hockey
team operation as sot forth by the Eastern Hockey League and the Greensboro
Coliseum Commission. All home gtimes will be played at the new coliseum, which
is still under construction.
August 13, 1959 (UPI) -- Officials of the
Eastern Hockey League tonight voted a franchise for Washington,
which means the league will operate with eight clubs during the 1959-60 season.
Earlier in the day a request by Pete Carver of West Orange, N. J.
was rejected. however, it was suggested that Carver and Paul Rothgeb of Washington
get together on a club deal, which they did.
1960-61
May 26, 1960 (UPI) - A group in Haddonfield,
N.J., has been granted a franchise in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League, it
was announced Wednesday by league President Thomas Lockhart. The franchise was
approved by the league owners during a two day meeting, which was adjourned
late Tuesday night. Locknart said the league will hold another meeting in New
York July 7, at which time the status of teams in Washington, Philadelphia and
Charlotte, N.C., will be determined. The Philadelphia team went bankrupt after
last season but the operators of the local arena have indicated a wish to maintain
the franchise, Lockhart said.
May 28, 1960 (AP) - The Philadelphia Ramblers of the
Eastern Hockey League have filed a petition of bankruptcy in United States District
Court. The petition filed yesterday, listed $29,582 in liabilities and $6,049
in assets. $5 of the assets were in cash and most of the rest in equipment.
Owners of the Philadelphia Arena and owners of the Ice House in Haddonfield,
NJ said they were interested in taking over the club.
June 20, 1960 (AP) The Eastern Hockey League
today approved the transfer of the Washington, D.C., franchise
to Haddonfield, N.J., and decided not to act on placing a team
in Jacksonville, Fla., for another year. League President Tom
Lockhart said Haddonfield had a 5,000-seat arena near Camden and Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia franchise is in bankruptcy, Lockhart said, but another group
may take it over.
"There is a possibility," Lockhart said at the meeting Monday, that
we might operate the coming season with nine teams—Clinton (NY),
New Haven (Conn), New York, Philadelphia, Johnstown, Washington, Greensboro
(N.C.), Charlotte and Haddonfield. However, that is far from decided."
September 16, 1960 (AP) The manager of Knoxville's
new auditorium-coliseum plans to visit other cities in the Southeast next week
to discuss the possibility of a Southeastern hockey league. Fred B. McCallum
said he will talk with officials in Greensboro and Charlotte, N.C.,
and Jacksonville, Fla. He said Knoxville's coliseum will include
an ice rink and that he would like to bring a professional hockey team here.
Jacksonville plans to open an ice rink next week, McCallum said,
and the North Carolina cities already have rinks and teams in the Eastern Hockey
League. McCallum said another possibility would be that Knoxville
would try for an EHL franchise.
December 1, 1960 (AP) - Hockey made its
debut in Jacksonville's new $3,000,000 Coilseum tonight with the
Charlotte Checkers defeating the New York Rovers
3-1, in an exhibition game between Eastern Hockey League teams. A near-capacity
crowd of 8,609 saw the sport played in Florida for the first time (Note:
There was a Tropical Hockey League in 1938-39 which played all games in Miami.)
January 9, 1961 (AP) - The Jacksonville
Coliseum will become desegregated in an Eastern Hockey League game here tomorrow
night between the Charlotte N.C. (Checkers) and
Haddonfield, N.J. (Jersey Larks).
1961-62
May 2, 1961 - The Eastern Hockey League will vote today on possible
admittance of Knoxville. Washington and Jacksonville, Fla., to membership. President
Tom Lock hart said last night. Lockhart said that yesterdays meeting was confined
to private discussions of the general state of the league, including whether
Haddonfield, N. J., will operate next year. Lockhart said the league expects
to take a "yes or no' vote on the three applicants shortly after convening
today at 10 a. m:, EDT.
May 5, 1961 -The NY Rovers will stay in Commack despite
financial difficulties, but fans will pick a new name. At the league's
annual meeting in New York last week-end, the Haddonfield (NJ)
franchise was terminated for failure to meet its league financial obligations
(5% of the gate). At the time Haddonfield's franchise was suspended,
Knoxville, Tenn received a franchise. Knoxville owners
posted a $10,000 performance bond to assure their team's willingness to complete
the schedule. The Knoxville owners also paid a fee of $5000 to
the EHL treasury.
June 24, 1961 (AP) - The franchise
of the Jersey Larks of the Eastern Hockey League was moved today
to Knoxville, Tenn. The agreement to move the Delaware Township
team south came Saturday after a group trying to keep The Larks
based at the Ice House backed down when they found that of $50,000 they had
raised, $25,000 would he applied to square the club with creditor . The Larks
entered the league only la.st year and attendance while gaining through the
year, was not enough to pay all debts.
Aug 1, 1961 (AP) - The Eastern Hockey League
today rejected an application by Jacksonville, Fla., to be granted
an EHL franchise this season. A league spokesman said Jacksonville was rejected
because it failed to meet conditions asked by the league. Officials of the International
Hockey League met in conjunction with the EHL. An EHL-IHL post-season playoff
appears virtually certain this season.
1962-63
March 10, 1962 - Richard Frick, 21 years old
and originally from Johnstown, Pa., has applied for a Washington
franchise in the rough and tumble Eastern Hockey League.
May 1, 1962 (AP) Jacksonville,
Fla., and Nashville, Tenn., were granted franchises today in the
Eastern Hockey League. The move increased to 10 the number of teams in the circuit.
1963-64
Mar 7, 1964- Bob May and Dave McLaughlin,
co-promoters of the Syracuse Stars hockey team have been invited to attend two
meetings of EHL Northern Division teams with the string possibilty that Syracuse
will have a team in the Eastern Hockey League next season with home games to
be played at the State Exposition Colisseum.
1964-65
May 5, 1964 (AP) The Eastern Hockey League
voted today to admit New York and Jacksonville, Fla, as members
for the 1964-65 season. The two teams were given until May 28 to complete formal
applications. Muzz Patrick, GM of the NY Rangers said the Rangers were backing
the New York franchise and that the team would play in Madison Square Garden.
If both teams are added, the Eastern League will have 11 clubs. The members
from last season are Clinton, NY, Commack, LI, New Haven, Philadelphia,
Johnstown PA, Nashville, Knoxville, TN, Charlotte, NC, and Greensboro, NC.
May 12, 1964
A team of American players representing Boston in the Eastern Hockey League
and the United States in the Olympics and World Amateur championships is being
concidered for next season. The Boston team would be financed by Boston businessmen.
The players would come from New England, Minnesota and Michigan areas. Said
league president Tom Lockhart "They would be playing together in the Eastern
Hockey League and would enable us to send a better team against the other countries
every year."
May 28, 1964 (AP) Two teams were added to
the Eastern Hockey League Thursday when Jacksonville, Fla., was
admitted to the circuit after the New York Rovers franchise was
re-activated.
June 13, 1964 - Ray Miron resigned Friday
as general manager of the Knoxville Knights of Ihe Eastern Hockey
league to accept a position with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
August 18, 1964 (UPI) The Philadelphia
Ramblers forfeited their Eastern Hockey League franchise last Monday,
but a local group sought today to keep them from moving to Haddonfield,
NJ. Action on both applications is expected to be taken by the league this week.
August 21, 1964 - The Philadelphia Ramblers
will be replaced in the Eastern Hockey League this season by a team operating
in Cherry Hill, N.J. and calling itself the Jersey Devils. Tom
Lockhart, president of the Eastern Hockey League, said in making the announcement
Thursday that the Philadelphia team had failed to fulfill its financial obligations
to the league.
1965-66
May 3, 1965 (AP) The Long Island Ducks,
champions of the Eastern Hockey League, have been given the right to negotiate
a transfer of their franchise to St. Petersburg, Fla.
Nov. 12, 1965 - The Jacksonville Rockets
play their first "home" game in St. Petersburg at the
Bayfront Center vs. Greensboro. The Rockets play 5 more home games
at St. Petersburg this season.
1966-67
May 10, 1966 (AP) Salem, Va.,
was awarded conditional membership today in the Eastern Hockey League for the
1967-68 season. Tom Lockhart, the league president, said that Jack K. Dame and
Benard Beatty, Salem's sponsors would have to satisfy certain
financial stipulations before the club's acceptance became final.
October 6, 1966
The Minnesota North Stars sign a working agreement wiyh the Clinton Comets.
October 20, 1966
The Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL annonced Wednesday a working agreement with
the Greensboro Generals of the Eastern Hockey League. Under the agreement, Greensboro
will get first choice of all amateur plaers not kept on the Pittsburgh roster
when the team enters the league next season.
1967-68
May 20, 1967 - (AP) Salem, Va., has
been officially accepted as the llth member of the Eastern Hockey League, it
was announced here following a meeting of the circuit's clubowners. Tom Lockhart,
the EHL president, said the new team would be known as the Salem Rebels. He
added that franchise applications submitted by Miami and West
Palm Beach. Fla., interests had been deferred for one year.
Summer 1967 - A group from Syracuse
inquires about buying the Jersey Devils franchise and moving it
to Syracuse. The league decides to accept Syracuse's application as a new member,
and keep Jersey in the league.
July 17, 1967 - A group from Syracuse,
headed by Frank Barker, will formally to join the EHL at the league meeting
on July 24. The group is negotiating with prospective backers. Plans are progressing
well for a working agreement between the Syracuse team and the Boston Bruins
of the NHL.
January 14, 1968
Knoxville apparently lost its Eastern Hockey League team Saturday
due to lack of financial
support. Tha citizens group which had been operating the Knights turned the
club back to its owners "The citizens group operating as the Greater Knoxville
Hockey Association this morning informed Coach Pat Egan that due to lack of
financial support they were unable to continue operation of the Knoxville
Knights ice hockey club," President Nic Knoph said. Officials said
the Knights would not play ct Charlotte Saturday night as scheduled. A spokesman
for the Knights said EHL President Tom Lockhart had been informed of the situation
and is expected to call a league mseting in New York Tuesday to discuss the
future of the club. City Council several weeks ago voted to grant the Knoxville
team $10,000 to help it continue operation. Tha Knights have won 17 games, lost
26 and tied 2 this season.
January 20, 1968
(UPI) - The Knoxville Knights must raise S18,000 by Sunlay
to finish out the season in the Eastern Hockey League. EHL directors told club
officials Thursday. A total of $3,500 has been pledged so far, leaving S14,500
to be raised.
1968-69
May 6, 1968 (AP) --Tom Lockhart, president
of the Eastern Hockey League, said the Knoxville Knights have
resigned from the league.
June 29, 1968
Teams representing Washington. DC, and Norfolk, Va.
will probably be added to the Eastern Hockey League for the 1969-70 season,
league president Tom Lockhart said Friday. Macon, Ga., Is another
possibility to join the 11-club circuit, Lockhart said. The EHL will play with
11 teams next season. Knoxville, Tenn., resigned its franchise,
leaving five teams in the Southern Division—Nashville, Term ; Salem. Va.,
Greensboro and Charlotte, N.C., and Jacksonville, Fla. Syracuse, Clinton and
Long Island in New York, New Haven, Conn., Johnstown, Pa, and New Jersey are
represented in the Northern Division. The Jacksonville club will play six games
in Macon next season. Each team will play 72 games. The schedule will be discussed
at a meeting of clubowners in Pittsburgh on July 8.
1969-70
June 1969
Representatives from Macon, GA decline an offer to join the EHL.
Applications from Memphis, Miami, Norfolk and Richmond
are tabled for future reference.
June 15, 1969
Representatives of the Brdigeport (CT) Home Oilers amateur team Bridgeport
(CT) are having discussions with the New York Rangers and the EHL regarding
Bridgeport joining the league. The city has agreed to enclose the ends of the
ice rink and install end seats which would raise arena capacity by 1200 to nearly
3000.
August 18-19, 1969
THe EHL and IHL agree to continue affilation agreement. They discuss possible
playoffs between the leagues. (Note: Most like has to do with a joint player
draft, and the ability to trade between leagues, but that wasn't in this article.)
1970-71
October 11, 1969
Syracuse Blazers loan winger Wayne Newell and defensemen Brian McDowell
and Jules Marenger to the Salem Rebels.
Nov 18, 1970
The Nashville Dixie Flyers of the Eastern Hockey League defied
an ultimatum from the team's president and general manager today and continued
a strike that began Monday.
Nov 19 The striking Nashville Dixie
Flyers of the Eastern Hockey League settled their differences with their
coach and the team president today and headed for Greensboro for a night game.
Nov 20 The Eastern Hockey League formally
suspended all 14 players of the Nashville Dixie Flyers today,
posing the possibility the team would not see action again this season.
Nov 21 A special meeting has been called
for Monday night to determine the fate of 14 players of the Nashville
Dixie Flyers, who were suspended indefinitely by the Eastern Hockey
League.
Nov 24 Both the players and management of
the Nashville Dixie Flyers were fined today by the board of governors
of the Eastern Hockey League, and the team has been reinstated for action Tuesday
night in Charlotte.
Dec 20, 1970 - The Jacksonville Rockets
players agree to play two more games for a share of the gate in order to give
a new group, headed by Bob Sabourin, time to raise funds to keep the club from
folding. The team needs to get at least $50,000 in pledges to keep the team
in Jacksonville. Failing that, the league is hoping Walter Brock who applied
for application for St. Petersburg will buy the Jacksonville Rockets.
Brock says he owes it to St. Petersburg to start a new franchise,
rather than to bring in a a failing franchise. Brock hopes the team stays in
Jacksonville, so that St. Pete will have a natural rival.
Jan 26, 1971 - Walter Brock has been awarded
a franchise for St. Petersburg area by the Eastern Hockey League.
Jan 27, 1971 - (AP) Cape Cod
Sports, Inc was awarded a franchise Tuesday in the Eastern Hockey League for
the 1972-73 season. The team will operate in the mid-Cape area at a site to
be determined. Club President Dick Terrio said that Johnny Crawford, former
Boston Bruins star, will be the general manager of the Cape Cod
team.
April 21, 1971 - Look for an announcement out
of Greensboro this week that the Eastern Hockey League franchise
there (once owned by civic leaders) has been sold to the Carolinas Cougars organization.
1971-72
The Salem Rebels change their name to the Roanoke Valley
Rebels, and play some games in the Roanoke Civic Center.
The Nashville Dixie Flyers franchise folds. The St. Petersburg
Suncoast Suns join the league.
July 7, 1971
Houston's 2nd bid for an EHL franchise is rejected. The closest team to
Houston would have been St. Petersburg.
Dec 9, 1971 (UPI) —General Manager Bob
Sabourin of the Jacksonville Rockets said Wednesday the team's board
of directors has voted unanimously to sell the Eastern Hockey League club. The
Rockets have a 6-20-1 record and are mired in the EHL Southern Division cellar.
Dec 11 (AP) - The Jacksonville Rockets
of the Eastern Hockey League were put on the block Friday after seven seasons
of financial losses. With attendance at a new low this season and debts piling
up, the Jacksonville Rockets scheduled Friday night game against St. Petersburg
was cancelled and Clinton, N.Y., was notified next Tuesday's game probably won't
be plaved. The new owner would have to pick up about $30,000 in debts, a spokesman
for the team said. "I'll sell for anything, about 13 grand," said
Don Gibbons, board chairman of the team. "Anything to keep hockey alive
in Jacksonville." The Rockets are 6-20-2 for the season, last in the EHL
standings. Friday night's game against St. Petersburg was called off while league
officials awaited developments. Expenses for Jacksonville's Wednesday night
duel with New Haven were paid by the EHL, but the league said it would not finance
any further games. A spokesman for the team said negotiations are. under way
with several parties, including groups from Houston and Jacksonville, to sell
the franchise.
Dec 14 - Walter Skinner, a partner in a three-man
area group interested in eventually bringing a hockey franchise to Washington
DC, was en route to Jacksonville, Fla., last night to "investigate"
the possibility of purchasing the floundering Jacksonville Rockets
of the Eastern Hockey League.
Dec 16 - (UPI)—The Eastern Hockey League
Jacksonville Rockets finally folded Wednesday after eight frustrating
seasons marked by poor teams and a shaky financial operation. Jacksonville General
Manager Bob Sabourin announced that efforts to sell the team had failed and
he had sent telegrams to EHL President Tom Lockhart and other EHL. teams notifying
them the Rockets were disbanding.
1972-73
Jan 24, 1972 Binghamton, building
a downtown Arena that will seat 4.522 for hockey. 5,700 for basketball and 6,950
for fights, is looking for a manager at $16,000 per. The facility is expected
to be ready to open in September, with an Eastern Hockey League franchise slated
to be one of its first tenants.
May 6, 1972 The New Haven Blades
of the Eastern Hockey League signed a four-year contract with the city of Hartford
for rental rights to the Hartford Civic Center beginning in 1974, the year construction
on the 10,000 seat facility is supposed to be completed. The Blades
will play the 1972-74 seasons in the refurbished Eastern States Coliseum in
West Springfield, MA.
The Cape Cod Cubs playing in South Yarmouth MA and Rhode
Island Eagles playing in Woonsocket MA are admitted to the Eastern Hockey
League.
August 4, 1972 - The New England Whalers
of the World Hockey Association (WHA) announces a working agreement with the
New England Blades of the Eastern Hockey League.
Sept 6, 1972 - At least three groups, including
a Baltimore interest headed by ex-NBA referee Arnold Heft, are bidding to place
an Eastern Hockey League franchise in the new Broome County (Binghamton)
arena next year
Oct 11, 1972 - Binghamton's
entry into the EHL next season is not the sure thing that many believed. The
Binghamton group that was awarded the chance to buy the franchise was told originally
that it would cost them $20,000. Then the league told them the cost might go
to $30,000, but every attempt would be made to keep the cost at the original
figure. Then at the last league meeting a few weeks ago at Cape Cod the EHL
"fathers" lowered the boom on the boys from Binghamton by demanding
$50,000 for the franchise. Now the group is reportedly thinking about basketball,
rather than hockey, as the winter sport to put into the nearly completed community
arena.
Nov 28, 1972 - The New England Blades
have been put up for sale. The general manager of the New England Blades
said Monday that he is still talking to potential buyers, but the club will
continue to play in Springfield until further notice.
Nov 29 - The WHA New England Whalers withdraw
support for the New England Blades.
Nov 30 - The scheduled Eastern Hockey League
game between the New England Blades and the Johnstown Jets was
postponed Wednesday because the Blades don't have enough players.
Dec 1 - The New England Blades
will move to Binghamton, NY for the 1973-74 season.
Dec 3 - The New England Blades
halt all activity for the season.
January 5, 1973 -
Tom O'Connell announces plans for a two-rink $1.5 Million Maine Coliseum which
would bring hockey to Auburn, Maine. The main rink, seating 5000, would be the
home of an entry in the Eastern Hockey League known as the Maine Yankees. The
team colors would be Red White and Blue. The emblem would be the head of an
Eagle (blue) with three red slashes to indicate an "M" They would
be in a "Y" shape to form the first letter of Yankees. Lee Roy, manager
of the Portland rink is expected to become manager of the Auburn complex. O'Connell
is seeking a franchise for the 1973-74 season.
February 1, 1973
Syracuse GM Bill Charles announces that the Southern Division will break away
from the league next year. The southern league will add two more clubs with
Winston-Salem, Macon, Baltimore and Alabama as possibilities. Charles confirmed
that Rhode Island and New Jersey were having financial troubles and that Clinton
may be for sale. Syracuse is a possibility to join the AHL.
March 6, 1973
Owner Al Baron announces that the Long Island Ducks are going out of business
amd will not play in the Walker Cup playoffs after a player dispute over unpaid
bonuses. The EHL arranges that the Ducks will play, have their home base in
South Yarmouth, MA, and for the remainder of the playoffs be known as the "Massachusetts
Ducks".
May 1, 1973 - The EHL splits into Southern
Hockey League and North American Hockey League.