Hockey Programs

2025-26 Regular Season Firebirds vs. Saginaw Spirit       This is the second online program I have in my collection. I think this is the future of hockey programs, as teams can cut out the cost of printing thousands of copies of yearbooks and programs and just have a QR Code posted throughout the arena.      2025-26 is the eleventh season of Flint Firebirds hockey. The franchise actually dates back to 1990-91, when they joined the OHL as the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors. Currently (as of January 26, 2026), the team is tied for first place with the Windsor Spitfires in the Western Division, with a 31-12-2-2 record. They are six points ahead of the third-place Soo Greyhounds. The Firebirds are currently averaging 3,139 per game at the Dort Financial Center (originally the IMA Sports Arena). The Flint Firebirds are the sixth franchise to call Flint, Michigan, home since 1969.      I'll do an in-depth review of the season this offseason. For now...

1993-94 Regular Season       The Detroit Jr. Red Wings were in their fourth season of operation in the 1993-94 season. Owned by Detroit businessman Peter Karmanos, the OHL franchise played it's home games at Joe Louis Arena, home of the NHL's Detroit Red Wings (hence the name). By 1992-93 the team emerged as a contender in the OHL, finishing 37-22-7 in the Emms Division. Paul Maurice was head coach/general manager.      The Jr. Red Wings continued to improve in 1993-94, winning the Emms Division with a 42-20-4 record. Their 88 points were 11 ahead of the second place Soo Greyhounds and nine points behind league-best North Bay. The Wings had the third best offense in the OHL that season, scoring 312 goals. Top scorer that year was Los Angeles Kings prospect (4th Round, 87th Overall in 1992) Kevin Brown, who scored a career best 54 goals and 135 points in 57 games. Another Kings prospect, Bob Wren (4th Round, 94th overall in 1993) had 45 goals and 109 points ...

1983-84 Regular Season Goaldiggers vs. Muskegon Mohawks      The Toledo Goaldiggers were coming off one of the greatest stretches in IHL history, winning back-to-back Turner Cups and dominating the regular season in 1981-82 and 1982-83. The Goaldiggers went 104-44-14-2 in those seasons, easily winning the Huber Trophy as regular season champions. Off the ice, it was a different story. While the Goaldiggers were a hot ticket in the 1970s, the economic downturn of the 1980s saw attendance collapse at the Toledo Sports Arena. Even a powerhouse squad could not pack in the fans at the old barn, as the team was losing buckets of money.       General Manager (and former IHL commissioner) Bill Beagan and Head Coach Bill Inglis were back with the Goaldiggers to try and win their third Turner Cup in a row. Home games were played at 5,230-seat Toledo Sports Arena.       The Goaldiggers slipped to fourth place on the season, finishing with a so...

1995-96 Regular Season Whalers vs. London Knights      The Detroit Whalers were in their sixth season of operation in 1995-96. The team, called the Detroit Jr. Red Wings from 1992-95, was coming off an OHL championship and a berth in the Memorial Cup Finals. However, Jr. Red Wings were evicted from Joe Louis Arena. Owner Peter Karmanos had the team play in two home arenas for the 1995-96 season: 250-seat Oak Park Arena and the 20,804-seat Palace of Auburn Hills, while construction of a new arena in Plymouth was ongoing. The team was renamed "Detroit Whalers", after the NHL's Hartford Whalers, which Karmanos also owned. Peter DeBoer replaced Paul Maurice as general manager and head coach (who was hired as Whalers coach that offseason).       The Whalers finished in first place in the OHL's Western Division, with a 40-22-4 record. Their 84 points were just two points ahead of second place Sarnia and 3 ahead of third place Sault Ste. Marie, but 11 points ...

    Here's another program blog I have, this one features programs from Central Michigan University athletics. I am a 2007 graduate of Central Michigan, and I have programs from CMU dating back to 1940, when they were still the  Central State Teacher's College Bearcats.  Here's the link: Central Michigan Programs Fire Up Chips!

1975-76 Regular Season Racers vs. Denver Spurs      The Indianapolis Racers were in their second season of operation in the World Hockey Association in 1975-76. They were the first pro hockey franchise to call Indy home since the CHL's Capitols, who were forced to relocate to Cincinnati in 1963 after the Indianapolis Coliseum was seriously damaged by explosion, killing 68 people in the process. The Racers played their home games at 15,993-seat Market Square Arena, also home to the ABA's Indiana Pacers.  The team was lead by head coach Gerry Moore and General Manager James Browitt.      The Racers nearly doubled their win total from their inaugural season, finishing with a 35-39-6 record. Despite having a sub-.500 record, their 76 point earned the Racers first place in the mediocre Eastern Division, 1 point ahead of second place Cleveland, and just five ahead of last place Cincinnati. Attendance jumped to 8,778 per game, or 55% capacity.    ...