Skip to main content

Rare Programs: IHL All-Star Games (1972-73 and 1983-84)

Thought I'd post these programs. I rarely see IHL All-Star Game programs online or at flea markets, but here are the two I have.

  
     This one is from the 1972-73 IHL All-Star Game, held at Hara Arena in Dayton, Ohio. That year's format was the North Division vs. the South Division, and the proceeds for the game went to the Children's Medical Center. The program is pretty small, about 11 pages, but you can't argue with the price!

A few notable players in this game include:
Bill McKenzie--Played in the NHL with the Colorado Rockies
Dennis Desrosiers--Scored 60 goals that season in Saginaw
Bob McCammon--Later coached in Philadelphia
Doug Manchak--Number retired by the Flint Generals
Bob Perani--Started Perani's Hockey World and owned both the Flint Spirits and Flint Generals. Alternate in this game.
Curt Ridley--Played briefly in the NHL, including Toronto and Vancouver
 
     The 1983-84 All-Star Game was held at Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Olympics were just around the corner, so the IHL faced Team USA in the Midseason Classic. Hopes were high for the Americans, just four years removed from the legendary "Miracle on Ice", and this game would serve as a good warm-up.
     While the 1984 USA team was a huge disappointment in the Olympics, they did ice a very talented squad. The following players from the American squad would go on to the NHL:

Chris Chelios--3 Stanley Cups, 3 Norris Trophies, Hall of Famer
Al Iafrate--13 NHL seasons, 152 goals
Pat LaFontaine--15 NHL seasons, 468 goals
Ed Olczyk--16 NHL seasons, 1 Stanley Cup, US Hockey Hall of Famer
Bob Mason--8 NHL seasons, Minnesota Wild goaltender coach

Stats from HockeyDB.com

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Port Huron Hockey: Flags/Wings (1962-81)

Now, on to Port Huron.      Port Huron has had a long, yet checkered, history of pro hockey. The most successful franchise, by far, was the Port Huron Flags (also called Wings for a few years) of the IHL. The Flags were, for the most part, a competitve team on the ice, making the Turner Cup Finals seven times and winning the Cup on three occasions. For three years, (1971-74), the franchise was a farm team of the Detroit Red Wings, and sent numerous players on to the NHL in it's existence. However, the team had problems drawing big enough crowds. While the Flags lasted for nearly 20 years, former GM Morris Snider later admitted that the franchise could have folded three years before it actually did, due to declining attendance. I've found some Flags/Wings programs online over the years, and here's what I have. 1963-64 Regular Season--Flags vs. Windsor       1963-64 was the second year of existence for the Flags. After missing the...

Indianapolis Checkers (IHL, 1985-86)

1985-86 Regular Season Checkers vs. Flint Spirits      The Indianapolis Checkers were back for their second season in the IHL after five seasons in the defunct Central Hockey League. The Checkers remained a secondary affiliate of both the New York Islanders and Minnesota North Stars. Larry Woods purchased the Checkers after the 1984-85 season and moved the team to the 15,900-seat Market Square Arena, home of the NBA's Indiana Pacers. The team kept their Islanders-styled uniforms, but changed the logo.      Former Port Huron Flags coach Ron Ullyot was named Coach/GM of the Checkers, and his team greatly improved on their first IHL season. Indy finished with a 41-35-6 mark. They finished last in the very competitive West Division, which had all the teams win at least 40 games. The Checkers' 88 points would have easily taken fourth place in the East.     Indy scored just 296 goals that year, better than only Flint and Toledo. Longtime minor lea...

Chatham Wheels (CoHL, 1993-94)

1993-94 Regular Season Wheels vs. Detroit Falcons      The Chatham Wheels were in their second season of play in the Colonial Hockey League. The team was named after the Wheels Inn, a hotel/indoor amusement complex in town that closed in 2009. The Wheels were owned by a group led by Tom Kirkconnell and played their home games at the 3,300-seat Chatham Memorial Arena.       The Wheels were coming off a last place finish in 1992-93, going 24-32-4, 12 points back of 6th place Flint. Attendance was brutal as well, as the team drew just 1,174 per game to Memorial Arena. Changes were made, as longtime junior coach Tom Barrett was hired as Head Coach/GM and Governor, replacing Ron Caron. Barrett added veteran talent to the roster, including former Flint Spirits John Vecchiarelli and Brett MacDonald, and former St. Thomas Wildcats goaltender Kevin Butt, to go along with holdover Jim Ritchie.      Barrett's moves paid off, as the Wheels surged up...