Hockey Programs

1989-90 Regular Season--Lumberjacks vs. Flint Spirits      The Muskegon Lumberjacks were coming off their second Turner Cup championship of the 1980s. Ever since Larry Gordon purchased the franchise in 1984, the Lumberjacks were at or near the top of the league standings, winning 50+ games every year but on in that stretch. The Lumberjacks were the primary affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins.      1989-90 was no different, as Blair MacDonald's team once again won the Huber Trophy as regular season champions. Their 55-21-6 record was four points behind second place Kalamazoo and just two ahead of West Division champ Indianapolis.      Muskegon was tied for the league lead in goal-scoring, pumping in 389 goals (tied with Kalamazoo). Dave Michayluk led the team with 51 goals and 102 points. Two players had 40+ goals (Scott Gruhl and Perry Ganchar) and three others had at least 25.      The Lumberjacks allowe...

1981-82 Regular Season--Gears vs. Toledo Goaldiggers      The Saginaw Gears were in their 10th season of IHL hockey in 1981-82. They were coming off the franchise's second Turner Cup championship thanks to a talent-loaded roster. However, they also had to file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection due to declining attendance and revenue. Longtime owner Wren Blair was out, and Ken MacDonald (of MacDonald Broadcasting) took over the team. The Gears were still a secondary affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings.      There was major roster turnover, as most of the players from the 1980-81 squad were promoted to New Haven of the AHL. The Gears also had a new coach, as Don Perry was promoted as well. To replace Perry, the Gears simply hired star forward Marcel Comeau as player/coach.      If there was anyone that could be considered "Mr. Everything" for the Saginaw Gears, it's Marcel Comeau. He was one of the original Gears players,...

Forgot to add one more program I'm looking for 1978-79 Saginaw Gears: This is the only season that I don't have. I have a yearbook from that year and trading cards, but haven't seen a program online yet. No luck yet on the other white whales. There are a couple Grand Rapids Owls programs, but they're way out of my price range. I have several Fort Wayne Komets programs I have listed on eBay, so if you're interested, take a look.

2010-11 Regular Season--Wings vs. Gwinnett Gladiators       The Kalamazoo Wings are members of the ECHL. This version of the K-Wings actually began in 1999-2000 as the Madison Kodiaks in the United Hockey League. After the IHL's Kalamazoo Wings franchise suspended operations, the Kodiaks were quickly purchased and relocated to Wings Stadium. They assumed the K-Wings nickname and brought back the original color scheme upon their arrival. After nine years in the UHL, the K-Wings switched to the ECHL, where they've been ever since.      In 2010-11, the K-Wings were the secondary affiliate of the New York Islanders. Nick Bootland, a former K-Wing himself, was back behind the bench. Paul Pickard, former commissioner of the IHL, was team president.      Kalamazoo had a fine season in 2010-11, capturing the North Division crown. Their 40-24-2-6 record was seven points better than second place Wheeling, but nine points behind lea...

2014-15 Regular Season--Warriors vs. Janesville Jets Note: I know, I know. I said five years ago that I would "never set foot in Perani Arena again" when the Warriors arrived in town and the Generals were forced to fold. That "boycott" lasted nearly 4 years. I went to a game in 2013-14, and one in 2014-15. I like the NAHL, especially after all those games in Port Huron. Hockey's hockey, I guess. Hell, I even own a Warriors t-shirt and puck now, so they can't be that bad anymore!      The Michigan Warriors are in their fifth year of existence. They are members of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), a mid-level junior league in the US and Canada. They play their home games in Flint's Perani Arena. Moe Mantha, former head coach of the Saginaw Spirit, is still Coach/GM of the Warriors, the only one they've known.      The Warriors were coming off a North Division Championship in 2013-14, the second in four years for the team. After getting of...

1985-86 Season--Opponent Unknown      By the mid-1980s, pro hockey in Muskegon had nearly collapsed. The Mohawks franchise had bottomed out, drawing few fans and losing hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past decade. After a miserable 19-55-8 season in 1983-84, the franchise was purchased by Larry Gordon for $1."I put a $1.00 bill on the table and they refused the offer. I told them I'd be at the Holiday Inn...a short time later, I received a call and they accepted the offer," Gordon recalled years later.      Gordon's cheap purchase was a godsend for Muskegon hockey. The team was renamed "Musekgon Lumberjacks" and the roster was overhauled, as only three Mohawks remained. Gordon also hired Rick Ley as Head Coach/President of Hockey Operations. The new Lumberjacks did a 180-degree turnaround in 1984-85, going 50-29-3 and reaching the Turner Cup Finals.      The Lumberjacks were a secondary affiliate of the Quebec Nordiq...

1994-95 Home Opener: Vipers vs. Cleveland Lumberjacks      The Detroit Vipers joined the International Hockey League in the summer of 1994. Palace Sports and Entertainment purchased the Salt Lake Golden Eagles franchise and relocated it to Michigan. The team played their home games at the Palace of Auburn Hills, and was an independent franchise for the majority of their existence. For the 1994-95 season, they were the parent club of the Colonial League's Detroit Falcons.      Former Buffalo Sabres coach Rick Dudley was named the Head Coach/General Manager of the Vipers. Dudley had a successful run in the IHL, having led the 1987-88 Flint Spirits to the Turner Cup Finals and the 1992-93 San Diego Gulls to a league-record 62-12-8 and Finals berth. He was joined on the bench by future Flint Generals coach Robbie Nichols and player/assistant Mark Hardy.         Dudley built a strong team with a mix of talented ...