Hockey Programs

1983-84 Regular Season Checkers vs. U.S. Olympic Team      The Checkers were riding high by 1983-84. They were the two-time defending Adams Champions and one of the strongest teams off the ice as well.           The CHL, on the other hand, was not as fortunate. The league was running on fumes by then. Having lost several teams the past few seasons, the CHL was down to just five teams. The league was spread all across the country, mostly in the western US. The five teams were as far north as Billings, Montana, as far west as Salt Lake City, Utah, and as far south as Tulsa, Oklahoma. Indianapolis was easily the most easterly team in the circuit.      Things got worse as the year went on. The owners of the Tulsa Oilers declared bankruptcy and abandoned the team to the CHL, which kept it afloat as a travel team. To balance the schedule, the CHL counted games against the Canadian and American Olympic teams in the schedule. So this program was not from an exhibition game, but one that a

1982-83 Regular Season Opponent Unknown      The Indianapolis Checkers were in their fourth year in the Central Hockey League by 1982-83. They were the primary farm club of the New York Islanders and played their home games at the 8,421-seat State Fairgrounds Coliseum. Fred Creighton was the Head Coach and General Manager.      As you can see by the cover, Indy was the defending Adams Cup Champions that year, defeating Dallas in the Finals. In 1982-83, Creighton's bunch had a spectacular season, going 50-28-2, cruising to first place. Their 102 points were 17 points ahead of second-place Colorado.      The Checkers were tops in the CHL on both sides of the puck. On offense, they piled up 335 goals and were led by Don Laurence, who popped in 43 goals and 98 points. Steve Stoyanovich was the other 40-goal scorer that season, with 41. Five other Checkers had at least 20 goals on the year.      On defense, Indy allowed just 242 goals. They used just two goaltenders in '82-83

I'm going to add another program to my list of "wants": the 1983-84 Tulsa Oilers. The reason?  Read this article.  Quite an interesting story. Basically, the following events happened: 1. Oilers ownership declared bankruptcy midway through the season. 2. Oilers lose arena lease and fold. 3. CHL and the New York Rangers (Oilers' parent team) split the costs of keeping the Oilers alive for the rest of the season as a travel team. 4. Oilers players are put up in a Denver hotel. 5. Oilers make the playoffs. 6. Oilers win the Adams Cup while not playing a home game in over a month. 7. Oilers finally cease operations. 8. The entire CHL follows suit and folds as well. It would make a great ESPN 30 for 30 episode. Programs do exist, but I haven't seen one from that season yet. Hopefully I can find one reasonably priced.

1979-80 Regular Season Black Hawks vs. Tulsa Oilers      The Central Hockey League's Dallas Black Hawks had been in existence since 1967-68, relocating from St. Louis after the arrival of the NHL Blues. Originally a Chicago farm club, the Hawks were now the primary farm club of the Vancouver Canucks. The Hawks played their home games at the 7,593-seat State Fair Coliseum and were coached by John Choyce, who was also GM.      Dallas was coming off an Adams Cup championship in 1978-79. The Hawks were a juggernaut in the CHL. Since arriving in 1967-68, Dallas had reached the Adams Cup Finals nine times in 12 years (including an incredible six years straight), winning the Cup four times.      1979-80 would see that come to a screeching halt. Dallas would fall to last place in the CHL that year (excluding the Cincinnati Stingers, who folded at midseason). Their 29-43-8 record was eight points behind sixth-place Houston, who had the last playoff berth. The Hawks were also 39 points

1980-81 Regular Season Wings vs. Washington Capitals      By 1980-81, the Detroit Red Wings were slowly reaching the end of their "Dead Things" era. From 1966-67 to 1985-86, the Wings missed the playoffs in all but four seasons. A myriad of coaches and general managers had come and gone during that era, and the Wings remained buried deep in the standings.      1980-81 was more of the same, as the Wings retained control of the Norris Division cellar, with an ugly 19-43-18 record. In most seasons, that would have given Detroit the #1 overall pick, but Winnipeg was especially horrific in 1981, winning only nine games. The Wings were four points behind fourth-place Hartford, but 47 behind first-place Montreal.      Jimmy Skinner, former head coach of the 1955 Wings (the last Detroit team to win the Stanley Cup) was now the general manager. His former captain, Ted Lindsay, started the year as coach, but was canned after a 3-14-3 start in favor of Wayne Maxner. Didn't mat

2008-09 Regular Season Opponent Unknown      The Flint Generals were in their 16th season of operation by 2009. This tied the original Flint Generals of the IHL for the longest stay by a pro hockey team in the Buick City. The modern Generals were now part of the "new" IHL, which the United Hockey League renamed itself the season before. The team was owned by a consortium called The Perani Group (TPG), which included Perani's Hockeyworld owner and Flint legend Bob Perani (hence the name). The team played it's home games at Perani's Hockey World and Event Center.      The franchise, and the league for that matter, had been in decline for the past several seasons, attendance-wise and in the standings. 2008-09 saw the Gens hit rock bottom both on and off the ice. Head Coach Peter South, an unpopular midseason replacement the previous year, was suddenly expected to "co-coach with former General Bobby Reynolds after a slow start to the year. Seeing the writing

1993-94 Regular Season Opponent Unknown      As you can tell by the programa cover, the Peoria Rivermen were in their tenth season of existence. The franchise originally started in 1983 as the Peoria Prancers, but changed their names after two lackluster seasons and new ownership. The Rivermen were the primary affiliate of the St. Louis Blues and played their home games at the 9,315-seat Peoria Civic Center.      Long-time NHL forward Paul MacLean was behind the bench for the 1993-94 season. The Rivermen were coming off a last-place finish in the Midwest Division (third place out of three teams, actually) in 1992-93. This year would be different, as they jumped to first place, with a 51-24-6 record. Their 108 points just barely edged out second-place Cincinnati and was only seven points behind league-best Las Vegas.      MacLean's squad scored the fourth-most goals in the IHL that year, piling up 327 goals. They were led by Doug Evans, who scored 27 goals and 90 points. Tony

1973-74 Regular Season Blazers vs. Broome Dusters      Syracuse, New York, has been part of numerous minor-pro hockey leagues. The Blazers arrived on the scene in 1967, joining the Eastern Hockey League as an expansion franchise. When the EHL split up, the Blazers switched to the North American Hockey League (no relation to the junior league). Ron Ingram was General Manager and Head Coach that season. The Blazers were an affiliate of the WHA's New York Golden Blades and played their home  games at the Onondaga County War Memorial, which sat 6,000.      Syracuse had an excellent season in Year One of the NAHL, running away with the league crown with a 54-16-4 record. Their 112 points were 19 more than second place Maine.      Ingram's Blazers had no problem scoring goals, as they notched 359 goals, second-most in the league. The team had a trio of 40-goal scorers, led by Mike Morton, who had 44 goals and 95 points. Four other players had at least 20 goals on the year.    

1974-75 Regular Season Americans vs. Syracuse Eagles      The Rochester Americans have been one of the longest-lasting minor league hockey teams in history. Starting in 1956, the Amerks have been a member of the American Hockey League every season since--only the Hershey Bears and Fort Wayne Komets have lasted in the same city longer.      In 1974-75, the Amerks were the primary affiliate of the Boston Bruins. Rochester's previous coach was now the bench boss in Boston. You might have heard of him. Outrageous suits, 12-inch collars, controversial fan of "Rock 'em, Sock 'em" hockey? That's right, Don Cherry. Cherry was replaced by Dick Mattiussi, former defenseman. Mattiussi inherited a talented bunch, as the working agreement with Boston allowed the Americans to keep the best players from last year's team and the Bruins' former affiliate, the now-defunct Boston Braves.      The 1974-75 Americans would finish 42-25-9, good enough for second place

1957-58 Regular Season Ramblers vs. Charlotte Clippers      Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been home to two NHL clubs: the Quakers who lasted just one season, and the Flyers, who were born in 1967. In between, Philly was home to a handful of minor-pro clubs in various leagues. One of them was the Philadelphia Ramblers of the Eastern Hockey League, a blood-and-guts league that was a couple notches below the NHL. The Ramblers played their home games at the old Philadelphia Arena and were coached by Edgar "Chirp" Brenchley.      Brenchley's Ramblers had a so-so season in 1957-58, going 30-31-3. Their 63 points put them in fifth place, just two behind fourth-place Johnstown and 14 behind league-best Charlotte.      On offense, the Ramblers potted 223 goals, fourth in the league. They were led by Bill Kurtz (featured on the cover), who had 35 goals and 71 points in 64 games. Three other players, Rheal Savard (24), Nick Rukavina (22) and Ross Turnbull (20) were the other

1984-85 Regular Season Checkers vs. Muskegon Lumberjacks      The Indianapolis Checkers were born in 1979, to replace the defunct WHA Racers, who folded during the 1978-79 season. The team was the primary affiliate of the New York Islanders and were originally part of the Central Hockey League. The Checkers played their home games at the Indiana Fairgrounds Coliseum, which held 8,421.       The Islanders had a talent-rich farm system and the Checkers greatly benefited, winning two Adams Cups in 1982 and 1983, then lost in the final Adams Cup Finals in 1984.      The Checkers were a solid franchise in a successful farm system, but the CHL itself was a different matter. Unlike the Great Lakes-based IHL, the CHL was spread throughout the country, mostly west of the Mississippi River. Teams would have to travel as far north as Billings, Montana, as far south as Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, to as far east as Indianapolis. Due to sky-high travel costs and declining attendance, the CHL even