Flint Generals (CoHL, 1993-94)

1993-94 Regular Season:
Generals vs. Utica Bulldogs

     During the summer of 1993, the Flint Bulldogs moved to Utica, New York, citing poor attendance. Upon leaving, Bulldogs owner Leslie J. "Skip" Probst doubted that Flint could support pro hockey anymore. But hockey was not gone for long in Flint, however, as the Colonial Hockey League granted an expansion franchise to Dr. Khaled Shukairy for the 1993-94 season. The new team was named Flint Generals, after the IHL franchise that played from 1969-85. Shukairy hired former Generals and Spirits forward Peter Horachek as Head Coach and General Manager. The team played it's home games at the 4,021-seat IMA Sports Arena.

     The Generals had a few holdovers from the Bulldogs, including defensemen Ken Spangler and Stephan Brochu and goaltender Mark Gowans, but for the most part, this was a much different roster. Flint jumped out to a 5-1 start on the season before cooling off to finish 32-23-9. While that record put the Generals in last place in the Colonial League's Western Division, their 73 points were just two back of second place Muskegon and 12 behind first place Chatham. Off-ice, Flint fans flocked to the IMA Sports Arena, as the Generals averaged 3,579 per game (89% capacity), the second-highest average in the league. At one point, the Generals had 16 consecutive sellouts during their inaugural season. That average was 1,341 per game greater than the 1992-93 Bulldogs.

     The Flint Generals had a loaded offense, as they scored 328 goals, third-most in the league. The Generals were led by former Washington Capitals prospect Brian Sakic (brother of Joe Sakic). The 21-year old forward had a career year, with 39 goals and 125 points in 64 games. The top scorer was former Buffalo Sabres prospect Kevin Kerr. Kerr, a veteran of the AHL and ECHL, had his best offensive season to date, scoring 57 goals and 112 points in 45 games, earning callups to Phoenix of the IHL and Portland of the AHL (where he won the Calder Cup). Bret Strot, coming over from the Detroit Falcons, scored 36 goals and 107 points in 53 games. Defenseman Lorne Knauft (20) was the other Generals player to score at least 20 goals.

     Defense was a weak point in Flint this season, as they allowed 314 goals, fourth-most in the Colonial Hockey League. The team went through four different netminders, with ex-Bulldog (and Bay City native) Mark Gowans playing the majority of the games. Gowans, a Red Wings draft pick from 1985, played in 37 games, compiling a 21-9-6 record with a 4.07 GAA. Darcy Austin, a midseason pickup from Brantford, played in 21 games, sporting a 7-10-2 record and 5.06 GAA. Carl Picconatto started the season in Flint before being dealt to Muskegon, going 4-4-1 with a 6.29 GAA in 10 games in his only pro hockey season. Rob Watson was the other netminder, allowing 4 goals in 38 minutes of action. Gowans and Austin saw action in the postseason.

     One of the things that endeared this team to blue-collar Flint fans was physical play. The 1993-94 Generals were definitely "Old Time Hockey", as they racked up a league-high 2,179 penalty minutes. Leading the march to the sin bin was Kevin Kerr, who had 299 penalty minutes. Ken Spangler was next with 256. Jim Duhart, Chris O'Rourke and Keith Whitmore were the other Generals with at least 150 PIM that year. 

     The Generals qualified for the Colonial Cup Playoffs this season, as only the Utica Bulldogs were eliminated. Flint drew the Detroit Falcons in Round 1, a team they actually tied in points. The series was a best-of-five affair which rotated between Flint and Fraser, and got especially ugly. Game 3, a 9-5 Flint win at Fraser Ice Arena, erupted into a bench-clearing brawl. Gloves and sticks were all over the ice, and the fighting spilled from the rink into the locker rooms. A brawl nearly broke out during warmups in Game 4, as several Falcons players claimed Flint's Kevin Kerr speared Detroit's Darren Miciak. Demanding Kerr be ejected (and protesting the absence of league commissioner Bob Myers), the Falcons refused to take the ice for the first period. After a long delay, the referee forfeited the game to Flint, who won the series 3-1. In the second round, the Generals battled the Chatham Wheels. In a best-of-seven series, the Generals fell to the Wheels in seven games, outscored by just a 35-34 margin. Chatham then lost in the Colonial Cup Finals to Thunder Bay in five games.

    This is an 80-page program, loaded with advertisements. The silhouette behind the General Rally logo is of Peter Horachek holding up the 1984 Turner Cup. The 1993-94 Generals were an affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks (same as the IHL Generals) and New Jersey Devils (no idea how many players actually were sent to Flint by those teams), as well as a farm club of the IHL's San Diego Gulls. There are numerous pictures of the original Generals in this program, including a team photo of the 1984 Turner Cup Champions. Each Colonial League team has a profile throughout the program as well. The records of all three previous Flint hockey teams is located on page 64. Defenseman Keith Whitmore is on the roster insert.

     I went to several Generals game this season. This program is from the October 30, 1993, game between the Generals and Utica Bulldogs. This was the first time the Bulldogs had played in Flint since relocating to New York. An overflow crowd of 4,471 jammed into the IMA Sports Arena. Utica scored first, then the Generals took over, scoring 11 goals in a row to blow away the Bulldogs, 11-2. Bret Strot scored 4 goals and 3 assists to lead the Generals onslaught. Mark Gowans isn't listed on the lineup inside the insert, but was on the team and did start in this game. 

     Utica had a couple holdovers from the previous season, including goaltender Pat Szturm and forwards Larry Bernard and Darren Miciak. Skip Probst founded the Colonial League, and was still Owner/GM of the Bulldogs. Marty Howe (son of Gordie Howe) returned as coach. In his family's book Here's Howe, Marty talks a little about his time coaching the Flint Bulldogs. The Bulldogs would last just one season in Utica before declaring bankruptcy. The team drew 2,062 per game, less than they did in Flint and in a larger arena and went 21-39-4 on the season. I've seen one Utica Bulldogs program on eBay, but the price was outrageous (I think it was signed by Gordie Howe).

     Local advertisements include NBD Bank ("To another season of great checking."), Sports Creek Raceway, The Raincheck Lounge, Old Country Buffet, WJRT TV 12, Rally's Hamburgers, and WWGZ Wings 103.1 FM (now US 103.1, the radio home of the Flint Firebirds).

References:

Colonial Hockey League Statistics: 1993-94, from hockeydb.com