Saginaw Wheels (CoHL, 1995-96)

1996 Colonial Cup Playoffs:
Wheels vs. Brantford Smoke

      The Saginaw Wheels were coming off a successful 1994-95 season, their first in the Tri-Cities after two years in Chatham, Ontario. The team finished in third place in the Colonial Hockey League's West Division, with a 36-31-7 record, qualifying for the playoffs for the second-straight year. In the box office, attendance shot up to an average of 2,958 per game. This was an increase of 1,286 per game from their last season in Chatham, and one of the highest averages a Saginaw team had had since the original Gears folded in 1982-83.

     The 1995-96 season, however, was a significant step back for the franchise on and off the ice, and a sign of things to come. Partial owner Tom Kirkconnell attempted to buy out his partners and become sole owner of the franchise, but ran into financial trouble in the process. The Colonial League seized control of the Wheels, eventually selling it to local physician Muhanad Jondy, a colleague of Flint Generals owner Dr. Khaled Shukairy. The Wheels also went through three head coaches during the year. Tom Barrett started the season, but resigned to take over as head coach of the OHL's London Knights, who were going through a horrific season. Former Saginaw Gears forward and Generals/Hawks Head Coach Dennis Desrosiers was installed as the new head coach, but he resigned later in the year to finish off the season with the ECHL's Birmingham Bulls. The coaching position was then left to assistant Mike Zruna, who finished the season.

     With all of this turmoil, the Wheels stumbled to a 32-35-7 record, good enough for fourth place in the East Division. Saginaw's 71 points put them just seven ahead of last-place Utica, but 36 behind first place Flint. The Wheels also saw attendance decrease, to an average of 2,475 per game, fifth best in the league and a drop of 483 fans per game. 

     The Wheels offense was actually pretty good that year, as they scored 299 goals, fourth-most in the Colonial League. They were led on offense by center and captain Jamey Hicks, who was easily the team's best scorer with 38 goals and 116 points in 73 games. There was a dropoff in points after Hicks, but the team's offense was balanced. In second was right winger Ross Wilson, who managed 38 goals and 68 points in 42 games. Troy Mann was the other 30-goal scorer, lighting the lamp 30 times in 58 games. Ex-Flint Spirit Lee Giffin (20), Jim Ritchie (28), Mark Donahue (25) and midseason acquisition Sylvain Fleury (20) each had at least 20 goals for Saginaw that year.

     What hurt Saginaw that year was defense, as the Wheels allowed a league-worst 341 goals. The Wheels used three different goaltenders that season. Steve Vezina and ex-Hartford Whaler Mike Lenarduzzi played the bulk of the games, with 43 appearances each. Lenarduzzi went 14-15-3 with a 4.32 GAA, while Vezina was 17-19-4 with a 4.67 GAA. The other netminder was ex-Detroit Falcon Mike Risdale, who went 1-1-0 with a 4.00 GAA in 2 games. The leading scorer on Saginaw's blueline was Jason Stos, who had 9 goals and 55 points in 70 games. 

     Saginaw had the fourth-fewest penalty minutes in the Colonial League, with 2,081 PIM. Forward Jason Renard has the most, with 187 PIM in just 35 games. Shawn Yakimishyn was next with 184 in 69 games. Chad Holloway (162) and Eric Dandenault (160) were the other Wheels players with at least 150 PIM that year.

     The Wheels made the Colonial Cup Playoffs for the third straight year. Unlike the previous two seasons, there would be no long playoff run in 1996. Their opening round opponent was the Brantford Smoke, who went 45-24-5, second overall in the league. The Smoke had the second-best offense in the Colonial Hockey League, and were led by Brantford native and Western Michigan graduate Paul Polillo, with 64 goals and 186 points in 74 games. The Wheels stunned Brantford in Game 1, but the Smoke won the next four games, allowing just eight goals in the process, to eliminate Saginaw in five. Brantford would go on to lose in the semifinals to Thunder Bay in seven games. 

     Other than the cover, this program has nearly the exact same look as the 1994-95 Wheels program. It's 72 pages long, and loaded with articles, stats and advertisements. A message from Mayor Gary L. Loster (page 6) and Colonial League Commissioner Mike Forbes (page 7) are included, as well as a welcome note from owner Muhanad Jondy. The team's mascot, Wheelie, is featured on page 9. Each opponent has their own bio from pages 21-27. Jamey Hicks has a bio on page 33, and the history of the league is included on pages 43-44.

     This was the only Wheels game I made it to this season, Game Four between the Wheels and Smoke on April 7, 1996. We rarely went to Sunday games (school night), and I think this was an afternoon contest. The Wheels were down, 2-1 in the series at this point. The Wheels outshot the Smoke 49-28 in this game, but Smoke goaltender Marc Delorme was up to the challenge. Brantford jumped ahead, 2-0 in the second period, before the Wheels eventually tied the game early in the third on a blueline goal by Shawn Yakimishyn. It looked like the game was heading to overtime, but Herb Ragland scored with just 25 seconds left in regulation. The Smoke ran out the clock and won, 3-2, to take a stranglehold on the series. According to the scoresheet I filled in that night, attendance was 1,442.

     Here's Brantford's roster for that night. Paul Polillo was easily Brantford's best player, and was often near the top of the league's scoring charts. There were rumors that he was often given "phantom assists" to boost the local boy's stats, but I'm not sure I believe that. He was a great forward during the Colonial League era. Herb Raglan was a former NHL tough guy, playing nine years in the league, mostly with St. Louis. Herbie had a big year in Brantford, scoring 46 goals and 84 points, along with 267 PIM in 69 games, all career highs. Joe Hawley was another enforcer on the Smoke, scoring 32 goals and 97 points along with 114 PIM in 64 games. Former Chatham Wheel Wayne Muir had 40 goals and 87 points to go with his 267 PIM in 74 games. Needless to say, Brantford had a few heavyweights. Goaltender Marc Delorme had a great season in Brantford, going 35-13-3 with a 3.40 GAA and 1 shutout in 55 games. He was the starter for this game and was the #2 star of the game, stopping 47 of 49 Wheels shots. He would later play briefly with the 1998-99 Saginaw Gears.

     And here's the Wheels' roster. Mike Lenarduzzi was the starting goaltender for Game 4, and would play all five playoff games. He had a pretty good game, turning aside 25 shots and was named #3 star of the night. As stated earlier, I think Jamey Hicks was the best player Saginaw's UHL team ever had. He could score, play good defense, and play physical if needed. The franchise really could have used his goal scoring talents after this season. Lee Giffin played 27 games over two seasons for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He later played for the Flint Spirits, and Muskegon Lumberjacks in the IHL during the late 1980s.  Lee was part of the Lumberjacks' 1989 Turner Cup win. Jason Stos was an original Chatham Wheel, and played the last four seasons of his pro career with the franchise. Mark Donahue is from Rochester, Michigan, and played two seasons for the OHL's Detroit Compuware Ambassadors (which eventually became the Flint Firebirds). Mark had a career year this season, scoring 25 goals and 49 points in 58 games. 

     Local advertisements include Schaefer Hat Store, Superior Transmission & Auto Repair, Old Country Buffet of Saginaw, Z93 FM, Delphi Steering Systems, and Garber Automotive. 

Aftermath: Saginaw would not make the postseason in hockey again until the OHL's Saginaw Spirit made the 2005-06 playoffs. The Wheels would be renamed "Saginaw Lumber Kings" and would begin a 3 1/2 year occupancy the Colonial/United Hockey League's basement. The team would be sold two more times and go through one more name change before leaving Saginaw in December 1999 for Massillon, Ohio.

Reference:

Colonial Hockey League Statistics: 1995-96, from hockeydb.com