Hockey Programs

1988-89 Regular Season Opponent Unknown       After a 1-year absence, professional hockey returned to Indianapolis with the arrival of the IHL's Indianapolis Ice. The Ice were an independent franchise that received players from multiple teams (Hartford, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Calgary, Islanders) and played their home games at the 8,332-seat Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum, former home of the CHL/IHL Checkers from 1979-85. The Ice were owned by businessman Horn Chen. The team's colors were silver, black, and white, and had uniforms similar to the Los Angeles Kings.      The Ice were put together late in the offseason, as Chen purchased the rights to the mothballed Indianapolis Checkers franchise in late June of 1988. Chen hired former Indiana Pacers VP of Marketing Ray Compton as GM. Compton hired former NHL defenseman/enforcer Archie Henderson as the team's first Head Coach. Henderson was no stranger to the IHL, having played the previous season with ...

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...

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 p...

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 ...

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 ...

The second Checkers program I found online. Definitely an eye-catching cover. Kinda reminds me of that arcade hockey game "Hit the Ice". 1986-87 Regular Season--Opponent Unknown      Following the 1983-84 season, the Central Hockey League folded. The Checkers, along with Salt Lake, responded by joining the IHL for the 1984-85 season. The IHL was still a Midwestern-based league at the time, giving the Checkers several nearby opponents, including new rival Fort Wayne. The team was originally owned by Al Savill, former owner of the Grand Rapids Owls. After one season, Savill sold the franchise to Larry Woods.      By now, the Checkers played their home games at Market Square Arena, which sat 15,900 and was also the home of the Indiana Pacers. The Islanders were no longer the parent club, having dropped the Checkers after the 1983-84 season. Instead, Indianapolis relied on New Jersey and Minnesota for prospects.      Vete...

The first Checkers program I saw on eBay. Bought it a few years ago. 1981-82 Regular Season--Checkers vs. Salt Lake        Indianapolis joined the Central Hockey League for the 1979-80 season after several seasons in the World Hockey Association. The new team was called the Checkers and were the primary farm team of the New York Islanders. They played their home games at the 8,421-seat State Fair Coliseum.      For the 1981-82 season, the Checkers were still affiliated with the Islanders, in the middle of their legendary dynasty. Indianapolis was coached by Fred Creighton, who was also General Manager. Creighton's squad had a solid season, going 42-33-5. That record was good enough for third place in the North Division, eight points behind league-leading Salt Lake.      The Checkers scored the fourth-fewest goals that season, with 319 in the net. They were led by Don Laurence, who had 43 goals and 98 points. T...