In 1956, Charlotte Discovered Hockey

On the day of the the Charlotte Checkers first game in the AHL, the Charlotte Observer remembered back to the first game ever in Charlotte, back in 1956. Link to Charlotte Observer article.

On January 23, 1956, Carlin's Iceland Arena, home to the EHL Baltimore Clippers, burned to the ground. The Clippers quickly rescheduled five of their remaining "home" games for the new Charlotte Coliseum. Charlotte had applied for membership in the EHL for 1956-57, but were by no means accepted. This gave the league a chance to test-market hockey in the south. The first game was January 30, 1956, with the Baltimore Clippers taking on the New Haven Blades. Needless to say, it was quite the success.

Here are the AP and UP national stories from the first game in Charlotte January 30, 1956...

Pro Ice Hockey Goes Over Big In Charlotte CHARLOTTE -- (AP) --Professional ice hockey came to Charlotte for the first time last night, and it may be-here to stay. Owner Charlie Rock of the Baltimore Clippers surveyed the 10,363 persons jammed into the coliseum here and announced that if interest keeps up he'll urge the Eastern Hockey League transfer his franchise to Charlotte.
The Clippers' lost a 6-2 game to the New Haven Blades. An estimated 3,000 persons were turned away because all available standing and sitting space was taken. Those that did get in saw a jarring, bruising game, complete with fist fights. The big crowd loved it. They shouted their approval, and gave the Clippers the home town treatment throughout the contest. The Baltimore team lost its arena in a fire. It will play at least four more games here this season.

Ice Hockey Lures 10,363 to Coliseum CHARLOTTE -- (UP) -- Residents of Charlotte apparently have taken the northern sport of ice hockey to their hearts. The largest indoor sports crowd in the Queen City's' history, 10,363 fans turned out last night to watch the New Haven Blades down the "homeless" Baltimore Clippers, 6-2, in an Eastern Hockey League game. And officials said another 3,000 persons, were turned away from the city's new multi-million dollar coliseum.

The Charlotte fans may not have picked up the fine points of the game as explained over the public address system, but they quickly learned like hockey fans everywhere that the fights are more interesting than the game. There were two battles during the contest, a small number considering the highly publicized "Feud" between the two teams.

New Haven, currently leading the six-team Eastern loop, had little trouble with the fifth-place Clippers. The Blades' top line of John Sherban, Claude Boileau and Yvan Chasle turned in four goals, Sherban providing two. Ron Rohmer and Alf Lewsey also contributed to the scoring. Defensemen Mike Desilets and Ralph De Leo scored for Baltimore both in the final period after New Haven had a comfortable lead. The. game was the first of six to be played here by the Clippers whose home arena in Baltimore was destroyed-by fire last week.

The list of Clippers-in-Charlotte (they were still the Baltimore Clippers until the following season) firsts is a nice Hockey Who's Who.

First Save: Les Binkley.
First Penalty: John Brophy.
First Opposition Penalty: Don Perry.
First Goal: Mike Desilets (okay, maybe not all are household names, but assisted by John Muckler).
Second Clippers Goal: John Muckler.
First Opposition Goal: Johnny Sherban. (Four goals in total by the famed CBS line of Chasle, Boileau and Sherban for New Haven.)

Here's your boxscore...

Doug McMurdy - New Haven Blades 1958-59

Photo: Doug McMurdy in white AHL Syracuse Warriors jersey is stopped by Providence back line.

Springfield hockey legend Doug McMurdy passes
http://www.examiner.com/x-43445-Springfield-Falcons-Examiner~y2010m5d26-Springfield-hockey-legend-Doug-McMurdy-passes

The hockey community lost an ambasador for the game this week with the passing of Doug McMurdy.

McMurdy, a member of the Springfield Hockey Hall of Fame, played for six seasons with the Springfield Indians in the American Hockey League, Eastern Hockey League and the Quebec Hockey League.

He started his time in Springfield in 1948 through 1951. After spending a year in Syracuse, he returned to the City of Homes, where he played until 1957. He spent the 1952-53 season as the player-coach, accumulating a 39-19-2 record.

In Springfield, he played in 286 games, tallying 267 points - 85 goals, 182 assists. In his professional career, which included stops in Springfield, Pittsburgh (AHL), Tulsa (USHL), Syracuse (AHL), Trois Rivieres (QHL) and New Haven (EHL), he had 664 points, including 201 goals, according to his obituary.

He was inducted into the Springfield Hockey Hall of Fame in 2000.

He remained in the Springfield area after retiring from hockey, working for distribution companies in Western Massachusetts.

From the Utica Daily Press October 23, 1958 p 15-A:
At the moment the New Haven lineup is a veteran group of holdovers with several key exceptions. Key men in the changeover from last season's third-place finishers is Doug McMurdy long-time Springfield Indian's utility player, who has regained his amateur status and will be in a defense post for the Blades. Together with ex-coach Don Perry and Capt. Ron Telford the trio — all former Springfield players — should give New Haven one of the strongest defense combinations in the league. Ron Rohmer, a mere "wisp" now at 185 pounds, has returned to the playing ranks to be the fourth defender ahead of EHL All-Star goalie Gaetan Dessureault.

Fine Blades, Cancel Game, Utica Daily Press February 24, 1959, p 6
New York (AP) Tom Lockhart, president of the Eastern Hockey League said yesterday the New Haven club has been fined $1000 and its Feb.19th victory over Johnstown has been cancelled. Lockhart said the penalties meted out because New Haven ineligible player in Doug McMurdy. In addition, Lockhart said Clinton has protested its 4-1 defeat by New Haven Saturday for the same reason. Lockhart said the Johnstown-New Haven game either must be replayed or that their Wednesday night contest in New Haven be counted as double. In case of a double, the winner would get four points instead of two. He said McMurdy's status was in the process of being straightened out now. After McMurdy had started the season with New Haven it was discovered that he had not been waived out of the American Hockey League, a pro circuit, and had not been reinstated as an amateur. McMurdy played for Springfield last season. Lockhart. said rules provide for a fine of $1000 if a team uses an ineligible player.

Doug McMurdy at Hockeydb.com:
http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=11167