The EHL Syracuse Blazers Historical 1972-73 Season

Follow the 1972-73 Syracuse Blazers through their historic 1972-73 Eastern Hockey League season week by week 50 years later. The Blazers' 63-9-4 record is one of the finest in hockey history, not to mention they won the last EHL Championship ever. So, this is also a history of the final EHL season, as seen through the lens of the Syracuse Blazers. As you will note "week"s are relative. (I originally started with "Days", but that quickly became unsustainable.)

P.S. If you know where the Blazers put the Walker Trophy (that's the one in the middle), please let us know so we can get it to the Hockey Hall of Fame where it belongs. Thanks!

Week 1: Summer 1972. April 25 - September 30, 1972 https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10159796094556590/

Week 2: Preseason. Oct 2-11, 1972 https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10159799722961590/

Week 3: October 11, 1972
Syracuse Blazers 8 at New England Blades 3 https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10159801126576590/

Week 4: October 13, 1972
Syracuse Blazers 6 at Jersey Devils 2 https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10159803086036590

Week 5: October 15, 1972 

Syracuse Blazers 9 at Clinton Comets 3 https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10159804383921590/

Week 6: October 16-23, 1972
Oct 18 Clinton Comets 0 at Syracuse Blazers 5

Oct 20 Syracuse Blazers 3 at Johnstown Jets7

Oct 22 Syracuse Blazers 3 at Suncoast Suns 2 https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10159817115341590

Week 7: October 24-31, 1972 

Oct 24 Syracuse Blazers 2 at Charlotte Checkers 3

Oct 25 Syracuse Blazers 5 at Greensboro Generals 9

Oct 26 Syracuse Blazers 6 at Roanoke Valley Rebels 2

Oct 27 Suncoast Suns 0 at Syracuse Blazers 5

Oct 29 Syracuse Blazers 5 at New England Blades 4 https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10159868123816590/

Week 8: November 1-7, 1972

Nov 1 Syracuse Blazers 2 at New England Blades 1

Nov 3 Johnstown Jets 3 at Syracuse Blazers 7

Nov 4 Syracuse Blazers 2 at Johnstown Jets 4 https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10159884087196590/

Week 9: November 7-13, 1972 

Nov 10 Clinton Comets 3 at Syracuse 6

Nov 11 Syracuse 4 at Clinton Comets 5 

Nov 12 Syracuse 9 at Rhode Island Eagles 3 https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10159892780146590/

Week 10: November 14-22, 1972
Nov 14 New England Blades 2 at Syracuse 6
Nov 15 Johnstown Jets 2 at Syracuse 3
Nov 17 Syracuse 6 at Jersey Devils 3
Nov 18 Jersey Devils 3 at Syracuse 6
Nov 21 Syracuse 6 at Cape Cod Cubs 3
https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10159919000751590/

Week 11: November 23-30, 1972 

Nov 23 Syracuse Blazers 4 at Johnstown 3 

Nov 24 Syracuse Blazers 6 at Clinton 4 (Utica) 

Nov 26 Syracuse Blazers 3 at Rhode Island 4 

Nov 29 Long Island 3 at Syracuse Blazers 7 https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10159959784496590/

Week 12: November 30 - December 6, 1972 

Nov 30 Syracuse Blazers 3 at Johnstown Jets 3 

Dec 1 Syracuse Blazers 8 at Clinton Comets 1 

Dec 3 Jersey Devils 2 at Syracuse Blazers 5 

Dec 6 Syracuse Blazers at Johnstown Jets 4 https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10159970997071590/

Week 13: December 7 - 14, 1972
Dec 7 Long Island Ducks 1 at Syracuse Blazers 8
Dec 9 Jersey Devils 4 at Syracuse Blazers 8
Dec 13 Clinton Comets 3 at Syracuse Blazers 6
https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10159986587931590/

Week 14: December 15-23, 1972
Dec 16 Rhode Island 0 at Syracuse Blazers 11
Dec 20 Johnstown 0 at Syracuse Blazers 4
Dec 22 Syracuse Blazers 7 at Cape Cod 4
Dec 23 Cape Cod 0 at Syracuse Blazers 11 https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10159993752661590/

Week 15: December 24-31, 1972 

Dec 27 Johnstown Jets 4 at Syracuse Blazers 9 

Dec 29 Syracuse Blazers 7 at Clinton Comets 2 (Utica) https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10160001660006590/

Week 16: January 1-7, 1973
Jan 3 Clinton Comets 3 at Syracuse Blazers 9
Jan 5 Greensboro Generals 0 at Syracuse Blazers 11
Jan 7 Clinton Comets 0 at Syracuse Blazers 7 https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10160019907826590/

Week 17: January 8-14 1973
Jan 9 Johnstown Jets 2 at Syracuse Blazers 4
Jan 11 Syracuse Blazers 5 at Clinton Comets 2
Jan 12 Cape Cod Cubs 4 at Syracuse Blazers 12
Jan 13 Syracuse Blazers 4 at Johnstown Jets 2
Jan 14 Long Island Ducks 2 at Syracuse Blazers 4 https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10160027649231590/

Week 18: January 15-21, 1973
Jan 16 Syracuse Blazers 5 Long Island Ducks 1
Jan 19 Syracuse Blazers 3 at Clinton Comets 2 (Utica)
Jan 20 Syracuse Blazers 6 at Cape Cod Cubs 3
Jan 21 Syracuse Blazers 7 at Jersey Devils 3
https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10160043053961590/

Week 19: January 22-28, 1973
Jan 24 Johnstown Jets 3 at Syracuse Blazers 3
Jan 26 Jersey Devils 0 at Syracuse Blazers 6
Jan 28 Roanoke Valley Rebels 2 at Syracuse Blazers 9 https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10160067170211590/ 

Week 20: January 29 - February 5, 1973
Jan 30 Cape Cod Cubs 3 at Syracuse Blazers 8
Jan 31 Johnstown Jets 1 at Syracuse Blazers 6
Feb 1 Syracuse Blazers 4 at Clinton Comets 6 (Utica)
Feb 2 Charlotte Checkers 2 at Syracuse Blazers 6
Feb 3 Syracuse Blazers 3 at Johnstown Jets 3
Feb 4 Rhode Island Eagles 1 at Syracuse Blazers 6 https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10160080276376590/

Week 21: February 6-12, 1973
Feb 7 Clinton Comets 0 at Syracuse Blazers 11
Feb 9 Johnstown Jets 3 at Syracuse Blazers 3
Feb 10 Jersey Devils 2 at Syracuse Blazers 6
Feb 11 Syracuse Blazers 4 at Johnstown Jets 1
https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10160096992816590/

Week 22: February 13 - February 19, 1973
Feb 14 Long Island Ducks 2 at Syracuse Blazers 9
Feb 15 Syracuse Blazers 1 at Johnstown Jets 3
Feb 17 Cape Cod Cubs 2 at Syracuse Blazers 5
https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10160106125861590/

Week 23: February 20 - February 26, 1973

Feb 21 Clinton Comets 6 at Syracuse Blazers 14 

Feb 22 Syracuse Blazers 3 at Rhode Island Eagles 2 

Feb 23 Syracuse Blazers 9 at Clinton Comets 0 (Utica) 

Feb 24 Syracuse Blazers 3 at Clinton Comets 2 

Feb 25 Syracuse Blazers 9 at Long Island Ducks 3 https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10160114416846590/

Week 24: February 27 - March 4, 1973 

Feb 28 Johnstown Jets 0 at Syracuse Blazers 7 

Mar 1 Clinton Comets 4 at Syracuse Blazers 9 

Mar 3 Syracuse Blazers 5 at Johnstown Jets 3 

Mar 4 Johnstown Jets 1 at Syracuse Blazers 4 

END REGULAR SEASON 

Syracuse Blazers 63-9-4

https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10160121906166590/

Week 25: March 5 - 17, 1973
PLAYOFFS ROUND 1
Mar 7 Rhode Island Eagles 1 at Syracuse Blazers 6
Mar 10 Rhode Island Eagles 0 at Syracuse Blazers 1 FORFEIT
Mar 16 Syracuse Blazers 5 at Rhode Island Eagles 3
Mar 17 Syracuse Blazers 4 at Rhode Island Eagles 1
(Syracuse wins series 4-0)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10160149340986590/

Week 26: March 18 - 28, 1973
PLAYOFFS ROUND 2
Mar 21 Cape Cod Cubs 1 at Syracuse Blazers 2
Mar 23 Cape Cod Cubs 1 at Syracuse Blazers 11
Mar 24 Syracuse Blazers 4 at Cape Cod Cubs 3
Mar 27 Syracuse Blazers 3 Cape Cod Cubs 1
(Syracuse wins series 4-0)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10160176583111590/

Week 27: March 30-April 14, 1973
1973 EHL PLAYOFF FINALS
Apr 1 Roanoke Valley 5 at Syracuse Blazers 4
Apr 4 Roanoke Valley 1 at Syracuse Blazers 17
Apr 5 Syracuse Blazers 7 at Roanoke Valley 4
Apr 8 Syracuse Blazers 4 at Roanoke Valley 6
Apr 10 Roanoke Valley 1 at Syracuse Blazers 15
Apr 12 Syracuse Blazers 4 at Roanoke Valley 1
(Syracuse wins Series 4-2, EHL Championship & Walker Trophy)
Part 1 - Syracuse Articles: https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10160197806196590/
Part 2 - Roanoke Articles:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/posts/10160197821771590/

Jersey Devils 16 Syracuse Blazers 15 - Highest Scoring EHL Game Ever

On Saturday Night February 24, 1968 at Cherry Hill Arena, the Jersey Devils and Syracuse Blazers combined for an EHL record 31 goals as the Devils beat the Blazers 16-15. Below is more-or-less the Holy Grail of EHL boxscores.

It's possible that 31 goals is a professional hockey record. (Yes, the EHL was technically "amateur", but the players were paid and it was part of the NHL farm system.) I haven't found any larger score in any professional leagues, but minor leagues come and go and records are lost or hard to find. I also believe Tim McCormick's record 12 point night still stands across hockey. It's also possible that Reg Meserve's 4 minor penalties in the third period would at least tie a Devils' team record.

One of the problems of pasting together EHL history is that often hometown newspapers didn't publish on Sunday back then. The Camden Courier-Post, the Jersey Devils home paper was no exception. Since there was usually a Sunday game as well, Saturday's game many times scarcely got a mention and rarely a box score or picture in the Monday paper. In the case of the February 26, 1968 Camden Courier-Post it was also inaccurate as according to the box score, Gordie Stratton had 5 goals and only 1 assist, instead of the 5 goals and 5 asists the article states. Stratton's inaccurate total would have beaten the previous EHL record of 9 points in a game, set by Bill Purcell of the Baltimore Clippers in 1948. Note also that the Devils got shut out by New Haven loaner goalie Roger Wilson 6-0 the next night in spite of 43 shots on goal. Syracuse lost to the Johnstown Jets 11-4 on Sunday.

This game only tied a goal scoring record for Jersey. The Devils also scored 16 goals in a 16-7 victory over Jacksonville on January 19, 1965. The 23 combined goals is the largest previous EHL score I'm aware of.

Here's the scoring breakdown for the 16-15 game...

JERSEY DEVILS	G	A	Pts	PIM
Fred Bassi	3	4	7	0
Gordie Stratton	5	1	6	0
Lorne O'Donnell	2	4	6	0
Reg Meserve	1	5	6	10
Billy Christodal	2	3	5	0
Bobby Boucher	1	2	3	0
Wayne Kitchen	1	2	3	0
Don Rozich	1	1	2	0
Ray Crew	0	2	2	2
Ted Szydlowski	0	2	2	4
Andre Daoust	0	1	1	0
Bob Peters	0	1	1	4
Ron MacPherson	0	0	0	7

SYRACUSE BLAZERS	G	A	Pts	PIM
Tim McCormick	5	7	12	2
Ray Adduono	2	5	7	0
Joe Marich	4	2	6	0
John Chapman	2	2	4	15
Ed Skyhar	1	3	4	0
Wayne Caufield	1	2	3	0
Chris Finnerty	0	1	1	0
Bill Lastic	0	1	1	10

The one thing I've gained from trying to write about this amazing game is the need for centralized minor league hockey records. I personally need to create a Team and League Records page at http://TheEHL.com . This also shows that historical record keeping is not static, but ever changing during a league's run. It's just as important to know what the records are for, in this case, February 23, 1968 as they are for after the league has ended.


Discuss the game further with Syracuse forward (and former Devil) Wayne Caufield and other EHL players and fans at the Eastern Hockey League Facebook Group.

EHL Roadtrip 2010 - Day 1 (Part 4) - Syracuse War Memorial Arena

It's almost exactly a year since I last blogged my 2010 EHL Roadtrip. To catch up...
http://theehl.blogspot.com/2010/11/ehl-roadtrip-2010-day-1-troy-ny.html
http://theehl.blogspot.com/2010/11/ehl-roadtrip-2010-day-1-part-2-utica.html
http://theehl.blogspot.com/2010/11/ehl-roadtrip-2010-day-1-part-3-clinton.html
and on to Syracuse...

By the time I got to Syracuse I had decided to postpone the Syracuse State Fairground Coliseum part of the trip until morning. Better to conserve and recharge the camera battery.

Of the 8 restaurants that Google Maps had listed about a block beyond the arena, I had already decided on "Komachi". I made sure to get to the arena plenty early to take pictures and have a nice Japanese dinner.

Top Photo: Front Entrance to the War Memorial. Just above the marquis you can see "Onandaga County War Memorial" in aluminum.


I used the Arena's directions, and exited off of West Street off of I-690. From there, the signs are pretty good to get you to the arena. Especially, if like me, you've somewhat memorized the streets. I parked at a lot that was catty-corner from the main entrance of the War Memorial for $7.

The noticeable external feature on the limestone and aluminum building is the use of words in a "severe blocky font", as the National Register of Historic Places calls it, around the outside of the building.

The main entrance proclaims "SPORTS MUSIC ARTS SCIENCE" in stone above the marquis which has "ONONDAGA COUNTY WAR MEMORIAL" in aluminum. Along the bottom of the arena, are the names of World War I and WWII battles, served by county residents. Unlike a lot of venues that are memorial in name, this building is truly a War Memorial.

I strolled down Harrison Street past the arena, and couldn't find Komachi (turns out it had moved 4 blocks away.) In fact only 3 of the 8 restaurants listed on Google Maps were actually there. One of them was closed. Another was clearly out of business. The Ale and Angus Pub was the only one open, and it was packed. I decided I'd just wait, take photos, and chance it on arena food.

I had picked this weekend to make the trip, partially because it was pre-snow season, but also because of the opponents. Tonight was the Hershey Bears, once of the old EAHL, and top farm-team of the Washington Capitals. I was a Caps season ticket holder during the Langway years in the 1980s. The following night, Franklin Pierce University (which is about an hour from my home in New Hampshire) was playing Utica College in the Clinton Comets' second home, Utica Memorial Auditorium.

The light was fading, and it was getting cold. It was still a half hour before the gates opened, but I went inside and bought my ticket. I was just going to get a cheap seat in the corner, figuring I'd be strolling a lot. I was here for the arena and the history more than the game. However, the woman behind the window pointed to a really nice seat about 10 rows back on the blue line, which is one of the places I like to sit, so I ponied up for the $25 ticket.

Hardly anyone was there yet, so I began looking around.

One of the first things I saw was this sign prohibiting cameras.

EHLer Lorne O'Donnell - Clinton Comets, Jersey Devils, Syracuse Blazers

Lorne O'Donnell played center and left wing in the Eastern Hockey League from 1963 to 1968. Lorne was traded from the Montreal Canadiens organization to Springfield of the AHL in September 1963. O'Donnell played 13 games as a rookie for the EHL champion Clinton Comets in 1963-64. He was in the Springfield training camp in 1964, but returned to Clinton, where he was the Comet's second leading scorer, until he broke his leg in November. Returning in mid-January, Lorne still ended up with 70 points in 47 games for the Comets, his most productive season. Lorne played one more season, 1965-66, with the Comets.
O'Donnell was the player to be named later in the biggest trade in EHL history, which sent Pat Kelly, Ed Babiuk, and Borden Smith to Clinton with Norm Defelice, Hec Lalande, Benny Woit and Orval Tessier (who retired and was replaced by Ted Szydlowski) being sent to Jersey. The Devils with O'Donnell advanced to the 1966-67 EHL Finals, before losing to champion Nashville. That summer O'Donnell was drafted by the expansion Syracuse Blazers and became their first captain, before being traded back to Jersey on November 21st with Bill Horton for Benny Greco and Carlo Longarini. O'Donnell initially returned home after the trade, but finished the season with Jersey. He spent the remainder of his career in the OHA Senior League, mostly with Belleville.

From the Peterbough (ON) Examiner:
http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3204292

Ex-Pete Lorne O'Donnell dies

By Mike DAVIES, Peterborough Examiner, July 8, 2011

Lorne O'Donnell, who made Peterborough his home after coming here to play for the Petes, passed away Wednesday.

Mr. O'Donnell, whose only son Steve once worked for the Petes as their first marketing director, suffered a heart attack.

Petes' executive Pat Casey said Mr. O'Donnell's death was a shock as he was expecting him to be in his foursome Thursday at the inaugural Petes' Alumni Association golf tournament at Baxter Creek Golf Club.

Mr. O'Donnell, 68, grew up in Kingston and came to Peterborough to join the Petes in 1960 playing 106 games over three seasons. A forward, he went on to play pro in the EHL with Clinton, New Jersey and Syracuse. He also played senior hockey in Belleville, Napanee and Lindsay.

He was a catcher in the Peterborough Men's Softball Association city league and played oldtimer's hockey. He retired eight years ago after more than 30 years at Quaker Oats.

"He came back after playing hockey and worked at Quaker Oats for years," said Casey. "We played oldtimer's hockey with the oldtimer's Petes and went on golf trips. He played golf every Monday and Friday with about 24 guys.

"He was a real quiet kind of guy," Casey said, "but real solid. He was a reliable player and person. He always gave his best and was true to his word."

George Godson was Mr. O'Donnell's teammate with the Petes and a golfing buddy.

"He was a good all around athlete," said Godson. "He was a great guy. He was a guy's guy. He enjoyed playing golf and hockey. We played oldtimer's together and we have a group of guys, about 28 of us, who play golf together and he was one of the core guys. It's a sad thing."

From the Peterborough Pete's (OHA) website: http://www.gopetesgo.com/article/petes-alumni-lorne-o-donnell-passes-away

It is with deepest regret that the Peterborough Petes announce the passing of Alumni member Lorne O'Donnell (1960-63). Mr O'Donnell passed away suddenly this week following a work out in Peterborough. Lorne O'Donnell would have turned 69 next month. Lorne O'Donnell was originally from Kingston Ontario before joining the Petes for the 1960-61 season. He played three seasons with the Petes recording 19 goals and 44 points in 129 games. Following his playing career with the Petes Lorne played five seasons of professional hockey in the EHL (Now known as the ECHL) where he recorded 83 goals and 221 points in 258 games. Lorne's son Steve worked as the teams Marketing Manager in the early 1990's.

Obituary: http://yourlifemoments.ca/sitepages/obituary.asp?oid=514874#

Lorne O'Donnells stats at hockeydb: http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=11606

EHL Syracuse Blazers' Brian Elwell to Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame

From this morning's Syracuse Post-Herald, The Eastern Hockey League Syracuse Blazers' Brian Elwell will be inducted into the Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame. He is the first Blazer to be so honoured. (Photo left is an ad from a 1972-73 Syracuse Blazers Program. Photo Below is Brian on a Program Cover from Groundhog Day 1792 - yes 1792 - read it.)

Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame rewards nine for their work

Published: Friday, June 17, 2011, 5:10 PM Updated: Friday, June 17, 2011, 11:26 PM

By Lindsay Kramer/The Syracuse Post-Standard The Post-Sta http://blog.syracuse.com/sports/2011/06/greater_syracuse_hall_of_fame.html

The stay was supposed to last 30 days.

Brian Elwell was sent down from Tulsa of the Central Hockey League to the Syracuse Blazers of the Eastern Hockey League in 1969 to rehab from a separated shoulder. Two days before Elwell, a Montreal native, was scheduled to leave the Blazers, he tore up his ankle.

Forty-two years later, Elwell still hasn’t gone anywhere. Friday, he was forever linked to the city with one of its highest sporting honors.

Elwell was announced as one of nine new entrants into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame. One bum wheel turned him to a life centered around helping his new home.

“As soon as I left Montreal, I think I really liked the size of this city more than a big city,” said Elwell, 68. “I knew I wanted to stay here after I spent a couple of summers here.”

Elwell decided he wasn’t going to make the NHL, stuck around three more years to play for the Blazers and then ran the team as general manager. He made the city his full-time home, and two decades later he was the driving force behind bringing the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL to town.

He has also been a member of the Syracuse Sports Committee and currently oversees facility operations at Alliance Bank Stadium.

“I like people,” Elwell said of his efforts. “Somehow, I ended up being captain of the teams I played for. I enjoyed the leadership role.”

This year’s class, the 25th in the history of the hall, brings its total membership to 190. The inductees will be officially installed at a dinner at Drumlins on Oct. 17.

Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame:
http://www.syracusehalloffame.com/pages/frame.html

The Atlantic City Boardwalk Trophy:
Brian was the one who re-discovered the EHL's Atlantic City Boardwalk Trophy at his Tavern. Read all about it, along with a lot of other good EHL history at...
http://www.chuckthewriter.com/ehl.pdf

Brian Elwell's Stats at: http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=11478

The EHL: http://TheEHL.com/

Talk about Brian Elwell and the Eastern Hockey League at: http://theehl.yuku.com/forums/66

Syracuse Blazers - Charlotte Checkers 1971-72 Game 1 Brawl Video

Here's a YouTube video, courtesy of Kurt Golembrosky, son of Checkers' Frank Golembrosky. It's from Game 1 of the 1971-72 Finals,. The Syracuse Blazers at Charlotte Checkers. There's also a little hockey in there. Thanks, Kurt!

I just realized I have a program from this game. It notes that Charlotte hadn't played in two weeks since beating Greensboro in 5 games in the semi-finals. The Checkers had beaten the Suncoast Suns in 6 games in the opening round. Syracuse hadn't played in a week since beating Johnstown in the semis. Both arenas had scheduling issues. The Checkers had to travel to Salem, VA and Concord, NC to practice. Ironically, it was the Billy Graham Crusade that delayed the brawl below in the Charlotte Coliseum.

Charlotte won the previous year's title, beating the New Haven Blades 4 games to 1. The program says that the three keys to the previous years' team and this years' team were Allie Sutherland, Frank Golembrosky & Mike Rouleau. Syracuse was led by Ray Adduono and Paul Larose.

On This Day in EHL History - July 16

* July 16, 1958 - CHARLOTTE, N. C. -Officials of the Eastern and International Hockey Leagues meet today on whether they can patch the money-troubled circuits together for the coming season. The six-club Eastern loop faces the loss of its Washington club, whose abandoned franchise, might be picked up by Uline Arena in Washington. The club's fate could decide whether three of two International teams, if any, could be taken on. The International is down to three clubs—Louisville, Ky,, Toledo, Ohio, and Fort Wayne, Ind. The Eastern includes Charlotte, Johnstown, Pa., Clinton, N.Y., New Haven, Conn., and Philadelphia.

* July 16, 1960 - The Philadelphia Ramblers of the Eastern Hockey League have signed Doug Adam (pictured left), 36, to a one year contract as coach and director of player personnel.

*July 16, 1971 - Although it has not yet been officially announced, the Syracuse Blazers of the Eastern Hockey League will be without the services of coach Phil Watson for the 1971-72 season. Bill Charles, general manager and president of the Blazers, refused to confirm the report that Watson is out, but he did say that he would be meeting with the contriversial coach "in the next day or so." Watson, a former NHL player and coach, took over the reins of the team last season after a front office shakeup and led them to a second place finish in the EHL's Northern Division. They were eliminated by Johnstown in the league playoffs. The 57-year-old veteran of 14 seasons as an NHL player and another eight as a head coach at New York and Boston, signed a one-year contract with the Blazers last fall and it is not expected that another will be proffered when it runs out Sept. 1.

Barry Buchanan, Rangers #19 pick in 1968, Clinton Comets defenseman

From the Rangers Ramblings blog, a look back at #19 draft selections by the Blueshirts, including Barry Buchanan (listed as "Bruce") who played defense for the 1968-69 Clinton Comets.

http://www.rangerramblings.com/2009/06/23/rangers-2009-1st-round-draft-preview/

Before we look ahead at potential Rangers’ targets in the first round, let’s take a look at the team’s history with the 19th overall selection.

The Rangers have made the 19th overall selection three times in their history.

In 1968, the Blueshirts drafted defenseman Bruce Buchanan with the 19th overall pick – which was the final selection of the second round that year. Buchanan never played a game in the NHL and his post-Junior career highlight was being a part of the 1968-69 Clinton Comets who won the EHL’s regular season title. The 5-9/160 blueliner was the Rangers lone pick among 24 selections.

Back in 1968, the only players eligible for the Draft were those 17 and older who were not being sponsored by an NHL team. The next year, the NHL changed the eligibility requirements and opened the Draft up to any amateur player under the age of 20.

Other Barry Buchanan listings on the web:
http://hockeydraftcentral.com/1968/68019.html
http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=10822

Hockeydb lists Barry as having played 34 games with New Haven in the 1967-68 season, but newspaper accounts show him playing for Weyburn in the WHL throughout that season. So far, I haven't found newspaper accounts of a Buchanan playing for the Blades in 1967-68.

Newspaper accounts also show a defenseman Bob Buchanan who started the 67-68 season with the Jersey Devils and was picked up on waivers by the Syracuse Blazers on December 12, 1967. He is not listed in hockeydb.com for that season.

Barry was invited back to the Comets for the 1969-70 season, but signed with the Iowa Stars, who were the top farm club of the Minnesota North Stars.

A Few 2008 EHL News Links...Clinton Comets, Syracuse Blazers, Greensboro Generals

Here's a few 2008 EHL news links that I'm removing from http://TheEHL.com front page, but wanted to save.

Thursday, October 2, 2008
Skaters Flock to Clinton By Marques Phillips Utica Observer-Dispatch
CLINTON - For more than a half a century, the ice at Clinton Arena has been a blank canvas for figure skating artists to use their pallet of spins, jumps and dance moves to sculpt a skating identity...more

Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Greensboro Booster Club is having a meeting Wednesday night, Sept.17th at Shoney's on Regional Road, Eat: 6:00, Meet: 7:00PM. Head Coach Mark Richards and Assistant Coach Sean Cowan for the Cyclones will be there. Everyone is invited to attend.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008 Syracuse.com
War Memorial Gets an Update Onondaga County is on the hook for repairs it promised the Crunch
By John Mariani, Staff writer.

July 22, 2008
Clinton Comets to appear at fundraiser Utica Observer-Dispatch
CLINTON — The Clinton Comets will be together again. Or at least a few of them will be next Wednesday at one of two gatherings to raise funds for the Reschetnikow Benefit Fund. “An Evening with the Clinton Comets” will be held from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. July 30 at VFW Post 9591 on Franklin Avenue, with coach Pat Kelly, captain Jack Kane and several other members of the very successful and wildly popular Eastern Hockey League team of the 1950s and 1960s scheduled to attend... more

36 Years Ago Today - The EHL Dissolves into the NAHL and SHL

On April 12, 1973 the Syracuse Blazers won the EHL championship. As Ray Adduono skated around the rink with the Walker Trophy, it broke into three pieces. This was symbolic of what was about to happen to the EHL, splitting into three pieces (the NAHL, the SHL and the others) on May 1, 1973 at the last ever league meeting. Here's the AP Wire version of the story...

NEW YORK (AP) - The Eastern Hockey League, at its annual meeting in New York Tuesday, announced the formal dissolution of the EHL and the creation of two seperate leagues, one based in the north and the other operating out of the south, to fill the void.
The northern league, titled the North American Hockey League, plans to begin play this fall with a minimum of six teams. Charter members include the Cape Cod Cubs, Mohawk Valley Comets, Johnstown, Pa. Jets and the Binghamton, N.Y. Dusters. At least two additional NAHL entries are expected to be named shortly, with franchises from Rhode Island and Lewiston, Me. having the inside track. A Long Island entry is also a possibility. Cape Cod, Mohawk Valley and Johnstown were members of the now disbanded EHL. The NAHL, which is scheduled to begin a 74-game regular season Oct. 12, chose Jack Newkirk of Cape Cod as temporary chairman and Ed Stanley of Mohawk Valley as treasurer.
Earlier Tuesday, the Southern Hockey League was formed, with franchises granted to Charlotte, N.C., Greensboro, N.C., Winston-Salem, N.C., Roanoke Valley, Va. and St. Petersburg, Fla.

Binghamton and Lewiston had previously applied for EHL membership, and both were expected to be in the league for 1973-74.

It's interesting that Ed Stanley, who was the Clinton Arena manager who got Clinton into the league in 1954 became treasurer of the new NAHL. In 1973, Clinton had just been sold to a group of locals in a "Save the Comets" kind of deal. The new ownership, splitting the team between Clinton and Utica, renamed the team the Mohawk Valley Comets. Stanley was not one of the owners.

Of the teams not mentioned...
Syracuse Blazers owner Bill Charles had been angling all season to get into the AHL. They ended up back in the NAHL.
The Jersey Devils are a blog in themselves of things going wrong for them at that time. They were hoping for a northern division in the SHL or a southern division in the NAHL, neither of which happened. They were given two weeks to make a decision which league to join. In spite of the Philadelphia Blazers moving to Vancouver within that timeframe, the Devils never made it to the next season.
The Long Island Ducks, also affected by a local WHA franchise, had tried to fold at the end of the 1973 regular season - and even told the Devils to take their spot in the playoffs, before the league intervened and made the Ducks play. On May 24, 1973, the Long Island Cougars, under different ownership and as a farm team of the WHA Chicago Cougars, were accepted into the NAHL.
Rhode Island never made it to the gate.

In the south, Baltimore, Alabama were listed as possibilities for other first year franchises, but neither developed. The Macon Whoopees were added as the sixth SHL franchise that summer.