2016-17 EHL Southern Division Arena Hockey Tour

Knoxville Civic Coliseum
EHL - Knoxville Knights 1961-68
SPHL- Knoxville Ice Bears since 2002-03

For the first time in many years there will be minor pro hockey teams in 4 arenas that were once home to Eastern Hockey League (EHL) Southern Division teams - a league that has been out of business for 44 years. And this is just the Southern Division.

Prior to last season only the Knoxville Ice Bears were playing in an EHL Southern Division arena, and the Knoxville Civic Coliseum has been at risk of being replaced for years. In 2015-16 the dormant Augusta Riverhawks franchise was moved to Macon, and the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte was renovated in order to move the Checkers back from the less-fan-friendly Time-Warner Arena. This season the SPHL placed the expansion Rail Yard Dawgs in Roanoke.

Charlotte Coliseum (Bojangles Coliseum)
EHL - Charlotte Clippers / Checkers 1956-73
AHL - Charlotte Checkers since 2015-16

I put the schedules of the four teams together. What I found was, there is no 4-game stretch where you can see games in all four arenas. In fact there is only one 5-game stretch that works. So, I took Macon out of the equation since they only had a handful of EHL home games. Here are those 3-game weekends with Charlotte, Roanoke and Knoxville:

TOUR 1
Saturday December 16 Mississippi at Knoxville 7:35
Saturday December 17 Fayetteville at Roanoke 7:05
Sunday December 18 Grand Rapids at Charlotte 1:00

TOUR 2
Thursday January 12 Mississippi at Roanoke 7:05
Friday January 13 Columbus at Knoxville 7:30 OR Mississippi at Roanoke 7:05
Saturday January 14 Cleveland at Charlotte 6:00 
Sunday January 15 Huntsville at Knoxville 3:00

TOUR 3
Friday February 10 Macon at Knoxville 7:30 OR Stockton at Charlotte 7:15
Saturday February 11 Stockton at Charlotte 6 PM OR Evansville at Knoxville 7:30
Sunday February 12 Macon at Roanoke 3:05
 

 Roanoke Civic Center (Berglund Center)
EHL - Roanoke Valley Rebels 1971-73
SPHL - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs starting 2016-17

TOUR 4
Friday March 24 Peoria at Knoxville 7:30 OR Columbus at Roanoke 7:05
Saturday March 25 Columbus at Roanoke 7:05 OR Peoria at Knoxville 7:30
Sunday March 26 Chicago at Charlotte 1:00

TOUR 5
Through some fluke of improbability theory and minor league arena scheduling, there is no weekend where you can see the three SPHL teams at home. However, if you substitute Virginia Tech hockey for Roanoke Rail Yard Dogs, you can see:
Friday January 6 Evansville at Knoxville 7:30
Saturday January 7 Pensacola at Macon 7:35
Sunday January 8 Ohio at Virginia Tech 2 PM
(For those like me who have seen or may get to see Charlotte separately - this may be the best option.)

Macon Coliseum (Macon Centreplex)
EHL - Jacksonville Rockets 1968-69 
(6 home games including first pro hockey game in Georgia)
SPHL - Macon Mayhem since 2015-2016

Which brings us to: 
THE GRAND TOUR:
Tuesday April 4 Macon at Roanoke 7:05 (last home game)
Wednesday April 5 San Antonio at Charlotte 7 PM
Thursday April 6* Alan Alda at Greensboro Coliseum, NHL Islanders at Carolina and Minor League Baseball opening day
Friday April 7 Roanoke at Macon 7:35 OR Pensacola at Knoxville 7:30
Saturday April 8 Roanoke at Macon 7:35 OR Pensacola at Knoxville 7:30 (last home games)
+(Sunday April 9 Texas at Charlotte 1 PM - last home game)

*On April 6th there may be non-hockey events playing at one of the remaining EHL Southern Division:
Greensboro Coliseum (April 6 - Alan Alda)
Nashville Municipal Auditorium
Salem Civic Center
Mississippi Coliseum (Nashville Dixie Flyers - 1 home game - first pro hockey game in MS)
Uline Arena (Washington Lions/Presidents)
West Palm Beach Auditorium - Jehovah's Witness' Christian Convention Center (Florida Rockets 1966-68)

We are incredibly fortunate that these places of EHL history are still with us. Minor league hockey teams are fleeting and this may be the last best chance to see these historic places. Lets go see some games while we still have the chance!

If you'd like to discuss EHL Hockey please join us on the Eastern Hockey League Facebook Group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/129103506589/ We have many players, officials and fans of the old league. We invite you to come join us!

Canada Games Torch named for the first Greensboro Generals coach, Roly McLenahan

http://mclenahan.blogspot.com/

Florence Morning News 09-15-59, p. 10
McLenahan Leads Greensboro Team In Hockey League
GREENSBORO. N.C. (AP) -
Veteran Coach Roly McLenahan will guide the Greensboro Generals in their first season of Eastern
Hockey League play. Ken Wilson, general manager of the new club, announced the 37 year-old Canadian's appointment Thursday. McLenahan a native of St. Catherines, Ontario led the Cincinatti Mohawks of the IHL to four straight championships brfore taking over at Rochester of the AHL in 1957-58. In his playing days, McLenahan defenced for the National Hockey League 's Detroit Red Wings and the AHL's Cleveland, Hershey, Buffalo and Indianapolis cubs.

Bobby Taylor CFL & EHL

Defenseman Bobby Taylor (not to be confused with Jersey Devils goaltender Bobby Taylor) had a 14 year career in the CFL, while playing for EHL New Haven Blades, Jersey Devils, Johnstown Jets, Long Island Ducks and Salem Rebels during that time. The web is strangely silent about his playing both sports. I do have an article that says that "policeman" Bobby Taylor signed with the Jersey Devils in January 19, 1967, after finishing his Toronto Argonauts season, and that he had played with Victoria and Seattle in the WHL previously. That would appear to match him up with this Bobby Taylor at hockeydb.com. Wikipedia shows this Bobby Taylor playing with Argonauts in 1966 and 1967. His short hockey seasons, and changes of teams (makes sense, since a team might not need a defenseman suddenly in January) seem to bear out that this was the same guy. Still I'm not seeing any mention of this anywhere on the web. I might have a scoop.

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.

A Visit to Cherry Hill Arena - January 2013

Okay, okay, I know they tore down Cherry Hill Arena, aka The IceHouse, aka Delaware Valley Gardens, aka The Centrum in the 80s, and finally put in the grocery store that they had been threatening to put up through the life of the Arena. But I still paid a visit to the hallowed grounds (mostly because I haven't found a shot of the half-empty mall on the web, and I'm here to bring history alive, even if it's from today and not terribly interesting.) Today, the grocery store, in it's last life a ShopRite, is still empty after at least 4 years. But if you stand far enough back you can feel like you're in the parking lot of the Cherry Hill Arena, except there aren't any potholes. Below: Cherry Hill Arena in the 1960s, and more or less the same view in January 2013 (Click on any of the photos to enlarge)...

For those who arrived at this particular blog while searching for something totally else, the Cherry Hill Arena was famous in EHL land as being the home of the Eastern Hockey League Jersey Devils in from 1964-1973. Martin Brodeur started his career playing as an 18 year old for the 1964-65 Jersey Devils and still refuses to retire at age 67.*** For the 1960-61 season the Arena was known as the Icehouse, and was located in Delaware Township, because they hadn't finished the Mall that gave the town its name (Cherry Hill), yet. That year the EHL Jersey Larks played there at the corner of Brace and Berlin Roads. The team was also known as the Haddonfield Larks. Though you could walk to downtown Haddonfield from there, it was not in Haddonfield, unless PO Boxes count.The Larks, carrying debts from their previous season as the Washington Presidents, sold so well that the following year they moved to Tennessee to become the Knoxville Knights. The Philadelphia Ramblers played some home games at the renamed Delaware Valley Gardens, until they moved to the once again renamed Cherry Hill Arena themselves in 1964, becoming the Jersey Devils until going defunct in 1973, along with the EHL.

But enough about history, lets see what is up at the current location. The view from Berlin Road (the ShopRite is straight back in the center)...

 The view from the Brace Road entrance, and a list of shops in the mall...

 If you want to put an ice plant in the ShopRite, call Kimco Realty...

 And finally, one last look across the parking lot as we say "Good Night and Good Hockey"...

***Okay I fibbed on Martin Brodeur, but you initially bought it, right? However, his father Denis Brodeur did play goal for the EHL Charlotte Clippers, leading the team from first to worst in the 1958-59 season. http://theehl.blogspot.com/2009/03/matin-brodeurs-father-played-goal-for.html

I did see Martin Brodeur's actual first game with the New Jersey Devils, which he won 4-2 over the Bruins. We didn't really know it was Martin, instead assuming that the Devils had acquired veteran goaler Richard Brodeur. The game was especially memorable, since my Bruins fanatic friend, got to see my contention, which was that Ray Bourque, while an offensive star was also a defensive liability. Bourque gave up the puck on the Devils first two goals, and then basically assisted on a beautiful pass right up the slot on the Devils' game winning goal. I think that was the game I asked my buddy to be my best man at my wedding. So, all in all, a memorable event. But, seriously Martin, time to retire. Okay, I still resent the NHL New Jersey Devils stealing the EHL Jersey Devils' name, and not even getting that it's about the "Jersey Devil" a mostly South Jersey phenomenon, and not Satan.

Bob Gillson, Goaltender, EHL Washington Presidents & Johnstown Jets, 1958-59

Bob Gillson - Owen Sound Mercurys

Bob Gillson was the regular netminder for the Owen Sound Mercurys for the ten years of their existence in the Senior Ontario Hockey Association. (SOHA) from 1947  to 1957. As a boy, Bob had ”rickets” and it was feared he would not be able to walk. His strong determination got him beyond this problem. Bob became part of the Toronto Maple Leaf system but was 4^th or 5^th on the depth chart. The Leafs wanted to send Bob to one of their western teams for development, but he opted to jump ship in 1947 and go to Owen Sound, where he had a very successful career. He was regarded as one of the top senior hockey goaltenders in Canada. Owen Sound won the Allan Cup (senior hockey supremacy of Canada) largely due to Bob in 1951. (On a side note: Les Binkley (Baltimore and Charlotte Clippers) played in an Allan Cup playoff game for the injured Gillson. Binkley had just turned 16 and the Sarnia Sailors overwhelmed him that night, scoring 8 goals.)  Bob Gillson was voted into the Owen Sound Sports Hall of Fame and still lives there. He is one of two surviving members of that Allan Cup winning team.

‘Mr. Gillson goes to Washington’ His boss Jim Keeling owner of the Owen Sound Mercurys and the then Collingwood Mercurys told Bobby to go to Washington – they had goaltender problems and needed help to get in the playoffs. Keeling was an owner of a Ford dealership in Owen Sound, hence the Owen Sound and Collingwood Mercurys. Jim was a long time friend of Lou Pieri, owner of the Providence Reds, and for this season, also the Washington Presidents as a farm team for Providence. Gillson had also signed a “C” contract with Providence in 1948 which might still have been in force in 1958. At any rate it seems the call to Washington came through Pieri. Several players who played with the Mercurys were one time Providence property - Tom Burlington, Pat McReavy, Bill McComb and Andy McCallum. Another Providence connection - it seems Pieri sent old Providence hockey equipment up to Owen Sound. Bob still has the pants which had been in a museum in Southampton Ont. but discarded and returned to Gillson via Doug Gillespie (former teammate) a few years ago.

Bob Gillson
Toronto Staffords 1946-47

Gillson flew from Toronto to New York. He took a cab from the airport to the railroad station in New York He took the train to New Haven and met the Washington team there. He is uncertain if he played that night or the next. Bob was carrying his goal pads and equipment for the entire journey.(everything but the hockey stick.). In Washington he stayed at the Dodds Hotel. He was the only hockey player staying there. Washington did not make the playoffs. Bob says he is not sure if Georges Vezina or Terry Sawchuk could have got them in (with a good-natured laugh).

Here's 8 games I can verify he played with Washington, as per the Washington Post:
Jan 29, 1959 Washington 3 at New Haven 5
Jan 31, 1959 Washington 6 at Charlotte 5 (OT)
Feb 5, 1959 Washington 1 at Charlotte 4
Feb 7, 1959 Washington 6 at Charlotte 4
Feb 10, 1959 Washington 1 at Philadelphia 5, Gillson 31 Saves
Feb 11, 1959 Washington 1 at Clinton 3, Gillson 31 Saves
Feb 14, 1959 Charlotte 3 at Washington 6, Gillson 25 Saves
Feb 15, 1959 Charlotte 13 at Washington 2
Totals: 8 Games, 42 Goals against. 3 Wins 5 Losses.

Feb 17, 1959 Nipper O'Hearn brought in by the Presidents to replace an ailing Gillson.
Feb 21, 1959 Goaltender Harvey Bennett acquired by the Presidents from the Providence Reds.
Feb 25, 1959 The Washington Presidents will use their 6th goalie of the season tonight, Ed Giacomin.

Bob Gillson - October 2010

EHL history is not cut and dried as it may seem. The 1959-60 EHL Yearbook says that Bob Gillson played 9 games giving up 44 goals for Washington and Johnstown combined. If we subtract out the Washington stats above, then Gillson would have given up 2 goals in 1 game for Johnstown. Bob himself is "absolutely sure" that he played a game for Johnstown, replacing an injured goalie, possibly even in a playoff game. Johnstown used a slew of replacement goaltenders at the end of the season and throughout the playoffs.

However, the book Slap Shots and Snapshots, which has extensive game by game stats for the Jets does not show Gillson having played for Johnstown. I contacted Mike Piskuric who did stats for the Slap Shots and Snapshots. He verified that he found no record of Gillson playing for Johnstown. However, he does show Frazer Gleason, Jets backup goalie having played 33 minutes, and giving up 2 goals, as a replacement on Feb. 27, 1959. (The EHL Yearbook does not show Gleason having played.) Is it possible that Gillson actually played, and the statistician or newspaper sports reporter just assumed that it was Gleason who played? We have no way of knowing for sure. Which is why EHL stats, like any hockey stats that were kept on type written pages, are not as cut and dried as things are in today's computer age.

Bob Gillson Stats from 1959-60 Eastern Hockey League Yearbook:
Games: 9 (Washington-Johnstown)
Goals Against: 44
Shutouts: 0
Goals Against Average: 4.89
(In case you're wondering, 9 full games divided by 44 goals would come to 4.89, so it's probable that the GAA is not taking into account Overtime or any partial games played.)

Note: This article is written from e-mails from Charlie MacDougall hockey historian from Owen Sound, about his discussions with Bob Gillson. The photos were also sent by Charlie.

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.

Eastern Hockey League News - December 2011

Here's your Eastern Hockey League News for December 2011...

Here's a proposed "AA" hockey league with Johnstown, Greensboro & Roanoke on its "wish-list". Chuck Harrison from Johnstown, educated in hockey by EHL GM Ray Myron, is the commissioner.
http://www.nphlhockey.com/home/2011/11/24/nphl-releases-team-wish-list.html

Toot Cahoun of the 1972-73 New England Blades is coach at UMass. Check out item 4 in the Bakers Dozen below...
http://blog.masslive.com/umass-hockey/2011/12/umass_hockey_a_bakers_dozen_of_thoughts_for_the_week_1.html

Scott Osbourne created "Gold Record" a DVD on the history of hockey in Nashville, with a great section on the EHL Nashville Dixie Flyers. The second half of this interview is Scott discussion how the project came together...
http://www.section303.com/the-30330-on-location-in-st-louis-the-gold-record-doc-a-visit-with-chet-pickard-14190

Salem Rebels mention by Dave Schultz...
http://www.trentonian.com/articles/2011/12/28/sports/doc4efbcf1b36d31919284492.txt?viewmode=fullstory

Eastern Hockey League News - November 2011

Here's your Eastern Hockey League News for November 2011...

Chuck Miller, who helped find the EHL Atlantic City Boardwalk Trophy visits the Hockey Hall of Fame and sees the Trophy displayed for the first time.
http://blog.timesunion.com/chuckmiller/reunion-in-toronto/11534/
Anyone who has researched the EHL on-line at all know of Chuck's original article on the Eastern hockey League and the Atlantic City Boardwalk Trophy. http://www.chuckthewriter.com/ehl.pdf

"Between the Nitro Pipes, Ed Babiuk" by Anthony Dransfeld of the Kimberley (BC) Bulletin
Babiuk played for the Eastern Hockey League Jacksonville Rockets, Jersey Devils, Clinton Comets and Long Island Ducks.
http://www.dailybulletin.ca/article/20111104/KIMBERLEY0301/311049998/-1/KIMBERLEY03/between-the-nitro-pipes-ed-babiuk

A welding accident closed Clinton Arena on November 9.
http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Evening-events-canceled-after-welding-accident-at-Clinton-Arena-133563308.html

A Celebration of Life for Charlotte Checkers' and New Haven Blades' Fred Creighton was held on November 11. Gregg Pilling was the MC for the event.
http://www.ranchomurieta.com/stories/fred-creighton-former-nhl-coach-dies-78

Hamilton College played a home game at Clinton Arena, home to the EHL Clinton Comets on November 22, here's some video...
http://www.wktv.com/sports/Hamilton-skates-past-SUNY-Cortland-134371483.html

An article from Chilliwack, BC on Richard Kramp (pictured left) who played for the EHL Charlotte Checkers in 1972-73. http://www.bclocalnews.com/sports/134273788.html

"A True Slapshot Story", by Kirk Penton for the Winnipeg Sun. (A little past the EHL, but the EHL spirit was there.) http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Winnipeg/2011/11/17/18979481.html

A few Nashville Dixie Flyers pics borrowed from around the web.
http://www.letsgokings.com/f4/facts_fly_11_8_2011_nashville-323502.html

NEW! EHL Videos are now on-line at http://TheEHL.com

Eastern Hockey League News - October 2011

EHL articles are now being posted on the Eastern Hockey League Facebook group. There are lots of EHL players, families, officials, management, historians and diehard fans in the group, with lots of jerseys (sorry, sweaters), programs, photos, trivia and memories there. Why don't you join in the fun?
https://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_129103506589

For those of you who aren't on Facebook, I plan to post the articles here monthly. Hopefully, this will free me up to get back to actually writing blogs here. I've got at least 10-15 blogs in my head, but never seem to have time to get them typed in, scanned and formatted.

Here's the Eastern Hockey League News for October 2011...

Charlotte Checkers, New Haven Blades, Fred Creighton
http://www.ranchomurieta.com/stories/fred-creighton-former-nhl-coach-dies-78

Cherry Hill Arena
http://hockey-blog-in-canada.blogspot.com/2011/10/it-sounds-like-nice-place.html

Hamilton College to play SUNY-Cortland at Clinton Arena Tuesday November 22
http://www.hamilton.edu/news/story/mens-ice-hockey-1-1-1-1-1-1-1

EHL Official Jim Galuzzi, and Salem Rebels' Dave Schultz
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20111020/COLUMNISTS0317/310200034/John-Torres-75-NHL-official-s-love-hockey-has-yet-cool

The Art Dorrington Ice Hockey Foundation "On the Ice - Off the Streets"
http://www.atlanticcityweekly.com/news-and-views/the-other-atlantic-city/The-Art-Dorrington-Ice-Hockey-Foundation-On-the-Ice--Off-the-Streets-132194248.html

EHL Devils' Jamie Kennedy To Be Enshrined in P.E.I. Sports Hall of Fame on Friday

It's a big week for the EHL Jersey Devils. This past Saturday, former Devil, Wayne Caufield was inducted into the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame.
http://theehl.blogspot.com/2011/08/ehl-vet-wayne-caufield-to-wisconsin.html

This Friday, September 16, 2011, Devils' fan favorite, Jamie Kennedy will be enshrined in the PEI Sports Hall Of Fame.
http://theehl.blogspot.com/2011/06/ehl-jersey-devils-jamie-kennedy-to-pei.html

Here's an article from yesterday's Charlottetown (PEI) Journal-Pioneer on Kennedy...
http://www.journalpioneer.com/Sports/2011-09-12/article-2746402/Kennedy-to-be-enshrined-in-P.E.I.-Sports-Hall-of-Fame-on-Friday/1

Photo: Jamie Kennedy leads the charge for the Jersey Devils at Cherry Hill Arena.
From left to right: Jamie Kennedy, Ed Kea, Gilles Banville, Bob Brown, Larry O'Connor.

EHL Documents Now at TheEHL.com

Special thanks to Mike Piskuric, who sent along a stack of EHL documents for your enjoyment. The set includes two sets of 1971 Johnstown Jets incident reports and the 1961 EHL Constitution and Bylaws. The first set is for an incident between Gene Peacosh and Johnstown fans on January 16, 1971. The second set is for a stick swinging incident between Johnstown's Blake Ball, and Syracuse Blazers' coach Phil Watson at Syracuse on February 19, 1971. You can see them now on the "Documents" page at http://TheEHL.com .

Mike Piskuric, who tracked down the documents at the Johnstown Historical Society, is one of the forces behind the Johnstown hockey history book, "Slap Shots and Snapshots: 50 Seasons of Pro Hockey in Johnstown" Mike has been a consistent contributor to http://TheEHL.com. Here are some reviews for his book (Which I finally bought this past week from Barnes & Noble. Can't wait to have a good rainy day off to read it. Lots of good pictures and stats.)...

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Dave Molinari : Hockey & Johnstown ... it's more than 'slap shot':

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07315/832953-61.stm#ixzz1WqOV9aGG

ECHL.com - Love of the Game Leads to Hockey Book:
http://www.echl.com/love-of-game-leads-to-hockey-book-p156917

Pittsburgh Penguins - New Book Chronicles Johnstown Hockey History:
http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=495431

EHL Vet Wayne Caufield to Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame

EHL veteran Wayne Caufield will be inducted into the Wisconsin Hall of Fame on September 10, 2011.

Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame

Wayne played left wing for the Eastern Hockey League Philadelphia Ramblers, Jersey Devils, Long Island Ducks, Syracuse Blazers, Greensboro Generals and the Salem Rebels between 1963 and 1970. Caufield was player-coach of the Syracuse Blazers during their first season of 1967-68.

In November of 1972, Wayne, and wife Eileen, moved to Milwaukee, where Wayne became player-coach of the original Milwaukee Admirals. He played the Admirals first 5 seasons.

Continuing on from the Wisconsin Hall of Fame site...

During this period, Caufield became involved with Milwaukee SHAW, where his son began playing in 1973. For the next 16 years, Caufield coached both house and travel teams from mites through high school, and won the State Tournaments in 1984 for high school and 1986 for midgets. During this time, Caufield conducted annual hockey clinics for more than 25 years at State Fair Park and Wilson Park Arenas.

While continuing to play as an adult in the Men’s Metro Milwaukee Hockey Association, Caufield also coached the Milwaukee Flyers Hockey Club in 1988-89. In 1989, he became the association coach for Pius XI High school and continued through the 1992-93 season.

Caufield continues to follow and support youth hockey, and for the past 10 years, he has been an active member of the Greendale Lions Club as a board member and volunteer.

Caufield and his wife Eileen have two sons, Paul (Kelly) and Ryan (Rhiannon), and five grandchildren.

The induction ceremony will take place in Eagle River, WI on Saturday, September 10. The event includes a golf tournament, banquet and the ceremonies. It is open to the public.

Wayne and Eileen still live in Wisconsin. Here's an update from Eileen...

"Our family is still MUCH involved in ice hockey. Our son, Paul, still holds the all time high scoring records at UW-Stevens Point, is in their Hall of Fame, from back in early 90's. Our grandson, Cole Caufield, age 10, just broke the scoring record at The Brick Novice Hockey Tournament held in Edmonton, Alberta each July 4th (it's the only 10 year old tournament in the world and this past July it was in it's 22nd year). So, hockey is still a very big part of the Caufield family and going on 3 generations now..."

Wayne Caufield's stats at hockeydb.com: http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=11508

Ken Grabeldinger, 1950s Clinton Comets, Still a Rink Rat in Alabama

Here's an update on Ken Grabeldinger who played center with Clinton Comets, New Haven Blades and Johnstown Jets in the mid 1950s.

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/08/zamboni_driver_ken_grabeldinge.html

Zamboni driver Ken Grabeldinger has cool job on hot days at Pelham ice rink

Published: Thursday, August 04, 2011, 9:30 AM

By Kent Faulk -- The Birmingham (AL) News The Birmingham News

PELHAM, Alabama -- Whether it's winter or blazing hot outside, Ken Grabeldinger has one of the coolest jobs around.

The 78-year-old Shelby County man and former professional hockey player drives a Zamboni -- an ice rink resurface machine -- as part of his job as assistant supervisor of the Pelham Civic Complex's two skating rinks.
...
"What a great place to work," Grabeldinger said with a smile Wednesday.

On an average day Grabeldinger will resurface rink ice four or five times using a Zamboni. The complex has two Zambonis, one for each rink. On a busy day it may take a dozen times.

Grabeldinger has been driving ice resurfacing machines nearly 50 years and has been around ice rinks longer than that.

A native of Saskatoon, a city in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, Grabeldinger started playing hockey when he was 5 or 6 years old.

Grabeldinger said that in 1964 he took a job managing the Clinton Arena rink in Clinton, N.Y., where he had spent part of his time with one of the farm teams. He left that job in 1985.
...
A former hockey player, he says he worked on the 4th Zamboni in the USA which was built on a Jeep frame.

... Read Full Article: http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/08/zamboni_driver_ken_grabeldinge.html
Photo Gallery: http://photos.al.com/4461/gallery/zamboni_driver_has_cool_job_on_hot_days/index.html
Stats at hockeydb.com: http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=12973 (though, I'd be a little skeptical about the 24 pts and 6 PIM in 5 games in 1957-58.)

Q & A with Neil Moran, EHL Linesman and Referee

Neil Moran was an Eastern Hockey League linesman and referee for most of the league's existence. Based mostly out of NYC/Long Island area, he was a part of many memorable EHL events. For instance, he was one of the linesmen when John Brophy pushed referee Bill Pringle and was suspended for the rest of the season, before being made coach by the Ducks. Neil and his son Chris have been gracious enough to share Neil's experiences through the following Question and Answer session and their photos. I think you'll agree that this is not only a fabulous bit of history here, but very well written by Neil and Chris. Many thanks to them! On with the Q&A...

When did you start officiating?
I started officiating in 1951 doing games at the old Brooklyn Ice Palace with games starting @ 11:00pm in the old Metropolitan Amateur Hockey League with such teams as Brooklyn Torpedoes, Manhattan Arrows, Sand Point Tigers, and Jamaica Hawks. Then in 1958 I started as a linesman for the Philadelphia Ramblers @ the old Philadelphia Arena, then I started doing the NY Rovers/ LI Ducks in 1959 @ the LI Arena up until the end in 1973, the NY Rovers in the 1964-65 season and started referring in the EHL in 1965.

How was your experience working in the EHL?

The league was very tough to work in with very little respect for the officials from the players ( except from are rare few ) to the fans.

Linesman Neil Moran gets an earful from Long Island Ducks' John Muckler during a game at Long Island Arena in 1962 vs. the Philadelphia Ramblers.

What was your favorite and least favorite EHL arena to work in?
The Southern arenas were more modern, clean dressing rooms with showers, the Northern arenas most of them were barns with small dressing room facilities and if you were lucky a running shower. Also the ice conditions were better in the South than up in the North. But my favorite arena was the old Madison Sq Garden on 49th st and 8th ave. Our dressing room was the NY Rangers locker room.

How did you respond when people refer to the EHL as a “goon league”, the "Slapshot League"?
For a long time it was considered a ‘goon league” but as the NHL expanded and sending down their prospects the league started cleaning itself up as the NHL didn’t want their prospects getting hurt.

Neil Moran officiates an independent Home Oilers game at Crystal Rink in Norwalk, CT in the mid-sixties. The 1964-65 NY Rovers played several home games here that Neil officiated.

Do you have any EHL stories that you wanted to tell?
Several, but you haven’t got the space for them. But one does come to mind in the early 1960s Schaefer Beer was filming a commercial at the LI Arena with John Brophy as of all people a Referee and he used my referees sweater for the commercial.

Do you still have any contact with other EHL people?
I still keep in contact with Referee Bob Anselm but we only exchange Christmas cards every year.

How did the EHL change ( if at all ) from when you started to when the league split in 1973?
It only started to change when the NHL started to send down players to some of the teams in hopes of grooming them.

How would you characterize “ EHL Hockey “?
Rough and Tumble, to do a game with less than 15 penalties called was considered an “ off night “!!!

In my ( and others ) memory, the NHL was a slower, plodding game compared to the quickness of the EHL . From a fan’s standpoint, part of this can be explained by smaller arenas and closer vantage points in the smaller arenas. What is your take on the speed of the EHL game?
At that time maybe the speed of the game might have been faster due to the smaller arenas and less defensive play, so the turnovers were frequent and more up and down the ice action which speeded up the game some what.

A fan recently wrote “ When I show my scanned pictures to people at work, then tell them that these guys drove around the East in school buses for peanuts, playing 72 games for 4 figure salaries “ they are amazed. So the question is .. Why did you personally, and all of you in the EHL, do this?
Because of OUR DEDICATION to the game. Most of the officials really liked the game, although they had to put up with a lot of abuse from the players and fans.

Linesman Neil Moran tries to break up a brawl between the Long Island Duck and the Clinton Comets. This photo is from a 1969-70 LI Ducks program.

What kind of money did an EHL official make? What was the travel like for an EHL official?
As a linesman I started making $10.00 per game. As the years went on Linesmen were making $17 to $20.00 per game. As a Referee we started at $35.00 a game plus mileage for the car and tolls. At the end of the league we were making $50.00 a game. If you flew your ticket and motel room was picked up by the league, but there was NO MEAL MONEY.

Looking back, would you do it all again? What would you change? Was it all worth it?
Looking back I’d say “yes “ it was worth it!! The experiences that I learned from the EHL would last a lifetime, and it made me be a better official and handle certain players and situations.

Who were the best players you saw play?
John Muckler, Pete Babando ( never forgave him for scoring that 1950 Stanley Cup double overtime goal against my NY Rangers. I always told him that with a laughter), Gilles Villemure , Gene Peacosh , Dick Roberge, Jack Kane to name a few.

What memorable games were you involved in?
The famous TWO MINUTE GAME in 1965 at the LI Arena between New Haven and Long Island which when the we came on the ice Gordie Stratton of the Ducks said to me “ Neil when the puck drops just step aside because it going to be a war out here “ and as soon as Bob Anselm the Referee dropped the puck all hell broke loose.
And the game that I refereed between Johnstown and Syracuse in 1972-73 season were I called over 350 minutes in penalties which we had the Johnstown Jets players up in the stands fighting with the fans.

Who were the most gentlemanly players Who were the other good officials of your time? What owners did you like?
Pete Babando, Reggie Kent, Gordie (Blinkey) Stratton Benny Woit, Len Speck and others. The officials that were good were Ted Dailey, Doug Davies, Ron Telford, Mickey Grasso, Bob Anselm, Bill Pringle, Bob Giovatti,and the McCormick twins Pat and Mike. As for the owners Al Baron of the Ducks was very nice and I always remember John Mitchell owner of the Johnstown Jets and in his office he always said “son have a piece of candy“.

Who were the toughest and meanest players in the league?
John Brophy was a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde on and off the ice, tough and mean he could perform open heart surgery on the ice with his stick but when he was coaching very quiet and rarely gave the officials a hard time when coaching.

Pat Kelly always moaned and cried about penalties but a very good stay at home defenseman.

Don Perry, tough as nails when you went into the corner he made sure you were part of the boards but a hard hitting and clean defenseman.

Blake Ball was just plain dirty, and didn’t care who he went after.

Did you associate much with the players?
Not really. We did not associate with the players after the game. We might run into some at a bar or diner after the game but that was about it.

What was the greatest EHL game or series you worked in?
The 1965 Walker Cup Finals between the Nashville Dixie Flyers and the Long Island Ducks which I was the linesman for the games @ the LI Arena. The funny thing about that series all the games but the first one was played in LI because if I remember the Nashville Auditorium had a car show and the rest of the series was played at LI.

Do you have any humorous stories about the EHL you'd like to share?
Three come to mind, the first was a game between New Haven and Long Island @ the LI Arena in the mid 60’s there was a bench clearing brawl the night before @ New Haven and the LI Arena the next night was sold out and the fans were waiting for the Blades, and Blake Ball and the rest of the players came on the ice with paper umbrellas over their heads and the Ducks, and fans were laughing that the game was one of the quietest I ever did between those two teams.

The second was a exhibition game between New Haven and Long Island, the referee was a college referee I cant remember his name but he was the referee in the beginning of the movie Love Story with Ryan O’Neil and doing his first game in the EHL and a bench clearing brawl started and he starts blowing his whistle and I said to him “ this isn’t Yale – Harvard your doing, so stop blowing your whistle or one of these players are going to stuff it were the sun don’t shine!!”

The third was when I was at the old Madison Square Garden. During a NY Rovers game, NHL Referee Art Skov dropped by. I knew him personally he said to me that he filled in as an emergency Referee for one game and said "He’ll never do it again that it was a zoo league" but he also said if you can be an Official in the EHL than you can work any other league!

What would you like people to know and remember about Neil Moran, EHL official?
What I’d like people to remember me by just that we worked games under a lot of stress for little money. It was ours and the players dedication to the game, and it was an experience that I would never forget.


Neil Moran is retired and currently living in Brick Township, NJ. You can check in with his son Chris Moran at the Eastern Hockey League Facebook Group at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_129103506589

Johnstown's Hockey History - EHL Video

Johnstown Jets fan, Tim Barndt, is at it again.

* First he gave us the Johnstown Jets Photo Album, (go to "Collections" at http://TheEHL.com) composed of photos taken by his father, Johnstown Jets and Johnstown Tribune-Democrat photographer, Robert C. Barndt.

* Then he found this Gene Peacosh Retrospective on YouTube.

* And then, last week, while going through some old VHS tapes, Tim found the Johnstown's Hockey History documentary below and uploaded it to YouTube so we can all enjoy. This is a fabulous find. Thanks once again, Tim!

Here's Tim's commentary on the video...
It is a half-hour WJAC video about the history of hockey in Johnstown. I believe it was produced in 1990 or so. I think someone at Channel 6 sent it to my Dad back then, making the tape I have around 20 years old. There are pictures and video of the old Jets, along with the Bluebirds, Wings, and Chiefs. A couple of interesting clips are John Brophy mugging a Jet during play around 6:20 into the video and, probably the most unique footage, I think it is longtime Trainer/Equipment Manager/Backup Goalie Ken "Gunner" Garrett in a suit as some function around 8:53.
Just some fun information I thought you might be interested in. Enjoy!



YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhxRR6mdtbs

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