Mount St. Charles Arena - The Other Remaining EHL Arena

Back in February, I got to visit my second Eastern Hockey League arena ever. (The first was Cherry Hill Arena where I watched the Jersey Devils from 1969-73.) Can you guess where I was?

Here are some clues...
* It was completed in 1963.
* It's up on a hill.
* It was originally named after a brother of the Sacred Heart.
* It still has chain link fencing instead of glass.
* A national hockey dynasty still plays there.
* It is probably the least remembered of the remaining active Eastern Hockey League arenas.
* The game below played was played there. The home team in white shows Bob Buchy #16, Nick Haramis (facing) and Dave Patterson #10 on the attack against Jersey Devils goalie Jim Park.
* It's in the city of Woonsocket.
* ...(that's in Rhode Island).

Give up? The 1972-73 EHL Rhode Island Eagles played at the Mount St. Charles Arena, also known as Brother Adelard Arena. Brother Adelard was coach of the now famous Mount Saint Charles Academy in the 1930s and 1940s, creating a Rhode Island state champion team by bringing in ringers from Canada. Here's an article on Brother Adelard from Sports Illustrated from 1985, when Adelard was 100. (He lived to be 106).

Interestingly, the EHL directory in a Syracuse Blazers program I have says that the Eagles home arena was the Rhode Island Auditorium, which was the home of the AHL Providence Reds for years, until they moved to the new Providence Civic Center in 1972-73. I'm interested to find out if this was ever the plan, and if so, what changed.

I wish I had some more shots, like the cinder block corridor painted red underneath the stands, where the bathrooms were. Unfortunately, as I was taking some of the rink shots, the guy who was running practice on the ice suddenly shouted "Hey!" and came racing over to me, face aglare. As he approached, his face lightened up and almost winking he said confidentially something like "I don't really care, but the coach would have your head." It was then that I realized that this must be the famed Mount St. Charles Academy team practicing on the ice, and that "coach" was Mount St. Charles coach Bill Belisle. The assistant must have been able to tell from the expression of terror and bewilderment on my face that I wasn't actually spying on the team. I quickly put my camera away and moved out to the lobby. It turns out that "The Mount" had a playoff game that night. At 9 PM. Who plays hockey at 9 PM? Well, actually, in the early years of the Eastern Hockey League, 8:30 and 9 PM were standard times for games. In the late 1950s, teams did experiments with 7PM games to see if people would show up.

You don't know about the famed Mount St. Charles Academy hockey team? Do Garth Snow, Brian Berard, Keith Carney, Mathieu Schneider and Brian Lawton ring a bell?


The seats are lovely, eh? It's hard to tell what the max capacity of the arena was. Currently it is 800. Part of that is that one side apppears to be completely roped off and unused. There are only 4 or 5 rows of seats, depending on where you are, on each side. There is standing room at the back with tables you can stand and eat at. On my visit, I also stopped at the Woonsocket Public Library to get about the first six weeks of the 1972-73 season in the Woonsocket newspapers. I think that 1200 was about the largest crowd listed, and they seemed disappointed in the attendance. A Johnstown Jets program from that year shows Mount St. Charles Arena as holding 2000. Attendance must have improved as the season went on, as they were initially in the discussion for continuing on in the NAHL, when the EHL split at the end of that season.

On the way out, I felt a need to get an EHL arena cheeseburger. The girl behind the counter pulled a burger out of the freezer, and put it in an electric frying pan. (There was no game. I was between a mite practice and the high school team practice, so I was glad there was any food at all.) I had about ten minutes to wander the lobby while I waited. The burger was just about what you'd expect. Probably about the same as Cherry Hill Arena. My food memory of Cherry Hill Arena is of the pizza, which was the way I still like pizza: thin crust with oregano. That memory also includes finding my program after the game on the floor with a pizza stain on it.

The lobby is filled with Mt. Saint Charles awards and memorabilia. I could find no indication that the Rhode Island Eagles or the Eastern Hockey League had ever been there. Except for the pictured plaque over the arena entrance, there was no indication that Brother Adelard was there either.

The one thing I came away with was the feel of the arena, the sense that even with the whole run down nature of it, that this would be a great place to see a game. It gave me inspiration to make sure and make the trips to go see games in the other EHL arenas. I realized that even if an EHL level team isn't playing in the old arenas, a high school game or a junior game would be great to watch there.

As I drove down the hill from the arena, I came to a T where my car was so sharply downhill, that I was surprised my bumper wasn't touching the road in front of me. And you thought there were no hills in Rhode Island. They don't call it "The Mount" for nothing.

Click on any of the photos for a more detailed view.

More about Mount Saint Charles Academy and Mount Saint Charles Arena
Ice Kings, the Movie: http://icekingsthemovie.com/
Pride on The Mount by John Gillooly: http://www.amazon.com/Pride-Mount-More-Than-Game/dp/1592288340

Clinton Comets' Pat Kelly named to Greater Utica Hall of Fame

6 named to Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame

By FRAN PERRITANO

Utica Observer-Dispatch

Posted Apr 23, 2010 @ 04:11 PM

UTICA —

Six former area athletes were named Friday to the Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame.

The inductees are: Byron Abraham, Ernest Jones, Pat Kelly, J. Michael Barr, Alonzo Patterson and Rick Siriano.

The induction ceremony will take place Sunday, June 6, at the Radisson Hotel-Utica Centre. The event will begin at 4 p.m. with a cocktail hour followed by dinner and program.

Tickets are $25, and can be purchased by emailing GreaterUticaSportsHOF@gmail.com.

Greater Utica Sports HOF selects '10 class - WKTV Newschannel 2 Sports

UTICA, N.Y. - The Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame released its 2010 Class of Inductees Friday. This year’s selections are:

...Former National Hockey League coach Patrick J. Kelly. The 2008 ECHL Hall of Fame Inductee coached in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League, American Hockey League, Eastern Hockey League, International Hockey League, Quebec Hockey League, Southern Hockey League, and World Hockey League in addition to the National Hockey League. He led the famed Clinton Comets to 5 first place finishes, the Charlotte Checkers (SHL) to 2 first place finishes, and the Salem Raiders (ACHL) to a first place finish. In 1984-85, his Peoria Rivermen finished first overall in the IHL. His teams won 3 Walker Cups, 2 James Crockett Trophies, and one Turner Cup. He was SHL Coach of the Year in 1974-75 and IHL Co-Coach of the Year in 1984-85. His combined coaching record is 936-798-170.

Wheeling to Play 10 Regular Season Home Games at Johnstown Next Year

http://tribune-democrat.com/sports/x993486571/Breaking-news-Nailers-to-play-11-games-in-Johnstown-next-year

Breaking news: Nailers to play 11 games in Johnstown next year

For The Tribune-Democrat

JOHNSTOWN — The AA affiliate of the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins, and SMG Management have announced that they have teamed up to keep exciting ECHL professional hockey alive in Johnstown by playing 10 regular season games at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena throughout the 2010-2011 season.

The idea was generated upon the heels of the Johnstown Chiefs’ announcement just a few months ago that they were leaving for Greenville, S.C., for the 2010-2011 season.

Rob and Jim Brooks, owners of the Wheeling Nailers, grew up less than an hour from Johnstown. Knowing the strong history of hockey there, the two felt heartbroken to learn hockey would not longer be part of the community’s landscape.

"Hockey at the War Memorial has played a huge part in my life," Jim Brooks recalled. "As a youth and through high school I played many games in the Historic War Memorial and also attended several Chiefs games. It's a great honor to be able to keep their strong ECHL hockey tradition alive."... read more

UPDATE::ECHL Hockey in Johnstown Next Year Confirmed

Arena confirms: Wheeling Nailers to play some games in Johnstown next year

Mike Mastovich The Tribune-Democrat

JOHNSTOWN — ECHL hockey will be played in Johnstown for at least part of the league’s 23rd season.

Cambria County War Memorial Arena General Manager Tim Landis of SMG confirmed that an official announcement will be made today detailing plans to have the Wheeling Nailers play some of their home games in Johnstown.

“ECHL hockey will be in Johnstown next season,” Landis said Friday night. “It’s a done deal. We’re excited for the opportunity to provide the community of Johnstown with ECHL hockey. On behalf of the Cambria County Commissioners, we worked with the (Wheeling Nailers owners) Brooks brothers to create a win-win situation and keep the ECHL present in Johns-town.”

The Johnstown Chiefs will play their final ECHL game tonight at the War Memorial. The date against Elmira is sold out as the Chiefs conclude their 22-season run in the league.

Speculation that Wheeling, operated by James and Robert Brooks, was negotiating to play an unspecified number of games here had surfaced in the weeks after the Chiefs’ Feb. 14 announcement that the team would move to Greenville, S.C., next season because of declining attendance and financial difficulties.

Other leagues such as the fledgling Federal Hockey League and the International Hockey League made inquires about Johnstown, but the Wheeling situation gained momentum over the past week.

“We see this as an opportunity for us to prove to the ECHL that we can support ECHL hockey,” Landis said.

Wheeling Nailers Eyeing Agreement to Play Some Games in Johnstown Next Season

From this morning's Johnstown Tribune-Democrat:

"JOHNSTOWN — The Johnstown Chiefs are heading south, but ECHL hockey still might be played here on a scaled back version next season.

For more than a month, speculation has surfaced that the Wheeling Nailers might play some of their home games at Cambria County War Memorial Arena in 2010-11.

Multiple sources have confirmed that talks between the War Memorial and Nailers owners James and Robert Brooks have been ongoing and negotiations might be finalized today. The number of games that might be played in Johnstown and how the travel would affect Wheeling season-ticket holders hadn’t been made public on Thursday."...

The multiple-city concept was used in the EHL, though it's hard to say it was much of a success. Of course, none of the teams listed below were all that great to start with. The Florida Rockets played home games in Jacksonville, but also St. Petersburg and West Palm Beach. After becoming "Jacksonville" again, they played some home games in Macon, Georgia.

The Philadelphia Ramblers and Jersey Devils played home games in each other's rinks. (The Ramblers became the Devils in 1964.) Their rinks were within a half hour away, so home fans could get to the other rink.

The 1964-65 version of the New York Rovers was based in Madison Square Garden but played some home games in Norwalk, CT, Syracuse, NY (as did the Devils that year), and Philadelphia.

The Washington Lions of 1954-55 played four home games in Atlantic City, NJ.

There were plenty of other occurrences of home games in road arenas throughout EHL history.

Pa. city losing hockey team, just like 'Slap Shot'

If you haven't read it in your local paper, here's the AP article on the Johnstown Chiefs upcoming last game. Reg Kent comes in at the end. The author says that Kent was the inspiration for Paul Newman's Reg Dunlop in Slapshot. I don't know if this is true, but it makes at least as much sense as the insistance of many that John Brophy was the inspiration. But that's another blog - once I've re-rented the movie.

For now, back to proper respect to Johnstown fans.
Full AP article: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5glrneInOL-qR7eHJBNTwg8PpqqtAD9EO96TO0

Pa. city losing hockey team, just like 'Slap Shot'
By JOE MANDAK (AP) JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — Thirty-three years after the movie "Slap Shot" was released as an barely fictionalized account of minor-league hockey in Johnstown, the real-life Johnstown Chiefs are moving to Greenville, S.C.

"Slap Shot" was based on the Johnstown Jets, who folded in 1977, the same year the movie was released. But the Chiefs were born in 1988 largely because "Slap Shot" — which featured the fictional Charlestown Chiefs — kept the idea of hockey in Johnstown alive. In the movie, the team was about to fold but the coach boosted player morale by lying that the team would move down south at season's end.

Now, a poor economy, mounting debts and slight attendance are forcing Chiefs owner Neil Smith to move the team for real. Their last game in Johnstown is April 3.
...
Trouble is, hockey in rough-and-tumble Johnstown, about 60 miles east of Pittsburgh, sells better on DVD these days. Now, Smith's pipe dream is selling out the team's farewell game Saturday at the 4,001-seat arena, built in 1950.

Despite a top ticket of $14 and no seat more than 15 rows from the ice, the Chiefs have only 900 season ticket holders and appeared lucky to draw two-thirds as many fans on a recent Wednesday night. Smith needed 2,700 fans each night to break even.
...
The movie was set in the fictional Federal League. But a Federal League also exists on paper and hopes to begin play in the fall with a team in Johnstown, commissioner Don Kirnan said.
...
Reg Kent and his wife, Barbara, are game-day regulars. Kent inspired Paul Newman's Reg Dunlop character, and taught the actor how to use a hockey stick. Kent was the Jets' leading scorer for several of his nine seasons in the 1960s and 70s, when players were local matinee idols.

"I started back in '65 when the town was vibrant: The mills were working around the clock; the mines were 'round the clock," Kent said. "There's been a pretty big change here in this town.

"It's just kind of a slow death."

Reg Kent photo courtesy of Tim Barndt.

Johnstown Jets' Dave Birch in Charity Sled Hockey Game Today

http://www.ourtownonline.biz/articles/2010/03/24/neighbors/local_news/sample168.txt

The Johnstown Sitting Bulls sled hockey team will seek to raise funds with the help of some familiar faces March 27.

The team for players with disabilities will take on a squad of local educators , celebrities and media members in the Sitting Bulls' second annual fundraiser.

"We're just hoping for a fun day on the ice," said team business manager Jennifer Buchkovich. "We want to introduce sled hockey to as many people as we can."

The Sitting Bulls will be assisted by 2003 United High School graduate Josh Wirt, a member of the 2002 gold medal-winning Paralympic sled hockey team.

Other participants in the game will include educators Nathan Bevard and Randy Rearick, of United High School; Michelle Varner, of Forest Hills Elementary; Brandon Bailey, of Richland High School; Eric Adams and Bob Rhine, of Saint Andrews Elementary; and Max Shoemaker, of Chestnut Ridge Middle School. The game will also feature Johnstown Chiefs general manager Bill Bredin and assistant coach Jason Spence, former Johnstown Jets player Dave Birch, Jack Michaels and Mike Stevens of radio station 96 Key, "Totally Bubba" of Froggy 95, Dr. Kim Marley of Alleghenies Surgical and WJAC-TV meteorologist Jim Burton, who emceed last year's charity game between the Pittsburgh Mighty Penguins and the Bishop McCort varsity hockey team.

Buchkovich said last year's event was a success on and off the ice, raising "a couple thousand" dollars and spreading awareness of the sport.

The Sitting Bulls have drawn considerable attention to the sport since forming the team two years ago. The team has received grants for equipment and promotion from the Lee Foundation and the Community Foundation of the Alleghenies, and was also the subject of a segment shown on Fox Sports Pittsburgh during intermission of a Pittsburgh Penguins game this season.

"We got a lot of positive feedback from that," Buchkovich said. "We even received a couple of donations from some viewers who wanted to help our kids."

On the ice, the Sitting Bulls are making strides as well. The 13-member team, which has players ranging from a first-grader to a high school senior, claimed its first victory in competitive play in January at a tournament in Columbus, Ohio. Next month, the team will head to the National Disabled Hockey Festival in Laurel, Md., to be held April 8-11.

But first, the team is focused on the March 27 exhibition game.

"We want our spectators and the opposing team to gain an appreciation of the athletic talent it takes to play sled hockey," Buchkovich said.

The game begins at the Cambria County War Memorial at noon. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students. Children under 5 will be admitted free.

Various raffles and silent auctions will be held during the game, with available items including a replica Evgeni Malkin Pittsburgh Penguins jersey signed by the 2009-10 Penguins team.

For additional information, contact Buchkovich at (814) 487-4506.

Photo courtesy Tim Barndt.

Galen Head Redirects Johnstown Chiefs' Charity

http://tribune-democrat.com/sports/x58344275/Ex-hockey-star-declines-Chiefs-charity

March 25, 2010

Ex-hockey star declines Chiefs' charity

Mike Mastovich The Tribune-Democrat

JOHNSTOWN — Galen Head appreciated the good intentions, but the former Johnstown Jets star has asked that the kindness be directed to someone else in need.

Head has been battling multiple health problems during the past several months.

Word reached the Johnstown Chiefs office, and the ECHL team initiated an effort to raise funds for Head’s medical expenses.

The Chiefs distributed a news release on Wednesday announcing fundraisers to be held at two of the final home games before the team moves to Greenville, S.C. The Tribune-Democrat ran the release in its Thursday edition and other media outlets reported the story in an effort to boost the fundraising for one of the most popular and successful players in Johnstown hockey history.

But Head, who will turn 63 next month, preferred to remain out of the spotlight as he and his wife, Gracie, and their family move forward.

“My health is a private matter between me and my family,” Head said after calling The Tribune-Democrat on Thursday.

“I’m feeling much better. I’m battling my illnesses, and I feel good about it. I’m going to survive. I’m not going away. I’m going to be around.”

While he was moved by the good will, Head felt any money raised should go to help others.

“If they want to continue with the fund-raiser in my name that’s fine,” Head said. “There are a number of children here (in Johnstown) who are traveling back and forth to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. Maybe it could be used for them. Somebody could use it more than I could. I really do appreciate the gesture. It’s an honest gesture and a well-meaning gesture. But I feel there are other people who could benefit from such a fundraiser.”

Chiefs General Manager Bill Bredin could not be reached Thursday.

The team did release a statement that the fundraising effort will continue during Sunday’s home game and the season and historic finale on April 3.

On Sunday, fans may purchase tickets to win a Galen Head replica No. 8 jersey. On April 3, an authentic, autographed Sidney Crosby jersey will be raffled off.

“It’s important that we still make an effort to help Galen out. If he would like to give the money to another cause, we definitely support that 100 percent,” the Chiefs statement said.

“That shows the kind of person that he is. He cares about others so much that he wants to give back to others.”

Head scored 308 goals and 601 points in eight seasons with the Jets and captained the

1974-75 NAHL Lockhart Cup championship team. His No. 8 jersey was retired in 2003 and a commemorative banner hangs in the rafters at Cambria County War Memorial Arena. The Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame (2006) and Grande Prairie (Alberta) Hall of Fame each inducted Head.

He was one of the founders of the perennially tough Bishop McCort High School team and coached the Crushers to three of their five state championships.

In the mid-1990s Head became a volunteer assistant coach with the ECHL’s Chiefs and served in that capacity for a number of years.

The Galen Head Jr. Memorial Scholarship benefits area high school hockey players and is in honor of Head’s son, a former Chiefs and AHL-IHL equipment manager who died in an automobile accident in 1996.

Photo courtesy Tim Barndt.

Johnstown Chiefs to Raise Funds for Jet Great, Galen Head

http://www.johnstownchiefs.com/news/index.html?article_id=659

Chiefs To Raise Funds For Former Player
March 24, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL) Johnstown Chiefs

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - The Johnstown Chiefs announced today that they will be holding fundraisers at two of their remaining home games to benefit one of Johnstown's greatest players.
Galen Head, who scored 601 points in eight seasons with the Johnstown Jets, was recently admitted to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center. In an effort to assist with costs associated with his stay in the hospital the Chiefs will be raffling off a pair of special jerseys. On March 28 fans can purchase tickets to win a Galen Head replica Jets jersey while on April 3 an authentic, autographed Sidney Crosby jersey will be up for grabs. Raffle tickets can be purchased individually for five dollars or in groups of six for $20. All proceeds from the jersey raffles will benefit Mr. Head, and fans wishing to make cash donations will be able to at all remaining home games.

Photo courtesy Tim Barndt.

Gaye Cooley and Fred Creighton - Charlotte Hockey Hall Of Fame 2010 Class

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3977026

Charlotte Hockey Hall Of Fame 2010 Class Announced

CHARLOTTE, NC-The 2010 class of inductees for the Charlotte Hockey Hall of Fame, presented by American Airlines, was announced today and will include former goaltender Gaye Cooley, former player and coach Fred Creighton and Cliff Mehrtens, the ECHL Checkers' beat writer since the team's inception in 1993.

The three will be honored during the second intermission of Friday's game when the Checkers host the Trenton Devils at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Cooley played five seasons in Charlotte and backstopped the Checkers to three championships - one in the EHL in 1971-72 and back-to-back SHL titles in 1974-75 and 1975-76. The Kirkland Lake, Ontario native was a three-time EHL All-Star and led the league in goals against average in 1971-72 and 1974-75. Cooley recorded 16 shutouts and posted a 2.87 career GAA in 181 games as a Checker.

Prior to joining the pro ranks, Cooley played at Michigan State and led the Spartans to the 1965-66 NCAA National Championship. He ranks sixth in all-time save percentage at Michigan State and held the school record for career save percentage throughout the 60's and 70's.

Cooley joins Nick Vitucci as the only two goaltenders in the Charlotte Hockey Hall of Fame.

Creighton played four seasons in a Checkers uniform before stepping behind the bench for seven as the team's head coach. He compiled 90 points and 389 penalty minutes in 204 games as a player and a 294-178-35 (.614) record as a coach.

As Checkers head coach, the native of Port Arthur, Ontario had six consecutive seasons above.500 and helped the team to back-to-back league championships in 1970-71 and 1971-72.

Creighton went on to become head coach of the NHL's Atlanta Flames for five seasons and the Boston Bruins for a single season in 1979-80. He was twice named Minor League Hockey Coach of the Year and won four championships in 22 seasons as a head coach. Creighton was also recently inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame.

Charlotte Hockey Hall of Fame

Fred Creighton at Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame

The Story of Uline Arena from Wizards Magazine

Uline Arena in Washington was an essential part of EHL hockey in the 1950s. It was home of the Lions (1954-57) and Presidents (1957-1960). I don't think this video from 2007 even mentions hockey, but is well worth the view for anyone who saw a game there or have never heard of it before. The Arena has been a transfer station for Waste Management, but in the video you can see it as a parking lot - seats and owners box intact, sort of. The video was for Washington Wizards Magazine.



ULINE ARENA LINKS:
* DC Preservation League Uline Page
* Uline Destined for New Life - NoMaNews, December 2007
* As decades pass, a coliseum's glory days go to waste - Washington Business Journal April 16, 2001
* Uline Photo Stream on Flickrby Richard Layman
* A Short Pictorial History of Uline Arena by Patrick Weadon

Don Labelle Coaches Knoxville Tonight

One of the reasons I started this blog was to be able to present timely information on EHL events. So, if you happen to live within an hour and and a half of Knoxville, jump in your car and get down to the Civic Coliseum. At 5 PM tonight March 13th...

players from all four hockey teams that have called Knoxville home will take to the ice in a special Legends game. Legends Night is dedicated to those hockey greats that have played in Knoxville and helped the sport become a vital part of the Knoxville community. The Knoxville Knights (1961-1968), Knoxville Cherokees (1988-1997), Knoxville Speed (1999-2002) and the Knoxville Ice Bears (2002-present) will be represented in the game. The Legends game will begin at 5:00 p.m. at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum, where all four teams played. Representing the Knoxville Knights will be Don LaBelle. Originally from Montreal, Quebec, LaBelle was a defenseman for the Knights and will be coaching during the Legends game.

http://www.centericemagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=567:knoxville-hockey-legends-take-to-the-ice&catid=36:minor-league-hockey&Itemid=55

Be sure to notice where they got the Don LaBelle photo. Well, if I can't be timely, at least I'm a good source of EHL photos that people can use on the web.

P.S. ...
Legends Postgame Party at Ray’s ESG date: 03/13/2010 Join Knoxville hockey legends and the current Knoxville Ice Bears players at Ray's ESG immediately after the game on Saturday for a postgame party. http://knoxvilleicebears.com/news/events/legends_postgame_party_at_rays_esg

Gene Peacosh Retrospective on YouTube

Special thanks to Johnstown Jets fan Tim Barndt for finding this video on Gene Peacosh. It's by rdsmith1964 on YouTube.


Gene Peacosh at hockeydb.com

Galen Head - A Tale in Two Cities

HOCKEY LEGENDS: Galen Head - A tale in two cities - a hockey biography
WRITTEN AND RESEARCHED BY STAN NEUFELD AND RON NEUFELD
The Grande Prairie (AB) Daily Herald-Tribune
http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2457613#
The whole article is well worth the read. Here's the Johnstown Jets part...

Good-bye Detroit, hello Johnstown
Shortly after his tryout with the Wings, Galen made a successful bid to play for the Johnstown Jets in Pennsylvania and Johnstown quickly embraced him as one of their own. Galen reciprocated by adopting it as his home base.
There were interesting similarities in spirit between Johnstown and Grande Prairie that helped Galen adjust to his new surroundings and made him feel at home.
In Johnstown there was a War Memorial Arena and a newspaper known as the Tribune-Democrat.
Like Grande Prairie, Johnstown was a hockey town. Both had rough and tumble characteristics and the hockey fans liked a rugged game.
Galen's connection to Johnstown was cemented at a later time when he met and married Gracie, a local woman and, some time later, their two sons were born – but that's getting ahead of our story.
In Galen's adopted city a new support system quickly developed around him. It included Mike Mastovich, a distinguished sports historian and sports reporter with the Tribune-Democrat who admired Galen and followed him carefully.
In an article following his first season in Johnstown, Mastovich reported that "Head's impact as a player with the Jets was remarkable.
The 5-foot-9, 160-pound right wing broke into the organization in 1967-68 in the former Eastern Hockey League. As a rookie, Head scored 53 goals and 105 points in 70 games."
Galen's performance as a rookie with Johnstown resulted in a call from the Red Wings and he played six or seven shifts in one game against Toronto. In the same season Galen played four games with the Fort Worth Wings and made contributions during the playoffs in both Fort Worth and Johnstown.
Galen's best season in Johnstown was during the 1968–69 season when he scored 67 goals, along with 54 assists for a total of 121 points. Galen's performance that year raised eyebrows in Detroit and for the 1969-70 season, he was moved to Salt Lake City to play for the Golden Eagles.
His next step would have been to the NHL, but a serious injury ended his season early and the injury likely prevented him from returning to the NHL.
For the next six seasons Galen played with Johnstown and became one of the city's most popular players.
Along the way he had some interesting adventures with the Jets. At one point the Jet's coach resigned without providing notice and for a brief period Galen suddenly became the team's playing coach.
In 1973-74 he was officially named playing coach of the Jets and later he served as the team's captain.
In the 1976 playoffs during Galen's last season as a player, the Jets and their opponents, the Buffalo Norsemen, were involved in a legendary pre-game brawl reminiscent of scenes in the movie Slap Shot.
It was a decisive fifth game in the playoff series that ended without a shot being fired on goal.The opposition refused to return to the ice after the brawl and forfeited the game.
That night the standing room-only fans in Johnstown saw a fight but no game and after the fight, two police officers and their dogs escorted the Norsemen from the arena.
There is something prophetic about this incident: Later that year Universal Studios filmed Slap Shot in Johnstown. Galen was captain of the team that inspired the movie, games were filmed in the Memorial Arena and the infamous Hanson brothers were members of the 1976 Jets squad.
Galen's wife, Gracie, played Pam, one of the player's wives, and she states that she still receives a cheque every time the movie is played on TV.
According to Mastovich, "Head's 308 goals rank third all-time in Johnstown history and his 601 points rank fourth. He also had 293 assists, sixth all-time.
For eight seasons and 561 games, No. 8 was Johnstown's number-one ambassador on the ice.
Galen Head, the prolific scorer, team leader, gentleman, and all-around good guy, represented the Jets as a star player, team captain, and player coach."

More Galen Head articles, photos, etc...

No. 8 Joining Johnstowns Elite by Mike Mastovich, Johnstown Tribune-Democrat

Galen Head at LegendsOfHockey.net

Galen Head's Statistics at hockeydb.com

GJ Head's Oldtime Hockey Photostream at Flickr

Long Island Ducks' Buzz Deschamps a Multiple Hall-of-Famer

February continues to be Long Island Ducks month, as Buzz Deschamps was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame. http://www.pshof.ca/pdf/buzzy2010.pdf
You can visit the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame here: http://www.suffolksportshof.com/ . However, it looks as if the Suffolk Sports HOF site hasn't been updated since 2007.

In 2002, Buzz was inducted into the Midland Sports Hall of Fame as an athlete. Last year he was made the first honorary member of the MSHF committee.

"Deschamps was the mover and shaker in getting the sports hall of fame and served as the chairman for many years. He spearheaded the creation of Bunn's Kids in the 1990s, which has enabled children to participate in sports and recreation activities in Midland. Most recently, Deschamps was instrumental in starting the annual Trottier 19 Hockey School at the North Simcoe Sports and Recreation Centre, which features Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Bryan Trottier."

The Penetanguishene (ONT) Sports Hall of Fame inducted Buzz as a member in 1989. http://www.pshof.ca/inductees/1989.html This past year he was Master of Ceremonies at the inductions. Here are some shots of Buzz along with Johnny Bower and Pierre Pilote: http://www.pshof.ca/images/InductionDinner09/index.htm

On October 2, 2009, the street in front of the North Simcoe (ONT) Sports and Recreation Centre be renamed "Buzz and Bunn Deschamps Way"
http://www.midland.ca/ws_par/groups/public/@pub/@midland/documents/web_content/wspar_019770.pdf

Article on Buzz taking over as hockey coach at Stony Brook in 2008: http://www.achahockey.org/news2.php?news_id=102439〈=

Buzz's Stony Brook bio:

"Canadian born Buzz Deschamps was drafted by the New York Rangers in 1955 and spent a decade playing professional hockey across the United States and Canada. Buzz presence was well known on the ice with teams like the Sudbury Wolves, Indianapolis Chiefs, Long Island Ducks, Baltimore Clippers, St. Paul Rangers and the Providence Reds. Buzz holds the season team goal scoring record of 59 goals with the Long Island Ducks in the American Hockey League (AHL). He finished his strong professional hockey career with the Los Angeles Blades. Following this, Buzz chose retirement after he was drafted by the Los Angels Kings in 1968. Buzz was a scout for the Calgary Flames and the NY Rangers, and he coached the NCAA DIII St. John's University Ice Hockey team for 10 years. Buzz quickly gave back to the hockey community, coaching youth competitive hockey for over 20 years. Buzz currently works with Suffolk PAL Hockey, connecting professional experience with talented athletes. Buzz and his wife Trudy reside in Bay Shore."

Current Teams in EHL Arenas - Part III: The Syracuse Crunch

A quick look at AHL attendance stats a week a go would have shown the Syracuse Crunch to be just above the mid-way point in the league. This all got skewed last week when the Crunch hosted the first ever AHL outdoor game. For news on the game, I turn it over to New10Now correspondent Karen Lee: http://news10now.com/cny-news-1013-content/top_stories/496734/crunch-outdoor-game-a-huge-success ...and back to Tom at The EHL Blog.
Thanks, Karen.

The game drew 21,508 fans to the New York State Fairgrounds. More importantly, for EHL fans, it shows the kind of forward thinking marketing that should keep the Syracuse Crunch a viable franchise in the future.

Blog from the game: Lindsay Kramer, Syracuse Post-Standard: http://blog.syracuse.com/crunch/2010/02/syracuse_crunch_outdoor_game_i.html
Binghamton Coverage: http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20100220/SPORTS01/2200362
Photo by David Lassman, Syracuse Post-Standard

Knoxville Ice Bears are the Tennessee Pro Sports Team of the Year

Since it's the time of year when minor league hockey teams and leagues start playing muscial chairs, lets keep going with the theme of current teams in old EHL arenas, Part 2: The Knoxville Ice Bears of the SPHL.

The Ice Bears have just been named 2009 Professional Sports Team of the Year by the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. The award will be presented this Friday, February 19th.
http://www.prohockeynews.com/hockey/publish/sphl/Legacy_of_hockey_on_solid_ice_in_Knoxville.shtml

The Ice Bears have also been named Tennessee Sports Franchise of the Decade by Blank Newspaper. The fact that Blank is based in Knoxville and describes its own award as "prestigious" doesn't necessarily make it so. But still it's a nice acknowledgment over such teams as the NHL's Nashville Predators and the NFL's Tennessee Titans.
http://www.knoxice.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41&catid=1

Knoxville has won the SPHL championship three of the last four seasons including last season. They have been regular season champion 4 of the 5 years of the SPHL. The Ice Bears just played to a sellout crowd of 5,134 this past Saturday night.

One would suspect that the Ice Bears will be in pretty good a shape for years to come.

Johnstown to the Federal Hockey League?

One of the first questions I asked myself when I heard the Johnstown Chiefs were moving to Greenville, SC, was "What other league would be a good fit for Johnstown?" Apparently, I wasn't the only one thinking this. Andy Richards, vice-commissioner of the new Federal Hockey League, is talking to key people in Johnstown about the possibilities. Mike Mastovich of the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat relates...http://www.tribune-democrat.com/sports/local_story_046235318.html

Other teams in the FHL are Rome NY, 1000 Islands (Alexandria Bay) NY, Danbury, CT & Ottawa, ON. The league is hoping to expand by 2 more teams by March 15, possibly including Jamestown, NY. Geographically, Johnstown would be a pretty good fit, especially if Jamestown joins also. Ottawa would be the longest road trip for Johnstown at 555 miles, but stops at Rome and 1000 Islands would ease the trip.

Facebook Page: Bring a Federal Hockey League Team to Johnstown, PA

Federal Hockey League site: http://www.thefederalhockeyleague.com

Johnstown Chiefs moving to Greenville, SC

From the Johnstown Chiefs website: http://www.johnstownchiefs.com/news/index.html?article_id=628

From Mike Mastovich at the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat http://www.tribdem.com/local/local_story_045202110.html

The Johnstown Chiefs franchise will move to Greenville, S.C., after the current ECHL season concludes, pending approval by a Greenville arena authority and then the league, owner Neil Smith confirmed before Sunday’s game at Cambria County War Memorial Arena...

The Chiefs, playing in the Cambria County War Memorial Arena, are one of only three pro hockey teams that plays in a former Eastern Hockey League. The Syracuse Crunch of the AHL play in the Syracuse Onadaga War Memorial Arena. The Knoxville Ice Bears of the SPHL, play at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum.

For those of us hoping to get to a game in Johnstown while we still can, their remaining home schedule is:
Fri 02/19/2010 07:05 PM Trenton Devils
Sat 02/20/2010 07:05 PM Trenton Devils
Fri 02/26/2010 07:05 PM Toledo Walleye
Sat 02/27/2010 07:05 PM Cincinnati Cyclones
Wed 03/03/2010 07:05 PM Kalamazoo Wings
Sun 03/07/2010 02:05 PM Elmira Jackals
Fri 03/12/2010 07:05 PM Reading Royals
Sat 03/13/2010 07:05 PM Wheeling Nailers
Fri 03/26/2010 07:05 PM Toledo Walleye
Sun 03/28/2010 02:05 PM Cincinnati Cyclones
Wed 03/31/2010 07:05 PM Toledo Walleye
Sat 04/03/2010 07:05 PM Elmira Jackals

Greenville, SC applied for EHL membership for the 1956-57 season, but the league did not act upon it. That summer, the transfer of the Baltimore Clippers to Charlotte was completed (after the Clippers' home arena in Baltimore burned down) , but also the Washington Lions were transferred to Winston-Salem - a move that fell apart and the Lions stayed in Washington. The Bi-Lo Center in Greenville was built in 1998, so it would not have been the building the team would have played in.

Gene Achtymichuk Played on Some Famous NHL lines

Keeping on a New York Rovers/Long Island Ducks/Commack Arena theme today, not to mention the "inventing the slapshot" theme, here is a new blog by Joe Pelletier on his GreatestHockeyLegends.com blog about Eastern Hockey League great Gene Achtymichuk. Apparently in his NHL trials, Achtymichuk replaced injured Jean Beliveau in Montreal (on a line with slapshot inventor "Boom Boom" Geoffrion), and played on a line with Gordie Howe and Alex Delvecchio in Detroit. Achtymichuk had at least 30 goals and 80 assists in each of his first four years with the Knoxville Knights and Long Island Ducks.

I had a good laugh at myself the day last year when I realized that Achtymichuk and Don Atamanchuk were actually two different Ducks players.

Gene Achtymichuk stats at hockeydb.com: http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=11142
Don Atamanchuk's stats at hockeydb.com: http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=11549

Gene Actymichuk at LegendsOfHockey.net: http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=11807

Donald Rich - First Eastern Hockey League Astronaut

This may be my favorite Eastern Hockey League photo ever. It's of Donald Rich of the New York Rovers (who changed names to the Long Island Ducks 2 years later) from the 1959-60 EHL Yearbook.

It is surprising to see a mask on an EHL goalie in the 1950s. One has to wonder how effective clear plastic in 1959 was against a hard slapshot. Of course, the slapshot was probably pretty new back then, too.

It is also unusual to see a goalie in his mask for his team photo. I can only guess that neither the photographer nor the goaltender knew quite what to do with a masked goaltender, since this would have been one of the first masks ever. Perhaps they thought they could see his face more clearly than you can. Maybe Rich, who only played 5 EHL games, felt he needed to make a statement. Kind of like when I had a miniscule part in a play in college, and I and my cohort came out for the bows "in character", because we got more stage time there than in the actual play.

Rich's competition for starting goalie that initial 1959-60 Rovers season was some 19-year old kid named Ed Giacomen, (This is how the 1959-60 EHL Yearbook spells it. I saw it also spelled this way in a 1959-60 Rovers program on e-Bay recently, plus occasionally in the Utica/Clinton papers in that season, though the Washington Post got it right.) who we know as Ed Giacomin. Unfortunately, the 1959-60 EHL Yearbook says "(No Picture Available)" for Fast Eddie. That would have been one of my other favorite Eastern Hockey League photos.

Bring Hockey Back To Roanoke - Facebook Page

I just came across this Facebook page - Bring Hockey Back To Roanoke
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=244153260824
They also have a website at http://www.bringhockeybacktoroanoke.com/

As of today they have over 1700 fans signed up in support of bringing hockey back to Roanoke in the SPHL or ECHL. A demonstration of fan support certainly can't hurt a city's chances of landing a new team.

As someone who would love to see hockey in the old EHL arenas, I'm all for it. I'd love to be able to make the trip down I-81 to take in a Roanoke and Knoxville double header, where the Rebels and Knights used to play. Hopefully by next season that will be a possibility.

The Facebook page mentions Greensboro as a possibilty for next year - although from an EHL standpoint, their arena has been made over twice in major fashion, so there's nothing really left of the Eastern Hockey League era Greensboro Coliseum.

They also mention Charlotte as a possibilty to move up to the AHL for next year. This is confirmed by an array of articles that suggest that the Albany River Rats are being sold and moved to Charlotte to be closer to their parent Carolina Hurricanes. Here's the latest on that from the Albany Times Union: http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=892383&category=ALBANY
This would become a very interesting Eastern Hockey League story if the AHL team came to Charlotte, and the Checkers stayed in the ECHL, but moved back to the old Cricket/Independence Arena where the EHL Checkers played. Yeah, I know, two teams in Charlotte, and they'd have to put the ice plant back in the Cricket. Hey, I can dream can't I?

The photo above is a shot from a UHL Roanoke Valley Vipers game in 2005 at the Roanoke Civic Center by Greensboro hockey fan and photographer Barry Root.

Blue Birds Showed the Way for the Johnstown Jets

Here's a great story (as we've come to expect from Mike Mastovich of the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat) about the Johnstown Blue Birds, the 1941-42 EAHL team that preceded and set the groundwork for the Johnstown Jets and the Cambria County War Memorial Arena. It all started with a hockey game between Pitt and Penn State, and a horse player form Baltimore...

Chiefs to honor hockey heritage
BY MIKE MASTOVICH
The Tribune-Democrat

http://www.tribune-democrat.com/sports/local_story_312001627.html

More Honors for Art Dorrington

Here's a more detailed article on Art Dorrington, his induction into the African American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame, and his work with the Art Dorrington Ice Hockey Foundation by John McGourty at NHL.com. Well worth the read... http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=380666

According to the Jan 27, 1958 Utica Daily Press Dorrington' leg was broken when he "collided with Clinton Coach Ed Calhoun who drew a five-minute penalty tripping." Dorrington had a two-and-a-half hour operation to put a pin in his fractured femur. According to the attending doctor "he (Dorrington) is through playing hockey for this season. He should be able to play next year, however."

"Life of Art" Dorrington from Atlantic City Weekly

Here's a brief article about Art Dorrington who was the Eastern Hockey League's leading goal scorer in it's first two seasons (1954-56) after reforming from the old EAHL. The article is by Lori Hoffman of Atlantic City Weekly and was posted February 10, 2005. The photo of Dorrington is from the New Haven Tomahawks of 1951-1952 EAHL.

"Life of Art

Ice hockey pioneer Art Dorrington signed a contract with the New York Rangers in 1950. As a member of the Atlantic City Sea Gulls, he became the first black professional hockey player in the United States. Dorrington is still making news, this time for his work with local youth through the Art Dorrington Ice Hockey Foundation, which provides free hockey equipment, instruction and educational programs for low-income youth. Dorrington retired from the Atlantic City Sheriff's Department in 1994. He rounded up the financing to start his youth program in 1998 with the motto, "On the ice, off the street." This past year he was inducted into the Atlantic City Hall of Fame. As part of the Atlantic City Free Public Library's salute to African-American History Month, on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 2pm, Dorrington will talk about his career and life. We spoke to him for a preview.

Q: When you signed with the Rangers, was the expectation that you would get a chance to play in the NHL?

A: Yes. I was supposed to stay in New York and play with the New York Rovers but they were on the road. The Rangers had an agreement with the Sea Gulls so I came here and played.

Q: You faced ethnic slurs. How did you handle it?

A: It didn't bother me too much because my teammates supported me [most were fellow Canadians shocked by the racism]. I didn't have problems in Atlantic City. It was when we went to Washington and Baltimore. Once we played in Troy, Ohio and they told me I couldn't stay at the hotel. The rest of the players walked out.

Q: After you were hurt and had to retire, why did you make Atlantic City your home?

A: I met a local girl and we got married [that would be his wife of 47 years, Dorothie, a retired teacher]. I liked the place and there were a lot of opportunities."

Q: What motivated you to create your foundation?

A: I was working at the rink on the Boardwalk and I didn't see any black kids. I asked why, and was told the equipment was too expensive. [Later] I was invited to a program, Ice Hockey in Harlem, and decided if they get black kids on the ice in Harlem, I can do it in Atlantic City."

-- Lori Hoffman"

Clinton HS Reunion game at Clinton Arena Saturday - Bernie Burns

Real quick before I run out for Christmas Eve stuff - sort of EHL related...

http://www.uticaod.com/sports/x664190022/Alumni-gathering-for-hockey-reunion

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Tom T.

Eddie Ferenz, Johnstown Jets Player, EHL Jersey Devils GM, Philadelphia Phillies Travelling Secretary

Eddie Ferenz was best known as the traveling secretary for the Philadelphia Phillies for 30 years. He was also a player for the Johnstown Jets back in the 1950s, a PA announcer and front office guy with the Philadelphia Ramblers in the early 60s, Assistant GM with the Johnstown Jets, and GM for the Jersey Devils. In 1967 alone, Ferenz started the year in the Johnstown Jets front office, spent the summer as PA announcer at Connie Mack Stadium for the Phillies, and then in September was named General Manager of the EHL Jersey Devils. Nice work if you can get it.

Edward Ferenz Obituary - Camden, NJ Courier Post

Bill Conlin, Philadelphia Inquirer : Remembering Phillies traveling secretary Eddie Ferenz
Philadelphia Daily News: Remembering Eddie Ferenz

Philadelphia Inquirer: Eddie Ferenz dies; was Phils Traveling secretary

Where Else But In The Eastern Hockey League?

Here's a fine job of stating why the EHL was more fun to watch than the NHL by the Baltimore Clippers beat writer Edward C. Atwater from "Sunlight on Sports" in the December 9, 1955 Baltimore Sun...

"Let them have their Rockets and their Pocket Rockets, their tie games, their low scores, their 20,000 screaming fans.

So they are big league -- the National Hockey League. We're the minors with the Clippers, and we like it. Where else but in the Eastern could you see results like 8-7, 7-6 and 3-2 and 4-3 in overtime all under the same smoky ceiling?

Where else could a team win, 11-1 on Sunday and lose 14-1 on Tuesday? Where else could three teams (Baltimore, Washington and Clinton) be tied for second -- two games off the pace -- with the season one-third gone?

So the league is populated with veterans on the way out and youngsters hoping to go up. Do you know a better combination? It's perfect for smoothness and calmness -- and for pure slam-bang flailing away, I-hope-I-hit-the-goal hockey.

We've got Bibber O'Hearn to glide down the ice, contemptuously faking foes to their knees, the fulfillment of his every man's desire to get rid of his enemies with a flick of the wrist.

And we've got youngsters -- Ken Murphy, Ralph DeLeo, Gerry Sullivan and the others -- with their great speed to buzz around the net and shoot, and shoot and finally to look and shoot and score.

And when that score comes, the roar will rock Carlin's rafters. Don't try to talk above it. The goal was made through a thousand shouted instructions and each coach shares in the exultation.

Don't sit next to Charley Rock, the owner. He'll split your ear drums as the battle flows and if it ebbs too far, he may sell you the franchise.

Fights? Yes, we've got them too, but nobody tries to wipe out the other side, plus the officials a la Richard. It's more like neighborhood boys grappling, punching the air, and pulling each other's sweaters off; or an exchange of calling cards to signify that one or both has reached the limit of sly nudges with the stick or skates or elbows or maybe just words.

The fights are minor, like the league is minor, but it's fun. Fun for the spectators at least.

Some of the players' fun may diminish at times. For instance, starting tomorrow, the Clippers will play seven games in nine days. They'll be in Clinton tomorrow night and home against Washington Sunday; at New Haven Tuesday and home against the same club Wednesday; at Philadelphia Friday, at Clinton again the following day, and then home against Clinton Sunday Dec. 18."

Three "youngsters hoping to go up" on that 1955-56 Baltimore Clippers team that Mr. Atwater didn't mention were John Muckler, John Brophy and the pictured Les Binkley. How fun must that have been? (btw, The Clippers jerseys were orange with black and white trim.)

The John J. Carlin Trophy

The January 9, 1956 edition of the Baltimore Sun speaks of how the Carlin family, owners of Carlin's Iceland Arena - where the Clippers played, donated the John J. Carlin Trophy to be presented to the EHL's leading scorer each season.

Two weeks later, in the wee hours of January 23, 1956, Carlin's Iceland Arena burned to the ground.

Given that the John J. Carlin Trophy was given each year for the rest of the EHL's existence, one can surmise that it was not in the arena when it burned.

Having no backup arena in Baltimore (2 had been proposed the previous year, 1 private, 1 public, but both fell by the wayside.) the Clippers were transferred to Charlotte, NC. But that's another blog.

When the Long Island Ducks became the Massachusetts Ducks

Goalie Guy DeNoncourt is as out of place on this shot as his Long Island Ducks teammates were in the 1973 playoffs when they became the Massachusetts Ducks. The South Yarmouth, MA based Ducks played a total of 4 Eastern Hockey League games, all losses, in the 1973 playoffs against the Cape Cod Cubs.

03-06-73 Syracuse Post-Standard, p 14
DUCKS REINSTATED IN EHL PLAYOFFS
By DON PICKARD
An apparent player-owner feud which resulted in Long Island Ducks owner Al Baron yanking his team out of the upcoming Walker Cup Playoffs has been settled at EHL headquarters and the Ducks will begin opening round play Friday in Cape Cod. Baron, reportedly having difficulty meeting certain bonus provisions in the contracts of several of the Long Island players, had earlier Monday announced that his team was going out of business and that it would not be able to meet its 1973 playoff obligations.
At a hastily-called meeting of EHL executives in New York City, a stop-gap arrangement was made in which the Ducks will be home-based in the same arena as their Cape Cod foes. Should they win. the opening series, the Ducks will continue to use the South Yarmouth rink as their home ice in any ensuing series. For the remainder of the playoffs they will be known as the Massachusetts Ducks.

Unstated here is the fact that the Long Island Ducks failed to win any of their last 14 games in the last 4 weeks of the season (and their existence). They still made the playoffs by one point over the Jersey Devils (Jersey would have won the tiebreaker for taking on the tougher schedule after the New England Blades dropped out of the league in November). On the final day of the regular season, the Devils beat the Ducks 9-3 at Long Island. Afterwards, Al Baron congratulated Devils coach Jim Hay and told him that the Ducks were dropping out of the playoffs and that Devils were in since they were a much more deserving team. (The fact that the Devils were only 4 points behind Long Island and Rhode Island as of January 31, and still couldn't catch them might dispute this point.)

The Massachusetts Ducks entire game history:
MAR 9, 1973 - Friday - Massachusetts Ducks 2 at Cape Cod 6 (Cape Cod leads series 1-0)
MAR 10, 1973 - Saturday - Massachusetts Ducks 1 at Cape Cod 3 (Cape Cod leads series 2-0)
MAR 13, 1973 - Tuesday - Cape Cod 2 at Massachusetts Ducks 1 (0:43 of OT) (Cape Cod leads series 3-0)
MAR 16, 1973 - Friday - Cape Cod 8 at Massachusetts Ducks 5 (Cape Cod wins series 4-0)

Rookie of the Year Larry Pleau was a Veteran

With Veterans Day upcoming this week, I am reminded of American hockey pioneer Larry Pleau who won EHL Rookie of the Year honors in 1968-69 with the Jersey Devils while serving as an Army Private at Fort Dix. The original NHL.com article by John McGourty which I had bookmarked seems to have disappeared. Fortunately it was saved by Spider-man (really) at this link.

Image: Army Pvt. Larry Pleau (4) of Fort Dix and the Jersey Devils scores against Syracuse. From l to r: Syracuse goalie Anton Gale; Syr d - Bob Graham; Jersey F - Dennis Plant; Syr d - Doug Hillman; Jersey F - Larry Pleau.

..."After my third season, I got drafted into the U.S. Army and took basic training at Fort Campbell, Ky. I got my orders for advanced basic training and then on Labor Day weekend, I got a call from Murray Williamson, who was coaching the U.S. Olympic team. In those days, the military was big on its association with amateur athletics. I had a tryout in Minnesota, made the team and was assigned there by the Army. I was lucky I was able to continue my career. I'm not sure it's fair but it happens.

"After the Olympics, I was assigned to Fort Dix (in New Jersey). My commanding officer said, "What am I going to do with you, you've only got 10 months left?" I told him I had worked at a golf course and I got assigned to the base golf course. While I was there, I played for the Jersey Devils in the old Eastern League, out of Cherry Hill, N.J. My sergeant loved hockey and let me go. I never practiced, just played, and won rookie of the year. We had Forbes Kennedy's brother Jamie, a good little player from Windsor, Bobby Brown, and goalie Bobby Taylor, who played for the Flyers. Longtime Flyers scout Marcel Pelletier was our coach. We had one goalie in those days and Taylor got tossed one game. Pelletier filled in for him. Only problem, Bobby was a left-hand glove and Marcel was right-handed so Marcel wore hockey gloves the whole game." "The funniest part was Marcel asked the players who would play goal and they all ran for the bathroom," said Taylor, now a color analyst for the Tampa Bay Lightning. "The trainer was supposed to be the backup but he didn't even come into the room and we never saw him again until we were on the bus. They never scored on Marcel and we won, 2-1.

Larry was by far the best player in the League. He'd have never been there but for his military commitment." "We had a southern division and I remember a road trip where we left Cherry Hill on a Monday morning and drove to Jacksonville, Fla., and played the next night," Pleau said. "We got on the bus after the game and drove to Charlotte and played the next night and got on a bus and drove to Knoxville, Tenn. Got in at 7 a.m., woke up at 2 p.m., played in Nashville that night and drove back to New Jersey. Got in at 6 a.m. and played that night, then drove to Syracuse and played the following night. All that for $40 a game and $6 a day meal money?"

Pleau spent the 1969-70 season between the Canadiens and their AHL affiliate in Montreal, then made the big club the next season, only to be hurt and limited to 19 regular-season games. That was enough to get his name engraved on the Stanley Cup, though...
As a side note, the goaltender on that 1968 US Olympic Team with Pleau was Pat Rupp who had been the Devils original netminder starting the 1964-65 season.

Those Exotic EHL Cities...

I just got back from a 2-week vacation in western Canada. It was fun passing through towns like Abbotsford (with their new AHL franchise), Chilliwack, New Westminster, Kamloops and their various hockey histories, wondering if I would spy the arena where the teams played.

It was all very reminiscent of what I remember and some of you EHL fans have told me you remember, which was the allure of those exotic EHL cities. Many of us were kids when the EHL was around (I was barely 15 when the league folded). Places like Greensboro, Charlotte, Knoxville, Nashville, Jacksonville, Salem/Roanoke, Johnstown, New Haven seemed a million miles away, yet somehow approachable, attainable. Where were these places? What were they like? Unlike NHL cities that we all knew about, we knew nothing about these towns, except maybe Nashville. I remember my first trip to any of these areas, eyes all a-bug looking for the arenas as we drove through, thrilling at seeing the town names on road signs.

I'm possibly the first person who when they went to Nashville the first time was 100 percent focused on seeing the hockey arena, or even a sign for it. With every sign that said Nashville, my heart said Dixie Flyers (I'm not sure if they were still in existence at that time). Of course, it was a family vacation, and I was a young teenager, so I couldn't exactly say "lets go see the hockey arena". Besides I didn't know what it was called, or where it was. We just passed through the north end of Nashville long enough to have lunch at a barbecue place and head west. The last time I was in Nashville as an adult, the arena for the Predators was being built, but it never dawned on me (in the 90s) to go look up the Dixie Flyers arena, which apparently is still right there in downtown.

The one that I still kick myself about is Charlotte. I had a chance to go to a Checkers ECHL game a few years back. My wife and I were exhausted from work (we were in town to do a trade show) and I was confused about where the Checkers were playing (some places said Independence Arena, some said Cricket Arena). Not being able to get a straight answer, I passed. I had no idea at the time that that was the old Charlotte Coliseum where the EHL Checkers had played, or that that was their last year there, before they tore out the iceplant.

I went to college in NC, in no small part to my fascination with the EHL cities that had been there. Having passed through the state a few times on family vacations, I always thrilled to signs that read "Greensboro" or "Charlotte", or especially both. I thought North Carolina was one of the most beautiful places I had been. On my first trip back to college after break, my mom and I stopped in Roanoke for the night. It was just off the interstate, just barely in the city limits at the Best Western, but it was very exciting just to be there. The signs to Salem and Roanoke taunted me each trip home, with no chance of talking anyone into stopping. I stayed in Roanoke once after college, but I was so car sick from driving the Skyline Drive that I didn't get out at all.

After college, I hoped to stay in NC, and even subscribed to the Greensboro, Charlotte and Winston Salem Sunday papers for awhile, looking for the right opportunity that never came. This was well past the end of the EHL, so the charm and allure of the places transcended mere hockey.

So here is my reality. I have not only never seen an EHL game outside of Cherry Hill Arena. I have also never knowingly even seen another EHL arena. (For instance, I have probably passed the warehouse that used to be Cape Cod Coliseum, but didn't know what it was. I think I also passed within a block of the Knoxville Coliseum, or even saw it, but didn't know what it was.) There's still time. Knoxville, Johnstown and Syracuse still have teams in the old arenas. Johnstown and Syracuse are the reasonable possibilities for this year, weather permitting. Still, it's Knoxville that is the one that calls to me. The one with the EHL team that was defunct by the time I saw my first EHL game; the city less likely to have a team on any given year; the one that takes the extra day's drive to get to and home from; the road less traveled; the adventure more exotic. Maybe if I factor in a Virginia Tech hockey game at Roanoke Civic Center, hmm...

Bob Costas' first game broadcasting the Syracuse Blazers

Here's a great story from Bob Costas as related by Herm Card of Eagle Newspapers. Of course, Ouimet never played for Johnstown until they were in the NAHL. (Likewise, Costas probably never broadcast the EHL, but only the NAHL in 1973-74 at the age of 21.) Still, it's a great story.

http://www.cnylink.com/cnynews/view_news.php?news_id=1255107035

“My first job in broadcasting was the Eastern Hockey League, broadcasting the Syracuse Blazers games for WSYR radio. They paid me 30 dollars a game plus five dollars meal money on the road. I rode the bus with the team, plugged an electronic gadget into the phone line in the press box and broadcast back to SYR. My very first game was at Johnstown, the team they based a team on in the movie Slap Shot.

“To prepare, I got the rosters of the teams and studied them till the players were like members of my own family. Then, just before game time, I noticed that the Johnstown owner had sprung for new uniforms – all the numbers were different.

“There was no time to relearn the numbers, so when the first Johnstown player on the ice was a guy wearing number 2 named François Ouimet, I decided that he was about to play the game of his life.”

Costas continued, with a big grin on his face, “No matter what the play, François was in on it. He scored all the goals and even assisted on his own. He checked everybody, including himself, into the boards. He was in on every play. He was everywhere.”

Jerry Frizzelle, EHL defenseman, right-wing

Eric G. "Jerry" Frizzelle

Bucks County Courier Times, 09/09/09

Eric G. "Jerry" Frizzelle, of Perkasie, formerly of Fort Pierce and Stuart, Fla., and Levittown and Wrightstown, died Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009, at Grand View Hospital, West Rockhill Township. He was 74.

He was the husband of Nancy Lou (Burr) Frizzelle, who died June 25, 1990.

Born in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, he was the son of the late Eric G. and Edith (Smith) Frizzelle.

Jerry worked in auto sales for most of his life and was a self-employed car wholesaler in Fort Pierce, for many years.

Jerry played EHL hockey for the former Philadelphia Ramblers, Clinton Comets and Johnstown Jets. He was an avid golfer and also enjoyed playing cards.

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Jerry also played for the Jersey Larks and Knoxville Knights. He started out as a right-winger, scoring 44 goals on Clinton's top line in 1955-56, his first year out of juniors (Peterborough Petes). After a year in England, with Wembley, Jerry came back to the states to play defense for the Johnstown Jets. He paired with all-star defenseman Dave Lucas for some of his stay in Johnstown. On January 8, 1959 he was picked up by the Philadelphia Ramblers, the team he played the bulk of his career with. Frizzelle scored a lot of key goals for the Jersey Larks playoff push in 1961. He was listed as right wing in his brief 8-game stint with Knoxville, but was back at defense for the remainder of his career with the Ramblers.

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The Jerry Frizzelle Photo Collection courtesy of Sharon Frizzelle Fazio

Jerry Frizzelle's stats at hockeydb.com

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Dennis Hextall, Knoxville Knight, named IHL Commisioner

The International Hockey League named former Knoxville Knight, Dennis Hextall as commisioner this week. Hextall played the 1966-67 season with Knoxville racking up 20 goals, 56 assists and 202 penalty minutes in 61 games at left wing.
Here's the article from the IHL website: IHL HONORED TO ANNOUNCE HEXTALL AS NEW LEADER

The IHL website is: http://www.ihl-hockey.com/

Finding the Atlantic City Boardwalk Trophy by Chuck the Writer

Anyone who has done any basic web searching on the EHL has come across Chuck Millers' classic "FROM ATLANTIC CITY TO TORONTO: The Boardwalk Trophy and the Eastern Hockey League". It's one of the first articles you come to on the front page of http://TheEHL.com

Now Chuck has a follow-up blog for the Albany Times-Union:
Finding the Atlantic City Boardwalk Trophy

Both of Chuck's articles are well worth the read.
Photo of the Atlantic City Boardwalk Trophy at the Hockey Hall of Fame by Chuck Miller.