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Indianapolis Capitols / Cincinnati Wings Statistics and History

The Indianapolis Capitols were an original franchise in the Central Professional Hockey League inaugural season of 1963-64. The Capitols were affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings. The team was named in the spirit of the original Indianapolis Capitals ice hockey team which played from 1939-1952 in the American Hockey League, but with a subtle twist - the CPHL team spelled their name with an "o" - Capit-o-ls instead of Capit-a-ls. The AHL franchise had also been affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings.

On October 31, 1963, a liquified gas explosion severely damaged the Capitols' home rink, the Indianapolis Fairground Coliseum, killing 68 people and injuring 385 others. The explosion took place during a ice skating show - the Capitols were on a road trip. Discussions ensued as to where the Capitols would move, centering on Louisville or Cincinnati. On November 8, it was announced that Detroit would move the team to Cincinnati, where it would finish out the season playing at the Cincinnati Gardens arena. The team would be renamed the Cincinnati Wings.

At the time of their move, the Capitols had won just one game, and it was by forfeit; the owner of the St. Louis Braves team had owned the AHL Indianapolis Capitals franchise, and he refused to appear for the game because he claimed that the Indiana State Fair Board had illegally confiscated the team's equipment 11 years earlier. Their attendance had also been substandard; they drew crowds of just over 1,000 per game.

Due to the mid-year move, the team did not draw well in Cincinnati either. Without the benefit of a season ticket base, the Cincinnati Wings largely drew less than 1,000 fans per game. They finished the season in last place with a record of 12 wins, 57 losses, and 7 ties.

By early-March, weeks before the season ended, Detroit signaled that it would not return to Cincinnati due to poor attendance. The Wings eyed both Kansas City and Memphis, eventually selecting the latter city due to better availablilty of dates.

Team Information

Indianapolis Capitols
(Indianapolis,IN)
Central Professional Hockey League
[Minor Professional]
1963-1964

Indianapolis Capitols / Cincinnati Wings
(Cincinnati,OH)
Central Professional Hockey League
[Minor Professional]
1963-1964

Cincinnati Wings
(Cincinnati,OH)
Central Professional Hockey League
[Minor Professional]
1963-1964

Record
1 Seasons
(GP-W-L-T-OTL-SOL)
72-12-53-7-0-0
0.215
Franchise History
» Indianapolis Capitols / Cincinnati Wings « (1963-1964)
Memphis Wings (1964-1967)
Fort Worth Wings (1967-1974)
Fort Worth Texans (1974-1982)
Parent Teams
Detroit Red Wings (1963-1964) [NHL]
Yearly Standings

Season Team League Division GP W L T OTL SOL Pts Pct GF GA PIM Atten. Coach Result
1963-64Indianapolis Capitols / Cincinnati WingsCPHL721253700310.215207394906Tony LeswickOut of Playoffs

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Game Programs
Cincinnati Wings 1963-64 program cover
1963-1964