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Atlantic Coast Hockey League (1981-1987) |
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Atlantic Coast Hockey League (1981-1987) |
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Within a few seasons the league expanded to Greensboro NC, Nashville TN, and Knoxville TN. Jacksonville FL, Salem VA, and Roanoke VA were not far behind. The league settled into a two-division format, with one division based in the North and the other in the South.
This geographical expansion fueled the growth of the league; the number of teams more than doubled in the decade following the southern experiment. However the expansion also led to the breakup and demise of the league -- the two divisions had differing opinions over various issues like the number of players to dress per game, and how many interdivisional games should be played (bus travel in the EHL was not for the faint-hearted, especially when Clinton NY visited Jacksonville FL).
After the 1972-73 season the EHL split into two leagues, the North American Hockey League and the Southern Hockey League. The seventies were a tough time for minor league hockey, and the leagues were one of the many casualties; both folded after the 1976-77 season. AA hockey took a break from the eastern US for the 1977-78.
In the NEHL's first season (1978-79) both the Jersey Aces and the New Hampshire Freedoms relocated mid-season. The Aces moved on to Hampton VA. And when the bills began to mount in New Hampshire, Sandy Reiss, owner of the Freedoms fled with his franchise to the Cape Cod Coliseum and became the Cape Cod Freedoms.
The 1979-80 season brought with it a new name for the league; it became simply the Eastern Hockey league, possibly trying to establish a more direct link to the glory days of the original Eastern Hockey League. The season saw the introduction of a new franchise and the relocation of another. The Baltimore Clippers were the new entry, while the Cape Cod Freedoms skipped down to Richmond VA. This aligned the league very geographically: It formed two natural loops -- Richmond-Baltimore-Hampton, and Utica-Johnstown-Erie.
Also, several of the teams developed secondary affiliations with NHL teams. The Minnesota North Stars had strong interests in Baltimore; Richmond was affiliated with the New Haven Nighthawks, a NY Rangers farm team; and Johnstown was affiliated with the Adirondack Red Wings, who were the farm team of the Detroit Red Wings.
Several of the other teams were affiliated with NHL teams on paper, but there was no player movement from those NHL teams' primary affiliates to their EHL affiliates.
For the 1980-81 season, the Utica Mohawks were moved to Salem VA and were renamed the Salem Raiders. The Johnstown Wings dropped out and the Syracuse Hornets were brought on board. However Syracuse never really got off the ground. With inadequate players and a late start (the team was formed in September), they went 0-9-1 in their first 10 games and then folded.
Rumours sprang up that the EHL was on the brink of going under. The Hampton Aces were financially supported by the league for the final two weeks of the season. There was money missing from the Commisioner's office. All this contributed to the image that the EHL was an unorganized league destined for failure.
But the geographic alignment of the league was troubling. Mohawk Valley was the only northern team, and the four other franchises insisted on adding a sixth team close to Utica to help the financial stablilty of the Mohawk Valley franchise.
Johnstown was to be that sixth team, but shortly after, due to ownership illness, they were forced to drop out.
The Boston Bruins, along with a group of people from Cape Cod were approached to field a team. An Indianapolis investor, Fraser Gleason, was scheduled to purchase a franchise, but he failed to pay the $15,000 entry fee. The owner of the Cape Cod Coliseum, wrestling promoter Vince McMahon purchased the franshise instead.
Worried about the league's stability, Richmond withdrew from the league. This left the league with only five teams, and both Baltimore and Cape Cod refused to play in a five-team league.
While all this was happening, another league was attempting to form. The Intercontinental Major Hockey League was planning to place its flagship franchise in Clinton NY. It was to be called the Comets, forcing the ACHL Mohawk Valley team to rename themselves the Stars.
Lou B. from Toronto was the leader of the IMHL, but although they had grand plans they had no financial base from which to draw. It is thought that the whole idea of the IMHL was merely a ploy to gain leverge with the ACHL, but at the time the IMHL had several franchises scheduled to be formed; Clinton NY, Schenectady NY, and Fitchburg MA.
The ACHL was getting desparate for a northern team. In late August, the IMHL made a formal application to join the ACHL. Lou B. had apparently skipped off with the money that the league had raised so far. Their proposal, presented by former RPI hockey coach Jim Salfi, was to drop the Clinton team and enter Fitchburg and Schenectady into the league for one $15,000 franchise fee. Due to the lateness of the proceedings, the Schenectady Chiefs and the Fitchburg Trappers were accepted into the league, making it a seven-team field.
[Note: Lou B. allegedly has a history of taking the money and running; he was the owner of a team in the Continental Hockey League, the Billings Marlboros, and skipped off with that team's advertising proceeds, forcing the team to fold in 1985-86.]
From the start, problems ensued. Vince McMahon was unhappy with the fact that both Schenectady and Fitchburg were owned by the same man, Robert Critelli. McMahon requested that the league investigate the finances of the Chiefs and the Trappers when it became apparent that both teams were fielding questionable talent. Fitchburg, placed under suspension, folded after 6 games. Schenectady folded after 9 games.
It was just as well. Neither city had a suitable arena for hockey. Schenectady played in the downtown Schenectady Civic Center, which could only be entered through a drug store. They averaged less than 500 fans per game. Fitchburg played in the Wallace Civic Center. With a capacity of 1,800 seated, it is considered unsuitable for anything but amateur hockey.
A new schedule was drawn up and the league operated with only five teams. But the lack of northern teams took its toll on Cape Cod. Despite earlier pronouncements that they were on firm financial ground, Vince McMahon tried to borrow $15,000 from the league, citing a slow cash flow. It was apparent to the other members of the league that McMahon was trying to recover his franchise fee. After the loan was denied, McMahon folded his franchise at the end of January 1982. McMahon bizarrely announced that Winston-Salem was folding as well, but that team was financially sound and continued to operate.
The remaining 4 teams met in Philadelphia and decided to prematurely end the season, in February, and enter right into the playoffs. Unknown to anyone, the playoff pairings were determined before the season even ended; Mohawk Valley was to play Baltimore and Salem was to play Winston-Salem, to cut down travel expenses. In the end, it all worked out, with the #1 team playing the #4 team and the #2 and #3 teams meeting.
This page is in its inception. Please e-mail me (Ralph
Slate) if you can provide me with detailed information on the 1982-83
through 1986-87 seasons.