North American Hockey League (1973–1977)

North American Hockey League
Founded 1973
Ceased 1977
Replaced by American Hockey League
No. of teams 7 to 10
Country United States & Canada
Most titles Syracuse Blazers (2)

The North American Hockey League was a low-level minor professional hockey league that existed from 1973 to 1977. Several of the NAHL teams operated as developmental ("farm") teams for World Hockey Association franchises. The NAHL was one of two leagues, along with the Southern Hockey League, that were formed after the Eastern Hockey League ceased operations in 1973. The Lockhart Cup was the league's championship trophy. With the loss of a number of franchises, the NAHL elected to fold in September 1977.[1]

The league served as the inspiration for the movie Slap Shot. The Inspiration came from screenwriter Nancy Dowd, whose brother Ned Dowd, who played the Character "Ogie" Oglethorpe, was a real Professional Hockey Player in the NAHL, playing in Johnstown, PA for the Johnstown Jets[2], during a season where the team was for sale, when his sister came to live in Johnstown and got the inspiration for the movie. And then there are the references to "Syracuse", and "Broome County", all of which were teams in the NAHL [3], as were some of the incidents depicted actually occurred in actual NAHL Games with the Johnstown Jets and the Carlson Brothers (who were portrayed with the characters Hanson Brothers).

Teams

Team nameYearsSeasonsCity
Beauce Jaros1975–19762Saint-Georges, Quebec
Broome Dusters1973–19774Binghamton, New York
Buffalo Norsemen1975–19761North Tonawanda, New York
Cape Cod Cubs / Cape Codders1973–19763South Yarmouth, Massachusetts
Erie Blades1975–19772Erie, Pennsylvania
Johnstown Jets1973–19774Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Long Island Cougars1973–19752Commack, New York
Maine Nordiques1973–19774Lewiston, Maine
Mohawk Valley Comets1973–19774Utica, New York
Philadelphia Firebirds1974–19773Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Syracuse Blazers1973–19774Syracuse, New York

Lockhart Cup

SeasonChampionFinalist
1973-74Syracuse BlazersLong Island Cougars
1974-75Johnstown JetsBroome Dusters
1975-76Philadelphia FirebirdsBeauce Jaros
1976-77Syracuse BlazersMaine Nordiques

References


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