Denver Falcons
Encyclopedia
The Denver Falcons were the first professional ice hockey
team in Colorado
. They were a member of the United States Hockey League
. Playing their home games at the University of Denver
Ice Arena, the team had a memorable season in Denver, starting with winning Colorado's first professional hockey game over the St. Paul Saints
3-1 at DU. After a season which endured the tragic car crash death of Johnny Holota which also injured Billy Warwick, the Falcons advanced to the playoffs. They were defeated by the favored Omaha Knights
three games to two, ending the Falcons' only season.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. They were a member of the United States Hockey League
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger...
. Playing their home games at the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
Ice Arena, the team had a memorable season in Denver, starting with winning Colorado's first professional hockey game over the St. Paul Saints
St. Paul Saints
The St. Paul Saints are a professional baseball team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in the United States. The Saints are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
3-1 at DU. After a season which endured the tragic car crash death of Johnny Holota which also injured Billy Warwick, the Falcons advanced to the playoffs. They were defeated by the favored Omaha Knights
Omaha Knights
The Omaha Knights were a minor league professional ice hockey team from 1959 to 1975, based in Omaha, Nebraska at the Ak-Sar-Ben arena. The Knights were founded in 1959 as members of the International Hockey League...
three games to two, ending the Falcons' only season.
Team Record
| Season | W | L | T | Pts | Win % | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950-51 | 31 | 31 | 2 | 64 | .500 | Wild Card |
Players
| # | Player | Catches | Acquired | Place of Birth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Lou Crowdis | L | 1950 | St. Anne de Beaupré Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Quebec Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré is a town in La Côte-de-Beaupré Regional County Municipality, Quebec, Canada, along the Saint Lawrence River, north-east of the Quebec City. The population was 2,803 according to the Canada 2006 Census... , Quebec Quebec Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level.... |
| # | Player | Shoots | Acquired | Place of Birth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | |
Bob Chrystal Bob Chrystal Robert Harry Chrystal is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman. Chrystal played 132 regular season games for the New York Rangers between 1953 and 1955. He scored 11 goals and 14 assists for 25 points... |
L | 1950 | Winnipeg, Manitoba Manitoba Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other... |
| 3 | |
Jack Jackson Jack Jackson (ice hockey) Jack Jackson is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 48 games in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks.-External links:... |
R | 1950 | Windsor Windsor, Ontario Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor... , Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
| 4 | Ian "Fritz" Fraser | L | 1950 | Johnstown, Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... |
|
| 5 | |
Carl Kaiser Carl Kaiser Carl Joseph Kaiser -- known in his professional hockey listings as simply "Carl Kaiser" -- was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on April 8, 1927. Kaiser was born into a large family, and as a youth demonstrated athletic ability, particularly in hockey.... |
L | 1950 | Winnipeg, Manitoba Manitoba Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other... |
 |
Walter Bak | L | 1950 | Tarnowiec, Poland Poland Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north... |
|
| |
Joe Crozier Joe Crozier Joseph Richard Crozier is a former professional ice hockey defenceman and head coach who played and coached primarily in the minor leagues.... |
R | 1950 | Winnipeg, Manitoba Manitoba Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other... |
| # | Player | Position | Shoots | Acquired | Place of Birth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 |  |
Chuck "Yogi" Kraiger | LW | L | 1951 | Stará Ľubovňa Stará Lubovna Stará Ľubovňa is a town with approximately 16,000 inhabitants in northeastern Slovakia. The town consists of the districts Podsadek and Stará Ľubovňa.-Geography:... , Slovakia Slovakia The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south... |
| 7 | |
Harold Brown Harold Brown (ice hockey) Harold Fraser "Hal" Brown is a former Canadian ice hockey right winger. He played in the NHL for the New York Rangers. He was born in Brandon, Manitoba.-External links:... |
RW | L | 1950 | Brandon Brandon, Manitoba Brandon is the second largest city in Manitoba, Canada, and is located in the southwestern area of the province. Brandon is the largest city in the Westman region of Manitoba. The city is located along the Assiniboine River. Spruce Woods Provincial Park and CFB Shilo are a relatively short distance... , Manitoba Manitoba Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other... |
| 8 | |
Lloyd "Red" Doran Lloyd Doran Lloyd "Red" Doran is a professional ice hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League.-External links:... |
C | L | 1950 | South Porcupine, Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
| 9 | |
Bill Warwick Bill Warwick William Harvey "The Dapper Yapper" Warwick was a professional Canadian ice hockey forward. He was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.-Playing career:... |
LW | 1950 | Regina Regina, Saskatchewan Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox... , Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota.... |
|
| 10 | |
Neil Strain Neil Strain Neil Strain was a professional ice hockey player who played 52 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the New York Rangers.- References :... |
LW | L | 1950 | Kenora, Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
| 11 | |
Ken MacKenzie Ken MacKenzie Kenneth Purvis "Ken" MacKenzie is a Canadian former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the Milwaukee Braves , New York Mets , St. Louis Cardinals , San Francisco Giants , and Houston Astros . MacKenzie is a member of the Yale Class of 1956... |
LW | L | 1950 | Winnipeg, Manitoba Manitoba Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other... |
| 12 | Billy Richardson Billy Richardson Billy Richardson was an Irish soccer player during the 1940s.Richardson played junior football with Mountpleasant and narrowly missed out on winning an Irish Junior cap in 1939 due to the beginning of World War II. He joined Bohemians in 1942 and played for the "B" team at centre half. He soon made... |
RW | R | 1950 | Perth Perth, Scotland Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire... , Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... |
|
| 13 | |
George "Bus" Agar George Agar George Agar was a rugby league player in Australia's leading competition - the New South Wales Rugby League.Agar played 18 matches for the Eastern Suburbs club in the 1923-24 seasons. A Winger, Agar, played in the 1923 premiership winning side'... |
C | L | 1950 | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota.... |
| 14 | Joseph Kaiser Joseph Kaiser Joseph Kaiser is a Canadian operatic tenor. In 2005 he won 2nd prize in Placido Domingo's Operalia International Opera Competition. He has performed as a soloist with the New York Metropolitan Opera, making his debut in 2007.... |
1950 | ||||
| 15 | |
Jack Giesebrecht | RW | 1950 | Petawawa Petawawa, Ontario Petawawa is a town located in eastern portion of Southern Ontario. Situated in the Ottawa Valley, with a population of 14,651 . Petawawa is the most populous municipality in Renfrew County.-Geography:... , Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
|
| 16 | |
Winston "Bing" Juckes | LW | L | 1950 | Hamiota Hamiota, Manitoba Hamiota is a growing community located on Provincial Trunk Highway 21 in Manitoba, Canada, midway between the Trans-Canada Highway and the Yellowhead Highway.... , Manitoba Manitoba Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other... |
| |
John Bailey | RW | L | 1951 | Kenora, Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
|
| |
Rudy Filion | C | L | 1951 | Cornwall Cornwall, Ontario Cornwall is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada and the seat of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario. Cornwall is Ontario's easternmost city, located on the St... , Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
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| |
Johnny Holota Johnny Holota John Paul Holota was a professional ice hockey player who played 15 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Detroit Red Wings. He would win one Stanley Cup with the Wings in 1943.... |
C | L | 1951 | Hamilton Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe... , Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
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Joe McArthur | C | R | 1950 | Markdale Markdale, Ontario Markdale is a community in the Municipality of Grey Highlands, in Grey County, Ontario, Canada.Markdale was first settled in 1846 and originally called East Glenelg, after a nearby township. In 1864, it was renamed Cornabus after the Islay, Scotland hometown of then-postmaster Donald MacDuffie... , Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
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Cal Stearns | RW | R | 1951 | Edmonton, Alberta Alberta Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces... |
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Nick Tomiuk | LW | L | 1951 | Connaught Connaught, Ontario Connaught, Ontario can mean the following places:*Connaught, Renfrew County, Ontario*Connaught, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry United Counties, Ontario*Connaught, Timmins, Ontario... , Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
|
| Allen Burman | 1950 | |||||
| Hal Hopper | 1951 | |||||
| Bob "Bush" Jackson | 1951 |
NHL Players & Coaches
- Harold BrownHarold Brown (ice hockey)Harold Fraser "Hal" Brown is a former Canadian ice hockey right winger. He played in the NHL for the New York Rangers. He was born in Brandon, Manitoba.-External links:...
- RW with New York RangersNew York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
(1946) - Bob ChrystalBob ChrystalRobert Harry Chrystal is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman. Chrystal played 132 regular season games for the New York Rangers between 1953 and 1955. He scored 11 goals and 14 assists for 25 points...
- D with New York RangersNew York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
(1953-55) - Joe CrozierJoe CrozierJoseph Richard Crozier is a former professional ice hockey defenceman and head coach who played and coached primarily in the minor leagues....
- D with Toronto Maple LeafsToronto Maple LeafsThe Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
(1959); Coach with Buffalo SabresBuffalo SabresThe Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
(1972-74) and Toronto Maple LeafsToronto Maple LeafsThe Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
(1981) - Lloyd "Red" DoranLloyd DoranLloyd "Red" Doran is a professional ice hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League.-External links:...
- C with Detroit Red WingsDetroit Red WingsThe Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
(1946-47) - Johnny HolotaJohnny HolotaJohn Paul Holota was a professional ice hockey player who played 15 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Detroit Red Wings. He would win one Stanley Cup with the Wings in 1943....
- C with Detroit Red WingsDetroit Red WingsThe Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
(1943, 1946) - Jack JacksonJack Jackson (ice hockey)Jack Jackson is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 48 games in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks.-External links:...
- D with Chicago Black HawksChicago BlackhawksThe Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
(1946-47) - Winston "Bing" Juckes - LW with New York RangersNew York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
(1947-48; 1949-50) - Neil StrainNeil StrainNeil Strain was a professional ice hockey player who played 52 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the New York Rangers.- References :...
- LW with New York RangersNew York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
(1952-53) - Bill WarwickBill WarwickWilliam Harvey "The Dapper Yapper" Warwick was a professional Canadian ice hockey forward. He was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.-Playing career:...
- LW with New York RangersNew York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
(1942, 1944)