Johnstown Jets
Encyclopedia
The Johnstown Jets were a professional ice hockey
team from Johnstown, Pennsylvania
. The Jets were founded in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League
for the 1950–51 season, playing at the newly constructed Cambria County War Memorial Arena
. The Jets won consecutive EHL championships in 1951–52 and 1952–53.
When the EAHL suspended operations in 1953, the Jets transferred to the International Hockey League, where they played two seasons. Johnstown were Turner Cup
finalists in 1953–54, losing 4 games to 2, to the Cincinnati Mohawks
.
In 1955, the Jets joined the Eastern Hockey League
(a league founded from the EAHL), and won three consecutive EHL championships in 1959–60, 1960–61 and 1961–62. Johnstown remained in the league until its demise in 1973.
The Jets then joined the new North American Hockey League in 1973. Dick Roberge coached Johnstown to the Lockhart Cup championship 1974–75, defeating the Broome Dusters
. That season's playoff run included the Carlson brothers, Jeff, Jack
and Steve, who became the basis for the Hanson Brothers
in the movie Slap Shot
. Jeff and Steve Carlson portrayed their fictional selves in the movie, while former Jet Dave Hanson
portrayed Jack. The Jets played four seasons total in the NAHL before the league folded in 1977. The team itself folded in the offseason, when the Johnstown flood of 1977 that damaged the arena's ice making equipment.
Johnstown was later represented by the Johnstown Chiefs
, which named itself after the Jets' fictional counterpart.
, 46 in total.
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 from Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
. The Jets were founded in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League
Eastern Hockey League
-Eastern Amateur Hockey League :The league was founded in 1933 as the Eastern Amateur Hockey League . The league was founded by Thomas Lockhart, who served as its commissioner from 1933 to 1972...
for the 1950–51 season, playing at the newly constructed Cambria County War Memorial Arena
Cambria County War Memorial Arena
The Cambria County War Memorial Arena is a 4,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Johnstown, Pennsylvania that is managed by SMG Entertainment. It was built in 1950, for the Johnstown Jets of the Eastern Hockey League. The film Slap Shot, based on the Jets, was filmed in this arena...
. The Jets won consecutive EHL championships in 1951–52 and 1952–53.
When the EAHL suspended operations in 1953, the Jets transferred to the International Hockey League, where they played two seasons. Johnstown were Turner Cup
Turner Cup
The Turner Cup is the championship trophy of the International Hockey League. The Cup is named for Joe Turner, a goaltender from Windsor, Ontario. Turner became professional with the Detroit Red Wings organization, and played one season with the Indianapolis Capitals in the American Hockey League...
finalists in 1953–54, losing 4 games to 2, to the Cincinnati Mohawks
Cincinnati Mohawks
The Cincinnati Mohawks were a professional ice hockey team in Cincinnati, Ohio. They were a member of the American Hockey League between 1949 and 1952. They were originally founded as the Washington Lions, then were relocated from Washington, D.C....
.
In 1955, the Jets joined the Eastern Hockey League
Eastern Hockey League
-Eastern Amateur Hockey League :The league was founded in 1933 as the Eastern Amateur Hockey League . The league was founded by Thomas Lockhart, who served as its commissioner from 1933 to 1972...
(a league founded from the EAHL), and won three consecutive EHL championships in 1959–60, 1960–61 and 1961–62. Johnstown remained in the league until its demise in 1973.
The Jets then joined the new North American Hockey League in 1973. Dick Roberge coached Johnstown to the Lockhart Cup championship 1974–75, defeating the Broome Dusters
Broome Dusters
The Broome Dusters were an ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League. They played in Binghamton, New York, USA at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena...
. That season's playoff run included the Carlson brothers, Jeff, Jack
Jack Carlson
Jack Carlson is a retired American ice hockey forward.Carlson played in the World Hockey Association with the Minnesota Fighting Saints, Edmonton Oilers and New England Whalers, and in the National Hockey League for the Minnesota North Stars and St. Louis Blues...
and Steve, who became the basis for the Hanson Brothers
Hanson Brothers
The Hanson Brothers are fictional characters in the 1977 movie Slap Shot. The characters are based on three brothers who were actual hockey players; two of them starred in the film.The movie, which stars Paul Newman, was written by Nancy Dowd...
in the movie Slap Shot
Slap Shot (film)
Slap Shot is a 1977 film comedy starring Paul Newman and Michael Ontkean directed by George Roy Hill. It depicts a minor league hockey team that resorts to violent play to gain popularity in a declining factory town.- Plot :...
. Jeff and Steve Carlson portrayed their fictional selves in the movie, while former Jet Dave Hanson
David Hanson (ice hockey)
David J. "Dave" Hanson is a retired American professional hockey player. He played 33 games in the National Hockey League, and a total of 103 games in the World Hockey Association.-Early life:...
portrayed Jack. The Jets played four seasons total in the NAHL before the league folded in 1977. The team itself folded in the offseason, when the Johnstown flood of 1977 that damaged the arena's ice making equipment.
Johnstown was later represented by the Johnstown Chiefs
Johnstown Chiefs
The Johnstown Chiefs were a minor league ice hockey team located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania that played in the ECHL. The team was founded in 1988 in the All-American Hockey League, and moved to the East Coast Hockey League when that league was formed...
, which named itself after the Jets' fictional counterpart.
Season-by-season results
| Season | League | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | Points | Winning % | Goals for | Goals against | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950–51 | EHL | 54 | 26 | 25 | 3 | 55 | 0.509 | 195 | 194 | 1st, EHL |
| 1951–52 | EHL | 65 | 39 | 21 | 5 | 83 | 0.638 | 264 | 186 | 1st, EHL |
| 1952–53 | EHL | 60 | 28 | 29 | 3 | 59 | 0.492 | 226 | 244 | 2nd, EHL |
| 1953–54 | IHL | 65 | 35 | 27 | 3 | 73 | 0.562 | 254 | 221 | 3rd, IHL |
| 1954–55 | IHL | 60 | 25 | 34 | 1 | 51 | 0.425 | 188 | 215 | 5th, IHL |
| 1955–56 | EHL | 64 | 32 | 32 | 0 | 64 | 0.500 | 312 | 298 | 4th, EHL |
| 1956–57 | EHL | 64 | 31 | 33 | 0 | 62 | 0.484 | 320 | 290 | 4th, EHL |
| 1957–58 | EHL | 64 | 31 | 30 | 3 | 65 | 0.508 | 228 | 225 | 4th, EHL |
| 1958–59 | EHL | 64 | 33 | 28 | 3 | 69 | 0.539 | 252 | 223 | 2nd, EHL |
| 1959–60 | EHL | 64 | 45 | 18 | 1 | 91 | 0.711 | 255 | 176 | 1st, South |
| 1960–61 | EHL | 64 | 40 | 22 | 2 | 82 | 0.641 | 273 | 215 | 2nd, South |
| 1961–62 | EHL | 68 | 41 | 26 | 1 | 83 | 0.610 | 296 | 255 | 2nd, North |
| 1962–63 | EHL | 68 | 34 | 31 | 3 | 71 | 0.522 | 254 | 309 | 3rd, North |
| 1963–64 | EHL | 72 | 41 | 26 | 5 | 87 | 0.604 | 297 | 245 | 1st, North |
| 1964–65 | EHL | 72 | 41 | 31 | 0 | 82 | 0.569 | 330 | 294 | 3rd, North |
| 1965–66 | EHL | 72 | 39 | 31 | 2 | 80 | 0.556 | 303 | 267 | 3rd, North |
| 1966–67 | EHL | 72 | 34 | 36 | 2 | 70 | 0.486 | 267 | 290 | 3rd, North |
| 1967–68 | EHL | 72 | 38 | 25 | 9 | 85 | 0.590 | 386 | 273 | 3rd, North |
| 1968–69 | EHL | 72 | 42 | 23 | 7 | 91 | 0.632 | 358 | 230 | 2nd, North |
| 1969–70 | EHL | 74 | 27 | 33 | 14 | 68 | 0.459 | 318 | 344 | 3rd, North |
| 1970–71 | EHL | 74 | 30 | 29 | 15 | 75 | 0.507 | 273 | 297 | 3rd, North |
| 1971–72 | EHL | 75 | 33 | 28 | 14 | 80 | 0.533 | 290 | 269 | 2nd, North |
| 1972–73 | EHL | 76 | 36 | 28 | 12 | 84 | 0.553 | 283 | 255 | 2nd, North |
| 1973–74 | NAHL | 74 | 32 | 38 | 4 | 68 | 0.459 | 265 | 303 | 5th, NAHL |
| 1974–75 | NAHL | 74 | 38 | 32 | 4 | 80 | 0.541 | 274 | 255 | 4th, NAHL |
| 1975–76 | NAHL | 74 | 47 | 25 | 2 | 96 | 0.649 | 346 | 257 | 1st, West |
| 1976–77 | NAHL | 73 | 22 | 49 | 2 | 46 | 0.315 | 253 | 334 | 7th, NAHL |
NHL alumni
List of Johnstown Jets who played in the National Hockey LeagueNational Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, 46 in total.
|
Nick Damore Nick Damore is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played in one National Hockey League game for the Boston Bruins during the 1941–42 NHL season.-External links:... Bob Dawes Robert James "Bobby" Dawes was a professional Canadian ice hockey defenceman.... Norm Defelice Norm Defelice is a retired Canadian ice hockey goaltender. He played for the Boston Bruins of the NHL.-External links:... Guy Delparte Guy Phillipe Delparte is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played in 48 NHL games with the Colorado Rockies during the 1976–77 season.-External links:... Marv Edwards Marvin Wayne Edwards is a retired Canadian ice hockey goaltender.Edwards started his National Hockey League career with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1968. He would also play with the Toronto Maple Leafs and California Golden Seals. He retired after the 1974 season.- External links :... Rocky Farr Norman Richard "Rocky" Farr is a former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played nineteen games in the National Hockey League with the Buffalo Sabres, accumulating a record of 2-6-3.-External links:*... Harry Frost Harry Frost was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played three games in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins, including one in playoffs for Stanley Cup winning Boston Bruins in 1939. Boston honoured him by putting his name on the Stanley Cup. He was born in Keer Lake,... Gary Gambucci Gary Allan "Gubbio" Gambucci is a retired American ice hockey forward who appeared in a total of 51 National Hockey League regular season games with the Minnesota North Stars in 1971–74... Bob Gryp Robert Douglas Gryp is a retired Canadian ice hockey player.Originally selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1970 NHL Entry Draft, Gryp played for the Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals.-External links:*... David Hanson (ice hockey) David J. "Dave" Hanson is a retired American professional hockey player. He played 33 games in the National Hockey League, and a total of 103 games in the World Hockey Association.-Early life:... Galen Head Galen Russell Head is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who spent the majority of his career with the Johnstown Jets of the Eastern Hockey League and North American Hockey League... Paul Holmgren Paul Howard Holmgren is an American former professional ice hockey right winger who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers and Minnesota North Stars. He moved into coaching after his playing career, serving as head coach of the Flyers and Hartford Whalers... |
Eddie Johnston Edward Joseph Johnston is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender and former coach and general manager in the National Hockey League... Larry Johnston (ice hockey) Larry Roy Johnston is a former professional ice hockey defenceman who played for over 14 years in 7 different hockey leagues... Ken Kilrea Kenneth Armstrong Kilrea was professional ice hockey player who played 88 games in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings. He was born in Ottawa, Ontario.-References:... Ted Lanyon Edward George Lanyon was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played five games in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba.-External links:*... Jean-Louis Levasseur Jean-Louis "Lou" Levasseur also known as Louis Levasseur , is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played in one National Hockey League game for the Minnesota North Stars during the 1979–80 NHL season... Dave Lucas David Charles Lucas is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defencemen who played in one National Hockey League game for the Detroit Red Wings during the 1962–63 NHL season. Lucas scouted for the Pittsburgh Penguins, the NHL Central Scouting Bureau, and the Chicago Blackhawks.-External links:... Jim Mair James McKay Mair is a retired professional ice hockey player. He played in the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders, and Vancouver Canucks.-External links:... Brian Marchinko Brian Nicholas Wayne Marchinko was a professional ice hockey player who played 47 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the New York Islanders and Toronto Maple Leafs.- References :... Jack McIntyre John Archibald "Jack" McIntyre was a professional ice hockey player.-Playing career:... |
Jim Mikol John Stanley "Jim" Mikol is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. A left winger and defenceman, he played 34 games in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers.... Jim Murray (ice hockey) James Arnold Murray is a former professional ice hockey defenceman, who played 30 games in the National Hockey League with the Los Angeles Kings... Joe Schaefer Joe Schaefer was an American professional ice hockey goaltender. He was born in Long Island, New York, and played in two games for the New York Rangers.-External links:*... Don Simmons (ice hockey) Donald William "Dippy" Simmons was a National Hockey League goaltender. He was called up by the Boston Bruins fom the Springfield Indians of the AHL in order to replace an ailing Terry Sawchuck who had left the Bruins in mid season of 1957... Bob Sneddon (ice hockey) Robert Allan Sneddon is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played in 5 games with the California Golden Seals during the 1970–71 NHL season.-External links:... Morris Stefaniw Morris Alexander Stefaniw is a retired professional ice hockey centreman. During the 1972–73 season, he appeared in 13 games for the NHL's Atlanta Flames.-External links:... Gilles Villemure Gilles Villemure is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He played for the New York Rangers and Chicago Black Hawks in the 1960s and 1970s.-Playing career:... Bob Whitlock Robert Angus Whitlock is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 244 games in the World Hockey Association and one game in the National Hockey League. He played for the Chicago Cougars, Los Angeles Sharks, Indianapolis Racers, and Minnesota North Stars.- References :... Joe Zanussi Joseph Lawrence Zanussi is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 149 games in the World Hockey Association and 87 games in the National Hockey League... |
External links
- Johnstown Jets - www.officialgamepuck.com
- Old-time hockey indeed - Jets history
- How the Johnstown Jets were turned into the Charlestown Chiefs
- EHL standings and statistics
- IHL standings and statistics
- NAHL standings and statistics