Johnstown Red Wings
Encyclopedia
The Johnstown Red Wings were a professional ice hockey
team based in Johnstown, Pennsylvania
They were founded as a member of the Eastern Hockey League
in the 1979-80 season.
The Red Wings were used as an affiliate to the Adirondack Red Wings
of the AHL
. At the time, Adirondack was the primary affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings
.
for the 1978-79 NEHL season.
Mitchell worked with Lincoln Cavalieri, who was president of Olympia Stadium Corporation
. At the time, Olympia Stadium Corporation owned the Detroit team, and Mitchell was able to secure an affiliation with the Red Wings. Johnstown worked closely with Detroit General Manager Ted Lindsay
and Assistant GM Jim Skinner to develop players. Mitchell eventually ran into financial difficulties. With the assistance of local businesses and a local television station that ran a "Keep Hockey Alive" promotion, enough donations were raised to help fund the Wings' expenses for the season.
The following season, a group of 10 prominent local business people took over the team, now the Johnstown Red Wings in a new version of the Eastern Hockey League
. The 1979-80 team had difficulties on the ice and also lost money, but negotiations with the War Memorial for a new lease were underway when the EHL folded. The Red Wings hired a new coach for the 1979-80 EHL season. Marty Read, the new coach of the Red Wings, had previously played his college hockey at University of Michigan. The Red Wings played for one season, disbanding after a 24-45-1 season. . Following the 1979-80 season, the team ceased operations.
Johnstown would go without hockey until January 1988, when the Johnstown Chiefs were brought back as part of the AAHL
's inaugural 1987-88 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 based in 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...
They were founded as a member of 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...
in the 1979-80 season.
The Red Wings were used as an affiliate to the Adirondack Red Wings
Adirondack Red Wings
The Adirondack Red Wings were a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Glens Falls, New York, USA at the Glens Falls Civic Center. The team was affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League...
of the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
. At the time, Adirondack was the primary affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The 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...
.
History
A year after Johnstown's 1977 flood, former Jets Executive Director/GM John Mitchell founded the Johnstown Wings of the Northeastern Hockey League. Mitchell used his connections with the NHL's Detroit Red WingsDetroit Red Wings
The 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...
for the 1978-79 NEHL season.
Mitchell worked with Lincoln Cavalieri, who was president of Olympia Stadium Corporation
Olympia Entertainment
Olympia Entertainment is a sports and entertainment company headquartered in the Fox Theatre in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. Olympia is a division of Ilitch Holdings, Inc., and owned by Mike and Marian Ilitch...
. At the time, Olympia Stadium Corporation owned the Detroit team, and Mitchell was able to secure an affiliation with the Red Wings. Johnstown worked closely with Detroit General Manager Ted Lindsay
Ted Lindsay
Robert Blake Theodore Lindsay is a former professional ice hockey player, a forward for the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League . He scored over 800 points in his Hockey Hall of Fame career, won the Art Ross Trophy in 1950, and won the Stanley Cup four times...
and Assistant GM Jim Skinner to develop players. Mitchell eventually ran into financial difficulties. With the assistance of local businesses and a local television station that ran a "Keep Hockey Alive" promotion, enough donations were raised to help fund the Wings' expenses for the season.
The following season, a group of 10 prominent local business people took over the team, now the Johnstown Red Wings in a new version of 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...
. The 1979-80 team had difficulties on the ice and also lost money, but negotiations with the War Memorial for a new lease were underway when the EHL folded. The Red Wings hired a new coach for the 1979-80 EHL season. Marty Read, the new coach of the Red Wings, had previously played his college hockey at University of Michigan. The Red Wings played for one season, disbanding after a 24-45-1 season. . Following the 1979-80 season, the team ceased operations.
Johnstown would go without hockey until January 1988, when the Johnstown Chiefs were brought back as part of the AAHL
All-American Hockey League
The All-American Hockey League was a minor league hockey organization formed in 1972 with teams based in the Upper Midwest and Great lakes regions of the United States as the Continental Hockey League. In 1986 the league folded and the Danville, Dayton, Troy went on to form the All-American Hockey...
's inaugural 1987-88 season.
Regular Season
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | Points | GF | GA | Standings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979–80 | 70 | 24 | 45 | 1 | 49 | 281 | 384 | 5th |
Notable Personnel
- Jim CardiffJim CardiffJim Cardiff is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 200 games in the World Hockey Association for the Philadelphia Blazers and Vancouver Blazers.-External links:...
, played three seasons in the WHAWorld Hockey AssociationThe World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
as a member of the PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia BlazersThe Philadelphia Blazers were an ice hockey franchise in the World Hockey Association for the 1972–73 WHA season that was based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States....
/Vancouver BlazersVancouver BlazersThe Vancouver Blazers were a professional ice hockey team that played in the World Hockey Association from 1973-75. The Blazers played at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, British Columbia, sharing the facility with the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League. The Blazers were owned by...
. Played two partial seasons with the Johnstown Jets before finishing his career as a member of the Red Wings. - Ron DockenRon DockenRonald L. Docken is a retired American professional ice hockey goaltender.-Career:Docken spent three years with the University of Minnesota from 1967-70. After not playing during the 1970-71 season, Docken signed with the Johnstown Jets of the EHL. Docken backed up second-year Jets goalie Bob...
, starting goalie for Johnstown Wings in 1978-79, had minor role in Slap Shot as backup goalie "Lebrun" - Lorry GloecknerLorry GloecknerLorry Gloeckner is a professional hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League.-External links:...
, played 13 games for the 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...
, sat out a season due to injuries, played final season in Johnstown before retiring - John HilworthJohn HilworthJohn Hilworth is a retired Canadian ice hockey player who played 57 games in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings.- Career statistics :-External links:...
, former Detroit Red Wings draft pick (55th overall, 1977 NHL Entry Draft) who played 57 games over three seasons with Johnstown's parent club. - Claude LegrisClaude LegrisClaude Legris is a retired professional ice hockey player who played four games in the National Hockey League as a member of the Detroit Red Wings.-Awards:...
, former Detroit Red Wings draft pick (120th overall, 1976 NHL Entry Draft) who made one appearance in Johnstown. Legris remained in Detroit's system until his eventual retirement in 1983. - Ted LindsayTed LindsayRobert Blake Theodore Lindsay is a former professional ice hockey player, a forward for the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League . He scored over 800 points in his Hockey Hall of Fame career, won the Art Ross Trophy in 1950, and won the Stanley Cup four times...
, member of the Hockey Hall Of Fame who accepted position as General Manager with the team. - Dave MacQueenDave MacQueen-Playing career:Prior to becoming a coach, MacQueen played seven years of professional hockey , bouncing between the EHL, IHL, CHL, and the ACHL...
, leading scorer for the Red Wings in 1979-80, former Tampa Bay LightningTampa Bay LightningThe Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
assistant coach - Harry ShawHarry Shaw (ice hockey)Harry Shaw is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey defenceman.Shaw played 15 seasons of professional hockey, including five seasons in the AHL.-References:...
, played 15 years of professional hockey - Paul SteigerwaldPaul SteigerwaldPaul Steigerwald is an American sports announcer.-Minor leagues:Steigerwald became a hockey fan growing up in Pittsburgh's South Hills. One of his neighbors was Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jack Riley, who would provide tickets for the poorly-attended games...
, started broadcasting career with the Johnstown Red Wings, current play-by-play announcer for the NHL's Pittsburgh PenguinsPittsburgh PenguinsThe Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original... - Wayne WoodWayne WoodWayne Wood is a retired Canadian ice hockey goaltender. He played 104 games in the World Hockey Association with the Vancouver Blazers, Toronto Toros, Calgary Cowboys, and Birmingham Bulls.- External links :...
, former 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...
draft pick (83rd overall, 1971 NHL Entry Draft)