Philadelphia Wings (1974-75)
Encyclopedia
The Philadelphia Wings was one of six teams from the original National Lacrosse League
. This team mimicked Philadelphia's NHL counterpart, the Flyers
with its "Broad Street Bullies" style of play. The Wings played at the home of the Flyers, the Spectrum
, and played their first game in that arena on May 19, 1974, mere hours after the Flyers won the Stanley Cup
. The Wings were one of three teams that did not go bankrupt prior to the 1976 season cancellation.
The league only lasted two seasons. The regular season was played during the off-season of the NHL and consisted of 40 games in 1974 and 48 in 1975. Both seasons consisted of a two-round playoff with four of the six teams making the playoffs. Each round was a best-of-seven series.
The Wings were regular season champions in the first season (1974). After defeating the Maryland Arrows in the first round, they were eliminated in the final round by the Rochester Griffins four games to two in the first season. They failed to make the playoffs with a disappointing fifth place finish (they missed the playoffs by one win).
The 1974-1975 NLL is unrelated to the modern-day National Lacrosse League
also includes a team called the Philadelphia Wings
, which is also unrelated to this team. This was the only original league logo resurrected in the rebirth of pro indoor lacrosse. The current NLL league and franchise makes no references to the original incarnation although in 2004 there was a "retro" night in Philadelphia where the Wings wore the original orange jersey and the Rochester Knighthawks
donned the Rochester Griffins jersey. Members of the original Wings were honored at a ceremony at half-time.
The players included Doug Favell
(NHL goalie), John Grant Sr., the only player to play for both versions of the NLL Wings and father of current NLL player John Grant Jr.
, Jimmy Wasson, goalkeeper
Wayne Platt and Zeny Lipinski. Longtime Flyer television announcer Gene Hart called the games for the Wings.
KEY:
GP = Games Played
G = Goals Scored
A = Assists
Pts = Points
PIM = Penalties In Minutes
National Lacrosse League (1974-75)
The National Lacrosse League was a box lacrosse league that lasted two seasons: 1974 and 1975. It is not related to the modern National Lacrosse League....
. This team mimicked Philadelphia's NHL counterpart, the Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
with its "Broad Street Bullies" style of play. The Wings played at the home of the Flyers, the Spectrum
Wachovia Spectrum
The Spectrum, formerly known as the CoreStates Spectrum , First Union Spectrum , and Wachovia Spectrum was an indoor arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
, and played their first game in that arena on May 19, 1974, mere hours after the Flyers won the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
. The Wings were one of three teams that did not go bankrupt prior to the 1976 season cancellation.
The league only lasted two seasons. The regular season was played during the off-season of the NHL and consisted of 40 games in 1974 and 48 in 1975. Both seasons consisted of a two-round playoff with four of the six teams making the playoffs. Each round was a best-of-seven series.
The Wings were regular season champions in the first season (1974). After defeating the Maryland Arrows in the first round, they were eliminated in the final round by the Rochester Griffins four games to two in the first season. They failed to make the playoffs with a disappointing fifth place finish (they missed the playoffs by one win).
The 1974-1975 NLL is unrelated to the modern-day National Lacrosse League
National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League is a men's professional indoor lacrosse league in North America. It currently has nine teams; three in Canada and six in the United States. Unlike other lacrosse leagues which play in the summer, the NLL plays its games in the winter and spring. Each year, the playoff...
also includes a team called the Philadelphia Wings
Philadelphia Wings
The Philadelphia Wings are a member of the National Lacrosse League, a professional box lacrosse league in North America. They play at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
, which is also unrelated to this team. This was the only original league logo resurrected in the rebirth of pro indoor lacrosse. The current NLL league and franchise makes no references to the original incarnation although in 2004 there was a "retro" night in Philadelphia where the Wings wore the original orange jersey and the Rochester Knighthawks
Rochester Knighthawks
The Rochester Knighthawks are a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League. They play in Rochester, New York at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial. The Knighthawks were previously members of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1995 to 1997...
donned the Rochester Griffins jersey. Members of the original Wings were honored at a ceremony at half-time.
The players included Doug Favell
Doug Favell
Douglas Robert Favell is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender, most notably for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League. He was also a box lacrosse player.-Playing career:...
(NHL goalie), John Grant Sr., the only player to play for both versions of the NLL Wings and father of current NLL player John Grant Jr.
John Grant, Jr. (lacrosse player)
John Christopher Grant, Jr. is a professional lacrosse player for the Colorado Mammoth in the National Lacrosse League and the Long Island Lizards in Major League Lacrosse.-NLL career:...
, Jimmy Wasson, goalkeeper
Goalkeeper
In many team sports which involve scoring goals, a goalkeeper is a designated player charged with directly preventing the opposing team from scoring by intercepting shots at goal...
Wayne Platt and Zeny Lipinski. Longtime Flyer television announcer Gene Hart called the games for the Wings.
1974 Players
| Name | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Buckley | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Carm Collins | 23 | 22 | 24 | 46 | 97 |
| Mike Collins | 34 | 26 | 15 | 41 | 78 |
| Doug Favell | 18 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 23 |
| Glen Ferguson | 30 | 13 | 18 | 31 | 15 |
| Larry Ferguson | 40 | 36 | 49 | 85 | 22 |
| Keith Goebey | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Goulding | 39 | 38 | 52 | 90 | 36 |
| John Grant Sr. | 39 | 78 | 105 | 183 | 26 |
| John Hamilton | 19 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| Jim Hickey | 23 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 0 |
| Jim Hinkson | 26 | 19 | 27 | 46 | 18 |
| Paul Jones | 16 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Joe Krasnaj | 38 | 23 | 42 | 65 | 110 |
| John Linehan | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Zeny Lipinski Sr. | 40 | 29 | 49 | 74 | 123 |
| Larry Lloyd | 40 | 82 | 91 | 173 | 39 |
| Terry Lloyd | 40 | 77 | 34 | 111 | 27 |
| Doug Maynard | 10 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 7 |
| Ian Montgomery | 25 | 7 | 18 | 25 | 4 |
| Joe Musical | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tim O'Grady | 25 | 8 | 17 | 25 | 36 |
| Ted Peters | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Wayne Platt | 35 | 0 | 47 | 47 | 4 |
| Barry Richardson | 21 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 23 |
| Brian Robinson | 36 | 61 | 63 | 124 | 20 |
| Terry Rowland | 24 | 32 | 33 | 65 | 68 |
| Adock Shenandoah | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Vilneff | 28 | 7 | 17 | 24 | 36 |
| Jim Wasson | 34 | 37 | 57 | 94 | 16 |
1975 Players
| Name | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carm Collins | 46 | 28 | 28 | 56 | 197 |
| Mike Collins | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Glen Ferguson | 19 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 14 |
| Larry Ferguson | 18 | 18 | 24 | 42 | 6 |
| Bob Goulding | 34 | 14 | 32 | 46 | 57 |
| John Grant Sr. | 47 | 64 | 134 | 198 | 52 |
| John Hamilton | 25 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| Jim Hickey | 35 | 2 | 23 | 25 | 28 |
| Zeny Lipinski Sr. | 46 | 26 | 63 | 89 | 178 |
| Larry Lloyd | 44 | 68 | 76 | 144 | 46 |
| Terry Lloyd | 48 | 113 | 56 | 169 | 54 |
| Ted Peters | 22 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Wayne Platt | 36 | 0 | 49 | 49 | 2 |
| Brian Robinson | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Terry Rowland | 9 | 11 | 5 | 16 | 19 |
| Jim Wasson | 48 | 78 | 68 | 146 | 60 |
KEY:
GP = Games Played
G = Goals Scored
A = Assists
Pts = Points
PIM = Penalties In Minutes