Eastern Hockey League (1964-1965)
Tombstone
Born: May 28, 1964 – EHL expansion franchise
Folded: 1965
First Game: October 14, 1964 (L 5-1 @ Johnstown Jets)
Last Game: March 7, 1965 (L 5-0 vs. Johnstown Jets)
Walker Cup Championships: None
Arenas
Marketing
Team Colors: Red, White & Blue
Ownership
Owner: Madison Square Garden Corp.
Background
This 1964-65 New York Rangers farm club in the Eastern Hockey League was the last of several versions of the New York Rovers ice hockey team. The original Rovers started out back in 1935 as a senior amateur club in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League and played until 1952. The club traditionally played Sunday matinees at Madison Square Garden. The Rovers were first revived as pro team out on Long Island in 1959, but changed their name to the Long Island Ducks after two seasons in 1961.
This final incarnation of the Rovers was born in May 1964, when Madison Square Garden Corp. signed on to operate the club. The new Rovers would revive the old tradition of playing Sunday matinees at the Garden. On dates when the Garden wasn’t available, the Rovers played at the New York State Expositon Grounds in Syracuse.
The Rovers finished the 1964-65 EHL season with a 25-39-8 record and did not make the playoffs. The team folded after only one season and the Rovers name has not been revived since.
New York Rovers Shop
Rovers Logo T-Shirt by VintageIceHockey.com
Links
“Reactivated Rovers of Eastern Hockey League Play Sundays at Garden“, William N. Wallace, The New York Times, May 29, 1964
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2 Responses
Was Samuel C. Poling a member of the Ranger farm team Rovers during 1940’s > 1950?
Went to many Rovers games Sunday afternoons and then Rangers at night in the old Garden.