Category: North American Hockey League

Broome Dusters Hockey

Broome Dusters

November 21, 2013

The Broome Dusters, AKA the Binghamton Dusters, were a popular minor league hockey team during the mid-1970’s in Broome County, New York. The Dusters originally played in the rough and tumble North American Hockey League from 1973 through 1977. After that league collapsed, the Dusters joined the American Hockey League for three seasons from 1977 until 1980. Binghamton resident Johnny Hart, who penned the syndicated comic strips B.C. and The Wizard of Id, designed the Dusters’ logo of a caveman with a hockey stick.

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Philadelphia Firebirds Hockey

Philadelphia Firebirds

June 9, 2013

The Philadelphia Firebirds minor league hockey team played at the old Philadelphia Civic Center from 1974 through 1979. Philly was hockey mad at the time. The NHL’s Flyers won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975.  The Firebirds enjoyed some of the overflow enthusiasm and added a championship of their own, winning the North American Hockey League’s Lockhart Cup in 1976. The ‘Birds helped launch the career of long-time NHL goaltender Reggie Lemelin and 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey hero Mike Eruzione also played briefly for the team. The Firebirds moved away to Syracuse, New York in 1979.

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1975-76 Maine Nordiques program from the North American Hockey League

Maine Nordiques

March 21, 2013

The Maine Nordiques were a minor league hockey team that played from 1973 to 1977 at Lewiston’s tiny Central Maine Youth Center, which offered seats for just 2,800 fans. The Nordiques were members of the North American Hockey League which provided farm clubs for the World Hockey Association, a 1970’s rival to the National Hockey League.  Maine was the top farm club of the WHA’s Quebec Nordiques.  During the mid-1970’s, the Nords were the only professional sports franchise in the state of Maine.

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1976 Buffalo Norsemen program from the North American Hockey League

Buffalo Norsemen

May 5, 2012

North American Hockey League (1975-1976) Born: May 5, 1975 – NAHL expansion franchise Folded: June 1976 First Game: October 17, 1975 (L 4-3 vs. Broome Dusters) Last

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