1978-79 International Hockey League Yearbook

International Hockey League (1945-2001)

Tombstone

Formed: 1945
Disbanded: June 4, 2001

First Game:
Last Game: May 26, 2001

Seasons: 56
States & Provinces: 24
(AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, Manitoba, MI, MN, MO, NE, NV, NY, OH, Ontario, PA, Quebec, TX, UT, WI, WV)

Leadership

President:

  • December 1945 – April 1949: Gerald McHugh

Managing Director:

  • June 1949 – June 1952: Fred Huber

Commissioner:

  • June 1952 – June 1962: Frank Gallagher
  • June 1962 – June 1969: Andy Mulligan
  • June 1969 – December 1978: Bill Beagan
  • December 1978 – June 1979: Frank Gallagher
  • June 1979 – August 1983: Jack Riley
  • September 1983 – May 1989: Bud Poile
  • June 1989 – May 1994: Thomas Berry, Jr.
  • June 1994 -June 1998: Robert Ufer

President & Chief Executive Officer

  • July 1998 – June 2001: Douglas Moss

Attendance

The International Hockey League did not publish attendance records in its annual publications until 1991.  Please contact us if you can help out with pre-1990 International Hockey League attendance data.

The IHL experienced explosive attendance growth in the mid-1990’s, bragging in 2000 that the circuit had “led all minor-professional leagues in average attendance the last eleven years”.12000-01 International Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book Within a year of that boast, the IHL was out of business and its wild 1990’s ride of continent-wide expansion and encroachment upon NHL cities is now viewed as a cautionary tale.

Comparing the IHL’s mid-decade surge in total attendance against its far more modest growth in average home attendance reinforces a viewpoint that its mid-decade surge was more a factor of over-expansion than core growth of most teams’ business.

IHL Total Attendance Trends 1990-2001

 

IHL Average Attendance Trends 1990-2001

*The 1990-91 Albany Choppers had a lower home average (2,307) than the 1991-92 Muskegon Lumberjacks. Since the Choppers disbanded in midseason, we are not counting them in this chart and instead noting Muskegon as having the lowest single-season average home attendance of the IHL’s final decade.

Trophy Case

James Gatschene Memorial Trophy (IHL Most Valuable Player)

YEARPLAYERPOSITIONTEAM
1946-47Herb JonesRight WingDetroit Auto Club
1947-48Lyle DowelCenterDetroit Bright's Goodyears
1948-49Bob McFaddenWingDetroit Jerry Lynch
1949-50Dick KowcinakCenterSarnia Sailors
1950-51John McGrathDefensemanToledo Mercurys
1951-52Ernie DickCenterChatham Maroons
1952-53Donnie MarshallCenterCincinnati Mohawks
1953-54
1954-55Phil GoyetteCenterCincinnati Mohawks
1955-56George HayesCenterGrand Rapids Rockets
1956-57Pierre BrilliantRight WingIndianapolis Chiefs
1957-58Pierre BrilliantRight WingIndianapolis Chiefs
1958-59Len ThorsonCenterFort Wayne Komets
1959-60Billy ReichertCenterMinneapolis Millers
1960-61Len ThorsonCenterFort Wayne Komets
1961-62Len ThorsonCenterFort Wayne Komets
1962-63 (Shared)Len ThorsonCenterFort Wayne Komets
1962-63 (Shared)Eddie LongRight WingFort Wayne Komets
1963-64Len ThorsonCenterFort Wayne Komets
1964-65Chick ChalmersCenterToledo Blades
1965-66Gary SchallCenterMuskegon Mohawks
1966-67Len ThorsonCenterFort Wayne Komets
1967-68 (Shared)Len ThorsonCenterFort Wayne Komets
1967-68 (Shared)Don WestbrookeRight WingDayton Gems
1968-69Don WestbrookeRight WingDayton Gems
1969-70Cliff PenningtonCenterDes Moines Oak Leafs
1970-71Lyle CarterGoaltenderMuskegon Mohawks
1971-72Len FontaineRight WingPort Huron Flags
1972-73Gary FordCenterMuskegon Mohawks
1973-74Pete MaraCenterDes Moines Capitols
1974-75Gary FordCenterMuskegon Mohawks
1975-76Len FontaineCenterPort Huron Flags
1976-77Tom MellorDefensemanToledo Goaldiggers
1977-78Dan BonarCenterFort Wayne Komets
1978-79Terry McDougallCenterFort Wayne Komets
1979-80A DumbaRight WingFort Wayne Komets
1980-81Marcel ComeauCenterSaginaw Gears
1981-82Brent JarrettCenterKalamazoo Wings
1982-83Claude NoelCenterToledo Goaldiggers
1983-84Darren JensenGoaltenderFort Wayne Komets
1984-85Scott GruhlLeft WingMuskegon Lumberjacks
1985-86Darrell MayGoaltenderPeoria Rivermen
1986-87 (Shared)Jock CallanderCenterMuskegon Lumberjacks
1986-87 (Shared)Jeff PyleLeft WingSaginaw Generals
1987-88John CullenCenterFlint Spirits
1988-89Dave MichaylukLeft WingMuskegon Lumberjacks
1989-90Michel MongeauCenterPeoria Rivermen
1990-91David BruceLeft WingPeoria Rivermen
1991-92Dmitri KvartalnovLeft WingSan Diego Gulls
1992-93Tony HrkacCenterIndianapolis Ice
1993-94Rob BrownCenterKalamazoo Wings
1994-95Tommy SaloGoaltenderDenver Grizzlies
1995-96Stephane BeauregardGoaltenderSan Francisco Spiders
1996-97Frederic ChabotGoaltenderHouston Aeros
1997-98Patrice LefebvreRight WingLas Vegas Thunder
1998-99Brian WisemanLeft WingHouston Aeros
1999-00 (Shared)Frederic ChabotGoaltenderHouston Aeros
1999-00 (Shared)Nikolai KhabibulinGoaltenderLong Beach Ice Dogs
2000-01Norm MaracleGoaltenderOrlando Solar Bears

 

Garry F. Longman Memorial Trophy (IHL Rookie of the Year)

YEARPLAYERPOSITIONTEAM
1961-62Dave RichardsonLeft WingFort Wayne Komets
1962-63John GravelDefensemanOmaha Knights
1963-64Don WestbrookeRight WingToledo Blades
1964-65Bob ThomasRight WingToledo Blades
1965-66Frank GolembroskyRight WingPort Huron Flags
1966-67Kerry BondLeft WingColumbus Checkers
1967-68Gary FordCenterMuskegon Mohawks
1968-69Doug VolmarRight WingColumbus Checkers
1969-70Wayne ZukRight WingToledo Blades
1970-71 (Shared)Corky AgarLeft WingFlint Generals
1970-71 (Shared)Herb HowdleDefensemanDayton Gems
1971-72Glenn ReschGoaltenderMuskegon Mohawks
1972-73Danny GloorCenterDes Moines Capitols
1973-74Frank DeMarcoLeft WingDes Moines Capitols
1974-75Rick BragnaloCenterDayton Gems
1975-76Sid VeyseyCenterFort Wayne Komets
1976-77 (Shared)Ron ZanussiRight WingFort Wayne Komets
1976-77 (Shared)Garth MacGuiganCenterMuskegon Mohawks
1977-78Dan BonarCenterFort Wayne Komets
1978-79Wes JarvisCenterPort Huron Flags
1979-80Doug RobbRight WingMilwaukee Admirals
1980-81Scott VanderburghCenterKalamazoo Wings
1981-82Scott HowsonCenterToledo Goaldiggers
1982-83Tony FioreCenterFlint Generals
1983-84Darren JensenGoaltenderFort Wayne Komets
1984-85Gilles ThibaudeauCenterFlint Generals
1985-86Guy BenoitCenterMuskegon Lumberjacks
1986-87Michel MongeauCenterSaginaw Generals
1987-88 (Shared)John CullenCenterFlint Spirits
1987-88 (Shared)Ed BelfourGoaltenderSaginaw Hawks
1988-89Paul RanheimLeft WingSalt Lake Golden Eagles
1989-90Rob MurphyCenterMilwaukee Admirals
1990-91Nelson EmersonCenterPeoria Rivermen
1991-92Dmitri KvartalnovLeft WingSan Diego Gulls
1992-93Mikhail ShtalenkovGoaltenderMilwaukee Admirals
1993-94Radek BonkCenterLas Vegas Thunder
1994-95Tommy SaloGoaltenderDenver Grizzlies
1995-96Konstantin ShafranovRight WingFort Wayne Komets
1996-97Sergei SamsonovLeft WingDetroit Vipers
1997-98Todd WhiteCenterIndianapolis Ice
1998-99Marty TurcoGoaltenderMichigan K-Wings
1999-00Nils EkmanRight WingLong Beach Ice Dogs & Detroit Vipers
2000-01Brian PothierDefensemanOrlando Solar Bears

 

Commissioner’s Trophy (IHL Coach of the Year)

YEARCOACHTEAM
1984-85 (Shared)Rick LeyMuskegon Lumberjacks
1984-85 (Shared)Pat KellyPeoria Rivermen
1985-86Robbie LairdFort Wayne Komets
1986-87Wayne ThomasSalt Lake Golden Eagles
1987-88Rick DudleyFlint Spirits
1988-89 (Shared)Blair "B.J." McDonaldMuskegon Lumberjacks
1988-89 (Shared)Phil RussellMuskegon Lumberjacks
1989-90Darryl SutterIndianapolis Ice
1990-91Bob PlagerPeoria Rivermen
1991-92Kevin ConstantineKansas City Blades
1992-93Al SimsFort Wayne Komets
1993-94Bruce BoudreauFort Wayne Komets
1994-95Butch GoringDenver Grizzlies
1995-96Butch GoringUtah Grizzlies
1996-97John Van BoxmeerLong Beach Ice Dogs
1997-98John TorchettiFort Wayne Komets
1998-99Dave TippettHouston Aeros
1999-00Guy CharronGrand Rapids Griffins
2000-01Peter HorachekOrlando Solar Bears

 

Origins

The International Hockey League began play in the winter of 1945-46 with four teams in Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario.  By the early 1950’s, the Canadian clubs had largely faded away and the IHL became a Midwestern bus league for much of its 56-year existence, with cities like Flint, Ft. Wayne, Muskegon and Toledo forming the league’s backbone.

Geographic Expansion

That began to change in 1984, when the IHL absorbed several clubs from the folding Central Hockey League, including the CHL’s former Salt Lake City, Utah club, the Golden Eagles.  Salt Lake is over 1,600 miles from what was then the IHL’s easternmost franchise in Toledo, Ohio.

Major market expansion got under way in the late 1980’s and a speculative bubble in franchise valuations came along with it.  In 1984, the IHL’s Muskegon Mohawks club changed hands for $1.00.  A decade later in 1994 the league’s expansion fee was $6 million. Small market Midwestern clubs like Muskegon, Flint and Saginaw fell by the waysideas the IHL planted its flag in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Las Vegas, Orlando, San Francisco and beyond.

Demise

The IHL’s relationship with the NHL soured during the 1990’s, partly due to expansion into NHL markets like Chicago and Detroit.  NHL clubs began shifting their farm club affiliations away from the IHL, depriving the league of crucial subsidies just as the league’s operational costs with cross-continental  air travel and big city living exploded.  The expansion bubble popped in the mid-1990’s after fees topped out around $7 million and the league went into a financial free fall in the latter part of the decade.

The IHL folded in the early summer of 2001.  Six franchises – the Chicago Wolves, Grand Rapids Griffins, Houston Aeros, Manitoba Moose, Milwaukee Admirals and Utah Grizzlies – continued on and were absorbed into the American Hockey League.

 

International Hockey League Franchise List

FRANCHISEYEARS ACTIVETURNER CUP CHAMPIONS
Akron Americans1948-1949Never
Albany Choppers1990-1991Never
Atlanta Knights1992-19961994
Chatham Maroons1949-19521950
Chatham Maroons1963-1964Never
Chicago Wolves1994-20011998 & 2000
Cincinnati Cyclones1992-2001Never
Cincinnati Mohawks1952-19581953, 1954, 1955, 1956 & 1957
Cleveland Lumberjacks1992-2001Never
Colorado Rangers1987-1988Never
Columbus Checkers1966-1970Never
Columbus Golden Seals1971-1973Never
Columbus Owls1973-1977Never
Dayton Gems1964-1977 & 1979-19801969, 1970 & 1976
Dayton Owls1977Never
Denver Grizzlies1994-19951995
Denver Mavericks1959Never
Denver Rangers1988-1989Never
Des Moines Capitols1972-19751974
Des Moines Oak Leafs1963-1972Never
Detroit Auto Club1945-19511946
Detroit Bright's Goodyears1945-1959Never
Detroit Hettche1949-1952Never
Detroit Jerry Lynch1948-1949Never
Detroit Metal Mouldings1946-1948Never
Detroit Vipers1994-20011997
Flint Generals1969-19851984
Flint Spirits1985-1990Never
Fort Wayne Komets1952-19991963, 1965, 1973 & 1993
Grand Rapids Griffins1996-2001Never
Grand Rapids Owls1977-1980Never
Grand Rapids Rockets1950-1956Never
Houston Aeros1994-20011999
Huntington Hornets1956-1957Never
Indianapolis Checkers1984-1987Never
Indianapolis Chiefs1955-19621958
Indianapolis Ice1988-19991990
Johnstown Jets1953-1955Never
Kalamazoo Wings1974-19951979 & 1980
Kansas City Blades1990-20011992
Lansing Lancers1974-1975Never
Las Vegas Thunder1993-1999Never
Long Beach Ice Dogs1996-2000Never
Los Angeles Ice Dogs1995-1996Never
Louisville Blades1948-1949Never
Louisville Rebels1957-19601959
Louisville Shooting Stars1953-1954Never
Manitoba Moose1996-2001Never
Marion Barons1953-1954Never
Michigan K-Wings1995-20001979 & 1980 (as Kalamazoo Wings)
Milwaukee Admirals1977-2001Never
Milwaukee Chiefs1952-1954Never
Milwaukee Clarks1948-1949Never
Milwaukee Falcons1959-1960Never
Minneapolis Millers1959-1963Never
Minnesota Moose1994-1996Never
Muncie Flyers1948-1949Never
Muskegon Lumberjacks1984-19921986 & 1989
Muskegon Mohawks1965-19841968
Muskegon Zephyrs1960-19651962
Omaha Knights1959-1963Never
Orlando Solar Bears1995-20012001
Peoria Prancers1982-1984Never
Peoria Rivermen1984-19961985 & 1991
Phoenix Roadrunners1989-1997Never
Port Huron Flags1962-1971 & 1974-19811966 & 1971
Port Huron Wings1971-19741972
Quebec Rafales1996-1998Never
Russian Penguins1993-1994Never
Saginaw Gears1972-19831977 & 1981
Saginaw Generals1985-1987Never
Saginaw Hawks1987-1989Never
St. Paul Saints1959-19631960 & 1961
Salt Lake Golden Eagles1984-19941987 & 1988
San Antonio Dragons1996-1998Never
San Diego Gulls1990-1995Never
San Francisco Spiders1995-1996Never
Sarnia Sailors1949-1951Never
Toledo Blades1963-19701964 & 1967
Toledo Goaldiggers1974-19861975, 1978, 1982 & 1983
Toledo Hornets1970-1974Never
Toledo Mercurys1947-1949 & 1950-19621948, 1951 & 1952
Troy Bruins1951-1959Never
Utah Grizzlies1995-20011996
Windsor Bulldogs1963-1964Never
Windsor Gotfredsons1945-1946Never
Windsor Hettche Spitfires1947-19491947 & 1949 (former as Spitfires)
Windsor Spitfires1945-19471947 & 1949 (latter as Hettche Spitfires)
Windsor Staffords1946-1948Never
Windsor Ryan Cretes1948-1950Never

 

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Comments

2 Responses

  1. “Russian Penguins” Is actualy CSKA Moscow also known as Central Red Army. They had a penguin on their jersey due to an sponsership deal with Pittsburgh.

  2. Pingback: International Hockey League Ticket Stubs | Ticket Stub Collection

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