Erie Golden Blades
Encyclopedia
The Erie Golden Blades were a minor league hockey team that played in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League
. Their home ice was the Erie County Field House. The Erie County Field House was located in Erie, Pennsylvania
and held 4200 people. The team was owned by Steve Stroud from 1983-87
The Golden Blades played five seasons in the ACHL, reaching the playoffs each season. They would reach the final round of the playoffs in each of their first four seasons, winning the Bob Payne Trophy as league champion in 1983-84.
The Golden Blades would lose in the opening around of the 1986-87 ACHL playoffs. With several teams moving to the upstart All-American Hockey League
, the Golden Blades (along with the league) folded.
Atlantic Coast Hockey League
The Atlantic Coast Hockey League was a minor league hockey organization that operated between 1981 and 1987. The league was founded by Bill Coffey....
. Their home ice was the Erie County Field House. The Erie County Field House was located in Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
and held 4200 people. The team was owned by Steve Stroud from 1983-87
The Golden Blades played five seasons in the ACHL, reaching the playoffs each season. They would reach the final round of the playoffs in each of their first four seasons, winning the Bob Payne Trophy as league champion in 1983-84.
The Golden Blades would lose in the opening around of the 1986-87 ACHL playoffs. With several teams moving to the upstart All-American Hockey League
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...
, the Golden Blades (along with the league) folded.
Notable Personnel
- Ron HansisRon HansisRon Hansis was a professional ice hockey player who played 100 games in the World Hockey Association. He played for the Houston Aeros....
: player-coach would later become the only coach of the Erie PanthersErie PanthersThe Erie Panthers were a professional hockey team, and one of the founding members in the East Coast Hockey League. Based in Erie, Pennsylvania from 1988 to 1996, they were one of the most prolific teams in the ECHL. The Panthers were known for their ability to score goals quickly and often, as...
. Hansis also coached the Baton Rouge KingfishBaton Rouge KingfishThe Baton Rouge Kingfish were a minor professional ice hockey team in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as a member of the East Coast Hockey League. The franchise arrived in Baton Rouge in 1996 after relocating from Erie, Pennsylvania, where they had played as the Erie Panthers since 1988 as one of the...
after the Panthers moved from Erie to Baton RougeBaton Rouge, LouisianaBaton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
before being replaced by Dave Schultz. - Pierre LagacePierre LagacePierre Lagace is a former professional ice hockey centre. He was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in the eighth round, 73rd overall, of the 1977 WHA Amateur Draft...
: former draft pick of the Montreal CanadiensMontreal CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
(round 3, 46th overall in 1977 NHL Entry Draft) and the Quebec NordiquesQuebec NordiquesThe Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League...
(round 8, 77th overall in the 1977 WHA amateur draft). - Paul Mancini: former draft pick of the Los Angeles KingsLos Angeles KingsThe Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
(round 5, 77th overall in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft). Mancini is the all-time leading point scorer (486 points in 263 games) and all-time leading goal scorer (234 goals) in team history. - Barry TabobondungBarry TabobondungBarry Tabobondung was an Ojibwa Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and left winger. He was drafted in the third round, 47th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft...
: former draft pick of the Philadelphia FlyersPhiladelphia FlyersThe 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...
(round 3, 47th overall in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft). Would be named to the league's all star team in 1983-84 and 1984-85, and was named league MVP for the 1984-85 season. - John TortorellaJohn TortorellaJonathan "John" Tortorella is an American professional ice hockey coach and is now the head coach of the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League . He is perhaps best known for his tenure as head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning when he led the team to the 2004 Stanley Cup championship...
: played parts of two seasons (1982-831982–83 AHL seasonThe 1982–83 AHL season was the 47th season of the American Hockey League. Thirteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Rochester Americans finished first overall in the regular season, and won their fourth Calder Cup championship.-Team changes:...
and 1983-841983–84 AHL seasonThe 1983–84 AHL season was the 48th season of the American Hockey League. Thirteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The league initiates two new awards. The Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award is first awarded to the league's "best goaltender." The Jack A...
) with the Golden Blades. In 19961995–96 AHL seasonThe 1995–96 AHL season was the 60th season of the American Hockey League. The AHL expands by two teams and realigns into two conferences, and four divisions. The Northern Conference includes the North and Atlantic Divisions...
he became the Calder CupCalder CupThe Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
winning head coach of the Rochester AmericansRochester AmericansThe Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial...
, and in 2004 the Stanley CupStanley CupThe 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...
winning head coach with the 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...
. - Wayne Van DorpWayne Van DorpWayne Van Dorp is a retired professional ice hockey player. He played for the Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks and Quebec Nordiques. In The Netherlands he played for Gijs Groningen....
: scored 54 points in 52 games with the Golden Blades. Would go on to play 128 games with the Edmonton OilersEdmonton OilersThe Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
, 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...
, Chicago BlackhawksChicago BlackhawksThe Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
, and Quebec Nordiques of the National Hockey League.