Hampton Gulls
Encyclopedia
The Hampton Gulls were a professional ice hockey
team based in Hampton, Virginia
and were a farm team for the Cincinnati Stingers
of the WHA
. The Gulls were a member of the Southern Hockey League
for three seasons from 1974–75 to 1976–77, and the American Hockey League
for one season in 1977–78. John Brophy
was the team's coach for all four seasons.
In 1974, the Fayetteville
Arsenal, an expansion team in the SHL, failed to secure home ice and scheduled dates. The Arsenal wound up as the Hampton Gulls just as the season opened. The Gulls were able to secure plenty of available dates at the Hampton Coliseum
, because the Virginia Wings
of the AHL had changed their home arena across the Hampton Roads
bay in Norfolk, Virginia
.
The Gulls played three winning seasons in the SHL, and were the league's regular season champions in 1977. When the league folded after that season, the Gulls were approved as an expansion franchise in the AHL. Due to the financial strain in the higher league, the Gulls were unable to complete the 1977–78
schedule, folding on February 10, 1978.
Minor professional hockey would return five seasons later in 1982–83, as the Hampton Roads Gulls
of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League
.
This market was previously home to:
The franchise was replaced by:
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team based in Hampton, Virginia
Hampton, Virginia
Hampton is an independent city that is not part of any county in Southeast Virginia. Its population is 137,436. As one of the seven major cities that compose the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, it is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula. Located on the Hampton Roads Beltway, it hosts...
and were a farm team for the Cincinnati Stingers
Cincinnati Stingers
The Cincinnati Stingers was an ice hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio, that played in the World Hockey Association from 1975 to 1979. Its home arena was Riverfront Coliseum and it was the only major-league hockey team ever to play in Cincinnati.-History:The Stingers franchise was awarded in...
of the WHA
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
. The Gulls were a member of the Southern Hockey League
Southern Hockey League (1973-1977)
The Southern Hockey League was a low-level minor professional ice hockey league that operated from 1973 to 1977. The SHL was one of two leagues along with the North American Hockey League, that were formed after the Eastern Hockey League ceased operations in 1973...
for three seasons from 1974–75 to 1976–77, and the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
for one season in 1977–78. John Brophy
John Brophy (ice hockey)
John Brophy is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former hockey player who has spent most of his career in minor professional leagues, including 18 years as a player in the Eastern Hockey League and 13 seasons as a coach in the East Coast Hockey League...
was the team's coach for all four seasons.
In 1974, the Fayetteville
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city....
Arsenal, an expansion team in the SHL, failed to secure home ice and scheduled dates. The Arsenal wound up as the Hampton Gulls just as the season opened. The Gulls were able to secure plenty of available dates at the Hampton Coliseum
Hampton Coliseum
The Hampton Coliseum is a multi-use cultural, entertainment and sports arena in Hampton, Virginia. Construction on the arena began on May 24, 1968 and the venue opened in 1970 as the first large multi-purpose arena in the Hampton Roads region and the state of Virginia, opening a year prior to...
, because the Virginia Wings
Virginia Wings
The Virginia Wings were a professional ice hockey team based in Norfolk, Virginia of the greater Hampton Roads area. They were an affiliated farm team of the Detroit Red Wings, and a member of the American Hockey League for three seasons from 1972–73 to 1974–75. The Wings were previously known as...
of the AHL had changed their home arena across the Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
bay in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
.
The Gulls played three winning seasons in the SHL, and were the league's regular season champions in 1977. When the league folded after that season, the Gulls were approved as an expansion franchise in the AHL. Due to the financial strain in the higher league, the Gulls were unable to complete the 1977–78
1977–78 AHL season
The 1977–78 AHL season was the 42nd season of the American Hockey League. The season was in jeopardy when the last of the original eight franchises of the "International-American Hockey League", the Rhode Island Reds folded in the offseason, and the AHL was left with five teams...
schedule, folding on February 10, 1978.
Minor professional hockey would return five seasons later in 1982–83, as the Hampton Roads Gulls
Hampton Roads Gulls
The Hampton Roads Gulls were a professional ice hockey team based in Hampton, VA. They were a member of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League in the 1982-83 season.-Season-by-season results:-Notable players:...
of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League
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....
.
This market was previously home to:
- Virginia WingsVirginia WingsThe Virginia Wings were a professional ice hockey team based in Norfolk, Virginia of the greater Hampton Roads area. They were an affiliated farm team of the Detroit Red Wings, and a member of the American Hockey League for three seasons from 1972–73 to 1974–75. The Wings were previously known as...
(1972–1975 of the American Hockey LeagueAmerican Hockey LeagueThe American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
)
The franchise was replaced by:
- Hampton Roads GullsHampton Roads GullsThe Hampton Roads Gulls were a professional ice hockey team based in Hampton, VA. They were a member of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League in the 1982-83 season.-Season-by-season results:-Notable players:...
(1982–1983 ACHLAtlantic Coast Hockey LeagueThe Atlantic Coast Hockey League was a minor league hockey organization that operated between 1981 and 1987. The league was founded by Bill Coffey....
) - Hampton Roads AdmiralsHampton Roads AdmiralsThe Hampton Roads Admirals were an American professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They played in Norfolk, Virginia at the Norfolk Scope Arena....
of the ECHLECHLThe ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
(1989–2000) - Norfolk AdmiralsNorfolk AdmiralsThe Norfolk Admirals are a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and are affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Admirals play in Norfolk, Virginia, at the Norfolk Scope.-History:...
of the AHLAmerican Hockey LeagueThe American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(2000–present)
Yearly results
- Hampton Gulls 1974–1977 (Southern Hockey League)
- Hampton Gulls 1977–1978 (American Hockey LeagueAmerican Hockey LeagueThe American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
)
| Season | League | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | Points | Winning Pct (%) | Goals for | Goals against | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974–75 | SHL | 72 | 43 | 28 | 1 | 87 | 0.604 | 323 | 262 | 2nd overall |
| 1975–76 | SHL | 72 | 33 | 23 | 16 | 82 | 0.569 | 262 | 234 | 2nd overall |
| 1976–77 | SHL | 50 | 32 | 16 | 2 | 66 | 0.660 | 198 | 152 | 1st overall |
| 1977–78 1977–78 AHL season The 1977–78 AHL season was the 42nd season of the American Hockey League. The season was in jeopardy when the last of the original eight franchises of the "International-American Hockey League", the Rhode Island Reds folded in the offseason, and the AHL was left with five teams... |
AHL | 46 | 15 | 28 | 3 | 33 | 0.359 | 142 | 171 | 5th South |
External links
- SHL statistics - hockeydb.com
- AHL statistics - hockeydb.com