Phoenix Roadrunners (WHA)
Encyclopedia
The Phoenix Roadrunners were a team in the now defunct World Hockey Association
from 1974 to 1977. They played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
in Phoenix, Arizona
. The organization folded for financial reasons before the remaining teams in the WHA merged with the NHL in 1979.
(WHL) from 1967 to 1974 after being moved from Victoria
, British Columbia
, where they had played for the three previous seasons as the Maple Leafs
.
They won the championship trophy, the Lester Patrick Cup, twice during their tenure in the WHL (1972–73 and 1973–74). Prior to 1974, rumors had circulated that teams like the Minnesota North Stars
were considering a move to Phoenix, but the Arizona capital would have to wait
22 years until the original Winnipeg Jets moved there, and become the Coyotes
.
In 1974, the Roadrunners joined the WHA with their roster mostly intact when the WHL ceased operations. The Roadrunners achieved relative success during their first two WHA seasons, but lack of financial success resulted in the removal of local favorite Sandy Hucul
as coach and his replacement with Al Rollins
, who was disliked by Phoenix hockey fans. Rollins did not succeed in improving the team's fortunes, resulting in it folding at the end of its third season.
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...
from 1974 to 1977. They played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
The Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum is a 14,870-seat multi-purpose indoor arena in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, located on the grounds of the Arizona State Fair...
in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. The organization folded for financial reasons before the remaining teams in the WHA merged with the NHL in 1979.
History
The franchise originally competed in the Western Hockey LeagueWestern Hockey League (minor pro)
The Western Hockey League was a minor pro ice hockey league that operated from 1952 to 1974. Managed for most of its history by Hockey Hall of Fame member Al Leader, it was created out of the merger of the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Canada Senior Hockey League...
(WHL) from 1967 to 1974 after being moved from Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, where they had played for the three previous seasons as the Maple Leafs
Victoria Maple Leafs
The Victoria Maple Leafs were a minor pro ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League that played three seasons in Victoria, British Columbia, beginning in 1964. The previous season they had played as the Invaders in Denver, Colorado, winning the regular season with the best record in the Western...
.
They won the championship trophy, the Lester Patrick Cup, twice during their tenure in the WHL (1972–73 and 1973–74). Prior to 1974, rumors had circulated that teams like the Minnesota North Stars
Minnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
were considering a move to Phoenix, but the Arizona capital would have to wait
22 years until the original Winnipeg Jets moved there, and become the Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
.
In 1974, the Roadrunners joined the WHA with their roster mostly intact when the WHL ceased operations. The Roadrunners achieved relative success during their first two WHA seasons, but lack of financial success resulted in the removal of local favorite Sandy Hucul
Sandy Hucul
Alex "Sandy" Hucul is a former Canadian ice hockey player and coach.Hucul had a long playing career, turning professional in 1954 with the Calgary Stampeders of the Western Hockey League...
as coach and his replacement with Al Rollins
Al Rollins
Elwin Ira Rollins was a professional Canadian ice hockey goaltender who played for the Chicago Black Hawks, New York Rangers and the Toronto Maple Leafs.-Playing career:...
, who was disliked by Phoenix hockey fans. Rollins did not succeed in improving the team's fortunes, resulting in it folding at the end of its third season.
Notable players WHL 1967-74
- Jim MurrayJim Murray (ice hockey)James Arnold Murray is a former professional ice hockey defenceman, who played 30 games in the National Hockey League with the Los Angeles Kings...
- played 364 games in 5 seasons on defence, scored 211 points - Harry ShawHarry Shaw (ice hockey)Harry Shaw is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey defenceman.Shaw played 15 seasons of professional hockey, including five seasons in the AHL.-References:...
- played 335 games in 6 seasons on defence - Larry LundLarry LundLarry Lund is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 459 games in the World Hockey Association all with the Houston Aeros.-Playing career:...
- scored 261 points in 203 games over 3 seasons - Alex "Sandy" HuculSandy HuculAlex "Sandy" Hucul is a former Canadian ice hockey player and coach.Hucul had a long playing career, turning professional in 1954 with the Calgary Stampeders of the Western Hockey League...
- played 308 games over 5 seasons, won Hal Laycoe Cup (best defenceman) in 1968 and 1972; coached the WHA team in 1974 - Andre HinseAndre HinseJoseph Charles André Hinse is a retired professional ice hockey player who played four games in the National Hockey League and 256 games in the World Hockey Association. He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Phoenix Roadrunners and Houston Aeros.- References :...
- scored 143 goals and 313 points in 277 games over 4 seasons - Wayne HicksWayne HicksWayne Wilson Hicks is a retired American professional ice hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League with the Chicago Black Hawks, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers...
- finished career in Phoenix with 218 points in 275 games - Bob CharleboisBob CharleboisRobert Richard Charlebois is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played 7 games in the National Hockey League for the Minnesota North Stars. He would also play 188 games in the World Hockey Association with the New England Whalers and Ottawa Nationals.-External links:...
- scored 169 points in 224 games - Bob BarlowBob BarlowRobert George Barlow is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player.-Playing career:He was the captain of the Vancouver Canucks of the Western Hockey League during the 1968-69 season. He played in 77 NHL games with the Minnesota North Stars over parts of two seasons and 51 WHA games with the...
- scored 199 points in 207 games - Howie YoungHowie YoungHoward John Edward "Wild Thing" Young was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and actor, best known for his time in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings in the 1960s...
- for 3 of his 23 professional seasons, scored 170 points in 190 games, 1st Team All-Star 1974
Season-by-season record
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes| Season | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1974–75 | 78 | 39 | 31 | 8 | 86 | 300 | 265 | 1388 | 4th, Western | Lost quarterfinals (Quebec Quebec Nordiques The 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... ) |
| 1975–76 | 78 | 39 | 35 | 4 | 82 | 302 | 287 | 1292 | 2nd, Western | Lost preliminaries (San Diego San Diego Mariners The San Diego Mariners were an ice hockey team based in San Diego that played in the World Hockey Association. They played from 1974 to 1977. Their home ice was San Diego Sports Arena... ) |
| 1976–77 | 80 | 28 | 48 | 4 | 60 | 281 | 383 | 915 | 6th, Western | Did not qualify |
| Totals | 236 | 106 | 114 | 16 | 228 | 883 | 935 | 3595 |
External links
- http://web.archive.org/web/20091027092117/http://www.geocities.com/braniff73/roadrunners.html
- http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/team_data.php?tname=roadrunners&tcity=Phoenix&tstate=&tleague=&y1=&y2=&x=83&y=14