Pinebridge Bucks
Encyclopedia
The Pinebridge Bucks were a professional ice hockey
team in Spruce Pine, North Carolina
. They were a member of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League
from 1983 to 1985. Its colors were forest green, gold and maroon.
The Bucks played their home games in the Pinebridge Coliseum
, and beer was unavailable for purchase during games due to the county's "dry" status at that time. Brought to the town by a local investor hoping to spur tourism and wishful of filling dates in the new Coliseum , the town of Spruce Pine, NC - with a population of just over 2,000 - is the smallest to host a professional hockey team in the modern era.
The Bucks finished 5th in the league in the 1983-84 season with a 25-47-0 record - almost unprecedented in its era for a hockey team, it had zero ties on the season - but improved to a third place finish in its second and final year with a 33-25-6 record.
The most noteworthy player in the team's short history was Ray LeBlanc
, goaltender of the 1992 US Olympic Hockey Team. Its leading scorer both seasons was Rob Clavette, the third leading scorer in ACHL history.
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 in Spruce Pine, North Carolina
Spruce Pine, North Carolina
Spruce Pine is a town in Mitchell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,175 at the 2010 census.-History:Spruce Pine was founded in 1907 when the Clinchfield Railroad made its way up the North Toe River from Erwin, Tennessee...
. They were a member 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....
from 1983 to 1985. Its colors were forest green, gold and maroon.
The Bucks played their home games in the Pinebridge Coliseum
Pinebridge Coliseum
Pinebridge Coliseum, also known as The Bridge Coliseum, is a 5,000 seat indoor arena located in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. It hosted the ice hockey team Pinebridge Bucks of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League from 1983 to 1985....
, and beer was unavailable for purchase during games due to the county's "dry" status at that time. Brought to the town by a local investor hoping to spur tourism and wishful of filling dates in the new Coliseum , the town of Spruce Pine, NC - with a population of just over 2,000 - is the smallest to host a professional hockey team in the modern era.
The Bucks finished 5th in the league in the 1983-84 season with a 25-47-0 record - almost unprecedented in its era for a hockey team, it had zero ties on the season - but improved to a third place finish in its second and final year with a 33-25-6 record.
The most noteworthy player in the team's short history was Ray LeBlanc
Ray LeBlanc
Raymond J. LeBlanc is a retired American professional ice hockey goaltender. He is best known as the goaltender for the United States team at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France...
, goaltender of the 1992 US Olympic Hockey Team. Its leading scorer both seasons was Rob Clavette, the third leading scorer in ACHL history.