Spokane Flyers
Encyclopedia
The Spokane Flyers were a junior ice hockey
team that played one and a half seasons in the Western Hockey League
from 1980–1982. They played in Spokane, Washington
, United States.
that played in Canadian Senior Amateur Hockey and won the Allan Cup
championships in 1976 and 1980.
The Spokane Flyers entered the WHL on May 15, 1980 when Bob Cooper, owner of the dormant Great Falls Americans
franchise, resurrected his team and relocated it to Spokane for the 1980–81 WHL season. Like the Americans, the Flyers would cease operations, as the franchise folded on December 2, 1981 just 26 games into its second season.
It was widely believed that the failure of the Flyers was due to management. Spokane would have a second chance in the WHL when the relocated Kelowna Wings
renamed themselves the Spokane Chiefs
.
The Flyers franchise first joined the WHL in 1967 as the Flin Flon Bombers
. The franchise had a great deal of stability in Flin Flon, Manitoba and lasted eleven seasons in the Manitoba
community before the WHL outgrew it. The Bombers relocated to Edmonton, Alberta for one season in 1978 before being sold and relocating again to Great Falls, Montana
. The Great Falls Americans
failed to last even one season as they ceased operations in December 1979 before Cooper resurrected them again in 1980 as the Flyers.
The Flyers were posthumously involved in one of the most bizarre trades in hockey history. After ceasing operations, the Flyers team bus was sold to the Victoria Cougars. The Cougars owners were not willing to pay the duties and taxes required to bring the vehicle into Canada
, so on December 19, 1983, the Cougars traded the bus to the Seattle Breakers for holdout Tom Martin
.
Junior ice hockey
Junior hockey is a catch-all term used to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between 16 and 20 years of age...
team that played one and a half seasons in the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
from 1980–1982. They played in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, United States.
History
This team is not to be confused with the Spokane FlyersSpokane Flyers (senior)
The Spokane Flyers are a defunct senior ice hockey team from Spokane, Washington. They played in the Western International Hockey League from 1948-49 to the 1979-80.1949-50: National Senior Champions...
that played in Canadian Senior Amateur Hockey and won the Allan Cup
Allan Cup
The Allan Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the national senior amateur men’s ice hockey champions of Canada. It has been competed for since 1909. The current champion is the Clarenville Caribous hockey club of Newfoundland and Labrador.-History:...
championships in 1976 and 1980.
The Spokane Flyers entered the WHL on May 15, 1980 when Bob Cooper, owner of the dormant Great Falls Americans
Great Falls Americans
The Great Falls Americans were a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League who played in the 1979–80 WHL season. The team was originally the Edmonton Oil Kings. They played at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Montana. The team only lasted 28 games and won two games...
franchise, resurrected his team and relocated it to Spokane for the 1980–81 WHL season. Like the Americans, the Flyers would cease operations, as the franchise folded on December 2, 1981 just 26 games into its second season.
It was widely believed that the failure of the Flyers was due to management. Spokane would have a second chance in the WHL when the relocated Kelowna Wings
Kelowna Wings
The Kelowna Wings were a junior ice hockey team based in Kelowna, British Columbia that played in the Western Hockey League from 1982–85. The Wings were abysmal in their three year tenure, winning just 56 out of 216 games played...
renamed themselves the Spokane Chiefs
Spokane Chiefs
The Spokane Chiefs are a major junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League based out of Spokane, Washington. The team plays its home games at the Spokane Arena. Their uniforms are similar to those of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens. Spokane consistently ranks in the top 10 in the...
.
The Flyers franchise first joined the WHL in 1967 as the Flin Flon Bombers
Flin Flon Bombers
The Flin Flon Bombers are a junior ice hockey team and current member of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League , and are based in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada. The team moved and became the Edmonton Oil Kings in 1978, but the Flin Flon Bomber name was retained...
. The franchise had a great deal of stability in Flin Flon, Manitoba and lasted eleven seasons in the Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
community before the WHL outgrew it. The Bombers relocated to Edmonton, Alberta for one season in 1978 before being sold and relocating again to Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
. The Great Falls Americans
Great Falls Americans
The Great Falls Americans were a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League who played in the 1979–80 WHL season. The team was originally the Edmonton Oil Kings. They played at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Montana. The team only lasted 28 games and won two games...
failed to last even one season as they ceased operations in December 1979 before Cooper resurrected them again in 1980 as the Flyers.
The Flyers were posthumously involved in one of the most bizarre trades in hockey history. After ceasing operations, the Flyers team bus was sold to the Victoria Cougars. The Cougars owners were not willing to pay the duties and taxes required to bring the vehicle into Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, so on December 19, 1983, the Cougars traded the bus to the Seattle Breakers for holdout Tom Martin
Tom Martin (ice hockey)
Tom Martin is a Canadian former ice hockey player. He was a fourth round draft pick of the Winnipeg Jets, 74th overall, at the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. He played 92 National Hockey League games for the Jets, Hartford Whalers and Minnesota North Stars in a career predominantly spent in the American...
.
Season-by-season Record
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against| Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1980–81 | 72 | 17 | 54 | 1 | 288 | 488 | 35 | 4th West | Lost West semi-final |
| 1981–82 | 26 | 3 | 22 | 1 | 102 | 196 | 7 | 5th West | Folded |