Billings Bighorns
The Billings Bighorns were an ice hockey team from Billings in the U.S. state of Montana. The team played from 1977 to 1982 in one of the three highest Canadian Junior Hockey League, the Western Hockey League ( WHL).
History
The Calgary Centennials of the Western Hockey League were moved to Billings in 1977 and renamed in Billings Bighorns. Equal in their first season, the team reached the finals at the Ed Chynoweth Cup, in which they, however, the New Westminster Bruins in the best- of-seven series documents with a sweep. Then the team of Montana was unable to build on this success and came in the next four years is no longer beyond the first playoff round. Above all, the change from the Central in the East Division had an impact on the results of the team. If they were in the 1978/79 season still winning the Central Division, they then successively occupied the fourth, fifth and sixth place in the East Division.
After five years, the franchise was relocated in 1982 to the Canadian Nanaimo in neighboring British Columbia, where it subsequently participated under the name Nanaimo Islanders at the Games operation of the WHL.
Season statistics
Note: GP = Games, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses by SOL = Shootout Losses by, Pts = Points, GF = Goals Scored, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalty minutes
Former Players
The following players who were active for the Billings Bighorns, played in the course of her career in the National Hockey League:
- Dave Barr
- Murray Brumwell
- Rod Buskas
- Lindsay Carson
- Pat Conacher
- Mike Eagles
- Brian Ford
- Bruce Holloway
- Gord Kluzak
- Mark Lamb
- Jim McGeough
- Jim McTaggart
- Andy Moog
- Don Nachbaur
- Harvie Pocza
- Pokey Reddick
- Bob Rouse
- Mike Toal
- Rocky Trottier
- Leigh Verstraete
- Mike Zanier