Denver Spurs

The Denver Spurs were an ice hockey team from Denver, Colorado, which was active among others in the North American World Hockey Association (WHA ). The franchise moved to the 1975/76 season in the WHA. Once the team was in financial difficulties, you moved it to a rescue attempt in January 1976 in Ottawa to Canadian and still played 15 days under the name Ottawa Civics.

History

The Denver Spurs first played from 1968 to 1974 in the Western Hockey League. Then the team moved to the Central Hockey League, in which they remained for only one year, as team owner Ivan Mullenix was granted approval for a franchise of the World Hockey Association in May 1975, after the end of the season 1974/75 the end of two teams in the WHA became clear the held by the League Baltimore Blades and the Chicago Cougars. The big challenge was to put together a competitive team in just five months.

As the new stadium served McNichols Sports Arena, where 16,800 spectators could find a place. As a coach you committed with Jean -Guy Talbot the former coach of the Denver Spurs of the CHL. A majority of the team came from the Cougars from Chicago.

The management was aware that you could be the basis for a financial success of the team only with a good athletic performance, especially in home games. However, the players could not do that and you started at home with eight losses in a row. The star of the team was Ralph Backstrom. After you lay with the average attendance only about 3,000 per game, Mullenix pulled the emergency brake early and planned the franchise to Ottawa to sell. On January 2, 1976, the date of removal to Ottawa. The team should be taken over by the " Founders Group". In Ottawa, however, the franchise survived only a short time and found after 15 days and only eight games the game mode a little later complete a.

Club Records (WHA )

  • Most games: 6 players denied all 41 games
  • Top goals: Ralph Backstrom and Don Borgeson 21 goals
  • Most assists: Ralph Backstrom 29 assists
  • Most points: Ralph Backstrom 50 points
  • Most penalty minutes: Kim Clackson 519 penalty minutes
  • Most games played by a goalkeeper: Bob Johnson 24 games
  • Most wins by a goalkeeper: Bob Johnson 8 wins
  • Most shutouts: Cam Newton 1 shutout

Known player

  • Ralph Backstrom
Western Hockey League (1952–74) Sports franchising 1975–76 WHA season 1974–75 WHA season Jean-Guy Talbot Calgary Stampeders (ice hockey) San Francisco Seals (ice hockey) Denver Invaders Edmonton Flyers Los Angeles Blades (WHL) Salt Lake Golden Eagles San Diego Gulls (1966–74) Seattle Totems Spokane Comets Spokane Spokes Vancouver Canucks Victoria Cougars (PCHL) Victoria Maple Leafs Albuquerque Six-Guns Amarillo Wranglers (1968–71) Birmingham Bulls Birmingham South Stars Cincinnati Stingers Cincinnati Tigers (ice hockey) Cincinnati Wings Colorado Flames Dallas Black Hawks Houston Apollos Indianapolis Checkers Kansas City Blues (ice hockey) Kansas City Red Wings Memphis South Stars Memphis Wings Minneapolis Bruins Montana Magic Nashville South Stars Oklahoma City Blazers (1965–77) Oklahoma City Stars (ice hockey) Phoenix Roadrunners (CHL) St. Louis Braves Tucson Mavericks Wichita Wind 1972–73 WHA season 1973–74 WHA season 1976–77 WHA season 1977–78 WHA season 1978–79 WHA season Cleveland Crusaders Indianapolis Racers Los Angeles Sharks Michigan Stags Minnesota Fighting Saints Hartford Whalers New York Golden Blades New Jersey Knights San Diego Mariners Ottawa Nationals Toronto Toros Calgary Cowboys Phoenix Roadrunners (WHA)
228402
de