Phoenix Roadrunners (WHA)
The Phoenix Roadrunners were an ice hockey team from Phoenix, Arizona, which was active from 1974 to 1977 in the North American World Hockey Association (WHA ).
History
Phoenix was no ordinary site for a hockey team, but it proved there that it was worth it to get a professional team. From 1967 to 1974 played a unterklassiges team that was very successful in the Western Hockey League and also the name Phoenix Roadrunners was in the city. The timing of the WHA could not have been better. The Roadrunners had the Patrick Cup won in 1973 and 1974 as Master of the WHL, but the League had come into trouble and put in the summer of 1974, a game operation. With the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum had a stadium where 12,600 spectators could find a place.
It succeeded the leaders together a powerful team. With Gary Kurt had to get a strong goalie of the Jersey Knights. On defense, he had with Bob Barlow a performer in WHL Roadrunners in the squad. Star of the team but was Robbie Ftorek, who had previously played with the Detroit Red Wings and was still used in the beginning of the season farm team at the Tulsa Oilers.
In their first season 1974/75 they started on October 16 with a 8-2 victory against the San Diego Mariners. At the end of the season the team was on a playoff place. Nearly 7,500 people attended on average the home games of the Roadrunners. In the final round, however, the Quebec Nordiques were too strong opponents.
In the second season the team was rebuilt. Some disposals was compensated. Gary Veneruzzo could not fulfill completely, Del Hall won with 47 gates expectations. The tendency to commit players from Europe, was followed with the Finn Pekka Rautakallio. Stark was again Robbie Ftorek who was with 113 points among the top scorers in the league. However, the attendances fell by more than 1,000 spectators back to below 6,500. They reached the playoffs again, but again was in the first round of the playoffs end.
When they started in the 1976/77 season, we had a series of Finnish Olympians on board, including Seppo Repo. The start to the season was decent, but after November were 27 away games only three games are won. The problems were mainly in defense. 383 goals were far undisputed top league. The last place in the league was the result. The only bright spot was Robbie Ftorek, who was elected by only one vote lead over the MVP of the league. He was the first American to be elected in one of North America's top ice hockey leagues MVP. Only once previously this title was awarded to a player from the weakest team in the league. At that time it was the current coach of the Roadrunners, Al Rollins, this was the 1954 managed for the Chicago Black Hawks.
Although the average attendance was again risen to nearly 7,000, the team lost almost two million dollars a year. Even with the sale of young talent could not absorb it that way. In March, the group becomes the owner of Karl Eller announced that the search for a new buyer was unsuccessful for the team, and that they would disband the team to end the season. The season was played properly completed and on April 6 the last game against the Indianapolis Racers was won with 7:3.
In the future, there have been teams in Phoenix, who bore the name Roadrunners. It was not until the mid-90s but came with the Phoenix Coyotes, a team in a top league to Arizona.
Game times: 1972/73 | 1973/74 | 1974/75 | 1975/76 | 1976/77 | 1977/78 | 1978/79
Franchises: Alberta Oilers (1972-1973), Edmonton Oilers (1973-1979) | Chicago Cougars (1972-1975) | Cincinnati Stingers (1975-1979) | Cleveland Crusaders (1972-1976) | Denver Spurs (1975 ), Ottawa Civics (1976 ) | Houston Aeros (1972-1978) | Indianapolis Racers (1974-1979) | Los Angeles Sharks (1972-1974), Michigan Stags (1974-1975), Baltimore Blades ( 1975) | Minnesota Fighting Saints ( 1972-1977 ) | New England Whalers (1972-1979) | New York Raiders (1972-1973), New York Golden Blades ( 1973), Jersey Knights ( 1973-1974 ), San Diego Mariners ( 1974-1977 ) | Ottawa Nationals ( 1972-1973 ), Toronto Toros (1973-1976), Birmingham Bulls (1976-1979) | Philadelphia Blazers (1972-1973), Vancouver Blazers (1973-1975), Calgary Cowboys (1975-1977) | Phoenix Roadrunners (1974-1977) | Quebec Nordiques (1972-1979) | Winnipeg Jets (1972-1979)
- Hockey Association (World Hockey Association )
- Sports (Phoenix, Arizona)