Calgary Cowboys
| Calgary Cowboys | |
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| City: | Calgary, Alberta |
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| League: | World Hockey Association |
| Operated: | 1972–1977 |
| Home Arena: | Stampede Corral |
| Colours: | Red & White |
| Franchise history | |
| 1972: | Miami Screaming Eagles |
| 1972–1973: | Philadelphia Blazers |
| 1973–1975: | Vancouver Blazers |
| 1975–1977: | Calgary Cowboys |
The Calgary Cowboys were an ice hockey team that played two seasons in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1975–1977. The Cowboys played out of the Stampede Corral in Calgary. The franchise was founded in 1972 as the Miami Screaming Eagles, though it never played a game in Miami. The team played out of Philadelphia and Vancouver, known in both markets as the Blazers before relocating to Calgary. The franchise folded in 1977.
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Originally in 1972, the franchise was to be based out of Miami, Florida, called the Miami Screaming Eagles. But due to money problems and a lack of a suitable arena, they never played a game in Miami. Instead, they moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and debuted as the Philadelphia Blazers the same year. After only one season in Philadelphia, the team relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia and became the Vancouver Blazers in 1973–74, then two years later relocated to Calgary to become the Cowboys in 1975–76.
In 1972, the fledgling WHA attempted to place a team in Calgary, to be known as the Broncos in the hopes of taking advantage of an anticipated rivalry with Edmonton, and the Oilers.[1] The franchise failed to get off the ground, however, prompting the Oilers to rename themselves the Alberta Oilers, with the intention of splitting their home schedule between the two cities.[2] This plan similarly failed to materialize, and the Oilers dropped the Alberta moniker after one season. Calgary would get its second chance in the WHA in 1975, when the Vancouver Blazers moved across the Rocky Mountains. Owner Jim Pattison, failing in his goal of taking the Vancouver market away from the NHL's Vancouver Canucks chose to relocate to Calgary.[3] However, by the time the WHA did arrive, the league was already in difficulty, and the team was viewed as a minor-league team, despite the presence of aging superstars such as Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull in the league.[4]
In their first season, the Cowboys were not expected to ice a strong team.[5] Calgary finished 41–35–4 however, as a 44-goal season by Danny Lawson and 42 goals from Ron Chipperfield helped the Cowboys finish a surprising third in the Canadian division.[6]
In the 1976 playoffs, the Cowboys met the Quebec Nordiques in the first round. The series is best known for one of hockey's most legendary brawls.[1] The incident began when Calgary's Rick Jodzio cross-checked Quebec's Marc Tardif in the head. The brawl lasted 20 minutes, and ended only when Quebec police gathered at the players benches and escorted the teams back to their dressing rooms.[7] Jodzio was suspended indefinitely by the league, and later plead guilty in a Quebec court to a charge of assault over the incident.[8] Cowboys coach Joe Crozier was suspended for the rest of the series.[7]
Calgary went on to defeat the Nordiques, who had finished 18-points ahead of Calgary in the regular season, but were defeated by the Winnipeg Jets in the second round. The team never really captured the attention of Calgarians, as fewer than 5,000 fans, on average, attended playoff games against the Jets.[9]
During the 1976–77 season, attendance fell to below 4,500 per game.[9] Rumours abounded that the franchise would move again to Ottawa, though it completed the season in Calgary. Team owner, Jim Pattison, attempted to keep the Cowboys afloat in 1977–78, with the ultimate hope of being a part of the expected amalgamation with the National Hockey League.[10] However, only 2,000 fans would purchase season tickets for that season, and the NHL made it clear it had no interest in hosting a team in the aging and tiny Corral.[4] With no imminent hope for a new arena, Pattison chose to fold the franchise before the season.[1]
Calgary would have to wait only three years for the NHL to arrive, however, as the Atlanta Flames were relocated to the city in 1980–81, playing in the Corral as a temporary home while the Olympic Saddledome was constructed.
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes
| Season | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1975–76 | 80 | 41 | 35 | 4 | 86 | 307 | 282 | 1064 | 3rd in Canadian | Won quarter-final (Quebec) Lost semi-final (Winnipeg) |
| 1976-77 | 81 | 31 | 43 | 7 | 69 | 252 | 296 | 832 | 5th in Western | Did not qualify |
One Hockey Hall of Famer played for the Cowboys. Harry Howell finished his 24-year professional career in 1975–76 with Calgary, playing 31 games and recording three assists. At the time of his retirement, Howell had played more major-league hockey games than any other defenceman in history at 1,581.[11]
- Sandor, Steven (2005), The Battle of Alberta: A Century of Hockey's Greatest Rivalry, ISBN 1-894974-01-8
- Zeman, Gary (1986), Alberta on Ice, ISBN 0969232004
- Willes, Ed (2004), The Rebel League, McClelland & Stewart, ISBN 0-7710-8947-3
- ^ a b c Sportak, Randy (2005-01-29). "Wanna be a Cowboy", Calgary Sun. Retrieved on 4 April 2008.
- ^ Sandor 2005, p. 93
- ^ Willes 2004, p. 143
- ^ a b Zeman 1986, p. 90
- ^ Kirshenbaum, Jerry (1975-10-20). "1975–76 WHA preview", Sports Illustrated. Retrieved on 4 April 2008.
- ^ Sandor 2005, p. 95
- ^ a b Willes 2004, p. 167
- ^ Willes 2004, p. 168
- ^ a b Sandor 2005, p. 96
- ^ Zeman 1986, p. 91
- ^ "Harry Howell". legendsofhockey.net. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 2008-04-06.
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