Syracuse Stars
The Stars brought hockey to Syracuse
for the 1930-31 IHL season. This was the original IHL, a league that
would evolve into the AHL over the following decade. The Stars
franchise moved to Syracuse from Hamilton, Ontario, where they were
known as the Hamilton Tigers. After the 1939-40 season, the franchise
was moved back out of Syracuse to become the second coming of the
Buffalo Bisons.
The Syracuse Stars were the first team
to win the Calder Cup. In 1936-37, the inaugural year of the Calder,
the Stars met the Philadelphia Ramblers in the finals and came out
victorious three games to one. During the regular season, Syracuse
finished first in the West Division and second overall in the eight
team league. The team was led in scoring by Jack Markle and placed
five players among the top ten for points.
Syracuse Warriors
The American Hockey League returned to
Syracuse for the 1951-52 season. The city acted as a temporary home
for the Springfield Indians for three seasons from 1951-52 to
1953-54. During that time, the team was named the Syracuse Warriors.
The Warriors played just one playoff series, losing to the Cleveland
Barons in the opening round of the 1952-53 Calder Cup playoffs.
Syracuse Eagles
During the 1973-74 AHL season, the
Cleveland Barons, one of the league’s oldest franchises, relocated
to Jacksonville midway through the year. The following year, the
Jacksonville Barons became the Syracuse Eagles. 1974-75 was the only
season for the Eagles, folding at the end of the year. With exception
of the Baltimore Clippers, a team that folded after playing just 46
games, the Eagles had the worst record in the ten team league.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, the
Syracuse Blazers of the North American Hockey League were enjoying
great success. Even though the NAHL was a lower quality league, the
city wasn’t big enough to support two pro hockey teams and the fans
rallied behind the team that was winning.
Syracuse Firebirds
The Blazers died along with the NAHL
after the 1976-77 season. Ironically, the AHL was revived in Syracuse
for the 1979-80 season when a former NAHL team relocated to town. The
Philadelphia Firebirds came into existence for 1974-75, the second of four
years that the NAHL existed. They won the Lockhart Cup as NAHL post
season champions in 1975-76. The franchise switched to the AHL after
the 1976-77 season.
Moving to Syracuse was a last ditch
effort for the franchise. After just one year, the Firebirds folded.
The team did reach the post season but lost in the opening round to
the Hershey Bears.
Syracuse Crunch
The city would go without AHL hockey
for close to fifteen years before the Crunch came to town.
Ironically, just like the Syracuse Stars, the Crunch are a relocated
franchise from Hamilton, Ontario. It all started out as the Hamilton
Canucks in 1992-93. Their time in Canada was short lived and the
Crunch were born. The Crunch are an affiliate of the NHL’s Tampa
Bay Lightning. They have yet to capture their first Calder Cup
championship.
