Winston-Salem Polar Twins (SHL)
Winston-Salem Polar Twins | |
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City | Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
League | Southern Hockey League |
Operated | 1973–1977 |
Home arena | Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum |
Colors | White, silver, black |
Affiliates | WHA (1973–74) NHL (1974–1977) |
The Winston-Salem Polar Twins were a minor league professional ice hockey team, based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The team was a founding member of the Southern Hockey League in 1973, and played home games at the Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum.[1][2] The initial owners of the team were a group of 15 investors, led by Ed Timmerman and Eldridge Hanes.[1] In the 1973–74 season, Winstom-Salem finished fourth place, and lost in the first round of the playoffs under player-coach Don Carter.[3] In 1974, Forbes Kennedy was brought in to coach, and improved results two years in a row, despite losing in the first round of the playoffs both seasons.[3] In December 1975, the Polar Twins were sold to Jim Crockett Jr.[1] Player-coach Ron Anderson took over in the fourth season, and the team was in last place in January.[3] On January 7, 1977, during the team's fourth season, Crockett announced he was folding the team.[1][2]
Major league affiliations
[edit]The Polar Twins were affiliated with the World Hockey Association in the 1973–74 season, and with the National Hockey League from 1974 to 1977.[4]
Years | Affiliations |
---|---|
1973–74 | Edmonton Oilers, New York Golden Blades, Jersey Knights |
1974–75 | New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings |
1975–76 | New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues |
1976–77 | New York Rangers |
Notable players
[edit]Notable Polar Twins players that also played in the National Hockey League or World Hockey Association:[5]
- Ron Anderson
- Randy Andreachuk
- Ron Ashton
- Bernie Blanchette
- Bob Boyd
- Ken Brown
- Brian Carlin
- Bob Champoux
- Howie Colborne
- Roger Cote
- Gary Cunningham
- Brian Derksen
- Gary Doyle
- Bob Fitchner
- Derek Harker
- Rich Hart
- Don Herriman
- Greg Holst
- Jim Jones
- Dennis Kassian
- Jamie Kennedy
- Bill Laing
- Rick Lalonde
- John Mazur
- Bob McAneeley
- Jim McCrimmon
- Bill Morris
- Jim Murray
- Terry Ryan
- Blaine Rydman
- Ron Serafini
- Danny Sullivan
- Jim Watt
- Don Wheldon
- Bill Young
Results
[edit]Season-by-season results:[3]
Season | GP | W | L | T | Pts | Pct | GF | GA | PIM | Standing | Playoffs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1973–74 | 72 | 26 | 44 | 2 | 54 | 0.375 | 283 | 363 | 1273 | 4th, SHL | Lost in round 1 |
1974–75 | 72 | 32 | 40 | 0 | 64 | 0.444 | 300 | 345 | 1831 | 3rd, SHL | Lost in round 1 |
1975–76 | 72 | 30 | 29 | 13 | 73 | 0.507 | 252 | 251 | 1127 | 3rd, SHL | Lost in round 1 |
1976–77 | 42 | 11 | 30 | 1 | 23 | 0.274 | 130 | 193 | 585 | 7th, SHL | folded |
TOTALS | 258 | 99 | 143 | 16 | 214 | 0.415 | 965 | 1152 | 4816 |
Franchise leaders
[edit]All-time and season leaders:[6]
- All-time regular season
- Games played: Bill Morris, 186
- Goals scored: Ken Gassoff, 83
- Assists: Ken Gassoff, 135
- Points: Ken Gassoff, 218
- Penalty minutes: Brian Molvik, 318
- Single-season records
- Goals scored: Bernie Blanchette, 39 (1973–74)
- Assists: John Campbell, 59 (1975–76)
- Points: John Campbell, 92 (1975–76)
- Penalty minutes: Ron Fogal, 248 (1974–75)
- Postseason records
- Goals scored: Bill Morris, 6 (1974)
- Assists: Bill Morris, 8 (1974)
- Points: Bill Morris, 14 (1974)
- Penalty minutes: Greg Holst, 42 (1975)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Crossley, Drew (August 30, 2014). "Southern Hockey League 1973 Archives". Fun While It Lasted. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
- ^ a b "Southern Hockey League [1973-1977] history and statistics". hockeydb.com. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Winston-Salem Polar Twins hockey team [SHL] statistics and history". hockeydb.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
- ^ "Winston-Salem Polar Twins Parent Team affiliate history". hockeydb.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
- ^ "Winston-Salem Polar Twins [SHL] all-time player list". hockeydb.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
- ^ "Winston Salem Polar Twins Stats". statscrew.com. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
- 1973 establishments in North Carolina
- 1977 disestablishments in North Carolina
- Defunct ice hockey teams in North Carolina
- Detroit Red Wings minor league affiliates
- Edmonton Oilers minor league affiliates
- Ice hockey clubs established in 1973
- Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 1977
- Jersey Knights minor league affiliates
- New York Golden Blades minor league affiliates
- New York Rangers minor league affiliates
- Southern Hockey League (1973–1977) teams
- Sports in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- St. Louis Blues minor league affiliates