| So you think you know your NHL history just because
you remember the Quebec Nordiques? Pshaw. True NHL fans will
get goosebumps with the following.
Well, now the next time you're talking puck with your friends you'll be able
to spout off past NHL teams that even your friends didn't know ever existed:
Atlanta Flames (now Calgary Flames)
Brooklyn Americans
California Golden Seals
Cleveland Barons
Colorado Rockies
Detroit Cougars (now Detroit Red Wings)
Detroit Falcons (now Detroit Red Wings)
Hamilton Tigers
Hartford Whalers (now Carolina Hurricanes)
Kansas City Scouts
Minnesota North Stars (now Dallas Stars)
Montreal Maroons
Montreal Wanderers
New York Americans
Oakland Seals (became California Golden Seals)
Ottawa Silver Seven (back when hockey was a 7-man game)
Philadelphia Quakers
Pittsburgh Pirates
Quebec Bulldogs
St. Louis Eagles
Toronto Arenas
Toronto St. Pats
Winnipeg Jets (now Phoenix Coyotes)
And lest anyone should question the impact these teams had on hockey, the
Stanley Cup, and the NHL, consider this. Half or more of these teams
made appearances in the Stanley Cup finals, and many of them did win the
Stanley Cup at some point, including the Maroons, Bulldogs, St. Pats, and
Arenas. These teams also boasted some of the top players of all-time
such as Eddie Shore (New York Americans).
And yet how often do we reflect upon these teams that helped build the Stanley
Cup into the most prized trophy in all of North American sports? Not
often.
Well now you know. And as GI Joe once said, knowing is half the battle!
-- Rik A. Kyser.
(ED. NOTE: Next up is a look at the NFL and teams you most certainly
never even knew existed, and their impact on the game as we know it today.) |
