Monday, December 29, 2008

History Of Ice Hockey in Philadelphia - Part 3

Well folks, sorry for the delay, I've been lazy, and meant to post 3 posts last week, but never got around too it. Anyway I've posted part 3 below. Enjoy the read!

Comets (1932-1933)

The Philadelphia Comets where a Tri-State Hockey League team, and Philadelphia's third establish hockey club. Based around the 3 surrounding states of Pennsylvania,Maryland and place st="on">New Jersey, the TSHL, which became the forerunner of the Eastern Amateur Hockey League, had just four teams and operated for one season. The teams included the Atlantic City Seagulls, Baltimore Orioles, and Hershey B'ars

While the league also played a few games against teams of the New York Amateur Hockey League, each team had a schedule of 18 games, 6 meetings with each of the other three T-SHL clubs which the Comets began when they took on Hershey at the Arena on December 10, 1932. Not only did the not-so-talented Comets lose that night, but they also dropped every game after that. At the end of the season they had a 0-16-0 record in league play, the Comets never earned a point in the T-SHL Standings! While the Comets managed to score only 25 goals in their 16 games, they gave up an amazing 119 goals for an overall team Goals Against Average of 7.44. Atlantic City (15-1-2) and Baltimore (12-5-1) dominated the loop while Philadelphia (0-16-0) and Hershey (6-11-1) where the bottom feeders. (All 6 Hershey wins most likely came over the Comets)

To make matters worse, the Comets never had the city of Philadelphia behind them. Coupled with their loosing performance, and the first place Arrows in the C-AHL, the Comets drew a sparse crowd, even with the dirt cheap prices of 50 cents to $1.00.



With the Comets folding after just one season, the remaining three teams joined forces with four New York based Amateur teams (New York Athletic Club, Bronx Tigers, St. Nick's Hockey Club, and Crescent-Hamilton Athletic Club) forming the EAHL. In 1954, the league was renamed the EHL, where Philly would eventually come back into the picture, with the second Ramblers team.

After another 19 seasons, with 3 divisions and 12 teams, the EHL split up into 2 independent leagues (Southern Hockey League, and North-American Hockey League). This lasted from 1972 to 1977. For more on the EHL, SHL, and the NAHL, visit hockeydb.com for years of operation and stats.



***Credits for the information gathered on thus blog goes to hockeydb.com, and hockeyscoop.net. All information was collected for recreational use only. This is NOT an attempt to claim this information gathered as my own. All information belongs to the respected owners.***

Thursday, December 25, 2008

A Merry Christmas to all!

Merry Christmas to everyone who is reading my blogs. There's a couple of you who've showen true interest in the things I post, and I am humbled for that.

Well Christmas is here, and well almost gone! Isn't it funny? We spend all month picking out the perfect tree, buying the perfect gift, and it all seems to go away so quick. We buy those gift bags, the boxs, and the tissue papper to wrap that present up, just so we can delay that person's smile for another 5 seconds. Then, those $3 boxs and that tissue paper will be thrown away.

Last year I was sick of Christmas, but in the end I was depressed it went away. In reality it goes away too quick! What do I like most about Christmas? Gifts? No....it's the Spirit of the Christmas. It's the spirit that is unlike no other, when the stores are decorated in Christmas decoration. I love the Christmas Songs. I don't listen to nothing but them from a couple days after Thanksgiving til after New Years. My all time favorite song is Carol Of the Bells or Mr Grinch, although past couple years TSO's Christmas Songs are rocking my radio!

I love seeing a Santa Clause in the mall, little kids getting their picture of Santa. Boy, I remember those days, especially the Blue Hen Mall before it turned into a business complex, there use to be a big Christmas bear that spoke in front of Sears. I use to think that it was the coolest thing. Standing in line, and waiting to get on Santa's lap, trying to remember everything I wanted.

The lights are another thing, boy I love to ride by a house and see Christmas lights, one thing we use to do on Christmas was to go around looking at Christmas lights, boy was it cool to see house after house light up. This year, it was like every 5th house, compared to every other house just 5 years ago. Seeing dad put up the lights on the house, and then anxiously waiting for night to fall, and seeing our house light up, our house was one of the best or second best for years, but the last 5 years we haven't done as much, it has gone from spot lights, and Christmas lights outlining the roof with Rudolph in the yard, and Santa and Frosty on the mound. Now it's just 2 Reindeer with a sleigh, with spotlights to the house, and wreathes in the window. Which is fine, I understand how electric are high now.

Christmas is also about family, forget the gifts, and the hustle and bustle of buying $50 gifts that are made over in China for $10. It's about getting the family together, one thing I love about my family, is we got to have Christmas three times. Christmas Eve we go to my mother's side and have dinner and all, and Christmas day we open gifts in the morning hours (seems later and later every year now lol) at the house, and then go off to dad's side (we rotate houses, so this year it was at our house) and have Christmas. You got to see everyone, both sides, on 2 different days, kinda special.

Some kids and families don't get to celebrate Christmas like some of us do, they'll be lucky to get new shoes, and be glad they got new clothes and gloves and scarfs. I did my part this year, helping out a Adopt a Family for my girlfriend's work, I bought for the little 5 yr old boy, it touches my heart, and fills me with joy of picking out gifts that would put a smile on that little kid's face. It made me feel like a kid again, buying him some Hot Wheels cars, couple action figures, and a Nerf Gun. I also gave to the Toys For Tots, buying like 3 toys. I wanted to help out a family and give them a Christmas dinner, but my free turkey expired and did not find a needing family. Next year, I want to do that, Adopt a Family and adopt a senior citizen, who ask for new books, or hats and gloves, simple stuff in life that they can't afford. But most importantly, give the gift of love.

Sometimes we all forget about what Christmas truly means, I mean it's the birth of Jesus Christ, but it's also a time to spend with family, and to me, enjoy the spirit of Christmas. So when you are caught up in enjoying those presents, or bitching about that one gift you did not get, and that senseless gift you got, that you know you won't use...take a step back, and remember that be thankful you got family who can give you gifts, and more importantly be around you on this holiday. We all take too much for granted these days, sometimes we need to lend a helping hand, or just taking a step back and remembering what's truly important this Christmas. Being alive, well, and being with the people who love you.

One of my best friend's is currently over in Iraq, and he has put it best, when it comes to appreciating being with family, and having the things we have right now.

Well it is Christmas Eve day, doesn’t really feel like it but it is. I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas this year. In today’s high-speed society a lot of small things are taken for granted, this I realized while being over here. Back home I surf the internet, text and call people freely; here I do when I can find time to and only for 30 minutes at a time. Back home I may share my room with my nephew, but here I share a squad bay with around 40 Marines and my space is only as big as two racks side by side, which when you put a wall locker in it is very small. Back home I take nice hot showers and think nothing of it, a few times out here I have gone to take a shower and there was no water. I guess the point I am trying to make is we should all be thankful for what we have because there could always be a worse case, though my living space is small, it is better than a two man tent, though I am restricted on the phone calls and internet at least I can use them and though at times the shower is cold, at least there is water. So remember that no matter how bad things may seem they could always be worse and try to find whatever good you can in things. I may be far from home, my family and my friends, but I am at a fairly safe base, I have warm water most nights, 3 squares a day, and I have made more friends. I also have time to think about things and get a better appreciation for things. So for Christmas one thing I would like is that you take some time out of your day to relax and appreciate what you have and maybe even get in touch with someone that you care about. Well Merry Christmas to everyone hope all goes well.

-Corporeal AP


Makes you appreciate the simple things in life don't it?

Merry Christmas folks!

Friday, December 19, 2008

History Of Ice Hockey in Philadelphia - Part 2

Philadelphia Quakers (1932)
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After five years in the NHL, the Pittsburgh Pirates relocated to Philadelphia in 1932 due to financial troubles and their home arena, Duquesne Gardens, being unsuitable for a NHL team. This created Philadelphia's first NHL team, who where renamed the Quakers after the relocation. The team played in the Philadelphia Arena, same Arena the Arrows played in.

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Things didn't go much better in Philadelphia as the Quakers set a couple loosing records for the NHL. They had a season’s record of 4-36-4, and their .136% winning percentage was the lowest in the NHL (1931-1932 Standings) . That lasted until the Washington Capitals broke that mark in the 1974/1975 season with a .131% record. The 4 wins tied the 1919/1920 Quebec Bulldogs for the fewest wins in NHL history for teams who played a full season. With 76 goals for, the Quakers had the worst offense, and the worst defense with 184 goals against in the league. The Quakers did have two players who where among league leaders.....in Penalties In Minutes; D'Arcy Coulson third with 103 PIM, and Allan Shields 4th with 98. At the end of the season, the Quakers franchise, along with the Ottawa Senators, announced that they both would suspend operations and would not field a team for the following NHL season. The Quakers ownership tried to secure a better arena in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh, but with the depression, funds never came together; By 1936 the team officially canceled operations. (Click the Jersey Above to view the Quakers stats)

There was a lone bright spot,for this horrid team though. The Quakers had two future Hockey Hall Of Famers, these two where: Syd Howe and coach J. Copper Smeaton.

Smeaton became a legendary NHL referee, and 30 years later was elected into the Hockey Hall Of Fame.

Syd Howe, who was a rookie on the Quakers, was a future Hall Of Famer as well. After the Quakers folded, he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, and even the St. Louis Eagles. Finally he landed in Detroit before the start of the 1934-1935 season, where Howe (no relation to Gordie Howe) played the rest of his NHL career. Upon his retirement in 1946, the summer before Gordie Howe’s NHL debut, Syd was the all-time leading scorer in the NHL with 237 goals, 291 points in 697 games, winning 3 Stanley Cups. Want to know more about Syd Howe? Click Here ;For Complete Stats Click Here

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***Credits for the information gathered on thus blog goes to hockeydb.com, flyershistory.com and hockeyscoop.net. All information was collected for recreational use only. This is NOT an attempt to claim this information gathered as my own. All information belongs to the respected owners.***


Tuesday, December 16, 2008

History Of Ice Hockey in Philadelphia - Part 1

Philadelphia has had a long history of ice hockey teams. Yet many of today's fans do not know of all the teams that have come and gone in Philadelphia. My goal is to educate you about the teams in Philadelphia. Over the course of the next couple weeks, I'll be posting segments of the history of each team that has stepped foot on the ice in Philadelphia, from the Philadelphia Arena Arena to the Wachovia Center, from the Can-Am, to the WHA to the NHL!

Philadelphia Arrows (1927-1935)



Many die hard fans of Philly believe that the Philadelphia Quakers where Philadelphia's first professional ice hockey team. But that is not true. Actually, it was the Philadelphia Arrows, who played in Canadian-American Hockey League, who became the first professional ice hockey team in Philly. The Arrows represented the city from 1927 to 1935, playing in the Philadelphia Arena.

The Can-Am league was a year old when the Arrows expanded into the league. They joined the Springfield Indians, Boston Tigers, Quebec Beavers, New Haven Eagles, and the Providence Reds.

The Arrows had mild success in the Can-Am League. In their first season they finished dead last out of the 6 teams, but came back the next year with an impressive 29-12-7 record to give Phillly, it's first ever regular season hockey title. The Arrows had a couple future NHL stars on the team, this included: Tommy Anderson, and Art Coulter. Anderson went on to play 8 seasons in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings and Brooklyn Americans (New York's first NHL hockey team). Anderson was the captain of the Americans for the 1941-1942 season. He also won the Hart Memorial Trophy in 1942, following that year the Americans folded and Anderson didn't play in NHL again.

Art Coulter came from the Arrows to the NHL and was a Hall Of Famer. Coulter played with the Arrows from 1929-1932 before starting his NHL career of 10 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers. Art was a two time Stanley Cup champion, and helped the Blackhawks win their first Stanley Cup in 1934. He won his second cup in 1940 with the Rangers; Art also was captain of the Rangers in 1938. Art was inducted in the Hockey Hall Of Fame in 1974. Other notable NHLers who came from the Arrows where; Toronto St Pat's forward, Lloyd "Shrimp" Andrews, and Ranger's goalie, Dave Kerr.

The Arrows won one regular season title, in the 1932-1933 season. They won two divisional titles in the 1936-37, and 1938-139 seasons. They also brought Philadelphia their first regular season hockey title in 1933.

After the 1935 season, the Arrows would have a name change, after becoming a top affiliate of one of the NHL's original six teams.

To be continued......



***Credits for the information gathered on thus blog goes to hockeydb.com, and hockeyscoop.net. All information was collected for recreational use only. This is NOT an attempt to claim this information gathered as my own. All information belongs to the respected owners.***