North American Hockey League (1973–1977)


The North American Hockey League was a low-level minor professional ice hockey league that existed from 1973 to 1977. Several of the NAHL teams operated as developmental teams for World Hockey Association franchises. The NAHL was one of two leagues, along with the Southern Hockey League, that were formed after the Eastern Hockey League ceased operations in 1973. The Lockhart Cup was the league's championship trophy. With the loss of a number of franchises and financial struggles, the NAHL folded in September 1977.

Teams

Timeline

Lockhart Cup

The championship trophy of the North American Hockey League was named the Lockhart Cup in honor of Tommy Lockhart, founder of the Eastern Hockey League. The trophy was last awarded on April 10, 1977, to the Syracuse Blazers, and has since gone missing. The Hockey Hall of Fame stated that the Lockhart Cup is one of "about three historical trophies that have disappeared". Its last known whereabouts was reported to be in the basement of Danny Belisle, the coach of the Blazers in the 1976–77 season.
SeasonChampionRunner-up
1973–74Syracuse BlazersLong Island Cougars
1974–75Johnstown JetsBroome Dusters
1975–76Philadelphia FirebirdsBeauce Jaros
1976–77Syracuse BlazersMaine Nordiques

League dissolves

In September 1977 the league folded. It had been struggling financially. The league by then consisted of five teams, after the Syracuse team folded in 1976 after winning the league championship. The league had discussed continuing with five teams, but the Utica team was in dire straits would have to have been carried by the other four teams. Each would have had to post $50,000 to keep the league alive. The Binghamton and Philadelphia teams declined. Due to the closing of the league, all the players were released outright from their contracts.

Legacy in film

The league served as the inspiration for the film Slap Shot. Ned Dowd, who played for the Johnstown Jets, was the brother of the film's screenwriter, Nancy Dowd. Ned played for Johnstown during a season where the team was for sale, when his sister came to live in Johnstown and was inspired to write the screenplay. The film contains references to "Syracuse" and "Broome County", which were teams in the NAHL. Some of the incidents depicted actually occurred in actual NAHL games.