Charlotte Checkers | |
---|---|
City | Charlotte, North Carolina |
League | EHL (1954–1973) SHL (1973–1977) |
Operated | 1954–1977 |
Home arena | Charlotte Coliseum |
Colors | Blue, white, crimson |
Affiliates | NHL 1968–1977 WHA 1974–1977 |
Franchise history | |
1954–1956 | Baltimore Clippers |
1956 | Charlotte Rebels |
1956–1960 | Charlotte Clippers |
1960–1977 | Charlotte Checkers |
Championships | |
Playoff championships | Five (1957,1971,1972,1975,1976) |
The Charlotte Checkers were a minor league professional ice hockey team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The team began as the Baltimore Clippers in 1954, playing in the Eastern Hockey League. When the arena in Baltimore burned down, the team briefly played as the Charlotte Rebels, before permanently relocating to the Charlotte Coliseum in 1956, becoming the Charlotte Clippers. The team was renamed the Checkers in 1960, and played its final four seasons in the Southern Hockey League, before folding in 1977. The Clippers/Checkers franchise won five playoff championships in its existence, and were the first team to be based in the Southeast United States.
The Baltimore Clippers began play in the Eastern Hockey League during the 1954–55 season, with Andy Brown as coach. [1] Herve Lalonde led the team, scoring 22 goals, and 50 assists, winning the John Carlin Trophy, as the league's top scorer. [2] In the playoffs, Baltimore defeated the Clinton Comets 3 games to 1 in the first round, but lost the finals in four straight games to the Washington Lions. [3] On January 23, 1956, midway through the Clippers' second season, their home arena, Carlin's Iceland, burned down. [4] [5]
Without an arena, the Clippers searched for a temporary home to finish the season. Local businessmen in Charlotte offered the one-year-old Charlotte Coliseum as a temporary site. [5] [6] The Baltimore Clippers played six of their remaining 12 games in Charlotte, using the name Rebels. [4] [7] The first professional hockey game in Charlotte was played on January 30, 1956, attended by 10,363 fans, with approximately 3,000 more unable to find a ticket. [4] [6] The Rebels lost the game 6–2, to the New Haven Blades. [4] The six games played in Charlotte by the Rebels drew more than 40,000 fans. By comparison, the Clippers typically drew 2,000 fans per game in Baltimore. [6] The combined record of the Clippers and Rebels was 47 points for fifth place, missing the playoffs. [7]
Buoyed by the Rebels' strong attendance figures in Charlotte, owner Charles Rock chose to move the team there full-time for the following season as the Charlotte Clippers. [4] [6] In the 1956–57 season, the Clippers earned 101 points, to finish first place, and win the Walker Cup as regular season champions. [4] [8] The season included a winning streak of 21 games before the playoffs, and the team earning the nickname, "Dixie Dandies." [6] Al O'Hearn lead the league in scoring with 46 goals, 71 assists, and 117 points, to win the John Carlin Trophy. [2] In the playoffs, Charlotte defeated the New Haven Blades in six games in the first round, and defeated the Philadelphia Ramblers in seven games, to win the Atlantic City Boardwalk Trophy as playoff champions. [4] [9]
In the 1957–58 season, Charlotte repeated first place in the regular season with 77 points, and a second Walker Cup. [4] [8] In the playoffs, Charlotte defeated the New Haven Blades in seven games in the first round, but lost in the finals to the Washington Presidents in seven games. [4] [10]
In the 1958–59 season, Charlotte dropped to sixth place, and missed the playoffs. [8] The team also ran into financial troubles, which led to the Charlotte Coliseum Authority taking over the team in 1959. A citizen's group raised $25,000 from stockholders, to keep the team on the ice. [6]
In the 1959–60 season, coach Andy Brown moved on, and the EHL split into northern and southern divisions. [8] Evel Knievel tried out with the Clippers in 1959, but decided that a traveling team was not for him. [5] [11] [12] Pete Horeck led the team as a player-coach, the Clippers finished second place in the south, won the first round playoff series in three games versus the Greensboro Generals, and lost to the Johnstown Jets in the second round. [13]
The team was renamed the Charlotte Checkers, resulting from a name-the-team contest. [4] [5] [6] Gordon Tottle became the player-coach, and despite the new name, Charlotte finished fourth place and missed the playoffs in the 1960–61 season. [14] Joe Crozier was named coach in the 1961–62 season, but the team still finished fourth place and missed the playoffs. [14] He returned for the 1962–63 season, and the Checkers placed third in the southern division. [14] In the playoffs, Charlotte upset the second place Knoxville Knights in five games, then lost in five games to the Greensboro Generals in the second round. [15] Turk Broda took over the coaching duties for the 1963–64 season, and led the team to a fourth-place finish in the south, and a first round playoff loss to Greensboro in three games. [16]
Fred Creighton was brought in to coach for the 1964–65 season, beginning eight years at the helm of the Checkers. He improved the team to third place in the south, but the team still lost in the first round to the Nashville Dixie Flyers in three games. [17] Creighton improved the team to 42 wins in the 1965–66 season, and second place in the south. In the playoffs, Charlotte defeated Greensboro in five games in the first round, then lost in four games straight to Nashville in the second round. [18] Charlotte repeated a second-place finish in the 1966–67 season, then defeated Greensboro in three games in the first round of the playoffs, but lost to Nashville in five games in the second round. [19] The Checkers won 42 games, and earned 93 points in the 1967–68 season, and finished second place in the south. Charlotte defeated Nashville in four games in the first round of the playoffs, and defeated Greensboro in six games in the second round. In the finals, the Checkers were swept in four games by the Clinton Comets. [20]
Charlotte dropped to third place in the 1968–69 season, after many players moved up to higher leagues. The rebuilding effort was made easier by this being first season of an affiliation with the Toronto Maple Leafs. [21] In the playoffs, Charlotte lost in three games to Nashville. [22] The Checkers repeated a third-place finish in the 1969–70 season. Center Tom Trevelyan was named EHL Rookie of the Year for the south division. [2] In the playoffs, Charlotte defeated the Salem Rebels in five games in the first round, then lost to Greensboro in six games in the second round. [23] Creighton led Charlotte to its best results in the 1970–71 season, with 55 wins, and 117 points to finish first overall in the EHL, and win the Walker Cup. [14] Goaltender John Voss led the league in goals against average, and won the George L. Davis Jr. Trophy. [2] In the playoffs, Charlotte defeated Nashville, then Greensboro both in four games, to reach the finals. The Checkers won the Atlantic City Boardwalk Trophy in five games over the New Haven Blades. [24]
In the 1971–72 season, Charlotte switched affiliations to the Buffalo Sabres. [21] Defenceman Don Brennan was voted the EHL Rookie of the Year for the south division, and goaltender Gaye Cooley led the league in goals against average to win the George L. Davis Jr. Trophy. [2] The Checkers repeated the first-place finish and the Walker Cup in the regular season, with 47 wins and 102 points. In the playoffs, Charlotte defeated the St. Petersburg Suns in six games in the first round, and Greensboro in five games in the second round. Creighton and the Checkers won a second consecutive Atlantic City Boardwalk Trophy, defeating the Syracuse Blazers in four games in the finals. [25] Creighton and many players moved on after the two championships, and Charlotte struggled in the 1972–73 season. Jack Wells was named player-coach, and the team finished fourth place in the south, missing the playoffs. [14]
The four teams in the EHL's Southern Division, including the Checkers, broke away to form the Southern Hockey League (SHL) in 1973. [4] [26] In the new league, Patrick J. Kelly took over coaching duties in all four seasons. Garry Swain led the SHL in scoring with 98 points. [27] Charlotte finished second place in the 1973–74 season, then defeated Greensboro in six games in the first round of the playoffs, but lost the finals in seven games to the Roanoke Valley Rebels. [4]
In the 1974–75 season, Charlotte began secondary affiliations with World Hockey Association teams, and the California Golden Seals, in addition to the existing agreement with Buffalo. [28] Steve Hull led the SHL in scoring with 114 points. [29] The Checkers finished first place in the regular season with 101 points, defeated Roanoke in four games in the first round of the playoffs, and defeated the Hampton Gulls in six games in the finals, to win the Crockett Cup. [4] [30]
In the 1975–76 season, Charlotte repeated first place in the regular season with 94 points. [31] Yvon Dupuis led the SHL with 52 goals scored. [32] In the playoffs, Charlotte defeated Roanoke in six games in the first round, and then won a second consecutive Crockett Cup in five games over Hampton. [4]
The 1976–77 season was cut short when the SHL folded due to financial issues. [26] The final Checkers game was played on January 30, 1977 against the revived Baltimore Clippers. [6] Charlotte was in third place at that time, and folded along with the league. [33]
The Charlotte Checkers were affiliated with National Hockey League teams from 1968 to 1977, and several World Hockey Association teams from 1974 to 1977. [21] [28]
Years | Parent club |
---|---|
1968–1971 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
1971–1977 | Buffalo Sabres |
1974–1975 | California Golden Seals, Vancouver Blazers |
1975–1976 | Calgary Cowboys |
1976–1977 | Birmingham Bulls, Winnipeg Jets |
Coaches from 1954 to 1977. [1] [6] [7]
Coach | Years | Seasons | Games | Won | Lost | Tied |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andy Brown | 1954–59 | 5 | 239 | 119 | 114 | 6 |
Pete Horeck† | 1959–60 | 1 | 64 | 31 | 29 | 4 |
Gordon Tottle† | 1960–61 | 1 | 64 | 25 | 34 | 5 |
Joe Crozier | 1961–63 | 2 | 136 | 61 | 71 | 4 |
Turk Broda | 1963–64 | 1 | 72 | 30 | 41 | 1 |
Fred Creighton | 1964–72 | 8 | 581 | 328 | 209 | 44 |
Jack Wells† | 1972–73 | 1 | 76 | 26 | 40 | 10 |
Patrick J. Kelly | 1973–77 | 4 | 233 | 146 | 75 | 12 |
Top scorers from 1956 to 1977. [6]
Rank | Player | Years | Seasons | Games | Goals | Assists | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Maurice Savard | 1959–68 | 9 | 568 | 303 | 452 | 755 |
1 | Jim McNulty | 1956–67 | 11 | 620 | 346 | 429 | 755 |
3 | Frank Golembrosky | 1968–76 | 8 | 337 | 157 | 257 | 414 |
4 | Barry Burnett | 1968–77 | 9 | 504 | 77 | 262 | 339 |
5 | Jack Wells | 1968–77 | 9 | 389 | 117 | 213 | 330 |
List of notable players for the Baltimore Clippers/Charlotte Rebels (1954–1956), Charlotte Clippers (1956–1960) and Charlotte Checkers (1960–1977) [34] [35] [36] [37]
Combined season-by-season record for:
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Season | League | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | Standing | Playoffs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1954–55 | EHL | 47 | 22 | 23 | 2 | 46 | 208 | 180 | 3rd, EHL | Lost in finals |
1955–56 | EHL | 64 | 23 | 40 | 1 | 47 | 236 | 327 | 5th, EHL | Did not qualify |
1956–57 | EHL | 64 | 50 | 13 | 1 | 101 | 364 | 239 | 1st, EHL | Won championship |
1957–58 | EHL | 64 | 38 | 25 | 1 | 77 | 275 | 243 | 1st, EHL | Lost in finals |
1958–59 | EHL | 64 | 24 | 38 | 2 | 50 | 209 | 283 | 6th, EHL | Did not qualify |
1959–60 | EHL | 64 | 31 | 29 | 4 | 66 | 243 | 244 | 2nd, Southern | Lost in first round |
1960–61 | EHL | 64 | 25 | 34 | 5 | 55 | 221 | 265 | 4th, Southern | Did not qualify |
1961–62 | EHL | 68 | 26 | 40 | 2 | 54 | 226 | 270 | 4th, Southern | Did not qualify |
1962–63 | EHL | 68 | 35 | 31 | 2 | 72 | 242 | 264 | 3rd, Southern | Lost in second round |
1963–64 | EHL | 72 | 30 | 41 | 1 | 61 | 276 | 304 | 4th, Southern | Lost in first round |
1964–65 | EHL | 72 | 35 | 35 | 2 | 72 | 262 | 286 | 3rd, Southern | Lost in first round |
1965–66 | EHL | 72 | 42 | 30 | 0 | 84 | 300 | 251 | 2nd, Southern | Lost in second round |
1966–67 | EHL | 72 | 36 | 33 | 3 | 75 | 259 | 235 | 2nd, Southern | Lost in second round |
1967–68 | EHL | 72 | 42 | 21 | 9 | 93 | 333 | 243 | 2nd, Southern | Lost in finals |
1968–69 | EHL | 72 | 37 | 29 | 6 | 80 | 274 | 280 | 3rd, Southern | Lost in first round |
1969–70 | EHL | 74 | 34 | 31 | 9 | 77 | 284 | 266 | 3rd, Southern | Lost in second round |
1970–71 | EHL | 74 | 55 | 12 | 7 | 117 | 383 | 153 | 1st, Southern | Won championship |
1971–72 | EHL | 73 | 47 | 18 | 8 | 102 | 330 | 180 | 1st, Southern | Won championship |
1972–73 | EHL | 76 | 26 | 40 | 10 | 62 | 241 | 313 | 4th, Southern | Did not qualify |
1973–74 | SHL | 72 | 44 | 27 | 1 | 89 | 309 | 227 | 2nd, SHL | Lost in finals |
1974–75 | SHL | 72 | 50 | 21 | 1 | 101 | 370 | 256 | 1st, SHL | Won championship |
1975–76 | SHL | 72 | 42 | 20 | 10 | 94 | 302 | 206 | 1st, SHL | Won championship |
1976–77 | SHL | 50 | 22 | 25 | 3 | 47 | 180 | 186 | 3rd, SHL | League folded |
TOTALS | EHL | 1296 | 658 | 563 | 75 | 1391 | 5166 | 4826 | 4 division titles | 3 championships 3 finalists |
TOTALS | SHL | 266 | 158 | 93 | 15 | 331 | 1161 | 875 | 2 division titles | 2 championships 1 finalist |
The Baltimore Skipjacks were a minor league professional ice hockey team from Baltimore, Maryland, United States. The Skipjacks originated in 1979, and played as the Baltimore Clippers in the Eastern Hockey League for two seasons. The team was renamed to Skipjacks in 1981, and played the following season in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League. The Skipjacks then played eleven seasons as members of the American Hockey League (AHL), from 1982 until 1993. The Skipjacks were one of three AHL teams to have been based in Baltimore, including the Baltimore Clippers, and the Baltimore Bandits. The Skipjacks operated as a farm team to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals for five seasons each, and were previously a farm team to the Minnesota North Stars for two seasons, the Boston Bruins for one season. The team played its home games at the Baltimore Civic Center, which was renamed to the Baltimore Arena in 1986.
The Baltimore Clippers were a minor league professional ice hockey team from in Baltimore, Maryland, playing in the Baltimore Civic Center. The Clippers were members of the American Hockey League from 1962 to 1976, and then played one season in the Southern Hockey League. The team was managed by Terry Reardon for its first fourteen seasons, and won three division titles, but were unable to capture a Calder Cup title. Baltimore began as a farm team for the New York Rangers, and helped develop Hall of Fame players including, Eddie Giacomin, Doug Harvey, Jacques Plante and Jean Ratelle. The Clippers also featured eight alumni, who are now members of the AHL Hall of Fame. The team name "Clippers", was used by two previous professional hockey teams in Baltimore, and paid homage to local history in the Baltimore Clipper, and the Port of Baltimore.
The Southern Hockey League was a low-level minor professional ice hockey league that operated from 1973 to 1977. The league was formed when the Eastern Hockey League split in two; the southern teams became the Southern Hockey League, and the northern teams became the North American Hockey League. It was the first professional hockey league to operate wholly within the Southern United States, and followed the establishment of the Atlanta Flames in the National Hockey League; and also the Richmond Robins and the Tidewater Wings in the American Hockey League. The Southern Hockey League was a feeder league for the recently started World Hockey Association. Tedd Munchak was appointed the league's first commissioner, and was owner of the Greensboro Generals. The championship trophy of the league was named the James Crockett Cup, after local figure Jim Crockett Sr. The league disbanded during its fourth season, when four of its seven teams folded due to financial issues.
The Hampton Gulls were an American minor league professional ice hockey team based in Hampton, Virginia, from 1974 to 1978 at the Hampton Coliseum. The Gulls played three seasons in the Southern Hockey League, beginning in 1974. When that league folded in 1977, the Hampton played one season in the American Hockey League. The Gulls were a World Hockey Association farm team to the Cincinnati Stingers each season. John Brophy was team's only head coach during its existence. Hampton ceased operations on February 10, 1978, part way through its fourth season.
The Roanoke Valley Rebels were a minor league professional ice hockey team based in the Roanoke Valley in Virginia. The team first played in the Eastern Hockey League and then joined the Southern Hockey League. The team was originally known as the Salem Rebels from 1967 to 1970, playing at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, Virginia. In 1971, the Rebels began splitting home games between Salem at the newer and larger Roanoke Civic Center in Roanoke.
The Charlotte Checkers are a minor-league professional ice hockey team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the American Hockey League (AHL), and are the top minor league affiliate of the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Checkers play their home games at Bojangles' Coliseum. The current organization is the third team by this name; it succeeded a Checkers franchise that played in the ECHL from 1993 until the end of the 2009–10 ECHL season. The original Checkers team played in the city from 1956 to 1977, originally in the Eastern Hockey League and then in the Southern Hockey League. The franchise is one of six teams to replace and share a name with a predecessor franchise from a lower-tier league; the others are the Bakersfield Condors, Colorado Eagles, Ontario Reign, Rockford IceHogs, and San Diego Gulls.
The 1973–74 Southern Hockey League season was the first season of the Southern Hockey League. The league was formed when the Eastern Hockey League split in two; the southern teams became the Southern Hockey League, and the northern teams became the North American Hockey League. Four of the six founding members of the SHL came from the EHL, including the Charlotte Checkers, Greensboro Generals, Roanoke Valley Rebels, and the Suncoast Suns. Two expansion teams were added to complete the league, including the Macon Whoopees, and the Winston-Salem Polar Twins.
The 1974–75 Southern Hockey League season was the second season of the Southern Hockey League. On July 31, 1975, Jack Riley was announced as the new commissioner of the SHL, taking over for interim leader Gene Hawthorne, of the Roanoke Valley Rebels. The four existing teams returned from the previous season, joined by a fifth expansion team from Fayetteville, North Carolina. The new team was named after the Fayetteville Arsenal, and was scheduled to play at the Cumberland County Memorial Arena. In October 1974, owner Bill Raue moved the team, to Hampton, Virginia before playing any games, when availability of home ice dates became a problem. The new Hampton Gulls moved into the Hampton Coliseum recently vacated by the Virginia Wings of the American Hockey League. The five teams played a complete schedule of 72 games, with the Charlotte Checkers winning the regular season, and the playoffs.
The 1975–76 Southern Hockey League season was the third season of the Southern Hockey League. The five existing teams returned from the previous season, joined by a sixth expansion team from Norfolk, Virginia. The Tidewater Sharks joined the league owned by Virginia politician Dick Davis, playing at the Norfolk Scope. The six teams played a complete schedule of 72 games, with the Charlotte Checkers winning the regular season, and the playoffs.
The 1976–77 Southern Hockey League season was the fourth and final season of the Southern Hockey League. The Roanoke Valley Rebels ceased operations, and two new teams were added for the season. The Baltimore Clippers transferred from the American Hockey League, and the Richmond Wildcats were an expansion team. Both the Richmond Wildcats and Greensboro Generals folded on January 3, 1977 due to financial problems. On January 7, the Tidewater Sharks folded after missing payroll, and the Winston-Salem Polar Twins pulled the Polar Twins out of the league. The remaining three teams considered adding a fourth team, but the league was short on funds when Greensboro and Winstom-Salem defaulted on $25,000 loans. The league also considered playing a round-robin tournament to determine a champion, or develop an interlocking schedule with either the North American Hockey League or the International Hockey League. On January 22, 1977, both the NAHL and IHL rejected the proposal, and the final game was played on January 31, 1977, although the league planned on playing a 1977–78 season.
The Suncoast Suns was a minor league professional ice hockey team based in St. Petersburg, Florida, and played home games at the Bayfront Center. The Suns began in the Eastern Hockey League in 1971, and was a founding member of the Southern Hockey League in 1973. The Suns ceased operations in December 1973, partway through its third season.
Jim McNulty is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player.
The Macon Whoopees were a minor league professional ice hockey team based in Macon, Georgia, and played home games at the Macon Coliseum. The Whoopees played in the Southern Hockey League, and were the second professional hockey team in Georgia. The attempt in Macon to expand hockey southward failed, as the team ceased operations before completion of the 1973–74 season. Hockey did not return to Macon until 1996, when the name was revived by the Macon Whoopee in the Central Hockey League. The original Whoopees team was named after the song "Makin' Whoopee" by Gus Kahn, and is the subject of the book Once Upon A Whoopee: A Town, A Team, A Song, A Dream, by Ed Grisamore and Bill Buckley.
The Greensboro Generals were a minor league ice hockey team based in Greensboro, North Carolina. Greensboro was part of the Eastern Hockey League from 1959 to 1973, and then played in the Southern Hockey League from 1973 to 1977. The team was founded when the Troy Bruins of the International Hockey League were relocated by owner Ken Wilson and admitted to the EHL, to play in the recently built Greensboro Coliseum.
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. The initial owners of the team were a group of 15 investors, led by Ed Timmerman and Eldridge Hanes. In the 1973–74 season, Winstom-Salem finished fourth place, and lost in the first round of the playoffs under player-coach Don Carter. 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. In December 1975, the Polar Twins were sold to Jim Crockett Jr. Player-coach Ron Anderson took over in the fourth season, and the team was in last place in January. On January 7, 1977, during the team's fourth season, Crockett announced he was folding the team.
Carlin's Iceland was an indoor artificial ice arena in Baltimore, Maryland, that was part of a city amusement park, known as Carlin's Park. It opened in December 1931, and was Baltimore's first indoor rink. The building was converted from a ballroom, to an ice surface measuring 85 × 120 ft, and seating for 1,200 people. In the first winter of operation, Iceland hosted school teams, before it was expanded for the following season. The Baltimore Orioles in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League played at Carlin's from 1932 to 1942. In its renovated setup, Iceland held 3,000 spectators, hosted annual winter carnivals, and once hosted a Sonja Henie show.
The United States Coast Guard Cutters were a senior amateur ice hockey team operated by the United States Coast Guard Yard on Curtis Bay, Baltimore. The team played in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League for parts of two seasons, using Carlin's Iceland for home games. The Cutters were a separate team from the established Coast Guard Bears of the United States Coast Guard Academy.
The Baltimore Clippers were a minor league professional ice hockey team from in Baltimore, Maryland, playing in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League at Carlin's Iceland. The team began play in the 1944–45 season known as the Baltimore Blades, and were renamed the Clippers from 1946 to 1949. The team name paid homage to local history in the Baltimore Clipper, and the Port of Baltimore. The Clippers ceased operations during the 1949–50 season.
Gordon Elwood Tottle was an American professional ice hockey player. As a defenseman, he played 456 games in the American Hockey League with the Springfield Indians. In 18 seasons of professional hockey, he was a first-team all-star in both the American Hockey League, and the Eastern Hockey League, and played for the United States men's national ice hockey team in the 1962 Ice Hockey World Championships.
Gregg Pilling is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and coach. He was named coach of the year by the International Hockey League in 1977–78 season, after he led the Fort Wayne Komets to the Fred A. Huber Trophy as the regular season champions. He also won coach of the year awards in Southern Hockey League, and North American Hockey League, while guiding the Roanoke Valley Rebels and the Philadelphia Firebirds to league championships. Pilling made headlines as a coach for his colourful in-game protests and multiple ejections. Prior to coaching, he had a brief playing career, including a 1963 Memorial Cup championship with the Edmonton Oil Kings, and was voted the most valuable player in his final full season as a player.