Minor professional hockey leagues are the backbone of the NHL. These leagues over the years have served as training grounds for the NHL teams. Entertaining hockey in their own right and offering non NHL players a chance to earn a living.

Atlantic Coast Hockey League (1981-87)

Atlantic Coast Hockey League (1981-87) was a minor pro league. It was formed out of a meeting of the Eastern Hockey League owners on July 19, 1981. At that meeting it was decided to fold the EHL and create the Atlantic Coast Hockey League. The league started with seven teams, but struggled with a number of franchises over the years. When the league finally ceased operations in 1988, Carolina and Virginia, moved to the short lived All-American Hockey League and then went on to become founding members of the East Coast Hockey League.

Atlantic Coast Hockey League (1981-87) Franchises

Salem Raiders (1981-1982)
Mohawk Valley Stars (1981-1985)
Baltimore Skipjacks (1981-1982)
Cape Cod Buccaneers (1981-1982)
Winston Salem T-Birds (1981-1982)
Schenectady Chiefs (1981-1982)
Fitchburg Trappers (1981-1982)
Erie Golden Blades (1982-1987)
Carolina Thunderbirds (1982-1987)
Virginia Raiders (1982-1983)
Hampton Roads Gulls (1982-1983)
Nashville South Stars (1982-1982)
Virginia Lancers (1983-1987)
Pineridge Bucks (1983-1985)
Birmingham Bulls (1983-1984)
Mohawk Valley Comets (1985-1987)
New York Slapshots (1985-1986)
Troy Slapshots (1986-1987)

Atlantic Coast Hockey League (1981-87) Champions

Year
Champion
1982
Mohawk Valley Stars
1983
Carolina Thunderbirds
1984
Erie Golden Blades
1985
Carolina Thunderbirds
1986
Carolina Thunderbirds
1987
Virginia Lancers

Atlantic Coast Hockey League (1981-87) Season

1982 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Salem Raiders
47
32
15
0
246
161
64
Mohawk Valley Stars
47
28
18
1
225
198
57
Baltimore Skipjacks
48
22
23
3
204
189
47
Cape Cod Buccaneers
39
17
21
1
130
158
35
Winston Salem T-Birds
50
14
33
3
179
265
31
Schenectady Chiefs
9
4
5
0
38
45
8
Fitchburg Trappers
6
2
4
0
26
32
4
               
Fitchburg Trappers disbanded Nov. 6, 198, Schenectady Chiefs disbanded Nov. 16, 1981, Cape Cod Buccaneers disbaned Feb. 1, 1982
               
1983 Season
GP
W
L
OTL
GF
GA
PTs
               
Carolina Thunderbirds
68
51
10
7
376
208
111
Erie Golden Blades
64
39
21
4
345
276
83
Mohawk Valley Stars
65
30
33
2
311
306
64
Virginia Raiders
65
20
36
9
257
306
51
Hampton Roads Gulls
42
16
24
2
170
213
35
Nashville South Stars
58
11
39
4
239
389
28
               
Hampton Roads Gulls disbanded Feb. 2, 1983.
               
1984 Season
GP
W
L
OTL
GF
GA
PTs
               
Carolina Thunderbirds
72
43
24
5
381
300
91
Erie Golden Blades
72
42
26
4
371
310
88
Virginia Lancers
72
34
37
2
384
400
66
Mohawk Valey Stars
73
28
38
7
322
370
63
Pineridge Bucks
72
25
47
0
329
422
50
Birmingham Bulls
3
2
1
0
8
4
4
               
Birmingham Bulls disbanded Oct. 26, 1984.
               
1985 Season
GP
W
L
OTL
GF
GA
PTs
               
Carolina Thunderbirds
64
53
11
1
374
228
107
Erie Golden Blades
64
41
23
1
362
261
83
Pineridge Bucks
64
33
31
6
306
298
72
Virginia Lansers
64
19
45
4
248
434
42
Mohawk Valley Stars
64
14
50
5
290
417
33
               
1986 Season
GP
W
L
OTL
GF
GA
PTs
               
Carolina Thunderbirds
62
49
13
6
395
220
104
Erie Golden Blades
64
34
30
6
371
321
74
Virginia Lancers
61
27
34
7
293
338
61
Mohawk Valley Comets
62
23
39
3
259
332
49
New York Slapshots
59
21
38
1
260
367
43
               
1987 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Virginia Lancers
55
36
19
0
280
218
75
Erie Golden Blades
55
28
22
0
250
246
58
Mohawk Valley Comets
54
23
31
0
260
292
49
Carolina Thunderbirds
54
23
31
0
252
278
48
Troy Slapshots
6
2
4
0
20
36
4
               
Troy Slapshots disbanded Nov. 17, 1986.