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.

Eastern Hockey League (1954-73)

The Eastern Hockey League (1954-73) grew out of the former Eastern Amateur Hockey League. As a minor pro league it opertaed between 1954-73 starting with five teams.

Within the first few seasons of operation, the league expanded to Greensboro NC, Nashville TN, Knoxville TN, Jacksonville FL, Salem VA, and Roanoke VA. The league settled into a two-division format for the 1959-60 season, with one division based in the north and the other in the southern United States.

This expansion fueled the growth of the league with the number of teams more than doubling in the decade following the southern expansion. However the expansion also led to the breakup of the league. The two divisions had opposite opinions over various issues like the number of players to dress per game, and how many interdivisional games should be played.

In 1973 the league folded, split into two parts and became the basis of the North American Hockey League and the Southern Hockey League.

Eastern Hockey League (1954-73) Franchises

Baltimore Clippers (1954-1956)
Clinton Comets (1954-1973)
New Haven Blades (1954-1972)
Washington Lions (1954-1958)
Worcester Warriors (1954-1955)
Johnstown Jets (1955-1973)
Philadelphia Ramblers (1955-1964)
Charlotte Checkers (1956-1973)
Washington Presidents (1957-1960)
New York Rovers (1959-1960)
Greensboro Generals (1959- 1973)
Jersey Devils (1960-1961, 1972-1973)
Long Island Ducks (1961-1973)
Knoxville Knights (1961-1968)
Nashville Dixie Flyers (1962-1971)
Jacksonville Rockets (1964-1966)
New Jersey Devils (1965-1971)
Florida Rockets (1966-1968)
Syracuse Blazers (1967-1973)
Salem Rebels (1967-1971)
Roanoke Valley Rebels (1971-1973)
St Petersburg Suns (1971-1972)
New England Blades (1972-1973)
Cape Cod Cubs (1972-1973)
Rhode Island Reds (1972-1973)
Suncoast Suns (1972-1973)

Eastern Hockey League (1954-73) Champions

Year
Champion
1955
New Haven Blades
1956
New Haven Blades
1957
Charlotte Clippers
1958
Washington Presidents
1959
Clinton Comets
1960
Johnstown Jets
1961
Johnstown Jets
1962
Johnstown Jets
1963
Greensboro Generals
1964
Clinton Comets
1965
Long Island Ducks
1966
Nashville Dixie Flyers
1967
Nashville Dixie Flyers
1968
Clinton Comets
1969
Clinton Comets
1970
Clinton Comets
1971
Charlotte Checkers
1972
Charlotte Checkers
1973
Syracuse Blazers

Eastern Hockey League (1954-73) Season

1955 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Washington Lions
49
26
21
2
204
175
56
New Haven Blades
46
23
21
2
201
199
48
Baltimore Clippers
47
22
23
2
208
180
46
Clinton Comets
22
15
7
0
111
75
30
Worcester Warriors
20
3
17
0
59
154
6
               
1956 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
New Haven Blades
64
43
18
3
318
206
89
Washington Lions
64
33
28
3
258
267
69
Clinton Comets
64
33
28
3
298
269
69
Johnstown Jets
64
32
32
0
312
298
64
Baltimore Clippers
64
23
40
1
236
327
47
Philadelphia Ramblers
64
23
41
0
246
301
46
               
1957 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Charlotte Clippers
64
50
13
1
364
239
101
Philadelphia Ramblers
64
34
27
3
277
233
71
New Haven Blades
64
31
30
3
276
263
65
Johnstown Jets
64
31
33
0
320
290
62
Clinton Comets
64
23
39
2
254
325
48
Washington Presidents
64
18
45
1
256
397
37
               
1958 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Charlotte Clippers
64
38
25
1
275
243
77
Washington Presidents
64
36
24
4
221
195
76
New Haven Blades
64
33
26
5
204
180
71
Johnstown Jets
64
31
30
3
228
225
65
Philadelphia Ramblers
64
30
31
3
210
211
63
Clinton Comets
64
15
47
2
186
270
32
               
1959 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Clinton Comets
64
41
21
2
291
180
84
Johnstown Jets
64
33
28
3
252
223
69
New Haven Blades
64
29
31
4
201
216
62
Philadelphia Ramblers
64
30
33
1
215
237
61
Washington Presidents
64
29
35
0
242
271
58
Charlotte Clippers
64
24
38
2
209
283
50
               
1960 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Northern Division              
Clinton Comets
64
35
27
2
244
202 72
New Haven Blades
64
32
29
3
217
189 67
Philadelphia Ramblers
64
31
30
3
226
219 65
New York Rovers
64
19
44
1
205
294 39
               
Southern Division              
Johnstown Jets
64
45
18
1
255
176
91
Charlotte Clippers
64
31
29
4
243
244
66
Greensboro Generals
64
26
33
5
229
250
57
Washington Presidents
64
25
34
5
207
252
55
               
1961 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Northern Division              
New Haven Blades
64
38
25
1
278
221
77
Clinton Comets
64
30
32
2
267
228
62
New Jersey Larks
64
24
39
1
210
254
49
New York Rovers
64
18
45
1
196
293
37
 
Southern Division
Greensboro Generals
64
40
22
2
339
257
82
Johnstown Jets
64
40
22
2
273
215
82
Philadelphia Ramblers
64
32
28
4
227
278
68
Charlotte Checkers
64
25
34
5
221
265
55
               
1962 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Northern Division              
Clinton Comets
68
45
22
1
314
204
91
Johnstown Jets
68
41
26
1
296
255
83
New Haven Blades
68
34
34
0
239
224
68
Long Island Ducks
68
26
41
1
234
266
53
 
Southern Division
Greensboro Generals
68
36
30
2
284
258
74
Knoxville Knights
68
30
35
3
216
256
63
Philadelphia Ramblers
68
28
38
2
265
341
58
Charlotte Clippers
68
26
40
2
226
270
54
               
1963 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Northern Division              
Clinton Comets
68
38
24
6
289
186
82
Long Island Ducks
68
36
28
4
287
261
76
Johnstown Jets
68
34
31
3
254
309
71
Philadelphia Ramblers
68
29
36
3
287
304
61
New Haven Blades
68
27
40
1
240
293
55
 
Southern Division
Greensboro Generals
68
40
26
2
305
263
82
Knoxville Knights
68
37
28
3
295
245
77
Charlotte Checkers
68
35
31
2
242
264
72
Nashville Dixie Flyers
68
16
48
4
181
264
36
               
1964 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Northern Division              
Johnstown Jets
72
41
26
5
297
245
87
Clinton Comets
72
37
28
7
289
215
81
Long Island Ducks
72
32
34
6
245
263
70
New Haven Blades
72
27
42
3
252
296
57
Philadelphia Ramblers
72
21
44
7
261
374
49
 
Southern Division
Greensboro Generals
72
41
29
2
294
257
84
Knoxville Knights
72
40
31
1
340
287
81
Nashville Dixie Flyers
72
37
31
4
232
242
78
Charlotte Checkers
72
30
41
1
276
304
61
               
1965 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Northern Division              
Clinton Comets
72
50
20
2
336
182
102
Long Island Ducks
72
42
29
1
279
233
85
Johnstown Jets
72
41
31
0
330
294
82
New Jersey Devils
72
34
34
4
297
312
72
New York Rovers
72
25
39
8
206
270
58
New Haven Blades
72
19
52
1
238
379
39
 
Southern Division
Nashville Dixie Flyers
72
54
18
0
349
196
108
Greensboro Generals
72
37
33
2
333
301
76
Charlotte Checkers
72
35
35
2
262
286
72
Knoxville Knights
72
34
36
2
281
284
70
Jacksonville Rockets
72
13
57
2
211
385
28
               
1966 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Northern Division              
Long Island Ducks
72
46
23
3
292
208
95
Clinton Comets
72
41
28
3
276
212
85
Johnstown Jets
72
39
31
2
303
267
80
New Haven Blades
72
27
43
2
283
353
56
New Jersey Devils
72
25
43
3
239
311
53
 
Southern Division
Nashville Dixie Flyers
72
42
23
7
277
179
91
Charlotte Checkers
72
42
30
0
300
251
84
Greensboro Generals
72
31
37
4
291
263
66
Knoxville Knights
72
34
36
2
278
261
70
Jacksonville Rockets
72
12
57
3
207
441
27
               
1967 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Northern Division              
Clinton Comets
72
44
26
2
285
202
90
New Jersey Devils
72
39
30
3
292
210
81
Johnstown Jets
72
34
36
2
267
290
70
Long Island Ducks
72
29
39
4
198
233
62
New Haven Blades
72
27
44
1
241
346
55
 
Southern Division
Nashville Dixie Flyers
72
51
19
2
287
169
104
Charlotte Checkers
72
36
33
3
259
235
75
Greensboro Generals
72
35
37
0
265
279
70
Knoxville Knights
72
27
42
3
232
268
57
Florida Rockets
72
27
43
2
222
315
56
               
1968 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Northern Division              
Clinton Comets
72
57
5
10
436
185
124
New Haven Blades
72
43
22
7
387
242
93
Johnstown Jets
72
38
25
9
386
273
85
Long Island Ducks
72
29
36
7
333
329
65
New Jersey Devils
72
17
51
4
251
458
38
Syracuse Blazers
72
12
57
3
277
583
27
 
Southern Division
Greensboro Generals
72
46
20
6
364
248
98
Charlotte Checkers
72
42
21
9
333
243
93
Nashville Dixie Flyers
72
42
23
7
341
256
91
Jacksonville Rockets
72
30
34
8
262
288
68
Knoxville Knights
72
23
43
6
250
294
52
Salem Rebels
72
11
53
8
211
432
30
               
1969 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Northern Division              
Clinton Comets
72
44
18
10
284
181
98
Johnstown Jets
72
42
23
7
358
230
91
New Haven Blades
72
39
23
10
343
271
88
Long Island Ducks
72
27
37
8
256
318
62
New Jersey Devils
72
26
39
7
245
301
59
Syracuse Blazers
72
9
59
4
178
401
22
 
Southern Division
Greensboro Generals
72
41
22
9
350
279
91
Nashville Dixie Flyers
72
41
25
6
336
253
88
Charlotte Checkers
72
37
29
6
274
381
80
Jacksonville Rockets
72
27
37
8
267
295
62
Salem Rebels
72
24
45
3
240
321
51
               
1970 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Northern Division              
Clinton Comets
74
50
16
8
394
222
108
New Haven Blades
74
39
20
15
377
244
93
Johnstown Jets
74
27
33
14
318
344
68
Syracuse Blazers
74
23
37
14
292
350
60
Long Island Ducks
74
24
44
6
261
364
54
New Jersey Devils
74
20
48
6
278
44
46
 
Southern Division
Greenboro Generals
74
45
22
7
333
241
97
Salem Rebels
74
37
27
10
279
266
84
Charlotte Checkers
74
34
31
9
284
266
77
Jacksonville Rockets
74
27
37
10
282
355
64
Nashville Dixie Flyers
74
27
38
9
279
305
63
               
1971 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Northern Division              
New Haven Blades
74
38
21
15
339
244
91
Syracuse Blazers
74
36
30
8
302
284
80
Johnstown Jets
74
30
29
15
273
297
75
Clinton Comets
74
31
32
11
257
233
73
Long Island Ducks
74
29
35
10
283
296
68
New Jersey Devils
74
22
39
13
282
353
57
               
Southern Division
Charlotte Checkers
74
55
12
7
383
153
117
Greensboro Generals
73
44
21
8
340
234
96
Salem Rebels
74
31
34
9
257
303
72
Nashville Dixie Flyers
73
26
42
5
270
342
57
Jacksonville Rockets
74
11
58
5
206
453
27
               
1972 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Northern Division              
Syracuse Blazers
75
38
27
10
340
276
86
Johnstown Jets
75
33
28
14
290
269
80
Clinton Comets
75
30
32
13
272
278
73
New Haven Blades
75
30
35
10
307
333
70
Long Island Ducks
75
29
35
11
279
310
69
New Jersey Devils
75
25
40
10
237
294
60
               
Southern Division
Charlotte Checkers
73
47
18
8
330
180
102
Greensboro Generals
73
34
27
12
284
252
80
Roanoke Valley Rebels
73
30
33
10
241
266
70
Suncoast Suns
73
27
34
12
248
291
66
Jacksonville Rockets
28
6
20
2
81
160
14
               
Jacksonville Rockets ceased operations Dec. 9, 1971
               
1973 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Central Division              
Cape Cod Cubs
76
36
29
11
338
314
83
Rhode Island Eagles
76
32
35
9
320
307
73
Long Island Ducks
76
26
43
7
287
386
59
New Jersey Devils
76
23
41
12
239
300
58
               
Northern Division              
Syracuse Blazers
76
63
9
4
453
190
130
Johnstown Jets
76
36
28
12
283
255
84
Clinton Comets
76
18
51
7
256
415
43
New England Blades
76
9
13
2
91
109
20
               
Southern Division              
Roanoke Valley Rebels
76
40
25
11
345
276
91
Greensboro Generals
76
40
28
8
391
315
88
Suncoast Suns
76
30
37
9
301
365
69
Charlotte Checkers
76
26
40
10
241
313
62