Cincinnati Tigers (ice hockey)
| Cincinnati Tigers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| League | Central Hockey League |
| Operated | 1981-82 |
| Home arena | Riverfront Coliseum |
| Colors | Black with blue, gold and white trim |
| Owner(s) | Maple Leaf Gardens Limited |
| Affiliates | Toronto Maple Leafs |
The Cincinnati Tigers were a minor league ice hockey team in the old Central Hockey League during the 1981-82 season. They played in Cincinnati, Ohio at the Riverfront Coliseum. The team was owned and operated by Maple Leaf Gardens Limited, and served as a farm team for the Toronto Maple Leafs.[1][2][3][4] Prior to launching the Tigers, the Leafs were affiliated with the New Brunswick Hawks of the American Hockey League (AHL), which they shared with the Chicago Black Hawks.[1][3] However, Harold Ballard, owner of the Leafs, decided that they needed a developmental team of their own,[5] with a spokesperson citing the limited number of roster spots as the rational for the move.[3][1]
The team averaged only 1,500 fans and lost $750,000 in their first season, leading the Leafs to fold the Tigers in the spring of 1982.[6][7][8] Shortly thereafter, with Chicago having pulled out of New Brunswick in favour of affiliating with the Springfield Indians on their own,[7][8] the Leafs relocated the New Brunswick Hawks to St. Catharines, Ontario to establish the St. Catharines Saints as their farm team.[9][10][4]
The market was previously served by:
- Cincinnati Mohawks (1949–52 AHL, 1952–58 IHL)
- Cincinnati Wings (1963-64 CHL)
- Cincinnati Swords (1971–74 AHL}
- Cincinnati Stingers (1975–79 WHA; 1979-80 CHL)
The market was later served by:
- Cincinnati Cyclones (1990–92 ECHL; 1992–2001 IHL; 2001–04, 2006-present ECHL)
- Cincinnati Mighty Ducks (1997–2005 AHL}
References
- 1 2 3 "Leafs get new farm club in Central Hockey League". Globe and Mail. 1981-06-24.
- ↑ Houston, William (1982-03-31). "'Everything has price,' Ballard says; it's $50 million for Leafs. Gardens". Globe and Mail.
- 1 2 3 Campbell, Neil (1981-06-17). "Cincinnati may get Leaf farm team". Globe and Mail.
- 1 2 "Leafs place AHL team in St. Kitts". Globe and Mail. 1982-06-22.
- ↑ "Ballard wants Leafs to have own farm club". Globe and Mail. 1980-03-21.
- ↑ Campbell, Neil (1982-06-11). "Salming wins Conacher award Niagara may get Leaf farm team". Globe and Mail.
- 1 2 Campbell, Neil (1982-05-28). "It's musical chairs on ice as CHL franchises switch". Globe and Mail.
- 1 2 "Leaf team to leave Moncton". Toronto Star. 1982-06-02.
- ↑ Kane, Mike (1982-07-24). "Red Wings return to North as AHL swells to 13 teams". Schenectady Gazette.
- ↑ "AHL adds three teams in expansion". Globe and Mail. 1982-07-24.