Fort Worth Texans | |
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City | Fort Worth, Texas |
League | Central Hockey League |
Operated | 1967–1982 |
Home arena | Will Rogers Coliseum |
Colors | Red & White (1967–1973) Blue, Orange & White (1974–1979) |
Affiliates |
Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, New York Islanders, Colorado Rockies |
Franchise history | |
1967–1974 | Fort Worth Wings |
1974–1982 | Fort Worth Texans |
The Fort Worth Texans were a professional ice hockey team based in Fort Worth, Texas. They started play in 1967 as the Fort Worth Wings, a minor league affiliate for the Detroit Red Wings. They were part of the Central Hockey League and played their home games at Will Rogers Coliseum. The team won their only Adams Cup Championship, in 1978 by defeating their arch rival Dallas Black Hawks 5–4 in overtime of game seven of the finals.
Beginning play in 1967, the Fort Worth Wings were a force to be reckoned with. The newest team in the Central Professional Hockey League was led by Rick McCann who scored 71 points and helped propel the Wings into the playoffs. They eventually lost in the finals. They continued to remain competitive in the following seasons, only missing the playoffs once between 1968 and 1974. In 1972, the Wings shared roster spots on the team with the St. Louis Blues due to money constraints and finally disbanded the team the following season. However a new club bought the rights to the team and from 1973 to 1978 they were a farm team of the New York Islanders (with some players held for Minnesota and Los Angeles). They won the Adams cup in 1978 with the help of Richie Hansen and future NHLer Gary Smith. The team was again sold to the late Dick Andersen in 1979 to 1982, they were a farm team of the Colorado Rockies. After the 1981-82 season, the Texans, along with the Dallas Black Hawks and Oklahoma City Stars, left the Central Hockey League. Seeing as these were the most popular teams, the move greatly affected overall attendance and the league folded after the 1983–84 season.