Springfield Indians
| Springfield Indians | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| City | Springfield, Massachusetts |
| League | American Hockey League |
| Operated | 1926–1994 |
| Home arena |
Eastern States Coliseum (1926–1972) Springfield Civic Center (1972–1994) |
| Colors | Usually blue, red and white; navy blue, green and white in 1994 |
| Owner(s) | Eddie Shore |
| Affiliates | New York Americans, New York Rangers, Hartford Whalers, New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Minnesota North Stars |
| Franchise history | |
| First Can-Am Franchise | |
| 1926–1932 | Springfield Indians |
| Second AHL Franchise | |
| 1932–1935 | Quebec Beavers |
| 1935–1951 | Springfield Indians |
| 1951–1954 | Syracuse Warriors |
| 1954–1967 | Springfield Indians |
| 1967–1974 | Springfield Kings |
| 1974–1994 | Springfield Indians |
| 1994–2005 | Worcester IceCats |
| 2005–2013 | Peoria Rivermen |
| 2013–present | Utica Comets |
| Championships | |
| Regular season titles | 3 1959–60, 1960–61, 1961–62 |
| Division Championships | 6 1941–42 (East), 1959–60, 1960–61, 1961–62 (East), 1990–91 (North), 1991–92 (North) |
| Calder Cups | 7 1959–60, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1970–71 (Kings), 1974–75, 1989–90, 1990–91 |
The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with three interruptions. The Indians had two brief hiatuses from 1933 to 1935, and from 1942 to 1946. The team was known as the Syracuse Warriors from 1951 to 1954; in addition, the team was named the Springfield Kings from 1967 to 1975. The Indians won seven Calder Cup championships, one while known as the Kings in 1971.
The Indians had their start in the Canadian-American Hockey League in 1926. The "Can-Am", as it was called, was founded in Springfield and the Indians were one of the five initial franchises. It was run at the time by Lester Patrick and the National Hockey League's New York Rangers, and future NHL stars such as Charlie Rayner, Earl Seibert (who after his playing days were through would be the Indians' longtime coach), Cecil Dillon and Ott Heller saw their start in Springfield uniforms. The Indians played in the Can-Am League until the 1932–33 season, having to fold thirteen games into the season. In 1935–36, Lucien Garneau transferred his Quebec Beavers franchise to Springfield, resurrecting the Indians name; the team was now associated with the NHL's Montreal Canadiens.
The Great Depression caused cutbacks all around, and the Can-Am merged with the International Hockey League to form the International-American Hockey League, which changed its name to the American Hockey League, having lost its last Canadian franchises, in 1941.
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