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{{Short description|Defunct American professional ice hockey league}}
{{Redirect|Northeastern Hockey League|the league that operated from 2003 to 2008|North Eastern Hockey League}}
{{Infobox sports league
{{Infobox sports league
| logo =
| title = Eastern Hockey League
| pixels = 150px
| logo =
| caption =
| pixels = 150px
| sport = Ice hockey
| sport = Ice hockey
| founded = 1978
| founded = 1978
| folded = 1981
| folded = 1981
| motto =
| teams = 6
| teams = 6
| country = United States
| champion = [[Erie Blades]] (1980–81)
| country = United States
| champion = [[Erie Blades]] (1980-81)
| most_champs = Erie Blades (3), (1978–79; 1979–80; 1980–81)
| most_champs = Erie Blades (3), (1978-79; 1979-80; 1980-81)
| website =
}}
}}


:''”Northeastern Hockey League” redirects here. For the league the operated 2003–2008, see [[North Eastern Hockey League]].''
The '''Eastern Hockey League''' began operation in 1978 as the '''Northeastern Hockey League''', filling the void in the former territory of the [[Eastern Hockey League (1954-1973)|Eastern Hockey League]].
The '''Eastern Hockey League''' began operation in 1978 as the '''Northeastern Hockey League''' using the old [[Eastern Hockey League (1954-1973)|Eastern Hockey League]]'s territory.


In 1979 the Eastern Hockey League name was revived. This league was not successful and after an owners' meeting on July 19, 1981, it was decided to fold the league.<ref>[http://www.hockeyleaguehistory.com/Eastern_Hockey_League_1979.htm HockeyLeagueHistory.com: Eastern Hockey League (1979-81)]</ref>
[[Bill Beagan]] was named commissioner of the Northeastern Hockey League on June 14, 1979, to replace Jack Timmins who resigned.<ref>{{cite news|title=Named commissioner|date=June 14, 1979|newspaper=Brandon Sun|location=Brandon, Manitoba|page=8 |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jun-14-1979-1604709/}}{{free access}}</ref> The league was rebranded as the Eastern Hockey League, which Beagan oversaw for two seasons until 1981.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bacon|first=John U.|author-link=John U. Bacon|title=Blue Ice: The Story of Michigan Hockey|publisher=[[University of Michigan Press]]|date=2001|location=Ann Arbor, Michigan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HbFdhcX3mqwC|page=285|isbn=0-472-09781-4|via=Google Books}}</ref> The league was not successful and after an owners' meeting on July 19, 1981, it was decided to fold the league.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eastern Hockey League (1979-1981) |url=http://www.hockeyleaguehistory.com/Eastern_Hockey_League_1979.htm |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=www.hockeyleaguehistory.com}}</ref>


Two of the teams - Baltimore Clippers and the Salem Raiders - joined the [[Atlantic Coast Hockey League (1981–87)|Atlantic Coast Hockey League]] in 1981. One team - the Erie Blades - joined the American Hockey League that same season. The remaining teams folded with the league and ceased operations.
Two of the teams – Baltimore Clippers and the Salem Raiders – joined the [[Atlantic Coast Hockey League]] in 1981. One team – the Erie Blades – joined the American Hockey League that same season. The remaining teams folded with the league and ceased operations.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}


==Teams==
==Teams==
{| class="wikitable"
* [[Baltimore Clippers]] (1979-81, joined the Atlantic Coast Hockey League as the [[Baltimore Skipjacks]])
|-
⚫
* [[Erie Blades]] (1978-81, joined the American Hockey League in 1981-82 and were later merged with the Baltimore Skipjacks. The Erie Golden Blades joined the Atlantic Coast Hockey League in 1982.)
! scope="col"|Team
⚫
* [[Hampton Aces]] (1978-81; began 1978-79 as [[Jersey Aces]]. Franchise became defunct when the Eastern Hockey League folded.)
! scope="col"|Year Founded
* [[Johnstown Red Wings]] (1978-80; played inaugural season as [[Johnstown Wings]]. Franchise ceased operations after the 1979-80 season)
! scope="col"|Year Ended
⚫
* [[Cape Cod Freedoms|New Hampshire/Cape Cod Freedoms]] (1978–79, Franchise started season in New Hampshire before moving to Cape Cod midseason. Franchise ceased operations after 1978-79 season)
! scope="col"|Notes
⚫
* [[Richmond Rifles]] (1979-81, franchise became defunct when the Eastern Hockey League folded.)
|-
⚫
* [[Salem Raiders]] (1980–81, joined the Atlantic Coast Hockey League in 1981.)
| [[Baltimore Skipjacks|Baltimore Clippers]]
* [[Syracuse Hornets]] (1980–81, franchise folded after ten games, going 0-9-1.)
| 1979
⚫
* [[Utica Mohawks]] (1978-80, franchise moved to Salem, VA and becama the Salem Raiders in 1980-81)
| 1981
| League folded; joined the [[Atlantic Coast Hockey League|Atlantic Coast Hockey League (ACHL)]]
|-
| [[Erie Blades]]
| 1978
| 1981
⚫
| Only team to win league championship (1978-79; 1979-80; 1980-81).<br>The Blades joined the [[American Hockey League]] in 1981-82 and later merged with the [[Baltimore Skipjacks]].<br>A different franchise, the [[Erie Golden Blades]], joined the ACHL in 1982.
|-
| [[Jersey/Hampton Aces]]
| 1978
| 1981
⚫
| Franchise became defunct when the Eastern Hockey League folded
|-
| [[Johnstown Red Wings|Johnstown Wings/Red Wings]]
| 1978
| 1980
| Franchise ceased operations after the 1979-80 EHL season
|-
| [[Cape Cod Freedoms|New Hampshire/Cape Cod Freedoms]]
| 1978
| 1979
⚫
| Franchise started season in New Hampshire before moving to Cape Cod midseason. Franchise ceased operations after 1978–79 season.
|-
| [[Richmond Rifles]]
| 1979
| 1981
⚫
| Franchise became defunct when the Eastern Hockey League folded
|-
| [[Salem Raiders]]
| 1980
| 1981
⚫
| Joined the Atlantic Coast Hockey League in 1981
|-
| [[Syracuse Hornets]]
| 1980
| 1981
| Franchise folded after ten games, going 0–9–1
|-
| [[Utica Mohawks]]
| 1978
| 1980
⚫
| Franchise moved to Salem, VA and became the Salem Raiders in 1980–81
|}

===Timeline===
{{Timeline EHL (1978–1981)}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Eastern Hockey League (1978-81)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eastern Hockey League (1978-81)}}
[[Category:Sports leagues established in 1978]]
[[Category:Eastern Hockey League (1978–1981)| ]]
[[Category:1978 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:1978 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:1981 disestablishments in the United States]]
[[Category:1981 disestablishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Sports leagues established in 1978]]

Latest revision as of 10:20, 4 March 2024

"Northeastern Hockey League" redirects here. For the league that operated from 2003 to 2008, see North Eastern Hockey League.
Eastern Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Founded1978
Ceased1981
No. of teams6
CountryUnited States
Last
champion(s)		Erie Blades (1980–81)
Most titlesErie Blades (3), (1978–79; 1979–80; 1980–81)

The Eastern Hockey League began operation in 1978 as the Northeastern Hockey League, filling the void in the former territory of the Eastern Hockey League.

Bill Beagan was named commissioner of the Northeastern Hockey League on June 14, 1979, to replace Jack Timmins who resigned.[1] The league was rebranded as the Eastern Hockey League, which Beagan oversaw for two seasons until 1981.[2] The league was not successful and after an owners' meeting on July 19, 1981, it was decided to fold the league.[3]

Two of the teams – Baltimore Clippers and the Salem Raiders – joined the Atlantic Coast Hockey League in 1981. One team – the Erie Blades – joined the American Hockey League that same season. The remaining teams folded with the league and ceased operations.[citation needed]

Teams[edit]

Team Year Founded Year Ended Notes
Baltimore Clippers 1979 1981 League folded; joined the Atlantic Coast Hockey League (ACHL)
Erie Blades 1978 1981 Only team to win league championship (1978-79; 1979-80; 1980-81).
The Blades joined the American Hockey League in 1981-82 and later merged with the Baltimore Skipjacks.
A different franchise, the Erie Golden Blades, joined the ACHL in 1982.
Jersey/Hampton Aces 1978 1981 Franchise became defunct when the Eastern Hockey League folded
Johnstown Wings/Red Wings 1978 1980 Franchise ceased operations after the 1979-80 EHL season
New Hampshire/Cape Cod Freedoms 1978 1979 Franchise started season in New Hampshire before moving to Cape Cod midseason. Franchise ceased operations after 1978–79 season.
Richmond Rifles 1979 1981 Franchise became defunct when the Eastern Hockey League folded
Salem Raiders 1980 1981 Joined the Atlantic Coast Hockey League in 1981
Syracuse Hornets 1980 1981 Franchise folded after ten games, going 0–9–1
Utica Mohawks 1978 1980 Franchise moved to Salem, VA and became the Salem Raiders in 1980–81

Timeline[edit]


References[edit]

  1. ^ "Named commissioner". Brandon Sun. Brandon, Manitoba. June 14, 1979. p. 8.Free access icon
  2. ^ Bacon, John U. (2001). Blue Ice: The Story of Michigan Hockey. Ann Arbor, Michigan: University of Michigan Press. p. 285. ISBN 0-472-09781-4 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "Eastern Hockey League (1979-1981)". www.hockeyleaguehistory.com. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
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