Indianapolis Racers

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Indianapolis Racers
Indianapolis Racers logo
founding September 14, 1973
resolution December 15, 1978
history Indianapolis Racers
1974 - 1978
Stadion Market Square Arena
Location Indianapolis , Indiana
Team colors red, blue & white
Avco World Trophies no
Division title 1975/76

The Indianapolis Racers were an ice hockey team in Indianapolis that was active in the North American World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1974 to 1978 .

history

Foundation and successes

In its third season, the World Hockey Association was increased by two to 14 teams. One of the two new teams was the Indianapolis Racers. On September 14, 1973, Dick Tinkham and John Weissert were awarded the contract for the new team. Exactly one year later to the day, the new Market Square Arena opened with its 16,500 seats.

Gerry Moore , who won the Adams Cup with the Dallas Black Hawks in the CHL in the previous year , was hired as coach . The team was expected to be successful, but that didn't happen in the first year. The only bright spot was goalie Andy Brown , who had come from the Pittsburgh Penguins . The weak defense put Brown, who was the last professional goalkeeper to play without a mask, game after game to a flood of shots. For his courage, he was invited to the WHA All-Star game as the only player on the team. Paul Deneau , the former owner of the Houston Eros , had already taken over the team in December.

For the second season they brought Jacques Demers as coach and with Pat Stapleton a leading player for the defense. When the Minnesota Fighting Saints were disbanded during the season , NHL legend Dave Keon was brought in . The Racers were able to take first place in the Eastern Division. For the 1976/77 season Keon returned to the new team in Minnesota and the success did not stay in Indianapolis. They came third in the east and Deneau had to sell parts of the team to a consortium led by Harold Dukote . During 1977 Deneau got out and Dukote was the new boss.

After bankruptcy was near at the end of 1977, the former owner of the Edmonton Oilers , Nelson Skalbania , bought into the Racers. In the summer of 1978 he planned to rebuild the team and signed a hopeful young player, Wayne Gretzky . But Gretzky only stayed the first eight games in the 1978/79 season and scored 3 goals and 3 assists. Then the Racers had to give him with two other players for $ 850,000 to the Edmonton Oilers. With this money, the Racers survived 15 more games, in which another young star was also used. Mark Messier began his professional career that year with the Indianapolis Racers. On December 15, 1978, Skalbania announced the dissolution of the Racers.

Club records