Since I started with “The Cannon”, I’ve fielded a lot of requests about Akron and Cleveland hockey history posts. After realizing just how lush the hockey scenery has been in Akron and Cleveland since the 1920s, I decided to take up the challenge and write a throwback post every week.
Every Thursday I’ll touch on a different person, league, or moment in Akron/Cleveland hockey history.
This week I bring to you a timeline of hockey in Akron and Cleveland.
This list doesn’t include high school or college teams.
Cleveland Hockey Club
1922-1925
League: USAHA – United States Amateur Hockey Association
Level: Senior Amateur
Games Played: 20
Record: 12-8-0-0-0
Notable Players:
Clarence “Moose” Jamieson
Frank “Mickey” McGuire
Joe Debernardi
Nels Stewart
Ralph Tilton
Austin Wilkie
Cleveland Athletic Club
1923-1924
League: USAHA – United States Amateur Hockey Association
Level: Senior Amateur
Cleveland Indians
1929-1934
League: IHL – International Hockey League
Level: Minor Professional
Games Played: 224
Record: 89-103-32-0-0
Coach: Harry “Hap” Holmes
Notable Players:
Archie Biden
Bernie Brophy
Frank “Patsy” Callighen
Frank “Dapper Dan” Daley
Clarence Dolson
Ken Doraty
Irv Frew
Alex Gray
Samuel “Milt” Halliday
Val “Vic” Hoffinger
Bill Holmes
Frank Hamilton Ingram
Frank “Mickey” McGuire
Norm Locking
Joe Matte
Alfie Moore
Reg Noble
Jesse Spring
Doug Young
Cleveland Falcons
1934-1936
League: IHL – International Hockey League
Level: Minor Professional
Games Played: 92
Record: 45-42-5-0-0
Coach: Harry “Hap” Holmes
Notable Players:
Fred Robertson
Tommy Anderson
Alex “Bud” Cook
Albert “Toots” Holway
Vic Ripley
Maurice “Moe” Roberts
Desse RocheEarl Roche
Harold Starr
Cleveland Falcons
1936-1937
League: IAHL – International American Hockey League
Level: Minor Professional
Games Played: 48
Record: 13-27-8-0-0
Coaches: Carson Cooper, Harry “Hap” Holmes, Vic Ripley
Notable Players:
Alex “Bud” Cook
Frank Daley
Ken Doraty
Albert “Toots” Holway
Vic Ripley
Moe Roberts
Earle Roche
Earl Bartholome
Max Bennett
Tom Cook
Les Cunningham
Lloyd “Deed” Klein
Eric Pettinger
Cleveland Barons
1937-1972
League: AHL – American Hockey League
Level: Minor Professional
Games Played: 2,317
Record: 1178-901-238-0-0
Coaches: Bill Cook, Frederick “Bun” Cook, Jack Gordon, Fred Glover, John Muckler, Parker MacDonald, Floyd Curry
Notable Players:
Lou Trudel
Fred Glover
Johnny Bower
Bill Needham
Jack Gordon
Eddie Olson
Phil Samis
Jack “Rabbit” Lavoie
Walter “Babe” Pratt
Roger Bessette
Terrance Caffery
Fred Thurier
Ron Ingram
Akron Clippers
1941-1942
League: MOHL – Michigan-Ontario Hockey League
Level: Senior Amateur
Games Played: 30
Record: 10-18-2-0-0
Notable Players:
Ken Lundberg
John Weston
Charlie Plitt
Don Veigel
Cleveland Thompson Products
1946-1947
League: OhSHL – Ohio State Hockey League
Level: Senior Amateur
Akron Stars
1946-1948
League: OhSHL – Ohio State Hockey League
Level: Senior Amateur
Coach: Lloyd Storie
Notable Players:
Joe Matte
Bud Polomsky
Jim Campbell
Ken Freebairn
Ivan “Ching” Johnson
Joe Levine
Paul Sironen
Lloyd Storie
Akron Americans
1948-1949
League: IHL – International Hockey League
Level: Minor Professional
Games Played: 32
Record: 4-25-3-0-0
Coach: Fred Holger
Notable Players:
Joe Matte
James Jamieson
Marty Madore
Billy Purcell
Dan Wilkes
Cleveland Knights
1949-1950
League: EHL – Eastern Hockey League
Level: Minor Professional
Games Played: 18
Record: 4-10-4-0-0
Coach: Louis Trudel
Notable Players:
Jim Cunningham
Orville Kelly
Bill Murphy
Lou Trudel
Cleveland Crusaders
1972-1976
League: WHA – World Hockey Association
Level: Major League
Games Played: 314
Record: 150-144-20-0-0
Coaches: Bill Needham, John Hanna, Jack Vivian, Johnny Wilson
Notable Players:
Gerry Cheevers
Gary Jarrett
Gerry Pinder
Paul Shmyr
Wayne Hillman
Cleveland Barons
1976-1978
League: NHL – National Hockey League
Level: Major League
Games Played: 160
Record: 47-87-26-0-0
Coach: Jack Evans
Notable Players:
Jim Neilson
Bob Stewart
Dennis Maruk
Greg Smith
Len Frig
Gilles Meloche
Gary Edwards
Rick Hampton
Mike Fidler
Cleveland Barons
1976-1979
League: Great Lakes Junior Hockey League
Level: U.S. Juniors
Games Played: 142
Record: 31-105-6-0-0
Cleveland Lumberjacks
1992-2001
League: IHL – International Hockey League
Level: Minor Professional
Games Played: 736
Record: 333-312-0-28-63
Coaches: Phil Russell, Rick Paterson, Perry Ganchar, Todd McLellan
Notable Players:
Jock Callander
Dave Michayluk
Dale DeGray
Paul Laus
Jamie Sargent
Rob Dopson
Zac Bierk
Rick Hayward
Phillippe DeRouville
Jeff Christian
Perry Ganchar
Pascal Dupuis
Martin St. Louis
Petr Sykora
Cleveland Barons
1993-2006
League: NAHL – North American Hockey League
Level: U.S. Junior A
Games Played: 688
Record: 318-316-9-32-13
Coach: Tim Alexander
Notable Players:
Jim Slater
Mike Rupp
Cleveland Barons
2001-06
League: AHL – American Hockey League
Level: Minor Professional
Games Played: 400
Record: 150-201-20-20-9
Coach: Roy Sommer
Notable Players:
Riley Armstrong
Jeff Christian
Ryan Clowe
Christian Ehrhoff
Douglas Murray
Chad Wiseman
Cleveland Monsters
2007-Current
League: AHL – American Hockey League
Level: Minor Professional