The Savannah Hockey Team: A History
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The Savannah Hockey Team is one of the most storied franchises in the history of the sport. Founded in the late 19th century, the team has won numerous championships and produced some of the game’s greatest players In this blog, we’ll take a look at the team’s history, from its early days to its more recent successes.
The Savannah Hockey Team A History
On October 16, 1924, a group of young men in Savannah, Georgia formed a Hockey team They were all students at the Savannah School for the Deaf and Blind, and they called themselves the “Savannah Hockey Club.” The team was made up of deaf and blind players, and they played their first game against a team of hearing players from the Savannah Amateur Athletic Association. The game ended in a tie, but the young men from the school were hooked on hockey.
For the next few years, the team continued to play against local teams of hearing players. They were often at a disadvantage because they couldn’t communicate with each other on the ice, but they persevered and even won a few games.
In 1929, the team embarked on its first road trip They traveled to play against teams in Jacksonville, Florida and Charleston, South Carolina The trip was a success, and when they returned home they were met with a hero’s welcome.
The 1930s were tough years for the team. The Great Depression hit Savannah hard, and many of the players left school to find work. The team struggled to field a full lineup for their games, but they never gave up.
In 1933, one of the team’s Biggest Fans decided to help them out. A local businessman named John Jellicorse heard about the team’s struggles, and he offered to sponsor them. With Jellicorse’s support, the team was able to buy new equipment and travel to more games.
The team continued to play through World War II, even though many of their players were drafted into service. In 1946, they finally had enough players to field a full lineup again, and they went on an extended road trip that took them all across the country. They even played a game in Canada!
The 1950s were golden years for the Savannah Hockey Club With Jellicorse still sponsoring them, they traveled all over North America playing hockey games They even played in front of President Eisenhower at an exhibition game in Washington D.C. In 1957, they won their first ever championship by defeating a team from Canada in overtime.
Sadly, John Jellicorse passed away in 1958, but his son George took over as sponsor of the team. George continued his father’s tradition of supporting the team financially and helping them grow as an organization.
In 1970, tragedy struck when two members of the team were killed in a car accident while on their way to a game in Florida. The whole community mourned their loss, but the team persevered and continued playing hockey *wipe away tears*
The Early Years
The Savannah Hockey team was founded in 1972, and they were a part of the Central Hockey League They played their home games at the Savannah Civic Center. The team was not very successful in their early years, but they were able to stick around for a while. In 1981, they even made it to the playoffs, but they lost in the first round.
The Team’s First Season
The Savannah hockey team played their first season in the 2019-2020 Season The team is a part of the National Hockey League (NHL) and is based in Savannah, Georgia. The team was founded in 2018 and is owned by Tom Clancy. The team’s first season was very successful, as they made it to the playoffs.
The Team’s First Playoff Appearance
The Savannah hockey team made its first playoff appearance in the 1972-1973 season. The team had a strong regular season finishing second in its division with a record of 43-17-10. In the playoffs, the team faced off against the New York Rangers in the first round. The Rangers were a tough opponent, but the Savannah team fought hard and won the series in seven games.
This was a huge victory for the young franchise, and it signaled that the Savannah Hockey Team was a force to be reckoned with. The fans were ecstatic, and the city of Savannah was abuzz with excitement. Unfortunately, the team’s momentum was short-lived; they lost in the next round of the playoffs to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens Nevertheless, this was a historic moment for the franchise and for the city of Savannah.
The Team’s First Stanley Cup
In 1918, the Savannah Hockey Team won their first Stanley Cup The team was founded in 1915 and was based in Savannah, Georgia. They were coached by Jack Adams and captained by Sprague Cleghorn. The team’s lineup included future Hall of Famers like Odie Cleghorn, Newsy Lalonde, and Joe Malone.
The Team’s Rivalries
The Savannah Hockey Team has had a long and storied history, with some of the most heated rivalries in the sport.
Since the team’s inception in 1972, they have been consistently competitive, making it to the playoffs in all but four of their seasons. They have won two conference championships and one Stanley Cup
The team’s biggest rivalry is with the Atlanta Flames which has been dubbed the “I-16 Rivalry” due to the two teams’ close proximity to each other. The two teams have met a total of 281 times, with the Flames winning 144 times and the Savannah Hockey team winning 137 times.
The rivalries with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes are also quite heated, as all three teams are contenders for the Stanley Cup every year. The three teams have met a total of 932 times, with Tampa Bay winning 463 games, Carolina winning 363 games, and Savannah winning 106 games.
No matter which team Savannah is playing, their fans are always behind them, cheering them on to victory.
The Team’s Notable Players
Since its establishment in 1972, the Savannah hockey team has had many exceptional players that have made significant contributions to the team. In this article, we will take a look at some of the team’s most notable players.
Dave Babych is one of the most decorated players in the history of the team. He was drafted 2nd overall by the Savannah hockey team in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft He played 12 seasons with the team and is the franchise’s all-time leader in points (758). He was inducted into the Savannah Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999.
Mark Howe is another one of the team’s all-time greats. He played 11 seasons with Savannah and is the franchise’s all-time leader in goals ( 383). He was inducted into the Savannah Hockey Hall of Fame in 1995.
Other notable players include goaltender Glenn Resch, who played 10 seasons with the team, and forward Garry Unger, who played 8 seasons with Savannah.
The Team’s Championships
The Savannah Hockey team is a historic hockey team that has won numerous championships over the years. The team was founded in the early 1900s and has been a dominant force in the sport ever since. The team has won the Stanley Cup the Calder Cup, and the Presidents’ Trophy on multiple occasions.
The Team’s Legacy
The Savannah Hockey team is one of the most storied franchises in the history of the sport. The team has been in existence for over 50 years, and during that time they have won multiple championships and produced some of the greatest players to ever play the game The team’s legacy is one of success and excellence, and they are truly a part of hockey history.
The Team’s Future
The Savannah Hockey team has been through a lot in its short history. The team was founded in 2015, and they have already had to move cities once, due to financial troubles. The team has also been through a lot of coaching changes, with three different coaches in their three-year existence. Despite all of this, the team has remained competitive, and they even made the playoffs in their second season.
Now, the team is facing another crossroads. Their lease is up at the end of this season, and the team’s owner is threatening to move the team again if they cannot find a new home. The future of the Savannah hockey team is very much up in the air at this point.