- New Haven Nighthawks
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New Haven Nighthawks 
City New Haven, Connecticut League American Hockey League Operated 1972–1992 Home arena New Haven Coliseum Colors red, white, and blue (Rangers)
black, silver and white (Kings)Affiliates Minnesota North Stars,
New York Islanders,
New York Rangers,
Los Angeles KingsFranchise history 1972–1992 New Haven Nighthawks 1992–1993 New Haven Senators 1993–1996 Prince Edward Island Senators 2002–present Binghamton Senators Championships Regular season titles one (1979–80) Division Championships two (1978–79, 1979–80) The New Haven Nighthawks are a former ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League from 1972 to 1992. They had affiliations with the Minnesota North Stars (1972–1977), New York Islanders (1972–1973), New York Rangers (1977–1981 & 1984–1987), and Los Angeles Kings (1981–1991). The team played their home games at the New Haven Coliseum.
Contents
History
The Nighthawks were Calder Cup finalists four times: 1974–74, 1977–78, 1978–79 and a dramatic, unlikely playoff run in 1988–89 when they finished fourth in their division yet won two exciting playoff rounds before succumbing to the Adirondack Red Wings in the finals 4 games to 1. Those same Red Wings would take the Hawks out again in their last post-season before becoming the ill-fated New Haven Senators in 1992–93.
Notable players for the Nighthawks include former New York Islanders greats Bobby Nystrom and Billy Smith; Willie O'Ree; Tom Colley, the franchise's career leader in games (534), goals (204), assists (281) and points (485); ex-Boston Bruin Billy O'Dwyer; career penalty minute leader (688) Al Tuer; ex-WHA star Bobby Sheehan and Dale Lewis. The team was notorious for a revolving door for personnel holding the AHL record for players used in a single season with 62 in 1986. No player other than Colley played in as many as 300 games for the Nighthawks, while only one goaltender (Ron Scott) played over 100 games.
The franchise was renamed the New Haven Senators for the 1992–93 season when they began an NHL affiliation with the Ottawa Senators. The following season, the franchise moved to Prince Edward Island. Today, it is known as the Binghamton Senators.
Franchise and Area History
The franchise became known as:
- New Haven Senators (1992–1993)
- Prince Edward Island Senators (1993–1996)
- Binghamton Senators (2002–present)
The market was subsequently home to:
- Beast of New Haven (1997–1999)
- New Haven Knights (UHL) (2000–2002).
- Bridgeport Sound Tigers (2001–present)
Season-by-season results
Regular season
Season Games Won Lost Tied OTL Points Goals
forGoals
againstStanding 1972–73 76 16 40 20 — 52 246 331 6th, East 1973–74 76 35 31 10 — 80 291 275 4th, North 1974–75 76 30 35 11 — 71 282 302 5th, North 1975–76 76 29 39 8 — 66 261 295 3rd, South 1976–77 80 43 31 6 — 92 333 287 2nd, AHL 1977–78 80 38 31 11 — 87 313 292 2nd, South 1978–79 80 46 25 9 — 101 346 271 1st, South 1979–80 80 46 25 9 — 101 350 305 1st, South 1980–81 80 29 40 11 — 69 295 321 4th, South 1981–82 80 39 33 8 — 86 292 276 3rd, South 1982–83 80 38 34 8 — 84 337 329 3rd, South 1983–84 80 36 40 4 — 76 365 371 5th, South 1984–85 80 31 41 8 — 70 315 341 5th, South 1985–86 80 36 37 7 — 79 340 343 4th, South 1986–87 80 44 25 — 11 99 331 315 3rd, South 1987–88 80 33 37 7 3 76 288 307 5th, North 1988–89 80 35 35 10 — 80 325 309 4th, North 1989–90 80 32 41 7 — 71 283 316 7th, North 1990–91 80 24 45 11 — 59 246 324 7th, North 1991–92 80 39 37 4 — 82 305 309 3rd, North Playoffs
The Nighthawks were runners-up for the Calder Cup in 1974-75, 1977-78, 1978-79, & 1988-89.[1]
Season 1st round 2nd round Finals 1972–73 Out of playoffs 1973–74 W, 4-2, Rochester L, 0-4, Providence — 1974–75 W, 4-1, Virginia W, 4-1, HER L, 1-4, Springfield 1975–76 L, 0-3, Richmond — — 1976–77 L, 2-4, Rochester — — 1977–78 W, 3-1, Philadelphia W, 4-2, Rochester L, 1-4, Maine 1978–79 bye W, 4-2, Binghamton L, 0-4, Maine 1979–80 W, 4-0, Rochester L, 2-4, Hershey — 1980–81 L, 0-4, Hershey — — 1981–82 L, 1-3, Rochester — — 1982–83 W, 4-1, Hershey L, 3-4 Rochester — 1983–84 Out of playoffs 1984–85 Out of playoffs 1985–86 L, 1-4, Hershey — — 1986–87 L, 3-4, Binghamton — — 1987–88 Out of playoffs 1988–89 W, 4-2, Sherbrooke W, 4-2, Moncton L, 1-4, Adirondack 1989–90 Out of playoffs 1990–91 Out of playoffs 1991–92 L, 1-4, Adirondack — — See also
- Professional Hockey In Connecticut
References
Categories:- Defunct American Hockey League teams
- Defunct ice hockey teams in the United States
- New Haven Nighthawks
- Sports clubs established in 1972
- Sports clubs disestablished in 1992
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