Pineridge Bucks

The Pineridge Bucks were a professional ice hockey team in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. They were a member of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League from 1983 to 1985. Its colors were forest green, gold and maroon.

The Bucks played their home games in the Pinebridge Coliseum, and beer was unavailable for purchase during games due to the county's "dry" status at that time. Brought to the town by a local investor hoping to spur tourism and wishful of filling dates in the new Coliseum [ [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/achl1982.html Atlantic Coast Hockey League seasons at hockeydb.com ] ] , the town of Spruce Pine, NC - with a population of just over 2,000 - is the smallest to host a professional hockey team in the modern era.

The Bucks finished 5th in the league in the 1983-84 season with a 25-47-0 record - almost unprecedented in its era for a hockey team, it had zero ties on the season - but improved to a third place finish in its second and final year with a 33-25-6 record.

The most noteworthy player in the team's short history was Ray LeBlanc, goaltender of the 1992 US Olympic Hockey Team. Its leading scorer both seasons was Rob Clavette, the third leading scorer in ACHL history.

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