Cincinnati Stingers

Cincinnati Stingers
City	Cincinnati, Ohio
League	World Hockey Association
Operated	1975–1979
Home arena	Riverfront Coliseum
Colors	Black, Yellow

The Cincinnati Stingers was an ice hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio, that played in the World Hockey Association from 1975 to 1979. Its home arena was Riverfront Coliseum and it was the only major-league hockey team ever to play in Cincinnati.

History

The Stingers franchise was awarded in 1974 as part of the WHA's ill-conceived attempt at expansion. Most of the league's existing teams were not financially stable, and franchise relocations were commonplace. The Stingers played through the league's final season in 1978–79, but with attendance being average at best, the club was not included in the merger with the National Hockey League that took place in the summer of 1979. The Stingers, along with the Birmingham Bulls, were paid to disband when the WHA ceased operations.

The Stingers were the first professional team of long-time NHL star Mike Gartner. Mark Messier and Mike Liut also played for the Stingers. After playing five games with the Indianapolis Racers, Messier moved to Cincinnati. Messier was placed on a line with Robbie Ftorek.^[1] Ftorek was one of the top scorers in the league but Messier managed to get only one goal.^[1]

After the WHA shut down, a minor professional version of the Cincinnati Stingers began the 1979–80 season in the Central Hockey League. The CHL team included only three players from the 1978–79 WHA Stingers; Dave Debol, Byron Shutt and Paul Stewart. The CHL team disbanded 33 games into the season.

The largest crowd in Cincinnati Stingers history was on March 11, 1978 when 13,901 persons attended a game at Riverfront Coliseum between the Stingers and the Edmonton Oilers.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} The Rebel League: The Short and Unruly Life of the World Hockey Association, p.237, McLelland and Stewart, Toronto, ON, ISBN 0-7710-8947-3

Hockey Hall of Famers

Mike Gartner Mark Messier

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes

World Hockey Association

Season	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA	PIM	Finish	Playoffs
1975–76	80	35	44	1	71	285	340	1344	4th, Eastern	Did not qualify
1976–77	81	39	37	5	83	354	303	970	2nd, Eastern	Lost Quarterfinals (Indianapolis)
1977–78	80	35	42	3	73	298	332	1701	7th, WHA	Did not qualify
1978–79	80	33	41	6	72	274	284	1651	5th, WHA	Lost Quarterfinals (New England)
Totals	321	142	164	15	299	1211	1259	5666

Central Hockey League

Season	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA	PIM	Finish	Playoffs
1979–80	33	11	21	1	23	108	151	591	n/a	Incomplete season

See also

• List of Cincinnati Stingers players
• List of WHA seasons

References

1. ^ ^{a b} The Rebel League: The Short and Unruly Life of the World Hockey Association, p.237, McLelland and Stewart, Toronto, ON, ISBN 0-7710-8947-3

External links

• SCSR / Cincinnati Stingers