Jim Stanfield: Short NAHL Stay With Buffalo Norsemen In 1975-76

Jim Stanfield was one of three brothers that all played junior hockey with the St. Catherines Blackhawks in the Ontario Hockey Association and all played in the National Hockey League for at least one game. Stanfield played in the NAHL towards the end of his pro hockey career with the Buffalo Norsemen during the team’s only year in the league.

Jim Stanfield – NAHL

Stanfield played for the Buffalo Norsemen for part of the 1975-76 North American Hockey League season. He appeared in 27 regular season games, scoring ten goals and assisting on 19 for 29 points with the Guy Trottier coached team. He also appeared in four Lockhart Cup playoff games, adding two points. Stanfield started the season in the WIHL, playing 33 games for the Spokane Flyers. Over his 33 games, he scored 33 goals.

The Norsemen finished the 1975-76 NAHL regular season fourth in the five team West Division and seventh overall in the ten team league. Buffalo lost in the opening round of the playoffs to the Johnstown Jets.

Jim Stanfield – Junior Hockey

Jim played three years of junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1964-65 to 1966-67. His first two years were spent with the St. Catherines Blackhawks. Stanfield’s final year was with the London Nationals in that franchise’s second year of existence. Jim finished second on the Nationals with 32 goals, six behind team leader Garry Unger. Turk Broda was in his first of two years as head coach of the team.

Jim Stanfield – Pro Hockey

Stanfield played pro hockey from 1967-68 to 1976-77. He appeared on teams in the CHL, NHL, AHL, WHL, WIHL and NAHL. Jim played in seven regular season games in the National Hockey League between 1969-70 and 1971-72, all with the Los Angeles Kings.

In 1968-69, he was part of Central Hockey League championship team with the Dallas Black Hawks. Dallas met the Oklahoma City Blazers in the finals and won the best of four series in five games.

The following year, Stanfield joined the Springfield Kings in the American Hockey League for the final 18 games of the regular season. He started the year playing 55 games with Dallas. In the Calder Cup playoffs, Jim led Springfield with eight goals and nine assists for 17 points over 14 games. The Kings reached the Calder Cup finals before being swept by the Buffalo Bisons.

In 1974-75, Jim scored 45 goals and assisted on 57 for 102 points over 47 games with the Spokane Flyers of the WIHL. He was second in the league in goals, tied for third for assists and led the league in points.

Jim’s brother Fred Stanfield played 914 regular season games in the NHL between 1964-65 and 1977-78 with the Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, Minnesota North Stars and Buffalo Sabres. Brother Jack Stanfield played one Stanley Cup playoff game with the Blackhawks in 1965-66. All played junior hockey for the St. Catherines Black Hawks.