The Philadelphia Firebirds played in the North American
Hockey League for three years, from 1974-75 to 1976-77. After the NAHL met its
demise after the 1976-77 season, the Firebirds continued on in the American
Hockey League for two years before moving to Syracuse for one final season
before folding. Gregg Pilling coached the Firebirds in each of the team’s three
NAHL seasons. The team played out of the Philadelphia Civic Center, the same
venue that housed the WHA’s Philadelphia Blazers
during their only season in the league.
1974-75
The Firebirds finished their first season in the NAHL (the
league’s second season) second overall to the Syracuse Blazers. In the first
round of the Lockhart Cup playoffs, the Firebirds fell to the Long Island
Cougars 3-1. The Cougars finished the regular season seventh out of eight teams
with 20 points less than Philadelphia.
Bob Collyard led the team in goals (42), assists (61) and
points (103). He finished fourth in the NAHL for goals, second in assists and
tied for third in points. Collyard was a team leader throughout the team’s NAHL
history.
The most significant name on the Firebirds roster was
goaltender Rejean Lemelin. For Lemelin, it was his first year of a lengthy pro
career. Rejean played in the NHL from 1978-79 to 1992-93 with the Atlanta
Flames / Calgary Flames and Boston Bruins. Lemelin played between the pipes for
each of Philadelphia’s NAHL seasons.
1975-76
Bob Collyard led the Firebirds in goals, assists and points
again with 45 goals, 84 assists and 129 points. Collyard finished 8th
in the NAHL for goals, second in assists and fifth in points.
The Firebirds finished second in the newly formed West
Division with 90 points. The team finished third overall in the league to the
Beauce Jaros, who finished with 110 points.
Philadelphia captured the Lockhart Cup championship with a
4-2 victory over the Jaros in the final series. In the first round, the
Firebirds beat the Mohawk Valley Comets 3-1. In the semi-finals, Philadelphia
took out rival Johnstown 4-1. An interesting note in that series is that the
final game was won by the Firebirds 14-10.
1976-77
In Philadelphia’s final year in the North American Hockey
League, Gord Brooks led the team with 65 goals and 124 points. Bob Collyard led
the club with 85 assists. Brooks finished second in the NAHL for goals and
Collyard took second place is assists. Both finished in the top ten for points
with Brooks finishing fourth and Bob finishing seventh.
The Firebirds finished fourth overall in the eight team
league. In the playoffs, Philadelphia was knocked off 3-1 by the Erie Blades.
Notably on the roster for the full season with the Firebirds
was Don Hay. Hay was in his final season of pro hockey and has since become a
junior hockey coaching legend in Canada. He is the current head coach of the
Vancouver Giants of the WHL. Don has coached three teams to Memorial Cup
championships, two with the Kamloops Blazers and one with Vancouver. He was the
first head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes when they were moved from Winnipeg for
the 1996-97 season. Hay also spent time as head coach of the Calgary Flames
during the 2000-01 NHL season.
