Bob Jones was a fringe player in the world of professional
hockey that found great success over his two years spent in the NAHL. Jones
played 1974-75 with the Syracuse Blazers and 1975-76 with the Mohawk Valley
Comets. In both seasons, he surpassed the 100 point plateau, leading the league
in assists and points while a member of the Blazers.
Bob Jones – NAHL
In 1974-75, Jones played 67 regular season games for the
powerhouse Syracuse
Blazers. He scored 38 goals and assisted on 76 for 114 points. Bob tied for
sixth in goal scoring while leading the NAHL in assists and points. Syracuse
finished first overall in the eight team league with a 12 point cushion between
themselves and second place. Yet, the Blazers fell in the semi-finals to the
fourth seed Johnstown Jets.
The following year with the Mohawk
Valley Comets, Jones scored 39 and assisted on 70 for 109 points over 69
regular season games. The league was much more offensive and he placed just
sixth for assists and ninth for points. The Comets placed third in the five
team East Division and lost in the first round to the Syracuse Blazers.
Bob Jones – Junior
Jones spent four years in the OHA Junior A from 1962-63 to
1965-66. All four years were spent with the same organization but the Guelph
Royals became the Kitchener Rangers after the first year. In 1964-65, his 39
goals placed him tenth in the league. Over his OHA career, he totalled 171
points over 209 regular season games.
In 1965-66, Kitchener finished seventh in the nine team
league with just 41 points over 48 regular season games. Yet, after knocking
off the Niagara
Falls Flyers in the opening round and the Toronto Marlboros in the
semi-finals, the Rangers earned a berth in the Robertson Cup finals against
Bobby Orr and the Oshawa Generals. Oshawa came out ahead, four games to one.
Over 19 playoff games, Jones scored 11 and assisted on 14 for 25 points.
Bob Jones – Minor Pro
From 1966-67 to 1971-72, Bob spent most of his time in the
minors, either in the CPHL, WHL and AHL. In 1969-70, he was part of the magical
Buffalo Bisons AHL club that exited the league on a high. With the Sabres
entering the National Hockey League for the 1970-71 season, it was known that
1969-70 was the last year for the Bisons.
The Fred
Shero coached Bisons reached the Calder Cup finals and swept the
Springfield Kings in four for the championship. Bob led the team with ten
assists and 15 points over 14 playoff games. During the regular season, he
scored 25 and assisted on 37 for 62 points over 71 games.
Bob Jones – Major League
His NHL experience was limited to just two games, played
with the New York Rangers in 1968-69. However, Jones played 161 games in the
World Hockey Association between 1972-73 and 1975-76. Bob wore a number of
jerseys in the WHA, starting with the Los Angeles Sharks and moving on to the
New York Raiders / New York Golden Blades / Jersey Knights mess. He also
appeared with the Michigan Stags and Indianapolis Racers.
