Minor professional hockey leagues are the backbone of the NHL. These leagues over the years have served as training grounds for the NHL teams. Entertaining hockey in their own right and offering non NHL players a chance to earn a living.
Southern Hockey League (1973-77)
Southern Hockey League (1973-77) was a minor hockey league in the USA. The league ceased operations when it folded on January 31st, 1977. The Southern Hockey League was one of two leagues formed when the Eastern Hockey League ceased operations after the 1972-73 season. The other league was the North American Hockey League.
Southern Hockey League (1973-77) Franchises
Charlotte Checkers (1973-1977)
Greensboro Generals (1973-1977)
Macon Whoopee (1973-1974)
Roanoke Valley Rebels (1973-1976)
Suncoast Suns (1973-1974)
Winston-Salem Polar Bears (1973-1976)
Hampton Gulls (1974-1977)
Tidewater Sharks (1975-1977
Baltimore Clippers (1976-1977)
Richmond Wildcats (1976-1977)
Winston-Salem Polar Twins (1976-1977)
Southern Hockey League (1973-77) Champions
| Year
|
Season Champion |
Playoff Champion
|
| 1974 |
Roanoke Valley Rebels |
Roanoke Valley Rebels |
1975 |
Charlotte Checkers |
Charlotte Checkers |
1976 |
Charlotte Checkers |
Charlotte Checkers |
1977 |
League folded, no champions were declared. |
|
Southern Hockey League (1973-77) Season
| 1974 Season | GP
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
GF
|
GA
|
PTs
|
| Roanoke Valley Rebels | 72 |
53 |
19 |
0 |
366 |
244 |
106 |
| Charlotte Checkers | 72 |
44 |
27 |
1 |
309 |
227 |
99 |
| Greensboro Generals | 71 |
33 |
37 |
1 |
285 |
310 |
67 |
| Winston Salem Polar Bears | 72 |
26 |
44 |
2 |
283 |
363 |
54 |
| Macon Whoopees | 62 |
22 |
38 |
2 |
244 |
290 |
46 |
| Suncoast Suns | 31 |
9 |
22 |
0 |
123 |
176 |
18 |
| Macon Whoopees disbanded Jan. 15, 1974 and the Suncoast Suns disbanded Dec. 19, 1973. | |||||||
| 1975 Season | GP
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
GF
|
GA
|
PTs
|
| Charlotte Checkers | 72 |
50 |
21 |
1 |
370 |
256 |
101 |
| Hampton Gulls | 72 |
43 |
28 |
1 |
323 |
262 |
87 |
| Winston Salem Polar Bears | 72 |
32 |
40 |
0 |
300 |
345 |
64 |
| Roanoke Valley Rebels | 72 |
29 |
41 |
2 |
296 |
304 |
60 |
| Greensboro Generals | 72 |
23 |
47 |
2 |
262 |
384 |
48 |
| 1976 Season | GP
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
GF
|
GA
|
PTs
|
| Charlotte Checkers | 72 |
42 |
20 |
10 |
302 |
206 |
94 |
| Hampton Gulls | 72 |
33 |
23 |
16 |
262 |
234 |
82 |
| Winston Salem Polar Bears | 72 |
30 |
29 |
13 |
252 |
253 |
73 |
| Roanoke Valley Rebels | 72 |
29 |
28 |
15 |
239 |
238 |
73 |
| Tidewater Sharks | 72 |
24 |
34 |
14 |
230 |
260 |
62 |
| Greensboro Generals | 72 |
18 |
42 |
12 |
221 |
317 |
48 |
| 1976 Season | GP
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
GF
|
GA
|
PTs
|
| Hampton Gulls | 50 |
32 |
16 |
2 |
198 |
152 |
66 |
| Tidewater Sharks | 41 |
26 |
13 |
2 |
158 |
131 |
54 |
| Charlotte Checkers | 50 |
22 |
25 |
3 |
180 |
186 |
47 |
| Baltimore Clippers | 47 |
21 |
24 |
2 |
182 |
169 |
44 |
| Richmond Wildcats | 38 |
21 |
16 |
1 |
160 |
144 |
43 |
| Greensboro Generals | 40 |
15 |
24 |
1 |
140 |
173 |
31 |
| Winston Salem Polar Bears | 42 |
11 |
30 |
1 |
130 |
193 |
23 |
| Tidewater, Richmond, Greensboro disbanded Jan. 7, 1977 and the league disbanded Jan 31, 1977. | |||||||