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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.
International Hockey League (1970-79)
The International Hockey League (1945-2001) was a triple-A level professional minor league in the United States and Canada. For more information on this league visit our International Hockey League page.
This page contains information on the International Hockey League for the 1970-79 seasons.
International Hockey League (1970-79) Awards
Season |
Leading
Scorer |
MVP |
1969-70 |
Don Westbrooke Dayton |
Cliff Pennington Des Moines |
1970-71 |
Darrel Knibbs Muskegon |
Lyle Carter Muskegon |
1971-72 |
Gary Ford Muskegon |
Len Fontaine Port Huron |
1972-73 |
Gary Ford Muskegon |
Gary Ford Muskegon |
1973-74 |
Pete Mara Des Moines |
Pete Mara Des Moines |
1974-75 |
Rick Bragnalo Dayton |
Gary Ford Muskegon |
1975-76 |
Len Fontaine Port Huron |
Len Fontaine Port Huron |
1976-77 |
Jim Koleff Flint |
Tom Mellor Toledo |
1977-78 |
Jim Johnston Flint |
Dan Bonar Ft. Wayne |
1978-79 |
Terry McDougall Ft. Wayne |
Terry McDougall Ft. Wayne |
Season |
Defenceman of the Year |
Rookie of the Year |
1969-70 |
John Gravel Toledo |
Wayne Zuk Toledo |
1970-71 |
Bob LaPage Des Moines |
Corky Agar Flint Herb Howdle Dayton |
1971-72 |
Rick Pagnutti Ft. Wayne |
Glenn Resch Muskegon |
1972-73 |
Bob McCammon Port Huron |
Danny Gloor Des Moines |
1973-74 |
Dave Simpson Dayton |
Frank DeMarco Des Moines |
1974-75 |
Murray Flegel Muskegon |
Rick Bragnalo Dayton |
1975-76 |
Murray Flegel Muskegon |
Sid Veysey Ft. Wayne |
1976-77 |
Tom Mellor Toledo |
Ron Zanussi Ft. Wayne Garth MacGuigan Muskegon |
1977-78 |
Michel LaChance Milwaukee |
Dan Bonar Ft. Wayne |
1978-79 |
Guido Tenisi Grand Rapids |
Wes Jarvis Port Huron |
All Star Team Selections
1969-70
First Team |
Position |
Second
Team |
Glenn Ramsay Toledo |
Goal |
Bob Perani Flint |
Al Beaule Dayton |
Defence |
Bob McLeod Des Moines |
John Gravel Toledo |
Defence |
Jack Turner Columbus |
Andre Pronovost Muskegon |
Left Wing |
Serge Boudreault Columbus |
Cliff Pennington Des Moines |
Center |
Bert Fizzell Columbus |
Don Westbrooke Dayton |
Right
Wing |
Bernie Blanchette Muskegon |
Moose Lallo Muskegon |
Coach |
Larry Wilson Dayton |
1970-71
First Team |
Position |
Second
Team |
Lyle Carter Muskegon |
Goal |
Bob Perani Flint |
Norm Descoteaux Muskegon |
Defence |
John Gravel Toledo |
Bob LePage Des Moines |
Defence |
Lorne Weighill Dayton |
Hugh Harris Muskegon |
Left Wing |
Steve Sutherland Port Huron |
Darrel Knibbs Muskegon |
Center |
Barry Merrell Dayton |
Duke Asmundson Des Moines |
Right
Wing |
Len Fontaine Port Huron |
Terry Slater Des Moines |
Coach |
Gerry Moore Dayton |
1971
- 72 First Team |
Position |
Second Team |
Glenn Resch Muskegon |
Goal |
Paul Hoganson Ft. Wayne |
Luc Tessier Des Moines |
Defence |
Lorne Weighill Dayton |
Rick Pagnutti Ft. Wayne |
Defence |
Dan Sharpe Muskegon |
Don Liesemer Muskegon |
Left Wing |
Larry Billows Ft. Wayne |
Gary Ford Muskegon |
Center |
Jim Paterson Toledo |
Len Fontaine Port Huron |
Right
Wing |
Bryan McLay Muskegon |
Moose Lallo Muskegon |
Coach |
Ted Garvin Port Huron |
1972
- 73 First Team |
Position |
Second
Team |
Bill McKenzie Port Huron |
Goal |
Glenn Ramsay Toledo |
Bob McCammon Port Huron |
Defence |
Lorne Weighill Dayton |
Rod Collins Flint |
Defence |
Lynn Margarit Muskegon |
Bob Tombari Muskegon |
Left Wing |
Bill LeCaine Port Huron |
Gary Ford Muskegon |
Center |
Gerry Mazur Dayton |
Dennis Desrosiers Saginaw |
Right
Wing |
Pete Gaw Dayton |
Ted Garvin Port Huron |
Coach |
Marc Boileau Ft. Wayne |
1973
- 74 First Team |
Position |
Second
Team |
Bill Hughes Muskegon |
Goal |
Ray Martynuik Columbus |
Yvon Bilodeau Des Moines |
Defence |
Dave Simpson Dayton |
Steve Lyon Columbus |
Defence |
John Gravel Toledo |
Frank DeMarco Des Moines |
Left Wing |
Dave Cressman Saginaw |
Pete Mara Des Moines |
Center |
Marty Reynolds Columbus |
Pete Gaw Dayton |
Right
Wing |
Marcel Comeau Saginaw |
Dan Belisle Des Moines |
Coach |
Moose Lallo Muskegon |
1974
- 75 First Team |
Position |
Second
Team |
Bob Volpe Flint |
Goal |
Dave Hainsworth Muskegon Mike Ralph Port Huron |
Murray Flegel Muskegon |
Defence |
Yvon Bilodeau Dayton |
Steve Lyon Columbus |
Defence |
Larry Klewchuk Port Huron |
Doug Manachak Flint |
Left Wing |
Bob Tombari Muskegon |
Rick Bragnalo Dayton |
Center |
Gary Ford Muskegon |
Mike Powers Columbus |
Right
Wing |
Moe Brunel Toledo Steve Self Dayton |
Doug Carpenter Flint |
Coach |
Moose Lallo Muskegon |
1975
- 76 First Team |
Position |
Second
Team |
Don Cutts Muskegon |
Goal |
Jim Pettie Dayton |
Brian Derkson Muskegon |
Defence |
John Gravel Saginaw |
Murray Flegel Muskegon |
Defence |
Ron Wilson Kalamazoo |
Stan Jonathan Dayton |
Left Wing |
Stu Irving Saginaw |
Len Fontaine Port Huron |
Center |
Kirk Bowman Flint |
Dennis Desrosiers Saginaw |
Right
Wing |
Mike Wanchuk Kalamazoo |
Bob McCammon Port Huron |
Coach |
Don Perry Saginaw |
1976
- 77 First Team |
Position |
Second
Team |
Mario Lessard Saginaw |
Goal |
Terry Richardson Kalamazoo |
Tom Mellor Toledo |
Defence |
John Gravel Saginaw |
Ron Wilson Kalamazoo |
Defence |
Larry Bolonchuk Dayton |
Dave Johnson Toledo |
Left Wing |
Larry Gould Port Huron |
Paul Evans Saginaw |
Center |
Mike Clarke Flint |
Mike Wanchuk Kalamazoo |
Right
Wing |
Dennis Desrosiers Saginaw |
Don Perry Saginaw |
Coach |
Ted Garvin Toledo |
1977
- 78 First Team |
Position |
Second
Team |
Murray Bannerman Ft. Wayne |
Goal |
Richard Sevigny Kalamazoo |
Michel LeChance Milwaukee |
Defence |
Greg Hotham Saginaw |
Ron Wilson Kalamazoo |
Defence |
Jim Bannatyne Port Huron |
Larry Gould Port Huron |
Left Wing |
Yves Preston Milwaukee |
Dan Bonar Ft. Wayne |
Center |
Marcel Comeau Saginaw |
Dennis Desrosiers Saginaw |
Right
Wing |
Tom Milani Kalamazoo |
Gregg Pilling Ft. Wayne |
Coach |
Pete Slater Kalamazoo |
1978
- 79 First Team |
Position |
Second
Team |
Gord Laxton Grand Rapids |
Goal |
Rick Heinz Port Huron |
Jim Bannatyne Port Huron |
Defence |
Paul Clarke Flint |
Guido Tenisi Grand Rapids |
Defence |
Steve Harrison Port Huron |
Robbie Laird Ft. Wayne |
Left Wing |
John Flesch Grand Rapids |
Terry McDougall Ft. Wayne |
Center |
Wes Jarvis Port Huron |
Al Dumba Ft. Wayne |
Right
Wing |
Tom Milani Kalamazoo |
Ron Ullyot Port Huron |
Coach |
Moe Bartoli Grand Rapids |
International Hockey League (1970-79) Seasons
1970 Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
Pts |
North Division | |||||||
Muskegon Mohawks | 72 | 46 | 18 | 8 | 356 | 271 |
100 |
Port Huron Flags | 72 | 37 | 28 | 7 | 272 | 270 |
81 |
Fort Wayne Komets | 72 | 26 | 38 | 8 | 241 | 266 |
60 |
Flint Generals | 72 | 21 | 39 | 12 | 218 | 270 |
54 |
South Division | |||||||
Dayton Gems | 72 | 38 | 30 | 4 | 296 | 271 |
80 |
Toledo Blades | 72 | 32 | 33 | 7 | 241 | 265 |
71 |
Des-Moines Oak Leafs | 72 | 31 | 33 | 8 | 261 | 254 |
70 |
Columbus Checkers | 72 | 24 | 36 | 12 | 289 | 307 |
60 |
1971 Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
Pts |
Muskegon Mohawks | 72 | 43 | 24 | 5 | 300 | 212 |
91 |
Des-Moines Oak Leafs | 72 | 38 | 23 | 11 | 286 | 233 |
87 |
Dayton Gems | 72 | 36 | 29 | 7 | 263 | 263 |
79 |
Flint Generals | 72 | 33 | 32 | 7 | 247 | 224 |
73 |
Fort Wayne Komets | 72 | 28 | 32 | 12 | 221 | 233 |
68 |
Port Huron Flags | 72 | 25 | 36 | 11 | 248 | 292 |
61 |
Toledo Hornets | 72 | 17 | 44 | 11 | 211 | 319 |
45 |
1972 Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
Pts |
North Division | |||||||
Muskegon Mohawks | 72 | 49 | 21 | 2 | 328 | 231 |
100 |
Port Huron Wings | 72 | 37 | 31 | 4 | 276 | 262 |
78 |
Flint Generals | 72 | 31 | 36 | 5 | 253 | 259 |
67 |
Toledo Hornets | 72 | 26 | 46 | 0 | 270 | 371 |
52 |
South Division | |||||||
Dayton Gems | 72 | 49 | 23 | 0 | 319 | 243 |
98 |
Fort Wayne Komets | 72 | 37 | 33 | 2 | 291 | 244 |
76 |
Des-Moines Oak Leafs | 72 | 35 | 34 | 3 | 296 | 278 |
73 |
Columbus Golden Seals | 72 | 15 | 55 | 2 | 220 | 365 |
32 |
1973 Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
Pts |
North Division | |||||||
Flint Generals | 74 | 44 | 29 | 1 | 347 | 281 |
89 |
Port Huron Wings | 73 | 41 | 31 | 1 | 266 | 237 |
83 |
Toledo Hornets | 74 | 36 | 33 | 5 | 257 | 261 |
77 |
Muskegon Mohawks | 74 | 36 | 34 | 4 | 302 | 259 |
76 |
Saginaw Gears | 74 | 30 | 41 | 3 | 305 | 304 |
63 |
South Division | |||||||
Fort Wayne Komets | 74 | 48 | 23 | 3 | 308 | 219 |
99 |
Dayton Gems | 73 | 44 | 25 | 4 | 308 | 235 |
92 |
Des-Moines Capitols | 74 | 30 | 41 | 3 | 279 | 360 |
63 |
Columbus Golden Seals | 74 | 10 | 62 | 2 | 177 | 393 |
22 |
1974 Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
Pts |
North Division | |||||||
Muskegon Mohawks | 76 | 44 | 26 | 6 | 272 | 234 |
94 |
Saginaw Gears | 76 | 38 | 34 | 4 | 310 | 282 |
80 |
Toledo Hornets | 76 | 33 | 42 | 1 | 260 | 302 |
67 |
Flint Generals | 76 | 30 | 43 | 3 | 251 | 288 |
63 |
Port Huron Wings | 76 | 29 | 44 | 3 | 229 | 268 |
61 |
South Division | |||||||
Des-Moines Capitols | 76 | 45 | 25 | 6 | 316 | 247 |
96 |
Columbus Owls | 76 | 40 | 34 | 2 | 288 | 270 |
82 |
Dayton Gems | 76 | 38 | 35 | 3 | 272 | 247 |
79 |
Fort Wayne Komets | 76 | 31 | 45 | 0 | 245 | 305 |
62 |
1975 Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
Pts |
North Division | |||||||
Muskegon Mohawks | 75 | 48 | 24 | 3 | 325 | 240 |
99 |
Flint Generals | 75 | 44 | 26 | 5 | 287 | 220 |
93 |
Saginaw Gears | 75 | 43 | 29 | 3 | 302 | 259 |
89 |
Port Huron Flags | 76 | 35 | 38 | 3 | 255 | 270 |
73 |
Kalamazoo Wings | 75 | 17 | 53 | 5 | 203 | 318 |
39 |
Lansing Lancers (suspended Jan 16 1975) | 41 | 12 | 28 | 1 | 145 | 216 |
25 |
South Division | |||||||
Dayton Gems | 75 | 46 | 26 | 3 | 297 | 256 |
95 |
Columbus Owls | 76 | 40 | 32 | 4 | 307 | 275 |
84 |
Toledo Goaldiggers | 76 | 34 | 38 | 4 | 285 | 275 |
72 |
Des-Moines Capitols | 76 | 31 | 38 | 7 | 253 | 264 |
69 |
Fort Wayne Komets | 76 | 26 | 44 | 6 | 247 | 313 |
58 |
1976 Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
Pts |
North Division | |||||||
Saginaw Gears | 78 | 43 | 26 | 9 | 339 | 293 |
95 |
Port Huron Flags | 78 | 36 | 31 | 11 | 304 | 291 |
83 |
Flint Generals | 78 | 34 | 30 | 14 | 285 | 254 |
82 |
Muskegon Mohawks | 78 | 34 | 31 | 13 | 260 | 238 |
81 |
Kalamazoo Wings | 78 | 27 | 41 | 10 | 273 | 326 |
64 |
South Division | |||||||
Dayton Gems | 78 | 47 | 21 | 10 | 340 | 240 |
104 |
Fort Wayne Komets | 78 | 28 | 36 | 14 | 289 | 309 |
70 |
Toledo Goaldiggers | 78 | 27 | 37 | 14 | 269 | 293 |
68 |
Columbus Owls | 78 | 24 | 47 | 7 | 251 | 366 |
55 |
1977 Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
Pts |
North Division | |||||||
Saginaw Gears | 78 | 40 | 27 | 11 | 338 | 292 |
91 |
Kalamazoo Wings | 78 | 38 | 27 | 13 | 325 | 290 |
89 |
Flint Generals | 78 | 35 | 33 | 10 | 342 | 306 |
80 |
Muskegon Mohawks | 78 | 31 | 36 | 11 | 294 | 322 |
73 |
Port Huron Flags | 78 | 27 | 43 | 8 | 268 | 328 |
62 |
South Division | |||||||
Toledo Goaldiggers | 78 | 40 | 31 | 7 | 321 | 317 |
87 |
Dayton Gems | 78 | 35 | 38 | 5 | 304 | 312 |
75 |
Fort Wayne Komets | 78 | 32 | 36 | 10 | 301 | 311 |
74 |
Columbus Owls | 78 | 28 | 35 | 15 | 294 | 309 |
71 |
1978 Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
Pts |
North Division | |||||||
Saginaw Gears | 80 | 40 | 28 | 12 | 360 | 278 |
92 |
Kalamazoo Wings | 80 | 35 | 31 | 14 | 315 | 288 |
84 |
Flint Generals | 80 | 36 | 34 | 10 | 364 | 381 |
82 |
Port Huron Flags | 80 | 33 | 32 | 15 | 322 | 331 |
81 |
Muskegon Mohawks | 80 | 27 | 42 | 11 | 290 | 322 |
65 |
South Division | |||||||
Fort Wayne Komets | 80 | 40 | 23 | 17 | 305 | 287 |
97 |
Toledo Goaldiggers | 80 | 34 | 28 | 18 | 331 | 316 |
86 |
Milwaukee Admirals | 80 | 27 | 38 | 15 | 257 | 299 |
69 |
Dayton/Grand Rapids Owls | 80 | 27 | 43 | 10 | 290 | 332 |
64 |
1979 Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
Pts |
North Division | |||||||
Port Huron Flags | 80 | 44 | 29 | 7 | 393 | 292 |
95 |
Kalamazoo Wings | 80 | 40 | 28 | 12 | 368 | 327 |
92 |
Saginaw Gears | 80 | 35 | 35 | 10 | 326 | 322 |
80 |
Flint Generals | 80 | 35 | 40 | 5 | 356 | 349 |
75 |
Muskegon Mohawks | 80 | 15 | 58 | 7 | 275 | 475 |
37 |
South Division | |||||||
Grand-Rapids Owls | 80 | 50 | 21 | 9 | 368 | 267 |
109 |
Fort Wayne Komets | 80 | 45 | 29 | 6 | 386 | 327 |
96 |
Toledo Goaldiggers | 80 | 35 | 32 | 13 | 320 | 302 |
83 |
Milwaukee Admirals | 80 | 21 | 48 | 11 | 260 | 391 |
53 |
International Hockey League (1970-79) Playoffs
Season |
Finals |
Semi Finals |
Quarter Finals |
||
1969-70 |
Dayton Gems defeated Port Huron Flags 4 games to 3 | Dayton Gems defeated
Muskegon Mohawks 4 games to 2
Port Huron Flags defeated Des Moines Oak Leafs 3 games to 2 |
Port Huron Flags defeated
Ft. Wayne Komets 3 games to 0 Des Moines Oak Leafs defeated Toledo Blades 3 games to 0 |
||
1970-71 |
Port Huron Flags defeated Des Moines Oak Leafs 4 games to 2 | Des Moines Port Huron defeated Dayton in a three game round robin series | Port Huron Flags defeated
Muskegon Mohawks 4 games to 2 Des Moines Oak Leafs defeated Ft. Wayne Komets 4 games to 1 Dayton Gems defeated Flint Generals 4 games to 3 |
||
1971-72 |
Port Huron Wings defeated Muskegon Mohawks 4 games to 2 | Port Huron Wings defeated
Ft. Wayne Komets 4 games to 1 Muskegon Mohawks defeated Dayton Gems 4 games to 1 |
Port Huron Wings defeated Flint Generals 3 games to 1 Ft. Wayne Komets defeated Des Moines Oak Leafs 3 games to 0 |
||
1972-73 |
Ft. Wayne Komets defeated Port Huron Wings 4 games to 0 | Ft. Wayne Komets defeated
Flint Generals 4 games to 1 Port Huron Wings defeated Dayton Gems 3 games to 0 |
Port Huron Wings defeated
Toledo Hornets 3 games to 1 Dayton Gems defeated Des Moines Capitols 3 games to 0 |
||
1973-74 |
Des Moines Capitols defeated Saginaw Gears 4 games to 2 | Des Moines Capitols defeated
Flint Generals 4 games to 0 Saginaw Gears defeated Columbus Owls 3 games to 0 |
Saginaw Gears defeated
Dayton Gems 3 games to 1 Columbus Owls defeated Muskegon Mohawks 3 games to 0 Flint Generals defeated Toledo Hornets 2 games to 1 |
||
1974-75 |
Toledo Goaldiggers defeated Saginaw Gears 4 games to 3 | Toledo Goaldiggers defeated
Dayton Gems 4 games to 3 Saginaw Gears defeated Muskegon Mohawks 4 games to 3 |
Toledo Goaldiggers defeated
Columbus Owls 4 games to 1 Saginaw Gears defeated Flint Generals 4 games to 1 Dayton Gems defeated Des Moines Capitols 4 games to 3 Muskegon Mohawks defeated Port Huron Flags 4 games to 1 |
||
1975-76 |
Dayton Gems defeated Port Huron Flags 4 games to 0 | Dayton Gems defeated
Ft. Wayne Komets 4 games to 1 Port Huron Flags defeated Saginaw Gears 4 games to 3 |
Dayton Gems defeated
Kalamazoo Wings 4 games to 2 Port Huron Flags defeated Flint Generals 4 games to 0 Ft. Wayne Komets defeated Toledo Goaldiggers 4 games to 0 Saginaw Gears defeated Muskegon Mohawks 4 games to 1 |
||
1976-77 |
Saginaw Gears defeated Toledo Goaldiggers 4 games to 3 | Saginaw Gears defeated
Kalamazoo Wings 4 games to 1 Toledo Goaldiggers defeated Ft. Wayne Komets 4 games to 1 |
Saginaw Gears defeated
Muskegon Mohawks 4 games to 3 Toledo Goaldiggers defeated Columbus Owls 4 games to 3 Kalamazoo Wings defeated Flint Generals 4 games to 1 Ft. Wayne Komets defeated Dayton Gems 4 games to 0 |
||
1977-78 |
Toledo Goaldiggers defeated Port Huron Flags 4 games to 3 | Toledo Goaldiggers defeated
Ft. Wayne Komets 4 games to 1 Port Huron Flags defeated Kalamazoo Wings 4 games to 1 |
Toledo Goaldiggers defeated
Milwaukee Admirals 4 games to 1 Port Huron Flags defeated Saginaw Gears 4 games to 1 Ft. Wayne Komets defeated Muskegon Mohawks 4 games to 2 Kalamazoo Wings defeated Flint Generals 4 games to 1 |
||
1978-79 |
Kalamazoo Wings defeated Grand Rapids Owls 4 games to 3 | Kalamazoo Wings defeated
Flint Generals 4 games to 0 Grand Rapids Owls defeated Ft. Wayne Komets 4 games to 3 |
Kalamazoo Wings defeated
Saginaw Gears 4 games to 0 Grand Rapids Owls defeated Milwaukee Admirals 4 games to 3 Flint Generals defeated Port Huron Flags 4 games to 3 Ft. Wayne Komets defeated Toledo Goaldiggers 4 games to 2 |