Roller Hockey International (1996)
Tombstone
Born: 1996 – RHI expansion franchise
Folded: Postseason 1996
First Game: June 1, 1996 (L 13-8 @ Vancouver Voodoo)
Last Game: August 16, 1996 (W 11-10 vs. Oakland Skates)
Murphy Cup Championships: None
Arena
McNichols Arena (16,061)
Opened: 1975
Demolished: 2000
Marketing
Team Colors: Daredevil Blue, Purple, Yellow & Red
Dance Team: The She-Devils
Ownership
Owners: Norton Herrick, Stephen Kurtz & Paul Jacobs
Editor's Pick
Wheelers, Dealers, Pucks & Bucks
A Rocking History of Roller Hockey International
Who won the first professional sports championship for the city of Anaheim? Which Roller Hockey International team owner posed for Playboy? Which RHI team’s logo did Sports Illustrated describe as looking like “a malevolent vacuum-cleaner attachment?” Which coach won two championships for two different teams in RHI’s first two seasons? Why were fans nearly ejected from the Oakland Skates’ arena for celebrating a hat trick?
Author Richard Graham takes you behind the scenes to show how Dennis Murphy created Roller Hockey International, and why Murphy might be the most unlikely, least known and most influential visionary in North American professional sports history.
When you make a purchase through an affiliate link like this one, Fun While It Lasted earns a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Background
The Denver Daredevils were one of two expansion teams admitted to the shaky Roller Hockey International (1993-1999) for the 1996 season. The Long Island Jawz were the other one. Both clubs went bust after just one season, condemned for eternity to FWIL’s One-Year Wonders file.
The Daredevils finished last place in their division with a 8-17-3 record. Minor league ice hockey journeymen Kevin St. Jacques (20 goals, 30 assists) and Jay Neal (17 goals, 35 assists) were the team’s top scoring threats.
Daredevils Head Coach Kevin Cheveldayoff was a former 1st round draft pick of the New York Islanders (1988). He later became an accomplished front office executive in the minors and the NHL. As of this writing in 2014, Cheveldayoff is General Manager of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets.
Team owner Norton Herrick also owned RHI’s league champion Orlando Jackals during the 1996 season.
Roller Hockey International Shop
Links
###
