1975-76 Albuquerque Chaparrals program from the Southwest Hockey League

Albuquerque Chaparrals

Southwest Hockey League (1975-1977)

Tombstone

Born: 1975 – SWHL founding franchise
Folded: January 24, 19771Weston, Steve. “Amateur Hockey League Folds”. The Daily Citizen (Tucson, AZ). January 25, 1977

First Game: October 2, 1975 (L 5-3 @ Amarillo Wranglers)
Last Game: January 24, 1977 (L 6-4 @ Tucson Icemen)

Arena

Tingley Coliseum
Opened: 1957

Branding

Team Colors:

Ownership

 

Best Seller

We earn commissions from purchases made through links in this post

Albuquerque Chaparrals Hockey Logo T-Shirt

Albuquerque Chaparrals Logo T
Available Now from Old School Shirts!

 

Background

The Albuquerque Chaparrals were a senior amateur hockey team that skated for one-and-a-half chaotic seasons during the mid-1970’s.  The Chaparrals were founded by the controversial Las Vegas construction baron, casino owner and reputed Nazi party enthusiast Ralph Englestad and his brother Richard in 1975.

The Chapparals followed on the heels the defunct Albuquerque Six Guns hockey team at the city’s Tingley Coliseum. The Six Guns lasted for just one winter of last place hockey and financial ruin during the winter of 1973-74. But their bankrupt investors left behind a renovate 12,000-seat arena with $300,000 worth of ice making equipment. It was inevitable someone would try again.

Formation of the SWHL

The Engelstads launched the Southwest Hockey League from their headquarters in Las Vegas, where Ralph owned the Flamingo Capri Motel and Casino. The concept of the SWHL was that players would attend college or vocational school while competing in the league’s 72-game winter schedule. Since the players were amateur, they did not draw salaries.  Team owners were expected to provide room and board, pay for players’ tuition and books, and a small weekly expense stipend. SWHL franchises formed in Arizona, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota and Texas.

The Chaparrals finished in 2nd place in the SWHL with a 39-32-1 during their debut run in 1975-76. Following the season, the Engelstads sold the Chaparrals to E.W. McIntrye for a reported $100,000.

Sophomore Season Collapse

Financial troubles doomed the SWHL during its second season. Six teams started the season, but clubs in Bismarck and Minot swiftly went under.

Albuquerque had problems too. In December 1976, the team organized a promotion with a man named George Hartnett (identified by The Albuquerque Journal as “a hot air balloon promoter”). Hartnett would attempt to sell five thousand $1.00 tickets to a Chaps home date at the Tingley Coliseum on December 10, 1976. Gate receipts would pay for travel home for the Christmas holidays for the Chaps players, many of whom hailed from the Western provinces of Canada. The promotion flopped and General Manager Leo Zani declined to give any of the money raised to the players. Chaparrals coach Bob Gernander and 12 of his players resigned from the team in protest.

The team re-organized and soldiered on under new head coach Cal Swenson. But by the end of January 1977 the SWHL’s remaining four clubs decided to call it quits, cancelling the final 30 or so games of the 1976-77 season.

##

Comments

6 Responses

    1. A friend and I attended the University of Albuquerque on the hill during 75 and winter of 76 and loved to go to the games. Good memories.

  1. It was great meeting all the players from different parts of Canada and US and forming life long relationships. I played in the 1st and 2nd seasons.

    1. Did a young fan do a drawing of a wild animal or bird for you and your teammates, comparing each to the attributes of that animal?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Share