Roller Hockey International (1994-1997)
Tombstone
Born: 1994 – RHI expansion franchise
Folded: Postseason 1999
First Game:
Last Game:
Murphy Cup Champions: 1995
Arena
San Jose Arena (17,190)
Opened: 1993
Marketing
Team Colors:
- 1995: Purple, Gray, Safari Gold
Ownership
Owner: Rich Shillington
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.
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Background
The San Jose Rhinos were a Roller Hockey International franchise that played out of the San Jose Arena during the mid-to-late 1990’s. During their second season in the summer of 1995, the Rhinos won the Murphy Cup championship of RHI by defeating the Montreal Roadrunners in the championship game.
After years of declining membership, RHI collapsed in the fall of 1997 due to internal financial disputes between the remaining owners and league CEO Larry King. The 1998 season was cancelled and the league appeared to be dead. Improbably, the league returned for a comeback season in 1999 and the Rhinos came out of cold storage to play one final season. But nobody paid much attention and Roller Hockey International faded quietly into history before another season could be staged.
Roller Hockey International Shop
San Jose Rhinos Video
Rhinos host the Vancouver Voodoo at San Jose Arena during the 1994 season.
Links
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One Response
The closest thing to a hockey championship in the Bay Area. The San Jose Rhinos make me proud.
PS – Is there a website that lists all the RHI teams’ schedules somewhere?